Final Fantasy VII
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (27 March, 2000)
list price: $19.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Long recognized as role-playing games par excellence, the FinalFantasy series gets a technological makeover in this installment (and seriesdebut on the PlayStation). Shedding the two-dimensional graphics and limitedsound capabilities of its predecessors, Final Fantasy VII features lush3-D graphics, beautifully animated "movie" sequences, and soundtrack-qualitymusic. Coupled with the game's intricate storyline, endearing characters, andimmense yet highly imaginative world, these new advancements make for a quite anengrossing experience.

The story of Final Fantasy VII centers around a solider named CloudStrife, who joins forces with Avalanche, a group of resistance fighters, to takedown an evil mega-corporation known as Shinra. (The fate of the world hangs inthe balance, of course.) Truly epic in scope, this four-disc game requires aconsiderable amount of time to complete---this reviewer gladly gave up over 80hours of his life to finish it. But it's definitely a rewarding adventure thatevery PlayStation owner should consider undertaking, especially since it's nowone of the low-priced "Greatest Hits" titles. --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Intricate and absorbing storyline with endearing characters
• Immense and highly imaginative game world
• Special battle system
• Beautifully animated movie sequences

Cons:

• Your friends and family may feel neglected

... Read more

Features

• Join AVALANCHE, an organization sworn to put an end to Shinra corporation's destructive practices
• Move around the world using flying vehicles, submarines, and Chocobos
• Fill the Limit gauge to perform each character's special attack
• Play 7 mini-games, from arcade-type to betting
• For 1 player

Reviews (1073)

Not as top notch as the other FF's!
To sum things up, FF VII is a good game, but I find it is overrated.When it was released in the late 1990's it set the standard for graphics not only for RPG's, but for all video games from there on out.But in terms of the game itself, it leaves some things to be desired.

The characters for example, were not as well developed as they should have been.The lead character, Cloud, got about 80% of the character development, while the others only small bits are known about them.But I will say that each character does have his or her own unique personality so this area may not bother players too much.

The music in FF VII unfortunately, was horrible in my opinion.Especially when compared to other Square titles such as Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, and even Final Fantasy IV (which is well over 10 years old).The battle music was good, but the rest was flat and uncreative, especially the music on the world map.Those of us who are familliar with the work of Square had expected much better in this department.

The game play was good.The materia system was a nice touch that added variety to the basic magic-using RPG.Basically, every character in the game can use spells, but they have to equip a materia onto their armor or weapon, and gain points through battles to learn each spell the materia has to offer.The only downside is that once the materia has been unequiped, the spell(s) go with it.But nonetheless, the materia system had breathed new life into the RPG world of magic-using.

You also have side quests, secret/hidden items and weapons, and secret characters just like most RPG's.The graphics are good, although the characters look very polygonized in their smaller forms.The CG scenes are beautiful.This is one area Square always dominates.They did a great job with those in FF VII.

It saddens me to give this game only 3 out of 5, but I must be honest.I love RPG's, especially the classics from Square, but I just don't think that FF VII deserves to be up there with CT, FF IV, and FF VI.Even the ending of FF VII was disappointing, because they did no follow-up on the characters.It's a good game overall, but it had the potential to be great.

:)
best characters and storyline iv ever played....plot twists..great character development..this game does everything right.. Cloud:the main character is a bad ass, manley man..despite the fatc it probaly takes him 3 hours in the morning to do his hair..but hes cool none the less..barret: a black guy who is also manley and has a really bad temper...tifa:huge boobies, wears short shorts and is probaly really pretty if the graphics were better..oh and shes nice and obviously wants to get into clouds pants...aeris: a good girl who probaly shouldnt stand under balconys or anything somebody can jump on top of her... cid: foulmouth badass...this game has a lot of bad asses...red XIII: plays the role of the wise old man...though hes not a man and techinically in his years hes onky a teenager

GET THIS GAME...ull love it...if u like rpgs ull love this game and follow it like a religion

"I don't care where, Cloud, Just stop it!"
I love this game. It is absolutely THE BEST vg i have ever played.

Follow the life of Cloud Strife, an ex-soldier who joins AVALANCHE, a club who is full of crime fighting agents such as Tifa, Barret and Yuffie. One time on a dangerous mission, he meets Aeris, a flower girl from the slums.they THEN set out on an adventure to defeat Shinra! ... Read more

Asin: B00000JRSB
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Role Playing Games    3. Fantasy    4. Sony Playstation (Play station)    5. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    6. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)    7. Adventure   

Suikoden
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $49.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

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. ... Read more

Asin: B00002STPG
Sales Rank: 5242
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)   

Suikoden II
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (21 September, 1999)

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• Play with a team of up to six characters, each with unique skills and powers
• Strong 2-D graphics
• For 1 player
• RPG fantasy adventure
• Collect the 108 stars of destiny to defeat the evil prince

Reviews (72)

A great game but.......
Suikoden 2 is a great game, and I'm glad I grabbed a copy way back with the guide, maybe I should sell my copy and take a tropical vacation. Seems that these rare games are developing into collectors items more than games now. If you really want to spend $100+ on a game your bordering on nuts,but buy suikoden part 1 cause its vital to fully enjoy this game. However this game is beautiful, deep, and captivating. I have played it thru several times, you can even load your original suikoden data if you gathered the 108 stars in that game to add storyline and events to this title. Greatest Rpg series ever a must for a true rpg fan/collector.

New type of RPG
I ran across this game (...)right when it first came out, and I picked it up more as a fluke than for any other reason.I am glad I did.Graphically this game is in 2D, but it is done very well.Each person is easily recognizable, and there expressions come across quite clearly (with emotions appearing above the characters heads in little bubbles!).

As far as normal random battles goes, suikoden is fairly straight forward.6 people can join in fights, with a front line and a back line.Different people have different weapons that have different attacking abilities.Ie. weapons like bows can attack the enemies from the front and back row, staffs can attack only the front line of enemies, but they can be positioned in either your front or back row, and swords/axes can only hit the front line of the enemy, and only from the front line of your ranks.

One nice ability for later on is the option to choose 'let go'.If your party is crossing an area of the world map, or if you are re-exploring a dungeon from much earlier in the game, the option to 'run' is taken away, and the option 'let go' is placed there instead.Basically it is a means to escape the tedium of random battles that wouldn't provide enough experience of money to make the time of fighting it worthwhile.Plus it works 100% of the time. :)

The most interesting part of the game though is that fact that it incorporates more than just standard random battles, it also has full army battles that involve most of your fighting party members broken up into groups of 3.Each group has its own attack, defence, and special abilitys.Most of the time the battles are very enjoyable, however there are a few battles that rely on luck, so you just have to keep plugging away at them for a while until you finally manage to beat the enemy.

Also the game features a third battle system called duels, which are (just as the name emplys....) 1 on 1 duels.There aren't that many duels during the course of the game, and they are conducted in a rock paper scissors manner.

The best part of the game though is just playing through the story and becoming the hero of legend.Nothing is quite as satisfing as walking through your castle (which starts out run down and dilapidated and ends up quite spectacular) and talking to all the various people that have come to live there because of their firm (and very vocalized) belief that YOU are the one person capable of being a hero.

Suikoden may have a funny name, but it is a game that you would be a fool to bypass.

MUST PLAY
Betrayal between a country and its armed forces. loytalty between two friends, cant overcome ones loyalty to his country. This is Suikoden II. One of the all time great playstation games. the story line is basic just as the first one is. but there is more to do here in the land of highlands than in the scarlet moon empire. the castle really takes form and you can have cook offs and also fish with yam koo and tai ho (yep they are back). with many characters from the first suikoden included you will have hours of fun in this game. also yuber makes another mysterious appearance in another installment. this is a must play and its worth the $100 dollars you are going to spend to get it. ... Read more

Asin: B00001X50L
Sales Rank: 3030
Subjects:  1. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)    2. Adventure    3. Video Games    4. Role Playing Games    5. two (2 II)    6. Suikoden2    7. Sony Playstation (Play station)    8. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)   

Final Fantasy Anthology
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (16 November, 1999)

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Showcasing two installments of SquareSoft's wildly popular role-playinggame (RPG) series, Final Fantasy Anthology features the U.S. debut of FinalFantasy V, and reintroduces one of the best RPGs of all time, Final FantasyVI, originally released as Final Fantasy III on the Super Nintendo gamingsystem.

Both games are straight Super Nintendo conversions, so their 2-D graphics and 16-bitsounds are admittedly subpar by PlayStation standards. However, SquareSoft has addedbrand-new, beautifully animated movies for both titles, and has given Final FantasyVI the star treatment it deserves by adding a bonus mode where gamers can accessloads of supplementary material, such as artwork and data files on the game's monstersand items. As an extra bonus for hardcore fans, an audio CD featuring music from bothgames is included, making this quite the collector's package.

While Final Fantasy V is one of weaker entries in the series, Final FantasyVI alone is totally worth the price of Final Fantasy Anthology. Endearinglymelodramatic characters, a genuinely epic story line, and rock-solid gameplay makeFinal Fantasy VI just as absorbing today as it was when it was Final FantasyIII. --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Brand-new animated movies and bonus music CD soundtrack
• Reissues Final Fantasy VI, one of the best RPGs ever
• Lots of supplementary material for Final Fantasy VI

Cons:

• Dated graphics and sounds may bother some gamers
• The previously unreleased Final Fantasy V may as well have stayedunreleased

... Read more

Features

• Includes both Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI
• Includes brand-new animated movies and bonus music CD
• Original 2-D graphics and 16-bit sounds
• Includes extra material, such as artwork and data on the game's monsters
• For 1 player

Reviews (201)

The Best Fantasy AND How To Fix the Load Time Problem
I've noticed a couple people complain about the load times (especially during battles).There's a quick and easy fix for PS2 owners:In the main menu under the PS1 Driver, there's a setup option for "Fast Loading".When you turn that on, the game will load as fast as the original cartridge did.Problem solved.

.

And now for the game: FF6 *is* the best version of Final Fantasy made to date (imho).FF7, FF9, and FF10 are also very good, but FF6 got the RPG formula perfect: Great characters, great story, great battle system.If I had to sell all my RPGs, FF6 is the one I would keep & play over-and-over.


As for FF5, the story is rather weak, but the gameplay is really really good, thanks to the job system (like FF10-2).What I like to do with FF5 is to experiment:
- What if I had 4 white mages?
- What if I had 4 black mages?
- What if I had 4 fighters?
- Would I survive the battles w/ such weak teams?

Thanks to its job system, FF5 has a great deal of replayability.Even after you beat the game, you can go back and replay with a completely different team, and new complications (trust me, beating this game with 4 black mages is NOT easy).

Bottom Line: Buy Final Fantasy 5/6 right now.If you're like me, you'll cherish it forever.

i remember a time, not so long ago...
when the name final fantasy on a game box meant something. final fantasy 3(6) represents the best square has ever put out. don't get me wrong, i enjoyed ff1, ff7 and 9 too. i cant speak for ffx2, or 11, as i haven't played them. square, if you are thinking about how to make your next ff, create something as good as ff3(or even just close) and your fans will love you for it. i am glad ff has come to the gamecube, but lets be serious, crystal chronicles is weak...very weak. online capability is ok too, but the strongest point of a good rpg should always be single player. i know that you can make a good game square/enix, you have it in you, so please do us a favor and no more ff10's or crystal chronicles. sorry about the spiel, i highly recommend this anthology, ps2er's(or ps1) shouldnt be without it.

An awesome classic FF game!
Final Fantasy 6 is without a doubt one of the best RPG games on the market! ... Read more

Asin: B00002R28C
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Role Playing Games    3. Fantasy    4. Sony Playstation (Play station)    5. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    6. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)    7. Great Deals (Outlet store)   

Vandal Hearts
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $49.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (21)

This game got me started loving RPG's
This is an awesome game, like reviewers before me I have played it numerous times and have never gotten tired of it.Ir is easy to play with a great storyline and many different ways to play it by the choice of characters you take along any part of your journey through the game.I rented it to start off with, and after 2 days I decided that I had to have my own copy.What more is left to say that hasn't already been said by others.

Vandal Hearts
Though not one of the longer strategy -RPG's out there (that honor would have to go to Disgaea, or the epitome of all strategy RPG's Final Fantasy Tactics), Vandal Hearts is one of the most overlooked games on the Sony Playstation. Starting out the game you are put in the role of Ash who along with his friends Diego and Clint fight off a group of bandits who are attacking them. This sets the games gameplay in place, with blood flying and a soundtrack that only the fine folks at konami could produce, one that still echoes in my head to this day. Although the graphics are quite dated by todays standards the gameplay elements of this game are where it truly shines. After leveling up at level 10 or level 20 you are given the option to upgrade your character, thus allowing you access to new moves and enhanced abilities. For example archers can continue along the bowman path, or can get rid of their bows in exchange for the ability to fly which becomes irreplaceable later on in the game. Someone elses review said that this game had little replay value, but I would have to disagree, having beaten this game on at least 4 different occasions. Clocking in at somewhere around 16-22 hours it is not a long game, but there are somewhere around 6 or 7 seven secret levels, which are really tough and require precise skills, but if accomplished correctly open up not only a slightly secret ending, but also the class of Vandalier for Ash, opening up every skill in the game for the main character, and making him basically a God among the other soldiers. The realtionship between Ash and Elena develops throughout the game very well and the ties of friendship are established between other members of your party, just like any great RPG. Konami was on one hell of a roll back in the day, releasing this game, Suikoden, Metal Gear Solid, and Castlevania: SOTN within a year or two of each other, signifying them as one of the premiere publishers during the original Playstations golden Age, and producing all of these A class titles. Definitely do not miss out on the chance to own this game, especially if you grew up with games like Shining Force. Not to be passed up.

No replay value?
Is that a joke? This game is fantastic and still fun today.

Basically it is like Shining Force 2 where you get people and can upgrade them. You get a choice for most of your characters and each game you can try different jobs to see what you like. This game has alot of memorable characters and pretty nice graphics. The story is also impressive and stays interesting. I've played it numerous times and still love it. Do I reccomend this game? Of course I do. Will you get your moneys worth when you buy it? Yea, you will...
5 stars! ... Read more

Asin: B00002SV4N
Sales Rank: 2994
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Strategy (Strategic)   

Breath of Fire III
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $44.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• Fantasy RPG starring Ryu the dragon boy
• Explore and survive a lovely 3-D world
• Discover dragon stone combinations to enhance combat power
• Addictive fishing minigame
• For 1 player

Reviews (46)

Great game!
First, I'd like to start out by saying, this is one of the best games I have ever played! Second, don't listen to anyone that gave this game 1 or 2 stars, because this game isn't as low as to get a poor rating. The main character, Ryu, is one of the dragons. The dragons, can take on a human-like appearance, but a little different (Example: Ryu from BOF 1 had fangs). The plot starts when Ryu is looking for 2 of his friends, who all got separated due to an accident. But later, the plot completely turns around and blocks off the 2 friends. But anyway, this game is REALLY FUN!!! The battle system is turn-based, and you can learn certain abilitis from enimies by using the "Examine" command. There are a total of 6 party memebers, and there only one thing I hate about this game. I like it when you can access to all of your party members in the menu, and that they all would get experience points (Like BOF 4). But I HIGHLY recdomend this game, and trust me, you won't regret buying it.

Capcom Does It Again
Breath of Fire III is the best RPG game to hit the Playstation. You join Ryu and his allies once again so you could seek answers like "Who is God?", and "Who are the Brood?". These questions are answered as you go on with the story. I myself passed Breath of Fire III less than 40 hours and it is the most addictive series of them all. As you begin a new game, Ryu gets dropped by a train and abandoned in a forest not knowing what he his. He is found by thieves named Teepo and Rei which are trying to steal from a man named Mc Neil. After 15 hours of gameplay, Ryu's question is answered as the Brood, was his dragon clan. I recommend Breath of Fire III to anybody who loves RPG's.

I like this game
I really like to play this game.This game was fun for me and is interesting.I would normally play it but I cant play it no more because me dog broke it and I cannot buy it in any store and sometimes if i do it on ebay, i get jipped, and at most sites its always out of stock ... Read more

Asin: B000006OVE
Sales Rank: 3894
Subjects:  1. three (3 III)    2. Video Games    3. Sony Playstation (Play station)    4. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    5. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)    6. Action Fantasy   

Legend of Dragoon
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Talk about going out with a bang! Sony Computer Entertainment releasedits four-disc The Legend of Dragoon for the PlayStation only monthsbefore the release of that console's successor, the PlayStation2. This veryabsorbing role-playing game, with hours upon hours of story and inventivegameplay, might just be the last great title for the glorious PSX.

The copious story begins with Dart, a vengeful young man with spiky hair and redarmor who embarks on a desperate rescue mission to break his childhoodsweetheart out of a castle prison. The two join forces with a knight who istrying to end a war that's destroying the region. Dart soon learns that he is aDragoon--a human who's privy to the spiritual power of dragons. Like all RPGheroes, Dart is up against impossible odds, but his newfound Dragoon magic andbattle skills go a long way toward making the bet even money.

And that's just the beginning. Grab a spare memory card and a comfy chair and beprepared to spend at least 20 hours getting through the first disk (there arethree others just like it in the double-wide case). It's hard to sustain aplayer through this kind of time span, but The Legend of Dragoon takeschances and wins. For example, its battle system is turn based, so you canactually use some strategy, but it also features special "additions," orfighting combos that unfold if you match the X button to that addition's timing.When handling three players' additions, each with unique sequences, it can bequite challenging. You can increase the potency of the elemental magic up to 160percent by quickly tapping X during your cast. Also, the perspectives oftenchange between battles--players will direct the action from behind the heroes,behind the villains, looking down from above, and off to the side.

There are a couple downsides to the game. First, the stylized transitions intoand out of battle mode, while initially cool, quickly becomeexhausting--especially when running the gauntlet through lesser foes in the wilderness orlower ramparts of a castle. The game's story is built such that you're watchingthe sometimes goofy dialog as a spectator rather than participating in it. Thereare a few occasions when the game will prompt you to choose from two differentresponses, but often either response will bring about the same conclusion. Thattightly controlled narrative, however, often works in the player's favor bykeeping the game flowing instead of the wandering common in other RPGs, whereplayers waste time looking to each townsperson for direction.

Overall, the game's wonderfully illustrated sets, light exploration and problemsolving, and a handful of jaw-dropping full-motion video scenes make TheLegend of Dragoon fun to play and hard to put down. --Porter Hall

Pros:

• Hours upon hours of story and gameplay
• Turn-based battle made more exciting by combo-attack-style "additions"
• Many different monsters, spells, weapons, and items

Cons:

• Very linear gameplay offers no chance to affect outcome
• Stylish pre- and postbattle sequences quickly grow tiresome

... Read more

Reviews (292)

Fabulous game
First of all, I would like to say that I am a long time RPG gamer, and next to Final Fantasy IX, this is one of the best games I have ever played.Not only are the movies, battle scenes, and equiptment fun and entertaining, but the actual storyline is surprisingly good too.I will admit that the storyline can be a little confusing at times, and after a while the battle sequences do get monotonous, but if you have a large chunk of time you are willing to invest in a great game, especially if you are an RPG fan, than this is the game for you.The dragoon aspects of the battle sequences are very fun to watch and partake in, but the dragoon movies are even cooler to watch.This game is probobly my favorite game for playstation.(FFIX rocks too)

I loved the game
The first time i heard of it i was drawned to it. I love dragons yet i thought that it would be something like Kingdom Hearts in real-time. I dont usually like the kind of game were you have to wait for your move and it takes forever like in FF10-2. But this one is the best i have played for PSone, i have to say that if u like FF then you will love this game. I have beaten the game twice in about a 40 to 60 hours span b/c i tried going every where and getting the best iteams and weapons before i was going to defeat the last boss. The main thing to remember that dont take ur enemies lightly or else they will come back twice as hard and three times as pissed. So try the game rent it but i say try it at least u will be hooked if u like FF

The best of the best
All I am going to say is as an RPG junkie get this game and play it till your heart is content you will love it!! ... Read more

Asin: B00004S9AF
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)   

Final Fantasy IX
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (17 November, 2000)
list price: $39.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (622)

Open Mind
Hey guys.I love this game, flat out.It has great characters, a good plot, a good system, and fantastic music.A lot of people think that the game is boring, or maybe they don't like the plot, but I think that those people need to just give it a chance.This was the 7th Final Fantasy I have beaten, and now I have finished 1-9, and this game is in my top four.

There are some problems with this game, but I don't think they are very critical.Most of them affect the first couple hours, but they are nothing toreally have too big a problem with.First of all, the begining is slow.There are about 4 battles in the first hour, and you finish only about 20-50 in the first few hours.Also it takes a little getting used to to get into the gameplay.Characters gain magic and abilities based on what equipment they have on.

Anyways, I put this in my top list of games, which are in order of which is most important to play

Final Fantasy VI
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy VII
Earthbound
Final Fantasy IX
Chrono Cross
Xenogears

Play those RPG's and you will have experienced the best games ever made.

This is to the people
Look, I realize you are entitled to your opinions, as am I.So, let me get my two cents in.This is to the people who do not like FF( because only mages can use magic(like cure, fire, etc.).Stop complaining!Not only can Garnet and Eiko cure, but Amarant uses Chakra to cure, Freya uses a skill to cure, and so can Quina.This game DOES return to the roots which has only certain characters use magic.It makes it harder.Now, to those who claim this game is childish because of certain things.I am twenty-four years old, and I like this game a lot.My friends like this game.Even my twenty-eight year old brother likes this game.None of us think it is too childish.
To those who complain about the storyline, claiming a thirteen year old could do better.I've read the fan fictions people of such age write about the Final Fantasies; trust me, they ARE NOT BETTER.If you think you could do better, try it.By the RPG Maker, and DO IT!Betcha can't, though.If thirteen year olds COULD do better plots, you would think that such companies as Square Enix would hire them.Duh.

Great Game, despite all other opinions
First of all, I'd like to point out that I haven't played many other Final Fantasy Games, so I'm not going to compare them.

On to my thoughts about FFIX. It was the first real RPG Playstation game that I ever bought and it's the one that got made me love the genre.
Plot: 4/5 Great plot, however they fail to really explain some crucial details (for example: why does Zidane sees Garnet's memory?). A little more explanations would be nice for my lack of brain cells.
Characters: 5/5 You really do get attached to Zidane and Garnet, you laugh at Amarant's oblivious and cynical nature, and just want to shoot Thorn and Zorn. The point is, the characters are interesting and have a personality.
Gameplay: 4/5 At first it's hard to understand how to train the characters and use different accessories to learn attacks. However, once that is settled, the gameplay is great. Also, it took me forever to realize that pressing Select on the world screen brings up a map: VERY USEFUL! You'll get lost if you don't use it. Other than that, good gameplay.
Graphics: 6/5 :) Gotta love the grahics. Squaresoft created different cultures/architectures for each different country. Gaia is absolutely gorgeous. The FMVs are amazing. Two thumbs way way up for the graphics.

Overall: Though it required a lot of time training to beat Kuja and the final bosses, the game is really fun. The minigames range from "fun-for-two-seconds" (Jumprope Vivi) and "takes-forever-but-gotta-love-it" (Chocobo Hot and Cold) and the game itself is great, long and never boring. Five stars out of five it is, then. Great way to get yourself in the world of Final Fantasy. ... Read more

Asin: B00004Y57G
Sales Rank: 65
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)    5. Great Deals (Outlet store)   

Diablo 2
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (29 June, 2000)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $19.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Everything that made the original Diablo great--nonstop action, wicked monsters, dark gothic atmosphere, and fantastic magic items--has returned. But new enhancements such as the class skill system and cheater-proof multiplayer competition make Diablo II even better than the original.

The millions of gamers who fought their way through the horror of Tristram'scatacombs in the original Diablo realized that all was not well aftertheir hero destroyed the demon's physical body. Diablo II opens with avivid animated vision of that mad, doomed hero, who unwittingly spreads chaos ashe moves toward a fate of Diablo's choosing. With the original character classesgone, players choose from a new cadre of champions: the Barbarian (can wield twotwo-handed swords at once, one in each hand), the Necromancer (raises the deadto fight his battles), the Amazon (master of bow and spear), Paladin (holycrusader), and Sorceress (wielder of elemental magic). These warriors follow adiabolical plot through four acts, and each act is roughly as big as theoriginal Diablo.

Diablo II looks and behaves very much like Diablo. Players areassigned quests by nonplayer characters and adventure through dark catacombs andcrypts. Hordes of vile monsters assail the hero, who survives by force of arms,powerful spells, and through the use of varied and exotic magic items. Randomlygenerated dungeons guarantee fresh adventure each time a new game is started.But unlike the original game, characters must fight their way through the above-ground wilderness before entering a dungeon. Fortunately, some of thefrustrations of adventuring have been lessened in Diablo II, thanks to thenew ability to run and the clever implementation of "waypoints" that let yourcharacter quickly travel to and from the safety of town.

Along with the new character classes comes a new character skill system. As inthe original game, players improve their character's ability scores as they killmonsters and gain experience. But unlike the original game, players get to addspecific skills, spells, and powers each time they advance. For example, aftergaining a level you could choose between taking a skill that improves yourattack speed or a skill that allows you to scatter your foes with a mightyshout. With this customizedadvancement system it is unlikely that two high-levelcharacters, even characters of the same class, will be alike. Instead ofprogressing along a set path, you can choose skills and powers that complementyour own particular playing style. Interestingly, this new customizable classsystem closelyparallels the changes made in the new editionof Dungeons & Dragons.

Other enhancements include a method for creating and customizing magicitems, 3-D accelerated spell effects, anticheat multiplayer code, and a place to safelystore excess money and equipment. But even without these tweaks, even withoutthe sophisticated story line and all the cool new features, Diablo II isjust a great game. The sound, music, and graphics combine to create atantalizingly eerie setting. Players will willingly let their game-playing hoursslip well past reasonable bedtimes, suffering bleary-eyed classes and meetingsin exchange for "just one more" magic item, dungeon level, or characterskill.

Diablo is back. Say hello to the game that will once again dominate gamers'computers, and say good-bye to your free time. --Michael Fehlauer.

Pros:

• Diabolical, engrossing story line told through brilliant cutscenes
• All five of the new classes are distinct and fun
• Fantastic music and sound effects
• Random dungeons allow unlimited replayability
• Millions of magic items, including rare items and sets of unique magicalequipment

Cons:

• Addictive gameplay may cause loss of sleep, significant other, job
• Virtually no improvement in graphics

... Read more

Features

• Five all-new character classes with unique attributes and abilities.
• Four different, fully populated towns complete with wilderness areas.
• Multiple dungeons, caverns and crypts in every town for players to explore.
• Expanded world filled with all-new quests, weapons, spells, armor, monsters and non-player characters.

Reviews (533)

Best of the Genre
Diablo II is a helluva lotta fun.I'm not so much a single player person, but a multiplayer person.The gameplay is well thought-out and engaging.The plot is corny, but, then again, this is an RPG.

The graphics are kinda mediocre, but the gameplay makes up for it.The expansion is a must.Playing online is incredibly addictive, which I don't like, but I get a kick out of it.What makes this game is the interaction in multiplayer.

(...) is easy to use.They catch a fair few cheaters.

My main complaint is that there are many lamers.There is a group of people that buys duplicated items of the internet at like 10 dollars a piece.This is what I don't like.There are other people that hack accounts and steal characters and equipment, and that is just lame.Thankfully, this has not happened to me, although my brother got hacked a long time ago.

Even so, the fact that your account might get hijacked just adds to the reality that it is, after all, just a game.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

The single player is a lot like the multiplayer.It is a good way to learn how to start out independently.In fact, the multiplayer is like single player, but just with more people.(surprise)

There aren't many glitches, and there is skill involved, up to a point.

Buy this game.It's worth your money.So is the expansion.

Great game!
Diablo 1 players. Yes, I know you have suffered, but Diablo 2 fixed all their problems and this game is 700 times better! Get it!

Learned some lessons from DIABLO, but quests more restricted
DIABLO 2 can be summarized as "like DIABLO, but more so." DIABLO 2 has more locales, more varied scenery, more (and more elaborate) AIs, more control over developing your character's skills, more types of characters to play, better play balance, and so on.

Like the original, DIABLO 2's settings are (mostly) randomly generated, so that with the exception of some set-piece areas (like the Skeleton King's lair in the original), no two games follow exactly the same map. DIABLO 2 has four acts covering 5 locales (including Tristram, the setting of DIABLO). Each act has very different climate/geography and monsters differing accordingly.

You're following the trail of the Wanderer (the hero of the first game) as he locates the other Prime Evils, Diablo's brothers, before leading you into Hell and the final confrontation with Diablo himself. The settings in general have much greater variety and eye candy, and include outdoor segments as well as dungeon crawls.

Act I is a generic-Europe setting, with a lesser-demon Level Boss rather than a Prime Evil. Act I most closely resembles the earlier stages of the original DIABLO, and contains references back to the original, as the player's task is to help the Sisters of the Sightless Eye. (The Rogue from DIABLO was a member of the order; your closest-equivalent player character in DIABLO 2 is the Amazon, who has a different backstory.)

Act II is a desert scenario, with a sort of Egyptian flavor to the tombs, and a different, more formidable type of undead. Act III, by contrast, is a rainforest, emphasis on poisonous insects, water monsters, and fast-moving little AIs with blowpipe attacks. Act IV's revamped version of Hell is much more larger and elaborate than that in the original, with an assortment of demons and new attacks. The succubae weren't retained, but as a tradeoff Act I has hordes of renegade Rogues.

Many of the AIs have been revamped to make them tougher and to give them more distinctive appearances. While the distinct colour schemes were retained, the details are more elaborate and they're tougher opponents. The carver-type AIs now include shamans, who in addition to their own magical attacks can raise the fallen. Animated skeletons on higher difficulty levels may now have mages as well as archers with them.

That's one of the biggest changes from the original. Monsters not only regenerate after you've cleaned out a level (even lesser "unique" monsters, though not Level Bosses that have to be killed to end an Act), but many monster types can raise the dead or harvest energy from corpses. There are also delayed-action attacks, as poisons and antidotes have been added.

Other changes from original:
- Multiplayer and single player now use the same limited set of quests, rather than single player having a random selection of a larger set of quests.
- Play balance on character abilities now includes active and passive skills, differing by character type. Not just any character can learn spells.
- In addition to mana and life, player has stamina. While you don't have to eat or sleep as in, e.g. DARKSTONE, you either have to pace your character, stock up on stamina potions, or be content to move slowly.
- In addition to Town Portal spells, each Act contains a set of fixed waypoints, and the player can return to earlier Acts if desired.
- Towns are more elaborate. Apothecaries selling potions are now separate from magic sellers, and at least one NPC per Act can "gamble" with you. You can hire and equip NPCs who will follow you and fight what you fight. If they're with you, your experience points are divided with them, but they level up and become more formidable over time.

Some lessons learned by the designers:
- Local smiths can upgrade weapons, e.g. installing runes or gems in them. Partway through Act II, a quest item allows you to combine multiple gems of the same type to get a single gem of a better grade, so strategy is a factor.
- In town/camp you have a chest in addition to the inventory on your character's person. Items in the chest are safe, but if you're killed and resurrected, anything you were carrying has to be retrieved from the body. Since you're fined a large amount of your total gold when you're resurrected, you're motivated to scavenge your own body anyway just to get some of it back.
- Partway through Act I, you revisit Tristram and rescue Deckard Cain, who now has enough gratitude to identify items for free instead of gouging you.
- Some unique items now come in sets (e.g. helmet, breastplate, gauntlets) that are stronger together than apart, and mostly effective for specific character types (e.g. bonuses apply only to a paladin). Strategy comes into play: is it worth saving an item in the hopes of acquiring the rest of the set?

In summary: the thing I miss most from the original is the randomized quest mix on single player. The active/passive skill system is interesting enough to make up for restricting the player's ability to create super-powerful spell-casting Rogues and the like.

As in the original, even in single-player a game can't be saved in multiple states; you can only have multiple characters working through different scenarios. In multi-player, items can be transferred between characters by drop-and-switch, but that's about it.
... Read more

Asin: B00002CF9M
Subjects:  1. Diablo2 (Two, II) Dialbo    2. Fantasy (FRPG)    3. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)    4. Havas   

Nox
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (16 February, 2000)

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Though cast in the action/RPG game-play style of Diablo, Nox breaks its mold and offers up more than a few pleasant surprises. The third-person isometric perspective offers a refreshing dose of humor, served up by a slick interface and starring very distinct character classes. Much more than a clone, Nox takes the best the genre had and--for the most part--makes it better.

Nox's story of a harmless auto mechanic who gets accidentally sucked into a fantasy world immediately sets this game apart from its dark and dour brethren. Nox is funny, and it's refreshing to play an RPG that tries to put a smile on your face.

Game play, dungeons, puzzles, and even the story are slightly altered, depending on Jack's class, giving three separate single-player experiences, all leading to the same final showdown with Hecubah. The quests are typical RPG fare--find this, kill that, rescue these guys--spiced up with puzzles relating to the class's abilities or environment.

The Nox team's energies went toward creating a game that's fast, fun, and easy to play. It worked. No knock-off, it won't be long before we start seeing games influenced by the innovative designs of Nox. --Mike Fehlauer

Pros:

• Very distinct, fun character classes
• Innovative action/RPG multiplayer game modes
• Slick interface
• Refreshing humor

Cons:

• No female characters
• Unrealistic inventory system
• Uninspired magic items

... Read more

Reviews (28)

Loads of fun
By now Nox is considered a pretty old game I'm sure, and it's long been discontinued by Westwood. Sadly, it will probably never see a sequel, as this game is much deserving. It was years ago that I played it, I couldn't stop talking about it at the time, and while it's not the most original game around, I haven't since found a CRPG to match it for shear playability and fun. Let this review be an ode to the late nights I spent immersed in its gameworld.

The three playable character types: Warrior, Wizard, and Conjurer, are suitably unique and for each the game plays out differently, with different environments and quests, all eventually leading up to the same objective (why, destroying the evil sorceress, of course). Also, the fighting strategies you employ will differ quite a bit for each character. This offers some replay value as you'll want to replay the game as different characters to experience everything.

The environments and monsters are aplenty and diverse enough to keep things fresh. There's a great accompanying music soundtrack that helps create a nice mood moving from place to place.

Nox shines in an area that, far too often, mars my ability to enjoy many otherwise compelling RPGs: its fighting system. Combat in Nox is fast, furious, and immersive; helped by its intuitive gameplay controls. Movement works by holding down the right mouse button and moving the cursor in the direction you want to move--closer to the character to walk and father ahead to run--and the left button swings your weapon; this in addition to a combination of hotkeys on the keybord for accessing your spell attacks, monster summons, or special abilities. Unlike in the similarly styled Diablo (I/II) (which this game undoubtedly takes a lot of inspiration from) where you'll often stand in one place and watch your character hack away without visible effect, Nox is very involved; you've got to keep moving as taking hits can really hurt, you're even able to use your sheild (if you can wield one) to block attacks from your front. It's basically an action game with mouse control. A nicely designed system that was excecuted very well here and one I would like to see more PC games implement.

My biggest dissapointment with Nox is its lack of cooperative multiplayer. Its multiplayer component is a 2-38 player deathmatch, which I had a lot of fun with, but it would be nicer to adventure together with friends. The developers later released a cooperative multiplayer add-on for free on their website but I never played it so I don't know how it matched up to the single player experience.

Before playing Nox, I was more of a multiplayer exclusive guy and wouldn't usually find myself sitting down to traverse the lonely world of single player games. Nox really surprised me; it's just plain fun and addictive. I wouldn't hesitate to suggest it to casual players and people who don't normally like RPGs, because of its fast-paced, action-oriented gameplay and short learning curve.

cool game
this is one of the neatest games I've played.OK there are no chick characters and you can only customize you char so much, BUT it's so funny.The sound effects, and the visual is just great.It's not very realistic looking and it's a little faster than what I was used to, but it's definitely way too much fun (extremely time consuming, as every time I play, I end up at my computer for hours!)

Best interface I'v played.Sleeper surprise.
The interface is super well done.Made enjoying the game easy.It was for me a real surprise how well it was done.It did not recieve all the hype many games get yet it is as good as any other I played (i.e. Diablo, ...) and unique in many ways.As in all RPGs there is a spot or two where the play gets a bit teadious but this game had much less of this than others.Each of the three character types requires a truely different style of play.One aggressive (hack and slash with weapons and armor emphasis), one moderate (magic bent with spells and charms emphasis), and one defensive (summoner idiom with "let your friends do the killing while you try and stay out of the way" emphasis).Each requires different actions and thinking strategy, and each is just as fun as the others, just different; which means there is good replayability even if you don't go online for a fight.This game is growing harder to get these days so if you have an interest act now.

Hail Flavius ... Read more

Asin: B00002EPYC
Subjects:  1. Fantasy (FRPG)    2. Westwood    3. Computer Games    4. Adventure    5. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)   

Baldur's Gate
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Baldur's Gate is a near-perfect adaptation of the classic tabletop, role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. Six separate races and eight core character classes, from which the player can create a completely original character, are available. The game world is well painted, and players are free to explore this wonderfully textured game environment in any way they see fit, all against the backdrop of a thoughtfully conceived and versatile plot.

You begin the game as a young orphan living with your stepfather within the safe confines of a scholarly community. It is a happy and idyllic life until your stepfather is killed and it becomes clear that you are intended to be next. You, as the young protagonist, then set out to discover just what kind of a mess you're in. During the adventure, you recruit a number of personable allies, battle foes, delve into dungeons, trek across wilderness, solve puzzles, and complete a plethora of epic quests that are seamlessly sown into the fabric of the overall plot. The story line unfolds in response to your choices to reveal your character's true identity as well as the nature and motive of your enemies.

If the Lord himself were to ask me what games he should have in his home game collection, the first two words out of my mouth would be Baldur's Gate. This 1998 Role-Playing Game of the Year is a masterpiece and the standard by which all such games will be judged for the foreseeable future. Groundbreaking 32-bit graphics, 3-D sound, multiplayer options, and a friendly real-time game engine are blended with a depth of plot in a way that redefines the genre. --Joshua B. Coombs

Pros:

• Versatile and responsive plot
• Entertaining character interaction
• Huge game world
• Friendly game engine

Cons:

• Nonplayer characters exhibit little free will

... Read more

Reviews (146)

After 6 Years It Remains One of The Best
I unearthed this gem among my collection of old games after a recent move, and I promply popped it in to play out of nostalgia after experiencing a string of disappointing RPG's on the PC. 2 Weeks later I emerged to write the review this wonderful game deserves.

The game is set in Faerun, of the Dungeons and Dragons fame. Don't worry though you will not need to know basically anything about Faerun at first to enjoy the land and it's people, which is why this game is so wonderful. Once you are in the game and playing you will not feel out of place at all. If you are looking for a unique and seamless fantasy setting then you have found it. This is a beautiful world teeming with life and unique characters and once you finish Baldur's Gate, I know you will read up more on this "Faerun." It is that immersive.

Soundwise, this game was a breakthrough in video game entertainment. Bioware outdid itself with its ambient environmental effects. Enter a forest area and you can hear birds and natural wildlife along with trees swaying and wind blowing. When rain comes, it comes with excellent audio. I'm telling you, crank up your fancy speakers and listen! You will become immersed. The towns are constantly alive with sounds of commotion and people shouting. Masterful. The combat sounds such as spell effects and weapons hitting flesh along with the music is commendable as well.

You all play CRPG's for the story right? Even as a couple of Diablo fanboys scamper out I'm going to tell you that the Baldur's Gate saga is one of the great storytelling achievements not just in videogames but literature as well. Call me crazy but I enjoyed the story that much! Oh and don't read the crap novels based on this game the author did it no justice. Baldur's Gate follows the player character as he/she sets out from his warm, cozy lifestyle in the fortress-library of Candlekeep and takes off into the unforgiving land of Faerun. This comes on the heels of your foster father Gorion's urgent warnings. You are sent out into the world fresh for adventure, and there are many twists and turns along the way including one at the start, which will hook you for the rest of the game. Even in Candlekeep things aren't what they seem and without spoiling anything I can tell you that the story blossoms as you advance. You will never feel like saying "What the hell am I actually doing here?"

The gameplay is simple and intuitive. Party navigation is a breeze, and over 15 NPC's can be recruited into your party of 6 as you progress and their unique "banter" amongst themselves really never leaves you bored with your party. Combat is simple and the weapons are fun. Character development is one of the richest ever found in an CRPG. As for all this anger about the rules of D&D and how they "suck" in a CRPG, I can safely say that you should not worry one bit if you are looking for a rich roleplaying experience. I never bothered with 2nd edition 3rd edition and all that crap, the rules are fine and everything is calculated "behind-the-scenes" for you so it never takes away from the experience. Everything is seamlessly done and for a person looking to immerse themselves in a wonderful world the rules should never come up and detract from your game. You DO NOT have to be a Dungeons of Dragons fanatic to pick up this game and enjoy adventuring. It really is quite a masterpiece by itself.

With a lot of areas to cover and hundreds of quests and mini quests (I'm not kidding) you are looking at least 30 hours of gameplay, 20 if you "powergame" and rush through. That's real value for the 10$ max you're paying.

Graphically the old game is showing its age, I must admit. The 640x480 resolution and low-bit sprites are all here, but strangely enough it did not detract from the overall experience one bit. For all you "What are you crazy, 640x480? This ain't the stone age!" people who might pass up on this game because the graphics are dated, do no despair! There is a great mod/upgrade for Baldur's Gate called BGtutu which converts the engine to the newer Baldur's Gate II engine, with dramatic effect.

There's no reason to doubt me and countless other gamers out there that consider this the Holy Grail of CRPG's, there is a reason for that. The reason is that Baldur's Gate is one of those special games that you will be proud to own and look back on it in another 20 years as the "genre-reviving","genre-breaking" masterpiece that it truly is.

There's not much left to say, except that if you are a person that is reading this review right now, in front of your computer, and searching for that different RPG, that is not just hack and slash then end your search my friend. You have found your gem and it is called Baldur's Gate. Give it a go, and when you're done and well on your way to installing it's sequel do what I did and recommend it to someone.

Awesome! says mom of 2
Love the game!Bought this three years ago and still enjoy.Lots of Strategy involved (ie not just a fighting game, ergo women can enjoy too).Thought the fact that my players couldn't advance beyond a certain point was a flaw until reading another review - thank you!.Great way to lose yourself at the end of the day (can consume great amounts of time but easy to leave off and start again).Great adventure!

BEST FRIGGIN' GAME IN THE WORLD!
I've had this game for around four years now, and I've yet to come upon anything as great as this. This is a giagantic world of the fantasy-tinted middle ages that I've yet to learn all the secrets of. I've played through it nearly seven times, and it never seems to get old what with the six racial options including elf, dwarf, human, half-elf, gnome, and halfling, the many, many unique characters that you may choose to adopt throughout the game, and the INCREDIBLY engrossing plotline. Get this game, if you don't like it... then there must be something wrong with you. ... Read more

Asin: B00001QEQA
Subjects:  1. Dungeons and Dragons (D&D)    2. Fantasy (FRPG)    3. Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D)    4. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)   

Xenogears
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (16 November, 1999)
list price: $49.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• Futuristic role playing game
• Fight your opponents either bare handed or in giant robots
• Full 3D environment
• Innovative battle system and immersive storyline
• For 1 player

Reviews (246)

a timeless story of fighting for what is right (and love)
After playing Xenosaga, I was quite eager to pick this game up in some way.Unfortunately, somehow Crash Bandicoot made the greatest hits collection, and great games like Xenogears are forgotten, but I was fortunate enough to drop the name near a kid who had a cousin who had a copy, which I was glad to purchase, since the cousin didn't like it.

I must admit, I was somewhat disappointed with the battle system.Although it can be fun at times, it lacked the luster that the Materia and Sphere Grid systems had in the world of Final Fantasy, simply making battles mediocre button pushing.The slightly dull combat system wouldn't have been so bad if battles had taken any strategy, but, for the most part and with a few exceptions near the very end, battles are mostly just using your strongest combo and healing yourself when necessary.Once you get Billy in your party, you become practically invincible, since he is able to heal the entire party for more than 300 HP for a paltry 4 EP.The best aspect of the game's combat system, however, would be the gear system.Although not used as well as in Xenosaga, Xenogears makes gear combat fun by separating it from the status of the characters, but also giving the gears abilities based on the abilities of the character riding them.Fighting in gears, however, is always done in a way that you can't win without them, or you can't use them.The only times you'll have access to your gears is on the world map and in places with large enemies that would crush a party on foot.This is once again a place where SquareSoft could have added strategic elements (benefits of battling in gear Vs. on foot, an element used brilliantly in Xenosaga), yet decided to opt for simpler battles for a more complex story line.

The music in Xenogears, composed by the brilliant Yasunori Mitsuda of Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross fame, was terrific for it's time, but with the quality sound that the PS2 is able to put out, Xenogears music will just get dull, especially to the ear of one who has played Xenosaga.Also, like in many other RPGs, Xenogears music is extremely repetitive, especially during the second disc.The theme song for this game was done by Joanne Hogg, and is very
similar to the theme songs from Xenosaga, using the exact same instrumentation and style, yet Hogg's voice just has that enchanting quality which I haven't yet tired of.

Xenogears' story is where it shines, and earns its entire five stars.Xenogears takes elements of religion, fantasy, and sci-fi and mixes them to create the uplifting, suspenseful story of young
Fei's search for the truth (and escape from it) in a world of lies.Enter the character of Elhaym, the beautiful soldier who happens to stand at odds with Fei due to her birth and origin, who changes Fei forever by showing him the joy of love.Each character has his or her individual motive, from the villains to the heroes, each trying to find what they most desire.Some wish for power, others for love, and others simply answers to life's most difficult questions.From the beginning of the first disc, you are propelled from Fei's quiet existence in a small village in the woods toward the flying cities of Shevat and Solaris to the paradise Mahanon.The second disc, unfortunately, falters, as the action is greatly reduced, and the game becomes almost a series of monologues telling us what happened and how.For a good example, imagine if the scene where
Luke and Han rescue Princes Leia in Star Wars were replaced with Luke and/or Han sitting in a chair saying, "We then traveled to the Death Star to save the Princes.We found out that she was being held in a certain cell and saved her, but on the way out, we encountered some guards (picture in background of the heroes and storm troopers engaged in fighting), we only survived by jumping down a hole into a trash compactor..." etc.This gets somewhat obnoxious, but I'm sure that this was only done to save space and avoid the obvious irritation of having a third disc for the end movies.If you're completely into the game's story, you won't mind the dialogue bits too much, since they allow you to skip over some annoying bits that would keep you from getting to the incredible conclusion.

For those Xenosaga Fans out there, this game will make a great hold over until Feb. 15, when Episode 2 comes out.I know I'm going to be at Wal-Mart at opening to get my copy.

Amazing Story and Great Game Play
This RPG has one of the most intricate and interesting storylines I have ever played.You are introduced to a number of characters with complex storylines and realistic emotions.I would go into more detail, but i don't want to give any away.But let's just say that it involves warring nations, genetic engineering, and the destruction of GOD.One of the interesting aspects of the game, however, is the fighting style.Unlike the Final Fantasy Games, or Star Ocean types, this fighting style involves three types of attacks: strong medium and weak.Through combinations of attacks, you can create special moves that deal extra damage.Also, fighting occurs either in hand to hand combat or in gears, which are giant fighting machines that have limited fuel.I don't know what else to say, but trust me that you will not regret playing this game.Also, this game takes awhile, but it's a blast.The unique fighting style also adds a lot to the game and the animated sequences enrich the story.

My favorite RPG of all time
Xenogears is one of the best RPG that I have ever played. The unique use of anime, romance, tragedy, and music all come together to create a great gaming experience. This story has a lot of plot twists and every time that you think that you might have discovered some truth in the game, you get surprised when you find out more details that you were not previously aware of.

The music is great and I enjoyed it so much that I got the soundtrack. All the main characters in the game have their unique histories and perspectives that keep the story going. Expect to spend about 80 to 100 hours to complete this one. ... Read more

Asin: B000038IFX
Sales Rank: 406
Subjects:  1. Xeno gears    2. Video Games    3. Sony Playstation (Play station)    4. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    5. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)   

Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (26 September, 2000)

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

It's not easy being a child of a god. Your character quickly comes tothis conclusion after being imprisoned and tortured by a wizard with anunhealthy interest in your parentage. So begins Baldur's Gate II: Shadows ofAmn, an ambitious role-playing game based on the Advanced Dungeons &Dragons game.

Shadows of Amn is not really a sequel to Baldur's Gate. Instead,Baldur's Gate was merely a prelude to Shadows of Amn. Shadows ofAmn develops the plot lines, characters, and events introduced in the firstgame into a mature, genuinely interesting fantasy tale. Players who thought theoriginal game shallow will be pleasantly surprised by Shadows of Amn'sbold story arcs. Major events are afoot, and the characters' choices have a realimpact on the Forgotten Realms.

In the same way, Baldur's Gate served as a proving ground for the refinedgame mechanics evident in Shadows of Amn. The game's artificialintelligence has been vastly improved, and players have many more choices forNPC AI scripts and party communication. Keeping with Shadows of Amn's moremature theme, the party interaction even includes possible love interests foryour character.

Those who played through the original Baldur's Gate can import theircharacter into Shadows of Amn, or can choose to create a new character.Character kits such as the Mageslayer and Swashbuckler add variety, and the gameeven includes the Monk, Sorcerer, Barbarian, and Half-Orc options from the newDungeons & Dragons 3rdEdition rules. Whether you import an old character or create a new one,you'll begin the game as a fairly advanced character--unlike most RPGs, youwon't have to spend hours slaying puny critters and instead are plunged into ahigh-stakes plot against powerful foes.

A strong plot backed by strong technology makes Shadows of Amn stand outas one of the best RPGs we've ever played. Fans of AD&D will love the classicAD&D feel, and fans of the popular Forgotten Realms setting will delight in thepeople, places, and politics found in Shadows of Amn. --MichaelFehlauer

Pros:

• High-level power gaming
• Quality voice work
• Improves the already great Baldur's Gate interface
• Character kits and D&D 3rd Edition races and classes add variety
• Advances the plot begun in Baldur's Gate

Cons:

• Based on obsolete AD&D 2nd Edition rules
• Character animations are stiff
• Player's character starts out less powerful than other party members

... Read more

Reviews (231)

Incantus Pulchur Imperium!
This is easily the best game i have ever played. You can rank a game in many ways, i give this game maximum points in every single category...

Voice Acting

Probably the games strongest area was it's character development giving the game an extra dimension of realism and gravity, integral to this was the awesome voice acting which was/is the best i have ever known, this game showed that voice acting in computer games can be incredibly powerful, the actors who played the characters are real pro's. My favourite was Irenicus, he breathed a realism and a menace into the character which truly brought that villainous character to life. Also in this category is dialogue, which is equally incredible, occasionally i can still here a reedy voice in my head saying...."you should not have come to this place", unforgettable.

Graphics

For their time, these graphics were top of the range, the outdoors are particularly impressive, wether it's the temple district or the wilderness, no two trees look anything alike.

Sound/Music

The sound effects in the game were amazing, when you are in a city you here murmurings (of street traders/hawkers) which blend wonderfully into the background complementing everything. When you enter Suldanesselar you hear the frantic almost deranged chirpings of the birds which convey a sense of order-disrupted. The games musical score is absolutely gorgeous! The main theme (which kicks up when a fight starts) is rousing and exciting and a pleasure to listen to, it adds even more grandeur and scale to the game.

Gameplay

Top marks here too, there are so many ways you can play the game, so many paths you can take, the challenge level varies but overall is suitably balanced. The games replayability was awesome (i won it at least 10 times and each time i was amazed at how new the experience was). When you add to this the extraordinary value for money you get because the game is extremely long, yet it never becomes repetitive.

Overall this game showed me for the first time what the computer role playing genre was capable of, playing this game was like starring in a movie combined with reading a wonderfully gripping novel. You really feel for the characters. I had thought Planetscape Torment was good, this game introduced an entirely new experience. Easily the best game i have ever played (and i have played a lot).

How did they pack it all into five cd's?

sort of.... dreary
It is difficult to stand against the onslaught of love and respect for this game. And I'm not saying don't try this game. Too many people loved it for me to expect you to go by my experience, but I do want to share with you my different perspective.

First off, looking back, I don't hate Baldur's gate. It has it's virtues. Its just that after 20 or so hours it began to weigh on me, leaving me with a feeling heavy, bleak, and insistent.In taking up computer games as a hobby a year ago it was one of the first games I played or really got into.Fascination rolled into addiction and addiction rolled into a kind of dread and tedium.Finally I realized I didn't actually have to play this game anymore.So I didn't.This may seem like an obvious solution to you, but then you don't actually know me so well.

Enough preamble. I like to rate games based on categories that I find important to me and so I will do that below on a scale of say 1 to 10. How's that?

Story:4, I'll admit my predispositions here, and also that not actually getting more than a third of the way through this game limits me a little, but I do feel I got the main idea.My predisposition is that I long for a computer game that is story driven effectively and actually works as a good story. Story is always such a distant second to gameplay that you end up with these half hour stories built into 15 to 60 hour games.Generally they either make little sense, or fade into a weird sequel nothingness in the end (hello half life 2, beyond good and evil (good games both nevertheless)). I have tried so many, do actually like many games, but have been underwhelmed repeatedly as far as story.Baldur's had the advantage that I was new to gaming and so hadn't seen all it's conventions before, even if they were familiar.In this game you wake up in a prison cell and have a secret destiny.Yeah yeah yeah.It's actually not too bad though and the quality of some of the characters helps, but, and I think this might be the key problem, in order to create an open ended world, provide a variety of quests, and give the good/evil option as it were, the whole thing comes completely apart at the seams.The story falls apart into ridiculousness except the game pretends it hasn't and you're supposed to too. Just to start you spend hours struggling to break out of a dungeon you have no knowledge of even though a member of your party broke in to get you.Wouldn't she have some helpful information?How did she manage it in the first place? So much of this game is full of stuff like this. Its been awhile so I'm fuzzy, but could come up with quite a few more examples, like places where the sense of what is good and effective to do in the game defies the reality of your characters as actual people.In my opinion you can have a very linear game (problem is too few options as a player unless it's done perfectly), or a completely wide open, basically questless game (problem is it feels kind of pointless unless it's done perfectly and beautifully) or you can have a reality defying muddle in the middle of the two. Baldur's takes this last path I am afraid.Still, I would have sort of liked to see how it all turned out if I didn't have to slog through so very much stuff and time to get to it.

Characters: 7 or 8,very good.Love the pictures. Voices excellent. Really nicely done, though after awhile hearing them say the same phrases hundreds of times was hard to take.Also the story caused them to do things completely out of character at times.

Gameplay:5, I prefer less difficulty in games and would have appreciated a difficulty level system very much.There is a lot of fighting, managing your stuff and fighting some more and its that d and d dice rolling fighting that can look very strange (big guy with huge sword swings at weakened creature just standing there and misses wildly). It often left me feeling faintly like it wasn't working and that the game didn't do what was in the queues for my characters even though I suppose it really was.

Graphics: 6, nice general visual design and though its dated now its pretty powerful in the sense of mood it imparts (though see below). I mean it really did affect me in an almost dreamlike way for awhile.It was a bit of a letdown in terms of giving me a sense of wonder though.

Dreariness factor:1,cold, chill and frequently joyless.That's how I found it.Some of the character humor helped a little, especially the nicer characters, but so much killing and grim characters and so little relief or oasis or real rewards or lightness in comparison. Plus I felt burdened by the way the quests could just sort of pile up on you and all be emergencies.

Technical issues:I always feel this is so subjective as you never know what will be a problem with your computer, but a few small or weird glitches were really awful for me.I couldn't get downstairs in one place, something crucial disappeared in another.

Learning factor:4, had a tutorial level which maybe I wouldn't find too confusing with the experience I have now in games, but I really wish it had been more clear and specific.

Product materials:5,a nice start, decent book, but really quite incomplete.

Chore factor:2, well, you know, so many rooms of so many monster things to really get anywhere.I really did feel burdened.

Difficulty:3, kind of already discussed but I'll add that everything seemed either kind of hard to kill or quite hard to kill, it would have been nice and even appropriate if some things had been very easy too. I will repeat I might have lasted longer with an easy or moderately easy setting, but it still would've gotten to me in the end.

Game saves:7,a pretty good save anytime system only flawed by an inability to save in combat, which, if I recall, could sometimes sneak up on you and then it was too late.

Conclusion:I find when I write negative reviews of really popular and respected games (gta vice city is a good example) people tend to say its not helpful, and if I like them its very helpful,but sometimes I think they maybe already played the game and think it's some kind of contest these reviews (then of course, maybe they just think its not a very informative review).I'm just telling you my reaction here and my thoughts. A lot of people gave this classic game 5 stars. I really think this game could've been alot better.

Baldur's gate made me think maybe I don't like rpgs too much, but I am currently pretty far along in star wars knights of the old republic and very much like it.

Not verymuch changed...luckily
Baldur's Gate is a first-class game, so why change the formula in the sequal? Yea, you can fight with two weapons at a time now, but who cares? I still use only one. Graphics didn't change that much in my eyes, so it's actually the same game with another story-line. But the story - because of that I fell in love with BG - is again very good. I saw someone complaining that the bad guy (I forgot his name) is too evil..well, did you expect that the bad guy just sold illegal armor or something? I didn't really like that beginning part - there in those underground mines - but the rest is again amazing. Someone complained you don't know how strong the monsters are if you want to attack... doesn't that make it more real. It's kind of silly if you see a number above his head or something.. It's an addictive game and I wished my copy of it didn't brake (just like my copy of BG1). I love this game (maybe because it's one of the few games I'm really good at), it's perfect just like the first BG. Buy it, the game is cheap these days.. ... Read more

Asin: B00004KHB7
Subjects:  1. Dungeons and Dragons (D&D)    2. Fantasy (FRPG)    3. Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D)    4. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)   

RPG Maker
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (20 November, 2000)

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Ever want to try your hand at making games? Now Agetec has delivered atimeless masterpiece that will help many gamers fulfill their dream ofconstructing a video game--albeit a role-playing game--from scratch.

With RPG Maker for the PlayStation, would-be game designers can finallycreate their own digital world. All you need is a PlayStation, a littleimagination, a lot of time, and you can create your own Final Fantasy,Ogre Battle, or Dragon Warrior adventure--sort of. It takes teamsof 50 to 100 people two to three years to design and create the RPGs that weplay today. If you think you've got the patience to do it on your own, then thisgame (or should we say set of tools) has a lot to offer.

Write, design, and control everything from the story line to dungeon designs, toorganizing and constructing the towns in your game. You can even choose itemlocations, weapons, and enemy hit-point totals. Such standard, modern-day RPGelements are all at your disposal here. For those who really want to go for allthe gusto, you can design and animate your own characters from scratch! Theanimation quality doesn't approach a Disney level, but at least the option isthere.

This isn't a plug-and-play type of title; it will take you quite some time justto figure out where you want to start. If you don't have the patience to play atraditional RPG to the finish, then you might want to pass on RPG Maker.For everyone else, there's no better place to start! --Todd Mowatt

Pros:

• Players can create their own role-playing adventure from scratch
• Players can design and animate their own characters

Cons:

• Requires huge time commitment and lots of patience

... Read more

Features

• Players can create their own role-playing adventure from scratch
• Write a story line
• Design dungeons
• Design and animate characters
• For 1 player

Reviews (70)

Decent
I picked this game up from my local hobby shop because I was bored.

Its pretty much what the title says, you can make your own RPGs.It easy to use once you get used to it and you can make some nice looking RPGs once you get used to the way it works.It comes witha sample game to show you how a game should work(or will).

Overall though it can become a little frustrating creating some maps.Theres a large selection of tiles that dont seem to be arranged in any particular order, you'll save yourself alot of time if you can find one of them PS1 mouses. I also recomend picking a keyboard, unless of course you like typing everything out by on screen keyboard.

The game dosnt have a whole lot of premade stuff, enough to make a short RPG, but if you going for a 10+ hour one then no.So luckly they gave you an ANIME creator, which let you create you own charcters and monsets(also tedious without a mouse). OF course if your like me you'll be a poor drawer and make some odd looking things.

Overall it not to bad, but if you have a PS2, and $20 I recomend to buy RPG Maker 2, it has 3D graphics and more in-depth editing. But w/e, it your choice.

4 out of 5

Crap!
its a stupid game when i played it i couldent even get a Dungen completed (i no its sad) u sould save ur money

Agetec gave it all!
I was a little concrened when I first bought this game.I had heard that it is very hard to understand, but I found it very easy!Reading the manuals and finding a good walkthrough site, such as www.gamefaqs.com, can make this game a cinch!Just be prepared to dedicate over 100 hours to your game to make it good.Also, it eats memory like it was nothing, so clean out a memory card before you buy it. ... Read more

Asin: B00004U3BX
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)   

Chrono Cross
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Chrono Cross, the sequel to the Super Nintendo classicChrono Trigger, turns out to be well worth the wait. Taking off20 years after the first game, Chrono Cross follows a boy namedSerge across parallel worlds--both the world in which he lives and onein which he drowned 10 years earlier.

Chrono Cross will wow players with beautiful prerendered graphicsand a unique battle system. Elements replace magic and items in battle,and using the same element three times in a row will ultimately increaseyour power. In addition to using elements, the accuracy of physicalattacks is determined by probability, with easier-to-land weak attackssetting up fierce blows.

The plot, while a bit slow to develop, is full of interestingcharacters. Players will need to travel between the two worlds toadvance the plot. While many of these areas will initially appear tolook similar, you'll find them to be quite different upon closerexamination of the details. For instance, a plant that is extinct in oneworld thrives in the other.

My only qualm with Chrono Cross is that, despite the complexitiesof the battle system, veterans will have an easy time with earlybattles. Still, there's much to like about this SquareSoft epic.--Robb Guido

Pros:

• Lavish, vibrantly colored graphics
• Unique battle system involving elements and casting awayrole-playing clichés like experience and magic points

Cons:

• Easy battles due to powerful offensive and cure elements
• For hours, players will be saying, "Get to the time travel stuff"

... Read more

Reviews (293)

Chrono Cross -- On its own
When I purchased this game, I had no idea that it was a sequel, and had never played the first game, Chrono Trigger. I really can't say how well Chrono Cross stands up as a sequel, but as a game on its own, it gets 3 stars from me.

Good things about Chrono Cross are the graphics (very nice, including the movie sections), the character designs (there are dozens of characters, and each one's look has been well thought out), and the music (even the world map music is good).

The gameplay is mostly fun, though the battles drag on and on when you start the game and don't have high-leveled characters. Once you get the hang of the battle system and have some good spells and characters to use, they become far less repetitive.

There are definately some bad things about Chrono Cross as well. Having never played Chrono Trigger, the plot made absolutely no sense whatsoever to me. This made it even more difficult to figure out what I was trying to do. At times, I had to wander aimlessly because the game wasn't clear what I was trying to accomplish at that point. Another low point of the game is the number of characters (40+). I got the feeling that the point of the game was not to try to save the world, but to see how many characters you can collect. Which brings me to my last gripe. You're expected to beat the game more than once (preferably at least 3 times all the way through). There are other events that you can trigger to happen and other plots which can unfold by choosing other paths, but honestly, I didn't feel the game was worth wasting another forty hours to beat just to get all 40 characters and seeing a different ending, especially when the original ending was so weak.

Overall, if you've never played Chrono Trigger, expect to be lost a lot. It does have its moments, but for the number of hours required to beat it, you're better off looking for something else.

Chrono Cross Versus Chrono Trigger
Chrono Cross is a game that you'll either love or hate.Your opinion is based largely on whether you view the game as the sequel to Chrono Trigger, which is a somewhat controversial issue as the game description states that it is while a game producer, during an interview, said that it's not.

One aspect of the game many find repulsive is that there are 40+ characters, resulting in shallow storylines and 9 or 10 lines on average per character throughout the game.The flip side is that you get to experiment and combine very different characters to form a team that you want.If you enjoyed the intimate friendly party in CT, you'll find that lost in CC.

In terms of storyline, CC does a good job of creating a story that is complex but makes sense at the same time.However, as mentioned above, if you're hoping for a continuation from Chrono Trigger, you'll once again be disappointed as none of the characters from CT are playable in CC.In fact, at least one character from CT meets a tragic end, which throws out the happy ending in CT.In terms of continuation, the plot does follow CT well minus the fact that Schala from CT looks completely different in CC (No wonder Magus couldn't find her!)

Anyway, Chrono Cross is a great game if you view it alone and avoid comparing it with the classic Chrono Trigger.The storylines take on a more complicated poetic tone and the characters system is largely different.These, however, still work in this new game.I would highly recommend Chrono Cross to those who have not overly idolized Chrono Trigger and were hoping for a Chrono Trigger clone on Playstation.

Happy gaming!

(...)

Its no Chrono Trigger...but still an amazing, beautiful game
I finally played this game recently, quite a few years after it's release. At first I had serious doubts about it, as there seemed little connection to Chrono Trigger (which I am a big fan of), and the gameplay and story just didn't seem to be nearly as good. However, once I gave it a chance I really started getting into it.
I think one of the big downfalls of this game is that it is a sequel to such a phenomenal old SNES game, and everyone wanted it to be as good or better, which would have been a hard thing to achieve. In it's own right, this is an amazing game, regardless of it being a sequel or not.
It is a true sequel, and the story does tie in directly to the events in Chrono Trigger, however, that's about it...the story. If you want to see the characters or environments of Chrono Trigger, you're out of luck, as this game has all different characters and takes place in the El Nido archipelago, in the same world as Chrono Trigger but never explored in that game.
The other thing this game has in relation to Chrono Trigger is just the over all feel of the game...you can tell the same people made it.
The graphics of the game are incredibly beautiful, and though already quite dated, they still stand up well (they are comparable to say...Final Fantasy IX). The environments range from beautiful tropical regions to complex castles and dungeons, and all areas are very well thought out, fun to explore, and interesting. I'm glad they kept the overland map the same as in Chrono Trigger, making it fast and easy to get around. The music is wonderful as well, and while I would have liked to have heard a few more Chrono Trigger classics, I really can't complain...the music is beautiful and very well done.
The story is twisting and complex, and it's actually quite hard to keep straight what's going on sometimes and what world you are in, as the game takes place in two different dimensions of the same world as opposed to different time periods. The two different dimensions are very similar and it can be hard to keep straight what world