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Grandia Xtreme
Another bridge between official Grandia games,
Xtreme was created by GameArts primarily to test the
PlayStation 2’s technology. The story was practically
non-existent, so that the weight of the game could be
focused on dungeon crawling and number-crunching.
Xtreme focuses on Evann, a young ranger who is
not really excited about being a hero, but is forced into
it. The land is being ravaged by “the elemental disorder,”
an imbalance in elemental forces eminating from the
ancient ruins of Locca.
Evann must journey
to various elemental
hotspots around the
land with his own team
of military misfits to
bring a stop to it.
HISTORY OF GRANDIA
Unfortunately, in acknowledging this, we must also acknowledge some of
the words that don’t come to mind when talking about Grandia III. “Epic” is
one of these, and “deep.” Even “satisfying” comes only after a lot of grudging
consideration.
The fact is, though it is a triumph of programming and an amazingly entertaining
product, Grandia III fails simply by not giving us enough. The opening
animation lures us in with the promise of a wide world full of adventure, and
giving us a main character whose dream is to explore the world in an airplane
seems to make that a guarantee. When we finally board that plane, though,
the story remains linear. The aerial sequences are beautifully realized, with
realistic weather effects and radio conversations you can listen in on, but there
is no actual interaction in the air, and it’s disappointing to learn that there are
so many places you can only see and never go. When all is said and done, the
world that Yuki wants to explore so badly becomes disappointlingly small in the
service of a plot that must inevitably become more concerned with saving it
than with seeing it.
This streamlining of the plot also means that a lot of character development
(mostly among the villains) is left to be taken on faith and understanding
of anime archetypes. Much is made of the villainous Viletta’s love and devotion
to Emelious, but why does she continue to love him, even at the risk of
her own life? Well, because she’s an evil, scythe-wielding, scantily-clad RPG
girl in the service of a hot, mysterious RPG villain, and that’s what they do. Of
course.
Whether or not you consider these to be really serious flaws, of course,
will depend on your own view of RPGs. You may be tired of “epic” and “deep”
and just want something fun, new, and uncomplex that will keep you fully
engaged, without a looming shadow of an 80 hour commitment to make
the game feel really “finished.” If that’s what you want, you’ll find heaven in
Grandia III, which offers all these things with sweetness, polish, and style to
boot. If not, you really should still play it; the eventual plot may not live up
to expectations, but the sheer craftsmanship that went into the game simply
demands your respect.
4 of 5
44_COVER STORY_GRANDIA III HARDCORE GAMER MAGAZINE_VOLUME 1_ISSUE 9_WARM BUN
Experience the untold story
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Interrogate and conduct
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An adrenaline rush of espionage,
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Utilize your elite Counter Terrorist Unit
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Are you ready for the most thrilling day of your life?
The clock is ticking...
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