Grandia 2 - Sega Dreamcast

Game Review & Description

When Game Arts decided to follow up their beloved Saturn RPG with a Dreamcast sequel in 2000, they made a fascinating choice: instead of recapturing the lighthearted adventure spirit of the original, they went darker, edgier, and more "mature." Grandia II trades youthful optimism for cynical mercenaries, replaces pure exploration with streamlined dungeons, and swaps good versus evil simplicity for religious questioning and moral ambiguity. The result earned a 90 on Metacritic and remains one of the Dreamcast's defining RPGs, even if longtime fans of the series found themselves missing some of that original Grandia magic. The setup follows Ryudo, a snarky Geohound mercenary hired to escort Elena, a songstress of the Church of Granas, to a purification ritual that naturally goes catastrophically wrong. Before you can say "dark god revival," Elena becomes possessed by Millenia, a devilish alternate personality, and the whole world-saving adventure kicks into overdrive.

The standout feature that elevates Grandia II above its contemporaries is undoubtedly the battle system, which IGN called "arguably the most advanced system in play today" at launch. Built around an IP gauge that blends turn-based strategy with real-time positioning, combat demands careful timing and spatial awareness rather than mindless menu selection. You can see enemies on the map and engage them strategically for initiative bonuses, then once battle begins, you're manipulating the IP gauge like a tactical chess match. Cancel enemy spells mid-casting with critical attacks, position characters to avoid area-of-effect magic, retreat after striking to minimize counterattack damage, and chain combo attacks for devastating results. The system supports enough depth that veteran players can exploit every mechanic for efficiency, yet remains accessible enough for newcomers to grasp quickly. Skills and magic upgrade through coins rather than repetitive grinding, which streamlines character progression beautifully.

Visually, Grandia II represented Game Arts' bold leap into full 3D graphics, and the Dreamcast handled it remarkably well. The vibrant, colorful environments pop with detail, character models animate smoothly (even if they lack mouths, which becomes hilariously distracting once you notice), and spell effects combine FMV sequences with real-time 3D in ways that feel both impressive and occasionally jarring. The game's visual presentation received widespread praise, with its manga-inspired aesthetic creating a distinctive look that aged gracefully. Composer Noriyuki Iwadare delivered what many consider his best soundtrack, full of orchestral themes with his signature percussion-heavy style and sweeping string arrangements. The English voice acting deserves special mention for being genuinely excellent by 2000 standards, with Ryudo's sarcastic deliveries and Millenia's sultry taunts bringing real personality to the cast.

The narrative revolves around the ancient conflict between Granas (god of light) and Valmar (god of darkness), with pieces of Valmar's sealed body scattered across the world and threatening to reassemble. It's admittedly familiar territory for JRPG veterans, hitting the classic "outcast mercenary escorts innocent girl while forces of darkness threaten apocalypse" beats you've seen countless times. What elevates the storytelling is the character work, particularly the love triangle between Ryudo, the faithful Elena, and her demonic alter ego Millenia. The translation and localization by Ubi Soft remain top-tier, capturing nuance and humor that Working Designs' more liberal approach often missed. Critics noted the game's willingness to show genuine horror (children crying over dead parents, graphic monster attacks) while maintaining moments of levity, creating tonal whiplash that either enhances the mature atmosphere or feels awkwardly balanced depending on your tolerance.

While Grandia II earned accolades across the board (GameRankings aggregate of 88.81% and numerous Editor's Choice awards), it's not without criticisms. The dungeons feel compartmentalized and linear compared to the first game's sprawling puzzle-filled labyrinths, the difficulty skews too easy for experienced RPG players, and the complete absence of sidequests hurts replay value despite the 30-40 hour runtime. GameSpot noted the game was "technically superior" on Dreamcast compared to later PlayStation 2 and PC ports, which suffered from grainy textures, slowdown, and graphical glitches that made them inferior experiences. The Dreamcast version remains the definitive way to experience this adventure, benefiting from the console's hardware capabilities and avoiding the technical compromises that plagued subsequent releases. For Dreamcast RPG enthusiasts choosing between this and Skies of Arcadia, both represent the system's finest role-playing offerings, though Grandia II edges ahead in pure combat excellence. Whether you're diving in for the first time or revisiting Ryudo's journey, a range of hints, tips, and cheats related to Grandia II may be found below.

One-Houe Video Walkthrough

GameShark / Pro Action Replay Cheat Codes:

The following dongle-dependent codes are designed for use with the North American (NTSC) version of the game, but may work on compatible systems:

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