Reviews (16)

he its cool
Hey karl jorden u are right arc the lad collections is the bombardi but it did not come out for snes my cousin got this the day it cam eout and sold it when the last disk messed up on him at eb games retailersi automatically jumped to disk 2... when istarted playing mind you. but i know how are looks but it was not n snes it proves i am right go to gamespot and see its original released date, back in the day japan.. did not get mad when underpar games went on the systems i means ony did not care..but i know a lot of developers whom wanted to develope stuff for psx and ps2 when psx was almst done and ps2 is now in 2004.. i read that they said.. that they do not want no more little kid game son the system lol not like that.. i mean no more graphics like shining force.. it was a game they wanted on ps2 shingi force or to move subpar grpahic remakes to ps2 and psx in tis dying days was rejected.. iread it some where... so you can say they were invisiably fired...

but people here it is http://www.gamespot.com/finder/findgames.html

it was not on snes..rbably was going to it and got postponed for psx i guess over there theres my proof.

i ad not seen it in 3 ears this game iw a snot far in part 2 my cosin ticke dme off... heard es buyin it agian though...

cannot give it a solid like rating..

Awesome collection of strategy/RPG's...
Arc the Lad 1-3 was originally released by Sony. Arc 1 was released when the PS One first came out, in 1996/1997. About a year later, Arc 2 came out, then Arc 3 followed in 1999. The problem? They were never released out of Japan. Luckily, Working Designs, the company responsible for bringing out Lunar and Lunar 2 with great extras, has brought all 3 of these games out of Japan, with great packaging like the Lunar series.

Arc 1 is pretty short. You could finish it in about 10-15 hours (20+ if you do all the side quests), but it's still a lot of fun. Arc 2 continues the great story, and is a whole lot longer. You could spend anywhere from 50-100 hours on Arc 2. And finally, Arc 3. They took the job system from Arc 2 and made it the main part of Arc 3. Although not as serious, and more lighthearted, than the other games in the series, Arc 3 is still pretty fun. My favorite is Arc 2, then 1, and finally 3, but they all provide hours of fun and entertainment.

Also included is Arc Arena, which allows you to fight other monsters with monsters you capture in Arc 2. This was kind of fun, but I didn't really get into it.

The packaging comes with a hardcover instruction booklet (over 100 pages), a memory card holder, a "Making of Arc the Lad Collection" cd, and more. If you're a fan of strategy/rpg's, don't miss out!

Something that's fun again
I'm only about 1/2 to 2/3 done (I think)with the second game, and I already feel that I've more than got my money's worth.It's not terribly complicated, I've gotten a lot of amusement out of strange things, like looking at the bathtubs with different caracters, the game play is FUN. You don't have to be an ace player, mastering obscure button patterns, and there isn't too much conversation or graphics, JUST GAME!

Arc the Genius, sayeth the Genius...
Arc the Lad isn't a game that everyone will like because there isn't very much exploration. You don't control your character very much at all outside of battles and you have to get caught up in the dialogue in order to enjoy the story and the game. Arc the Lad's best feature is the battle system. The battle system is defiantly unique, of course there are a number of games that use a system that is similar but Arc the Lad came out before those games, it was an SNES game when it first came out in Japan mind you. As soon as I fought my first battle I loved this game and it reminded me of Shining Force, and once I met Tosh I was sold. Great start off to the series even though the last boss is extremely easy.

Arc The Lad II is better than Arc the Lad, and yes I have beaten it (for that reviewer who claimed not very many people have beaten it). The spells look better than Arc the Lad and you get to capture monsters and have them join your team. A complaint I have about the monsters is they cannot equip armor and so cannot keep up with your human party members. But with monster Arena you can fight with your friends (assuming you don't spend all your time on Amazon and do have friends) with your monster and so still keeping them up on levels is pretty important. This game is tougher than the first, it has more puzzles and tougher enemies plus the level you can level up to is insane (I have no idea what the max is but it is over 150). This game introduces the Hunter's Guild to Arc the Lad lovers where you take up jobs and go after wanted monsters all for money. Most of the cast from Arc the Lad joins up with your party and you can fight with them, if you've beaten Arc the Lad you can use convert and your characters from Arc the Lad will be at the same level with the same weapons you last left them at. The transition between games is extremely smooth thumbs up to this game! Sometimes the battles do get annoying but bare with it man... it's a good game, now shut your complaining.

I must admit I haven't beaten Arc the Lad III , so I think I'm entitled to my opinion about this one. Man I love the character Lutz but everyone is so mean to him, Alec (the hero) is suppose to be his best friend and yet he joins the others in picking on him they should realize that Lutz kicks all their [butts] and they should shut up cause he's the best character... Ahhh that felt sooo good Ok. enough about my Lutz raving. The game is better than the other ones. You meet a lot of the cast from the first and second game but it's rare for you to fight along side them, none of them join your party. But that's ok cause you fight with Tosh for a while (he's not at the same level I left him on GRRRRRRR) The plot revolves more around the Hunter's Guild than the second one and you're introduced to other Guilds.... Not sure if I like the other guilds or not I rarely use them but hey if you like that type of thing I guess. The magic looks good and now instead of capturing monsters you turn them into cards where they'll do one move and disappear, hey I'm not complaining I think it looks pretty cool myself. Anyways this game is awesome with the awesome battle system all the Arc the Lads have... So great stuff here... Did I mention Lutz is awesome?

Overall Arc the Lad satisfied me especially its battle system. The Arc the Lad series (though I haven't played the fourth one) flows together better than any video game series I've ever played.

Hmmm, overated, and not joking
Alright this review is going to reveal the truth about arc the lad. No there isn't any spoilers, but I will spill out the real details.

Arc the Lad 1: Great game. Really short. But really fun, after you play it once it isn't as great, but still I loved the battles and the 2d graphics worked great.

Arc the Lad 2: Ok its got alot more in it. You can change your weapons, more spells, tons of characters, monsters to control, yet sadly fails. The reason being? Noone actually plays to the end. Most of these people reviewing probably haven't gotten to the second half of the game. The first part is great. Then the battles start to get more frequent. The third part is enormously filled with meaningless battles, one after another. Then we reach the final areas. Tons of battles in which the reward is a new plot twist, you now must go to some random town and enter a doom tower filled with 30 levels of battling fun! Ok so you beat the tower, then split up in some ice area, 2 groups, thousands of battles. So you reach the final dungeon(s). Ok you walk up some stone blocks... now your going to HAVE to fight 5 consecutive battles in a row. Then go into this place and search for like 5 switches or something, it wasn't clear. I fought 4 battles going into a house and coming out, then realized there was nothing in there. I walked up to it, entered battle, went inside and battled, entered a room to find nothing, left the room and battled, went outside and battled. In these battles you are outnumbered. You just use your magic and take them down in about 3 hits. The magic starts to get real annoying after you see it thousands of times. Ok so you find the switches, guess what, you have to go into this creepy lair and fight some bosses, great. Overall the game really slumps. Most of the reviews here just say that arc the lad 2 has more then arc the lad 1 and is better. Sure arc the lad 2 starts great, but I am WARNING you, you will probably just stop caring by the end.

Arc the Lad 3: I got to the final dungeon and quit in arc the lad 2, then arc the lad 3 was popped in. I did not load my data because, well, I never finished arc2 to the dead end. So you basically are a hunter. The Cast seems dry compared to the original. Still the 3d seems appropriate, because most games are 3d now. It isn't better then what you can find anywhere else. Just go play a game like final fantasy 7 or legend of dragoon and you will be more satisfied. But arc the lad 3 seems kind of a blend of arc1 and arc2, with some today standards thrown in.

Arc the Lad Monster Arena: Pointless, you load in some monsters from arc the lad 2. I used a monster throught the whole game in arc2, yet the monster was still 10 levels behind all my other characters. Monsters are pointless, you have like 30 different good characters to choose from. This game just has some battles, and buying of stuff. Don't worry about it.

Extra: The book is kinda cool, considering its hardback. The little stand things are not really needed. The memory card holder will probably never be used. But the analog covers seems kinda okay, but feel weird. The making of the games is not really a blast either, its just showing you how they do stuff that you will never be able to do.

Overall the games are not that satisfying. If arc1 was released alone for like 15 dollars I would get it. But it is really short. So do not spend your money on this product. Borrow it from a friend, play arc1, then return it. ... Read more

Features

• Turn-based fantasy strategy game
• Introducing the unique "Job" system, allowing characters to train in different character classes
• Over 40 different monsters to encounter
• Incredibly detailed and complex storyline
• For 1 player

Reviews (125)

Another FF classic
This is not your average Final Fantasy game, but still an enjoyable one. This is more of a strategy game than an RPG. It is a four-chapter game. The first chapter is learning the basics, the second and third chapters are a little bit harder, and the last chapter is medium and then gets extremely easy once you get Orlandu. There are many differents monster and/or human enemies you must deal with in battles. If you lose a major battle, this means that you must train your men a bit before re-entering. I have beaten this several times and guarantee that you, the viewer/customer, will enjoy it also.

A Timeless Classic--Still Addictive after Seven Years
Strengths: Involved and complex story, addictive gameplay, beautiful graphics

Weakenesses: Poor camera control, dead-end savepoints

Final Fantasy Tactics is one of those rare console games that you can return to again and again and yet always find it to be enjoyable, immersive, and incredibly addictive. For a seven-year-old game that will take most gamers over fifty (that's right, five-zero) hours to complete, this is quite an accomplishment.

FF Tactics' two most brilliant virtues are its intricate plot and a unique gameplay experience which is the result of a nearly perfect integration of three-dimensional, turn-based combat and the familiar RPG strategy of guiding the advancement of the characters in your party through various jobs and skills. The elegant and involved gameplay element of FF Tactics is ultimately it's love-it-or-hate-it attribute. In addition to developing characters in between battle sequences (by upgrading abilities, purchasing new weapons and armor, sending characters on adventures, etc.), you also command parties of up to five characters in 3-D battles by maneuvering to gain tactical advantage (attacking from the sides and behind is always more effective) and executing attacks or other actions.

Gameplay is quite complicated and, as a result, the learning curve for FF Tactics is relatively high. Square (the game's publisher) graciously includes a tutorial mode (accessible via the game's main menu) that provides newcomers to the game a firm foundation upon which to begin experiencing the game. Be warned, however: it will take you one to two hours to progress through all of the included tutorials. Despite this significant time requirement, I would highly recommend that gamers who are not familiar with similar games (such as Vandal Hearts for the PSX) take the time to look at some of the tutorials.

The story is even more enveloping than the gameplay. The carefully-written plot will always leave you in suspense, anxiously looking forward to the next twist or turn in the storyline. The events of the story are subtly (sometimes ambiguously) unveiled with an elegance that is rarely found in literature and film, let alone in video games. As with gameplay, however, the complexity of the plot can sometimes work against itself. I will frequently find myself having to go back several cutscenes to try to piece together what's going on. Fortunately, Square planned for this as well: you have access from within the game itself to every cutscene that you have viewed as well as summaries of all the characters (even minor ones) and their involvement with the plot thus far (yes, these summaries are updated as the game progresses).

The graphics are another of the game's many virtues; they are beautiful and have worn quite well considering the age of the game. You won't find any flashy 3-D effects (the landscapes are colorful and attractive--although low-resolution--3-D models while the characters are 2-D animated sprites), but the artwork present throughout the game--from battles, to cutscenes, to menus--is just that: artwork.

Despite its excellent gameplay, plot, and graphics, however, FF Tactics does have its share of weaknesses. Most frequently annoying are the camera angles that are available in the battle sequences. More often than not, the 3-D landscapes obstruct your view of the characters and action, and the limited camera control makes it difficult to find a good angle from which to view most of the action. The result is a lot of switching from view to view throughout the course of a battle (or even throughout a single turn). Occasionally, this makes it virtually impossible to even see a particular character, but this is admittedly rare.

A less-frequently occurring but even more frustrating element of the game are the opportunities it provides to paint oneself into the proverbial corner. There are several points in the game (usually at the end of each chapter) where you will play through several battles back-to-back, with no time in between to develop your characters. Since battles can last as long as 30 minutes (sometimes more), the game provides you with the opportunity to save your game in between these battles. Good, right? Not necessarily. The problem with this setup is that if your characters aren't adequately prepared for the subsequent battle(s), then you may get stuck in a situation in which victory is impossible to achieve. Unfortunately, the only way out of this situation is to restart the game---a serious annoyance if you've already racked up, say, forty-four hours of gameplay time. The moral of the story: reserve more than one memory card slot for your saves so that you can create a savegame file both before and during such a series of battles. On the upshot, however, this was one of the few games that I found just as entertaining and addictive when re-playing the first 44 hours (yes, this happened to me).

The verdict: Final Fantasy Tactics is a great and timeless game that I'll be returning to again and again over the years, and I hope you will too.

Absolutely perfect...
WARNING * If you are buying this game because you are obsessed with Final Fantasy and the original FF style, listen to this. The game is turn based on a gridlike arena, and the entire game is based on the complex battle system, if you don't like long battles or actually having to think, don't buy this and complain. * WARNING

Ok, now that that is over, this game is a must have for anyone with a playstation or a playstation 2. The graphics are not all 3D but not at all dissapointing, with detailed sprites that are always in motion the game has a nice feel to it. The sound effects are also a plus, as well as different battle music for almost every battle. The storyline is great but no where near as in-depth as something like FF7 or FF9. I had beaten the game a while ago and decided i would revisit it recently (great replay value). This time i had a Gameshark that i got for $4, and wondered how much i could do with it. With the option of changing all of my characters to any monster, enemy, boss, ally in the game with any set of moves, the game has just doubled its replay value. If you read some more of the reviews for FFT and decide you want to get this game(which you will) don't forget a Gameshark. However, on an end note, the game is still excellent without cheating, buy it!

A Disgrace to the FF Family!
What a letdown this was after FFVII!The graphics looked like they came straight from a Sega Genesis or NES system circa 1993. This bears no relation to the decent FF games and is one of the suckiest games I've ever wasted money on.I tried to give it to the Salvation Army but they didn't want it either.

A not so avid gamer
This game is truly one of the best of the Final fantasy line.I was very disappointed with FFX, I mean really, compare the story to Legend of Dragoon or any of thousands of Video games!This game had a unique and captivating storyline, charming characters, and vast character development.As a matter of fact, the game is organized based on the development of Ramza. The battle system was one of the best I've ever played, a refreshing change from the entirly turn based system that didn't require a brain to use.Furthermore the graphics and music was charming, not steller in truth, but it worked better for the story than 3-D graphics like FFX had.The game was like experiancing a Fantasy novel, and a good one at that, which I think was the origional intention of RPG games. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Get ready to dance the night away with all-new songs and game modes in this sequel to Dance Dance Revolution. Players can save and edit dance steps to create their own dance routines. The special workout mode allows you to have fun shaping up while also tracking the calories you burn. And you can re-create the arcade experience with Konami's Dance Dance Revolution controller. The game includes more than 50 high-energy songs in a variety of genres, including pop, disco, Latin, techno, and house. It also features a completely redesigned interface and new graphics, plus a special edit mode that allows players to customize dance steps for every song, develop player-specific routines, and trade dance patterns with friends. Also included are new songs never released in the Japanese version. Burn up the dance floor with two-player modes, allowing players to dance cooperatively or competitively. Multiple options and difficulty settings make Dance Dance Revolution Konamix easy to learn for people of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (52)

AWSOME!!!
DDR Konamimix is very, very, very, ect. fun!! It is great for working out and losing weight!!!!! I was introduced to this because my school had it!!! belive it or not the princable lets us play with it all recess!!!! I am planning to by this game to enjoy it more that ever!!! YAY!!

DDR<333
Only problems with Konamix, to me, is that it's not set up like the arcades (which is where I play half the time) and "basic" mode is the same as light on the other games (thought it would be standard). Other than that, it's great.

As for accessories, I got one of the really thin mats and it quickly got destroyed with friends who don't know how to pick up their feet and the mats would get scrunched up into a pile. So, I invested a bit more in a mat with a 1" foam insert and now, I'm putting forth a bit more to get a metal dance mat.

(I put 1 star for educational, because the most I see you getting out of it is a good work out and foot/eye coordination...=/)

Tight Game, but its missing something
I hate video games, but DDR is to good to be considered a video game. This game has helped me build stamina and quick thinking skills. DDR Konamix has an awesome song list with the original Paranoia and this is the only US release which features the very complicated Orion.78[AM-EuroMix] So why would I give it four stars? Because you can't use speed modifiers.[x1.5,x2,x3,x5,x8]
I know most DDR fans don't really care something like that, but some songs on here are impossible to do with only one speed.

This game is still a good buy, but I recommend DDRMAX or DDRMAX2 over this one.

A full fledged hooked on game
This game Rocks! For ps it has great graphics. And as an owner of the whole set of DDR games, you should listen. I like Yuni and Emi personally. Take my advice, get the game.
If only I had a memory card for ps.

Great fun and workout!
This is a fun game! Every day at an arcade I see many kids there playing this game!They simply love it!I highly recommend buying this game! There are 52 songs to try! Theres even a workout mode so you can actually see how many calories you burned!GREAT! ... Read more

Features

• Combination puzzle and fighting game
• Drop blocks Tetris-style
• Fighting characters help you get rid of blocks
• Some blocks have special powers or drawbacks
• For 1 player

Reviews (22)

First puzzle fighter, then Tetris
A while back we previewed a new Capcom game that didn't quite seem to fit into their normal fighter outfit. Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo (an almost self-parodying name, there) surprised everyone with its cute, super-deformed characters from the Street Fighter and Dark Stalker games, Street Fighter II-like combos, and intense, strategy driven gameplay. Here was the puzzle game to beat all puzzle games, plus it had all our favorite Capcom characters. How could you go wrong? Puzzle Fighter follows the basic two-player puzzle premise, where paired objects drop and stack into columns. In this case, they're colored gems, and by stacking four or more like colors together in a square or rectangle they make large gems, called Power Gems. The Crash Gems also drop, and these are the ones that shatter the gems. So far, this is pretty standard puzzle fare, but Puzzle Fighter really excels in strategy. A little luck does come into the game, but the real determining factor is planning. Not only do you want to stack your gems so a lot will bust at a time, you want to stack them so multiple colors will chain react in succession. Bust a lot, and gems will rain down on your opponent. These games won't be able to bust until they count down from five. The pattern that your gems fall on your opponent are determined by your character, and vice versa, so if you know your opponent's drop pattern, you can set up for that. This is really the key to Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo success.Perhaps the most satisfying part of the game is setting up the multi-hit combos. When you pull one of these off, your character attacks your opponent's character, complete with the sound effects from the original fighting games. It makes the game extremely exciting, and gets you shouting at your opponent like a madman! Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo is an excellent puzzle game, and is fun even when you're playing alone. It doesn't matter if you like puzzlers or not, you owe it to yourself to check this game out.

Great!
Got the game in good condition and got it really quick!

THIS IS IT!
You wanna have the best game for PlayStation X/1/2, well this is it! You won't go wrong with this game! The Street Mode is a more competitive version of the Arcade Mode where you can unlock alternate clothes for your characters, Music Collections, Sakura's Song "I Want You To Know" (Why is it called Sakura's Song? I don't know!), Pics of the characters and more! The Arcade Mode is addicting for a while, then drops out of the game! But the Versus Mode is really cool! You need a friend or a bunch of friends for a Vs. Mode Tournament! This game also has a MASTER MODE!!! The game won't give you any second chances and the AI is incredibly SMART! So smart, they have you in a corner before you have even the slightest chance! This is one of the greatest games of all times! You can't go wrong with this game at any party...

THE BEST PUZZLE GAME EVER MADE
This is the best puzzle game EVER!Better than Tetris in My opinion.

Possibly the best puzzle game ever made
This game got so contagious that within a month we were holding 30 person tournaments in my dorm's hallway - boys and girls playing.It is among the best, crispest, and deepest puzzle games one can find... I picked up a few copies of it when it was cheap because I knew this was a game I'd want to preserve for a long time -my original copy got played so long that the audio tracks started to burn out (over 100 hours, at least)

If you can find it, and are a fan of puzzle games, please check it out..Be sure to get the GBA version.

I'd love to see a Ps2 version of this game.... ... Read more

Features

• Basic actions, Killer moves, linked combos, and spells for recovery and attack
• Learn skills and build up specialties
• For 1 player
• Join a group of young adventurers exploring mysterious happenings in deep space
• 3 battle modes: Standard turn-based combat, Semi-Active for intermediate players, and Full Active for advanced control

Reviews (89)

The best rpg of all time
This game has so many items (over 11000)! the graphics are really good for the time period it was made. the story is easy to understand. there are many characters to unlock while you travell around two vast worlds! you can always choose your battle type which makes this game more fun. there are three battle types full control no control and semi-control. these make the battles suit the person playing the game. once you start playing you wont want to stop thats a guarantee!

WOW
I love Final Fantasy, it has everything other games have, story and gameplay, but something on it wan't right, battles. Star Ocean, surpasses in every way, the conection of the story with Earth and not only imaginary world. Thect that humans have such an impact in the universe, the detail of the UP3. I'm not that far yet, still going to Aquios, but DAMN. its awesome, easier to control your health, of course if u use certain special moves u lose HP, but only makes an impact in the beginning while ur still weak. His character in the beginning seems kind a retarded but i'm starting to see a change, into a more competitive, no-rule-stuck up guy. I approve it, manufacturing, real battles, MAZES, HUGE... not like Final Fantasy that all u have to do is follow the trail... BUY, u wont regret it,
sorry this is for the new one...

An RPG with something that many lack...
All gamers have had the experence of playing a game (be it an RPG or anything else) they felt had its fair share of flaws, but has that one, very bright redeeming quality that makes all those flaws take a backseat to that one positive.

Star Ocean: The Second Story is one of those games. Star Ocean's appeal (at least in my case) can be summed up in a single word: combat. Star Ocean's combat system is probably the game's most notable feature. The real-time battle system, which has a very arcade-like feel to it, is a very enjoyable change than your standard-fair RPG battles. It's just so much fun to destory enemies with a volley a special attacks from you and your allies. The skill system is also a plus as well, increasing characters stats and developing other usefull, non combat skills.

Unfortunately, the rest of Star Ocean's elements aren't quite up to par when compared to the hustle and bustle of battle. Graphically, Star Ocean is behind the times no matter where you turn (excluding the FMV's). Actually, the game's graphic engine is very simular to a 1998 Square-Enix title, the often overlooked and bashed-to-no-end SaGa Frontier (one of my favorites - yes, I'm serious). The fact the game uses most of the same graphical tricks empolyed by a game two years earlier underlines this fact.

Storywise, Star Ocean 2 suffers another, slightly smaller blow. While the story is generally good, it seems to drag on until you reach the second disc, where you do more exploring and fighting and the story begins to unfold more. Characters aren't as developed as well in Star Ocean compared to other RPG's such as Final Fantasy or Wild Arms, though the game tries to make a very obvious effort to do this though the use of the private actions system (where you enter a location and your characters split up and you can talk to them on a one-on-one basis to discover more about them - this affects the outcome of the game in various ways). I will give the developers credit for trying though.

Musically, Star Ocean 2 has it's ups and downs. Some of the tunes can be quite annoying, but no game score is without it's duds. However, when you hear the battle themes played near the end of the game for the final bosses, which mainly are of heavy rock/metal variety, all is foregiven. Soundwise, the characters various soundbites during battle are cute at first, but become annoying really quickly (how many times can you remember Claude saying "that's around 50 points" after a battle - too many to admit when I'm sober).

Even with it's flaws, Star Ocean: The Second Story is an above average RPG. While I'm not sure if I would call it a "classic",I would recommend it to anyone who had the time or showed interest in the genre.

My Favorite Game
I love this game because of its great battle system and the characters you lern to love! I beat this game twice once with Claud and Once with Rena. Rena is a far better choose since u get Diaz. But the best charocter is Ashton. The story is sort of slow at first but once you get into things you should love it to.I am waiting for number 3 to come out and i just hope it's just as good as this one and i don't want to be disapointed.

GREAT!!!!!
This game is one of my most favorites. I haven't made it all the way through yet, but I simply love it.

The game has a few flaws. The voice acting is kind of lame, the story is WAY too boring at the beginning, and it seems pretty difficult at times.

The item creation part is the coolest. You can get tons of great items, foods, and weapons through this. In fact, the skills are so great that it's surprising the whole thing could fit on one disk long with the rest. Truly a great game. ... Read more

Features

• Cool fight scenes and one-on-one action
• Music adapts to gameplay action
• For 1 player
• Fantasy RPG with gripping story
• Choose between 108 characters for your party of six

Reviews (59)

Best game ever
This is hands down my favorite game ever made... Sure it's kinda old by now and therefore not as fancy technology-wise, but the story is enough to keep me involved, and the fact that there are 108 distinct characters to recruit, PLUS all the NPCs that you don't recruit.Lots of personality.I can't even tell you how many times I've played through this... the second one is pretty good, too, but the first is definitely the best.A must-have for any true RPG fan.

Awsome game for any RPG fan.
I rented this game along time ago with a few friends, but usually when I look at the title image I can tell what kind of game it would be, but after starting it, it was awsome and started me into being a hugh Suikoden fan. The 2-D graphics may be a turn down for most players out there, but the story line is awsome and there are alot of interesting characters to recruit. I highly recommend this game if you've played 2 or 3, or just need a good game to play.

Another classic
The Konami we all know is back. Remember all the good quality games we used to get from this company? Well, Konami is trying to get back into shape, and Suikoden, the year's best RPG, is a step in the right direction. The story is simple. You are the son of the General Teo, one of the emperor's most powerful generals. Immediately, your father leaves to fight a battle up north leaving a few of his trusted friends to watch over of you. Soon after, you come to realize that you and your father been serving on the wrong side. The Emperor and his generals' minds have been brainwashed. The result is unhappy subjects and an enslaved country. Knowing this you join the Liberation Army and when their heroic leader is assassinated by the baddies, you are chosen as leader. Your job now is to recruit thousands of men to join the Liberation Army and restore peace to the country.
Suikoden is full of beautiful backgrounds (especially your castle which you can name), not to mention outstanding effects for magic spells. The music is incredible, rivaling the soundtrack of Square's Final Fantasy 3! Some of the sound effects used in spells are reminiscent of those taken off old He-Man episodes, which oddly enough sounds terrific. All this plus intricate plot twists and an inspiring storyline constantly push this game forward. Suikoden is undeniably one of the best RPGs ever made. Not only that, but Suikoden isn't a game that can be finished in a few days either. Suikoden is long (about 25+ hours) and it doesn't get boring... ever.

A GOOD RPG
This was a very good game the graphics are okey but the story line is great.You can get 108 people.the game is moastly about runes(magic).over all this games is great.SO IF YOU HAVENT PLAYED THIS GAME YOU MUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

Still my favorite of all time...
I remember getting this game when it came out. I didn't hear anything about it but my mom was willing to buy me anything. I'm glad she bought it for me.

This game is truly epic. The music is awesome. It's no par with FF7's music. It truly is some of the best. The battles are great. There are normal ones which are fun. You get to use 6 characters. Your party is up to you. Over the game you get 108 different characters, of which 2/3rds are playable in battle. There are also duels. Duels are fun. Wars are awesome in this game. There is alot going on. The graphics are well done. For a 2d game. There are tons of different good looking sprites. The story is also magnificent. My favorite story ever. You come to love the characters. The game also ends perfectly. It is a tear-jerker. Right after the final battle I may have teared a little. The game is fun though. If you see it buy it. The game is well worth it because it is my favorite game of all time. It beat out MGS on my list, so it's good. ... Read more

Features

• 13 fully animated bosses, and five attack ships that the player customizes
• Snatch new gunpods from defeated enemy ships to customize your fighter
• For 1 player
• 3-D side-scrolling space shooter
• Three different fighter ships to choose from

Reviews (15)

Shooter Bliss
Rating: A+
You would honestly think that any game made by Square, in the era right after they relesed Final Fantasy Seven would have gotten more recognition than this game did, but unfortunately it did not, easily becoming an underground type sensation that few could argue, is not only one of the classic shoot-em-ups on the Playstation, but one of the best Side scrolling shooters of all time. Taking place in the all too distant future, we find ourselves jumping into the helm of three vastly different ships, which upon receiving different weapons, mount themselves on your ship in different ways depending upon which ship you have chosen. Each level is vastly different from the next, and each boss requires a methodical and increasing harder approach to defeat it, learning the patterns and timings of each boss is a must if you even want to get past the third level. With secrets galore and 2 unlockable ships (if memory serves me correct), the game is loaded to the rims with extras that will keep you glued to your tv for hours, wondering how in the hell this game is so addicting. Well in one sense the exceedingly difficult gameplay, drives you to want to see what the next level has to offer, while the actual process of figuring out the best route through each stage, while acquiring the best weapons to be used against each boss comes down to a science, and literally you have to become "One" with the controller, and basically let your senses take over, as this is probably right up there with Contra: Shattered Soldiers in terms of overall difficulty. But let me tell you the second you step foot into the final stage in the midst of an all out war against you, and only you, this game turns the world on you as you battle in space and fight off against one of the hugest RoboTech inspired bosses ever. Phenomenal music accompanies this blissful experience, as the pounding techno music even made me import the soundtrack from Japan, as I just could not get enough of the game and its music. It is unfortanate that the game never really made the waves it should have stateside, as I'm sure Square's reluctant to release a sequel, due to the games lackluster sales, but then again it just moves it right up there with Radiant Silvergun (probably THE best shooter of all time), in terms of one of those games you mention to someone, and there either like "What game?" or "Oh my friggin' God that game is so amazing." Praobably one of the best games you've never heard about or will get a chance to play, good luck finding it, and even greater luck trying to master it and beat it. Impeccable.

Shock and Awe approach to a classic premise.
There are quite a few really nice 2D shooters for the playstation, though you'd never know it. Why?"If you play only one shooter for the PSX, make it Einhander."Ok, that's propaganda.And it works for one reason:presentation.

Einhander has one thing the others don't: bells and whistles.It's got multiple ship models, neon lighting effects, nominally interactive background elements, and obsessive attention to fine graphical detail.(Actually,this sounds like pretty much any recent Square game.)The visuals are startlingly slick, but conceptually really pretty boring.Ok, Einhander sports an ultra-cool "cyber-punk" vigilante nightlife theme, which really is borrowed straight from FFVII, which is in turn really just stolen from Blade Runner, isn't it?

So, the graphics are extraordinarily polished.Very flashy.So what else?The sound is average.The opening level has a niceoperatic techno aria (very elegant), but after that the music just fades to the background.It's lame soft trance junk, but it really doesn't matter so much since it's drowned out by explosions most of the time.The explosions and other sound effects are acceptable, but really not very notable.Occasionally there's some command recited over the PA in German, and that's fairly unique.But nothing too exciting.

The gameplay is strictly linear, and in this neo-classical shooter context that's fine.The emphasis is on reflex, not exploration.Again, the levels are very detailed and I suppose well designed, but the Philip K. Dick urban battlefield motif is a bit tiresome.There are lots of mechanized little pieces of robots and tanks and hangars and factories, and well THINGS that have little details to impress and wow the player. It's all very well done, but with little imagination.Enemies are mostly utility/military contraptions reminiscent of Aliens vehicles. They're all finely detailed, with no real surprises.The bosses are more of the same.Only bigger, madder,and with guns on top of guns on top of guns.

Speaking of guns, the weapons system is pretty cool in theory, but not really very unique in practice.You blow up a ship, it leaves its gunpod behind.You pick up the gunpod and use it until it runs out or you get another gunpod.Ok, it sounds cool scavenging parts from demolished machines,but it's really no different from picking up a little shiny powerup bubble left behind an explosion.The guns themselves are varied and pretty cool, my favorite being a light saber fixed on your nose that's pretty much indestructable.But otherwise it's standard stuff:spreaders, seekers, bombs, etc...All of this also relates to which ship you choose at the game's beginning,since different ships have different gunpod mount/laser cannon combinations.

So the game is not by any means bad.It's very good, actually, but it is without a doubt overhyped.It's beautiful to look at, but in the end not really all that fun.It's a 'retro' title thatplays by the rules of modern gaming: make it big, beautiful, and cinematic, and the uninspired gameplay will go unnoticed.Fans of the genre should definitely give Einhander a shot.But those ready for more, here are the alternatives:G. Darius for imagination and sheer fun factor, R-Type Delta for strategic challenge, Thunder Force V for a more retro feel, or either of the Ray series for top-down vertical blasting.

Eat your heart out space invaders
I'm 30 and miss the days of glory when arcade shooters ruled the world. This game seduces you with its kick butt graphics and outstanding game play. It is all you could every want from a shooter, except 2 player option, I would never sell my copy to anyone and will probably play this game when I'm 60. If you like Raiden, you will adore this game.

Legendary Shooter
This game breath-taking graphics, superb detail and lots of interesting features. This game is also crampacked with loads of
awesome mouth-watering action and adventure, also with the fact that there is exactly 12 awesome weapons and 3 sleek designed fighters for complete anilhation and don't stop there for there is 2 more radical fighters such as a police car from the first level. Features include: 3 difficulty modes, a 100-picture gallery, 5 file options, 5 fighter selections, 12 weapon choices,
and 4 configure options.

Alloy Butterfly
Einhander is the most impressive game in its class.Awesome graphics coupled with a fantastic array of weapons, arcade style handling, and outstanding, challenging objectives make it THE first choice for anyone interested in aerial combat.

The Einhander ship is a blue, jet-propelled weapons-handler that looks similar to a butterfly.The reason it's called Einhander?It has gunpods."Einhander" in German means "one hand."In addition to its mounted machine gun, it has gunpods capable of taking on up to three special weapons.A few of these:Wasp, a compact and effective guided-missile launcher, Vulcan, a gatling gun capable of extreme rates of projectile discharge, and a devestating cannon.

This is a game you have to see for yourself.Unfortunately, I haven't seen it at any local video stores, but you can trust my words:This game is worth it.Buy it, borrow it, whatever.Give this game a try. ... Read more

Features

• Innovative battle system
• Rich, epic soundtrack
• For 1 player
• Fully 3-D game world
• Wide variety of mini-games

Reviews (104)

a sweet game
this game is absoultly phoneomeal(or however u spell it) this is a must have it's a good game and doesn't take extreme experience to beat. but just cuz it's not hard doesn't mean it's not good.I strongly recomend this game, if u dont like it there's not gonna be many games u will like

Young Girl Defeats Evil Empire
Once upon a time in a land so far away that character names are nothing like they are today, the Seru came to the world of Legaia.Man discovered that he could use these benevolent creatures to wield tremendous powers.All was well.Or as well as it could be in a world where war was a commonplace and, sooner or later, someone figured out how to pervert the power of the Seru and turn them to evil.Those who wore the Seru became degenerate, and the world cowered before the onslaught of the mist.

Of course, the powers that write games couldn't leave an opportunity like this alone, and our heroes, Vahn the young hunter, Gala the monk, and Noa, an eleven year old girl with the power of 10 were packed off to end the mist, wearing special symbionts, the Ra-Seru.Their first task, to restore the great trees of the world.

This is a classic PS-One RPG.Not one of the greatest, but with enough play in it to keep your interest for the 40 to 60 hours it takes to play.The story line is straightforward - the long story arc is broken into a set of subquests, either the restoration of a tree or the destruction of a mist generator.The world is large, and you will spend a lot of time walking about in perpetual battle until faster modes of tranportation become available.

The battle system is based on combination attacks which can be layered together in increasing power.Magic is available via the Ra-Seru, who can absorb powers when certain foes are beaten.Like many systems, fighting can be as complex as you might like, but the truth is that you will find certain patterns that work consistently and those are what you will use.This is a flaw in most RPG's - power always trumps subtlety.

The game's only glaring flaw is that it is entirely too much a money game.You start out poor and stay that way, since no matter how many you kill, your funds always lag the prices until late in the game, when a variety of sub-games become available to generate cash and prizes.There is something vaguely unsatisfying about putting saving the world on hold in order to go 30 round in a boxing ring to get the cash for that nifty magic grail.Now every RPG has this problem, but in Legaia it is worse than usual.

My other gripe is the characters.Vahn and Gala are extremely two dimensional (Gala has a slight sense of humor).Noa, who gets most of the story development time, is a hyperactive, bloodthirsty eleven-year-old girl who is perpetually waving her arms and giving orders.She is also a stone killer.She may get my prize as the silliest hero to grace the Playstation.

Graphics are decent for the game's era, but music is a washout.This is a decent game, with fairly enjoyable play, but don't expect Final Fantasy level quality.If you like RPG's as a genre, then you will find the game entertaining for many hours.

This is the best rpg game in theworld
I like this rpg game becuase its awsome when u can capture any thing u kill's spirit and use it to kill otherthings.I'd like to buy this game becuase i have the money but i can't find anywere to buy it in my home town oneida. I really love this game to death it inspires me to be a game maker when i grow up to see if people would love the game i make as much as I love Legend Of Legia.

This is the best rpg game in theworld
I like this rpg game becuase its awsome when u can capture any thing u kill's spirit and use it to kill otherthings.I'd like to buy this game becuase i have the money but i can't find anywere to buy it in my home town oneida. I really love this game to death it inspires me to be a game maker when i grow up to see if people would love the game i make as much as I love Legend Of Legia.

This is the best rpg game in theworld
I like this rpg game becuase its awsome when u can capture any thing u kill's spirit and use it to kill otherthings.I'd like to buy this game becuase i have the money but i can't find anywere to buy it in my home town oneida. I really love this game to death it inspires me to be a game maker when i grow up to see if people would love the game i make as much as I love Legend Of Legia. If u could tell meif there is a store in my town oneida were i can buy a copy of the game Legend Of Legia please contact me at my e-mail cooldude51432@yahoo.com. PLEASE becuase i really love this game and need to have it i have only rented it at blockbuster but they got rid of the game for rental so please e-mail meand tell if you can find anything or not thank you. ... Read more

Editorial Review

If you can't experience Civilization II--one of the best computer strategy games of all time--on a Mac or PC, this faithful PlayStation adaptation is the next-best thing. Gameplay is turn-based and takes place on a world map that's broken down into an octagonal grid, with players controlling a civilization from its inception in 4000 B.C. all the way through A.D. 2020. You "win" the game by either conquering the world or being the first civilization to successfully colonize space; how you go about this--in terms of the social, economic, and political strategies involved--is entirely up to you. This freedom in decision-making, along with a good amount of game options and the fact that the "world" is randomly generated each time you begin a game, adds extremely high replay value.

While Civilization II has been slightly pared down and doesn't look as good as it does on a computer--the graphics here are muddy, and text can be hard to read--the customized PlayStation control interface works surprisingly well. (Keyboard and mouse controls generally don't translate well to the PlayStation controller, to put it mildly.) --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Faithful adaptation of one of the best computer strategy games of all time
• Control interface has been customized for the PlayStation
• Extremely high replay value

• Muddy graphics; hard-to-read text

Features

• Build a civilization from its humble beginnings to the jet-set future
• Hours and hours of absorbing gameplay
• For 1 player
• Empire-building turn-based strategy game
• Conquer the world with military might, or make peaceful trade alliances

Reviews (39)

strategy pure and simple...
If your looking for a strategy game tht challenges you... this is it. Its not pretty to look at, terrible music, and this game takes a long time to beat at its maximum level. I found it challenging and my competitive nature would not allow me to let go until i figured it out. However this is number crunching at its highest point. Its easy to go thru the menues but difficult to master the systems. This game is only for strategy freak like me who love a challenge if your looking for action, graphics, or storyline dont bother. The price is right though, but Romance of the three kingdoms, nectaris, or command @ conquer, or even panzer or allied general have a little more to offer.

A Model of How the World Works
Civilization II is a decided improvement over Civilization I, already an outstanding game. Civ II features a number of new, improved, and snazzier units. It is also "equal opportunity," insofar as each civilization can have either a male and female ruler (although the latter is sometimes the wife of some noted male ruler), as well as female civilian units, engineers and spies, that appear in midgame and are twice as efficient as their ancient male counterparts.

I prefer to play on the "real world" map because it gives insights into the historical forces that shaped civilizations. For instance, the Mongols and the Russians are hostile, aggressive, powers because they were landlocked, resource (read arms) -rich, food- and trade- poor countries. England and Japan compensate with expansionist tendencies for their starts on small islands. Meanwhile the Americans are a friendly people (except possibly against the Aztecs and/or Sioux) because they were blessed with an ideal combination of trade, resources, and food, as well as a "splendid isolation."

The diplomacy function, which was the weak link of Civilization I, has been vastly improved in Civilization II. For instance, human players are penalized in terms of "reputation" for breaking peace treaties. And the computer players are great at forming alliances against the strongest country in the world (or on a continent) to prevent one civilization from running away with the show and conquering the entire planet. The alliance option is usually available to the human player too. "Peace" now forces civilizations to withdraw troops from each others' territories, while the "no war" state of Civilization I is called a ceasefire.

The combat function has been upgraded using protocols from other war games. Battles now have multiple rounds, typically resulting in one "killed" and one wounded unit, more nearly reflecting relative strengths, instead of "all or nothing" fights that do give weak, ancient, phalanxes a one chance in five or ten of destroying modern armored or battleship units.

There are seven new wonders, mostly representing the endowments of famous people in history (Leonardo's Workshop, Sun Tzu's War Academy), and the old wonders have been revamped slightly, usually by making them more or less powerful. (Free government changes aren't allowed until midgame after the discovery of Democracy and building of the Statue of Liberty, while the pyramids provide a granary in each city.) These add dimension and complexity to an already fascinating game.

this game is fun but better on the computure
this game was a lot clunkier then the computure version and you where unable to get actual world maps or scenarios it also took up almost an entire memory card but if you would rather play a game on PS then PC then this is the game for you

Clumsier than the PC version
A fairly faithful adaptation of the classic computer game.Players start the game as one of a number of civilizations and attempt to grow and survive until they have wiped out the other civilizations or colonized another planet.

Players build new settlements and then build different buildings and military units to help their civilization grow.Combat, diplomacy, and civil engineering all combine for fascinating gameplay.

My only real problem with the console conversion is that the main graphics are rather clumsy looking while most of the incidental graphics are taken straight from the original game.The game controls are also clumsier than they need to be.Obviously a game controller is more limited than a full keyboard, but I don't think the controller is used to full advantage.The controls mean that the length of a game is longer than in the PC version.

Although a little slower and clumsier than the original version, this is still an enthralling game with a very high level of replayability.

Addictive
This game is simple and the graphics are a little clunky, but it is addictive.For hours and hours, you get caught up building your civilization and pummeling civilizations around you. ... Read more

Editorial Review

If you can put up with the cutesy graphics, Grandia isone of the longest, most compelling, and most character-driven role-playinggames you'll ever spin in your PlayStation. By the time wefinished this massive quest, we really cared about the game'scharacters. (By comparison, our interest in Final Fantasy VIIwas focusing more on getting from one transition movie scene to thenext).

The main story line is standard role-playing fare. The powerful GeneralBaal has plans to unleash something of a Pandora's box on the world,and you can guess whose job it is to stop him. Grandia providesa world packed with colorful characters who are fun to talk to, and theunconventional combat system lets players pick and choose their fights.The characters in your party grow, as do their magical skills andweapons, meaning there's always some new accomplishment just around thecorner that keeps players adventuring long into the night. Role-playingfans should be overjoyed that this conversion from the Sega Saturnclassic was made, as it provides weeks of solid adventuring that neverbecomes a chore. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• An entertaining adventure with loads of interesting characters
• Characters, weapons, and spells all improve with experience

• Quirky, cutesy graphics won't appeal to everybody

Features

• Voice acting for critical story sequences
• 3-D polygonal environment
• For 1 player
• Fantasy themed role-playing game
• Turn-based combat system

Reviews (46)

Reminiscent of a lost childhood
I am an RPG player to the core. I only play RPG's and I tend to randomly pick them off the shelf at game stores and buy them. I have played and seen my fair share of depressingly bad RPG's.
This is how I happened to come across Grandia in my younger years. I instantly fell in love with the game. I do not look for graphics in a game (although good graphics are a plus), so this game was perfect for me. The story was decidely lack of some really new ideas, and the battles could be teadious. I enjoyed the humour of the game. Even when faced with grave danger Justin is calm and cool, at least he tries to be, just like any younger teenage boy would be.
The battle system was easy to use, and understand. Plus, the leveling up of your weapons and magic added a little twist to getting stronger.
I would definitly advice younger teenage boys to play this game if they wish to play a fun and interesting RPG. The story is easy to understand, the fighting is smooth yet challanging, and the love is to a minimum (which any teenage boy would love, no pun intended).
So, take a chance and play the game. Have fun, and if you don't like it then you don't, but if you do. Well if you like it then you have a game to play when you get really bored.

The Theme of Adventure
I heard some many things about the original Grandia that I had to get a copy. Since it was the beginning of the series, I just had to see what started it all. I was impressed with this one despite it being really old. All three of the Grandias emphasize something grand in there stories:

Grandia 2: Story
Grandia Ex: Battle
Grandia 1: Adventure

This game has one of the most original themes I've ever known. This game is all about adventure and the places you visit come from a long list of destinations. The game itself started the unique IP gauge battle system which had the most unique way of learning moves and spells: you have to a certain numerical level to get a new technique. Some moves and magic have two or three required values, making this one interactive RPG that will mostly emphasize training. Once you get a new move, using it or its related statistic increases its power level and activation speed. Also, when a weapon or spell type levels up, you get a boost in the related parameter (for example: if Justin levels up his staff, he gets a bonus of 2 HP added on to his max total as well as 1 point more onto his Vitality). Not a bad system at all, a bit reminiscent of Saga Frontier 2's numerical value Arts system. Game Arts should have kept this on for the other two games. Maybe they might bring it back for the third one.

The music is a definite highlight of this game, considering the great Noriyuki Iwadare composed it. His town and battle themes are amazing, especially Disc 2's main battle theme (my favorite battle theme of all time). There are entertaining and sad themes too and a romantic one for all of us who want something a little heartfelt. The voice acting isn't really as bad as everyone says. Justin and Sue are pretty much right on the dot with their ages (14 and 8) while Guido's semi-Italian speech is really cute. Milda's southern girl accent is nice and burly and Rapp definitely sounds like a kid who has no manners at all.

The story seems a little closely related to Grandia Ex in terms of the Grandia world having elemental spirits residing in it as well as the story of an ancient civilization where man tasted the paradise of supreme knowledge. Not bad at all.

The game spans two discs and has three sidequests of great difficulty on the second disc. Unfortunately, they are very easy to miss and have some sweet rewards inside. Plus, after a certain point, you won't be able to go back and do them, so pay attention on the second disc.

The flaw with this game is that is clearly not meant for the PS2 (because of the constant data flow during battles and dungeons). If you still own a PS1, it will save you all the frustration of infrequent and unwelcome freezes (especially if you haven't saved in a while). Also, the music tracks on this Grandia are cut somewhat in comparison to the Saturn version, which has them all, so you might want to hunt down the OST (which is even rarer than the game these days). All and all, a great beginning game for a hopefully long running series in the future.

this is a great game
it is a great game it's a fun and a long gameand if u think it's easy you think wrong i av completed the game three time and am not even bored and am doing it all over agen i wud by this games

Simple Clean Fun With a Price
Grandia is simply a gem.The cast of characters are a little predictable, but definitely distinct and unique from one another.It is a decent port from the Dreamcast, but I have seen better.
+ Level Up System:
You level up just like any other RPG with experience points after each battle.However, your weapon level up upon their usage.Each character can use up to three different weapons.Upon leveling up a weapon, something is leveled up such as HP, Vitality, Strength ect.This is the same for magic.Magic is first aquired by finding Mana Eggs and using them to buy magic.Afterwards, the more you use a certain magic, (Fire, Water, Earth, Wind) you level it up, giving you more skills.This makes leveling up a lot more fun, and even adds to the battles as you need to use certain magics to aquire new skill.

+Battle System
This is one of the best types of Battle System.First of all, it is a mixture of active time and turn base battle.Every enemy shares the same Active Time Bar.Once a character reaches a certain point, you have all the time you need to select your attack.Not only that, but certain attacks can affect the active time greatly, sending the enemy, (or your characters) backwards in the active time bar. OH!And did I mention there are NO random battles.The enemies run around in the screen with you, and you see them before you come in contact.Once defeated they disappear.Come close enough to them, and they will chase you though.

+Characters
There are a few characters that join and leave the party.However, there are two that stay throughout the entire game, (Justin and Feena).Each character has their own history, personality, and special movies.This still does not make for good character development though.They are highly predictable.The voice acting and even dialog script is laughable.Such phrases such as; "100,000,000 DEGREES!TAKE THAT!" and "OH WIND, TWIST LIKE A TORNADO!" seems a little cheesy for me during battle.

+Graphics:
The graphics are decent, but there's nothing special about them.The world is in 3D and the camera can be rotated.

+Story:
The story seems very cliche to me.A young adventurer named Justin wants to find new quests for himself.He's a troublemaker and later finds himself on the journey of a lifetime.He meets up with many new people and eventually realizes only he (with the help of his friends) can save the world.It is not very unique or at all intriguing enough, but many of the small side stories is what makes it interesting.

+Overall:
This is a great game!It's fun and well worth your money.It claims to give over a hundred hours of gameplay, but I beat it in 47 hours.Though the character and stories are weak, the gameplay is not.Grandia II is just as good, and with the hopes of another Grandia to follow, things should only improve.

Pros:
Great system for leveling up magic/skills
Fun battle system!
Good length for a game

Cons:
Laughable dialog and voice acting
Weaker story / cliche / cheesy at times
Very linear

^-^
Okay for starters.I am offical a member of the 1 member ABBA (anti Brain Bat Association).If you have played this game, found the optional dungeon, fought those little buggers at a lower level, you know why.(BABOOM)

Sorry.

The game is cool.Graphics are nice (not the best but better than some).The music is excellent.The voice acting is skippy but it works.The magic system can be difficult to figure out in the beggining and hard to level, but hey ^-^ there are places to level them without cheat codes.[For water, try standing in the green water at the tower and heal yourself.It does work, though it does take a few hours for each character--recommending Feena to level 99 water/wind.]

I love the game overall despite the bad voice acting.Nothing tops the original, I suppose.Oh, and who can ever pass up having their final boss fight inside of a coach-roach? ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Samurai Greatness!!!
Okay, long ago I played this game, for a very short time at that. Once for five minutes when a neighbor brought it over (and sadly I never saw him again) and another time on a demo for about the same amount of time. Then I bought this and it was AWESOMELY AWESOME! Then also when the sequal/remake of the game Samurai Legend: Musashi, it was JUST AS AWESOME IF NOT EVEN MORE!!!!!!!!! YOU MUST BUY THE GAME NOW! ALSO THE SECOND ONE!!!

This game is TOO AWESOME to describe!!!
This game is AWESOME!!! I played the demo of it, and as soon as I finished the demo, I knew I had to play the full version. So one day I rented it. It was a BLAST!!! I fell COMPLETELY in love with game!!! Oh! And I expect the same thing in the sequel. That's right, the sequel!!! It's due March 2005, and is called Musashi Samurai Legend!!! So if you liked the first game, expect HIGH hopes from the sequel!!!

A Fun somewhat challenging games
What may have turned many fans away (even me at first) about this game is that it is on the outside targeted towards children.While Final Fantasy always had a deep plot with strong characters, this one does not.Instead we get a game that is more in tune with that of a Saturday Morning Cartoon.

The story here is that an evil force is attacking the kingdom in order to take it over.The Princess and her council cast a spell to retrieve the Legendary Brave Fencer Musashi.They expect this tall muscular Adult Warrior and instead they get a child.Distraut at first they send him on a quest to retrieve his sword and release the five scrolls so that the evil can be stopped.

The gameplay is that of an Action RPG.You gain experience points in fighting but also on how you do things to a certain degree.You use your swords to fight but also your short sword can be charged and then thrown at your opponents to absorb their abilities.You may find that the weakest of creatures could have the most usuful of abilities, and vice versa.

This game is deceptivly deep and challenging.The Bosses are for the most part Hard, yet incredible to fight.Also just to tease RPG fanatics there is a Toy Collecting Mini game of sorts.You can remove the toys from the packaging but then their value goes down if you choose to resell the toys (take that Fanatics).Overall this is a great game to play and I am looking forward to the PS2 followup for sometime next year.If your not into Final Fantasy than give this one a shot, you may be surprised at how much you enjoy it.

A real review
I can't belive the reviews I am reading on this game, because I owned it, and I am writing this review to make sure that other people don't make the same mistake that I did.

We all love Square, but come on, sometimes they don't make the best games.The only problem is that their fans are so loyal that they won't let anything bad be said about even the few square game that are not good.Final Fantasy 5: bad storyline, I mean bad, fun gameplay, but none of the diehard fans will admit that it is a bad game.Musashi, same problem: horrible storyline, and I swear to god some of the most annoying side characters in gaming history.I wanted to kill the princess myself. She talks, *giggles* totally like this, and the worst, like thing, like, is that she like has audio of all her speeches *giggle*.And once you beat the game you probably won't come back 4 more.If you are under the age of 13 or 12, though, you might enjoy this game, so this review is dependent on age.

But really, before you dismiss this review, it is not the worst game, it is bad, but come on other reviewers don't recommend this game as a must have, u know it's not that good.Buy Vagrant Story instead, loads of replay value, probably the best story-line on the PS, and graphics and look are original, I've never seen a game like it, the development team broke up after it, so it will remain an anomaly.Or Parasite Eve 1, that's the closest I've seen a game come to a movie and still have gameplay and an actuall game included with it.Anyway, this is an honest review, I warned you don't buy the game, you most likely won't enjoy it.

MUY BEUNO!!
Considering that this is a PS1 title, this game is awsome!!! It has solid gameplay, beutiful sound, quirky sound effects, and cool charecter designs.Best feature, the Machine Gun Fusion... bratatatatatatatatatat!!! WHEEEEE!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

It's not very often that a game aims to be fun and realistic while instilling a sense of personal involvement and responsibility. Mary-Kate and Ashley: Winners Circle does that within the theme of horseback riding. Players compete in such equestrian events as dressage, jumping, and cross-country, and learn the basics of caring for a horse. The game offers a practice mode, which lets riders master the controls and explore a course before entering events, and an adventure mode with large forest and island levels where players can play minigames or just simply explore. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Two Thumbs Up
As a young woman who has been showing, training, breeding, and riding horses since a very young age, it takes a lot to impress me when it comes to horsemanship games. When I opened up a Christmas gift to find this game, I inwardly groaned and said, Ewwww. Mary-Kate and Ashley. Later that day, I was glued to the Playstation. My parents had to drag me off of it to go to bed. Needless to say, I was very impressed.
Starting out in the stable, you can customize your own rider and horse, and set out to ride, whether you choose horse trials, three or single day eventing, horseshoe hunting, or a simple trail ride, you can be gaurunteed that you'll have fun. The game focuses around the 3-day-eventing, with progression in levels (you work your way up from beginner's circle to winner's circle) and new course layouts for each level.
A fun aspect of the game is the collection of ribbons you can win while trail riding, which can then be spent like money in the tack shop. While there's no tack in the shop, you can buy clothes for your rider, which (however girly it may seem) is rather fun. You can have a tweed coat for showing your chestnut horse, or a black hunt coat for a white horse. The possibilites are endless.
The trail-riding worlds (island and forest) are both huge, with beautiful scenery and landscapes. Each has several hidden minigames, but you'll probably just find yourself galloping aroung exploring. With the two-player option, you can ride with a friend, which is even more fun. The music that plays in the background for these worlds (also featured in horse trials and horseshoe hunts) is catchy and sugary.
The one thing I didn't like about this game is MK-A's voice overs, like "You're on the wrong trail" or "you missed a checkpoint" during the cross-country course. Can you say ANNOYING? Another thing is that, while caring for your horse, the rider will say stupid things like, when brushing the tail "someone needs to use some conditioner!" or when cleaning out the stall, "it's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it." I mean, is it really neccesary?
However, these are not trivial problems and if you love horses, you should definately purchase this game! It's great for those rainy days that you can't go out to the barn. Saddle up and I'll see you on the trails!

This game is so cool first time, but is too easy
This game is really cool is ur under 14 and love horses and riding. You can design and name ur own horse, which u can then ride in dressage, x country, jumping free ride. You can win ribbons and trade them for outfits and maps in the shop, and you can feed groom, and generally care for ur horse, to get more points in dressage. The only problem is, it's too easy, and i completed it within a week. Buy it though, coz it's worth the money.

FUN GAME!!
Howdy Horse Lovers! This is a REALLY awesome game! It's fun and it NEVER gets old, although it broke now cuz i played it too much...heehee. but i got it used anyways. im probably going to buy another one cuz THIS GAME ROCKS! i would DEFINITELY have ANY horse lover try it out! (BUY THIS GAME! ITS WORTH THE MONEY!!!)

great
I thought the mary-kate and ashely game was great it had alot of action packed thing it was awsome and i mean AWESOME

A good horse game
I enjoyed this game a lot. I like how you can create your own horse and compete in Dressage, Cross-Country, and Showjumping. There are a few things I dont think are the greatest. One: The charaters you choose from are UGLY! They say make a charater that looks like you. What, do Mary-Kate and Ashley think everyone is UGLY!?!?!?! I dunno. Two: If you accidently miss a checkpoint, the stupid voices will say 'YOU missed a checkpoint!' It gets SOOOOOOOOOO annoying! Third: In the tack show, I thought they could have done better. They didn't have any saddles, bridles no tack. Only clothes. No duh you can tell its a Mary-Kate and Ashley game.
Everything else, I thought was great. It may seem I hated this game, but i really didn't. Try it out for yourelf! You might like it. ... Read more

Product Description

Spyro 2 is the sequel to the charming, family-friendly Spyro the Dragon adventure game. Spyro is the same lovable dragon, but his challenges are now larger and more complex. Help him fly and head-butt his way through incredible new 3D fantasy worlds with more puzzle elements and bonus levels. Made in USA. ... Read more

Features

• Platform: PlayStation.
• ESRB Rating: Everyone.
• Ages 6 and up.

Reviews (137)

SPYRO ROCKS!
I have all the Spyro PS1 games and they rock! The best PS1 games you can buy.
I have Gateway To Glimmer instead of Ripto's Rage though, but they are exactly the same but with diff names and covers.
All the worlds rock, and it's nice to see more frien