The Grandia HD Collection is one I never expected. The series was developed by Game Arts, a company that has kept a low profile for a number of years since the release of Dokuro on the PlayStation Vita. The company’s absence from the gaming landscape combined with the dual disappointments of Grandia III and Grandia Online (never released outside of Japan) had me thinking that this was another series that was done for good. A collection of Grandia and Grandia II with spiffy HD sprites, widescreen support, multilanguage options, and a Hard Mode (Grandia II only) isn’t the next big thing for the series. But, I’ll take what I can. Both classics are now more accessible.
As usual, I won’t be covering the games in the collection in great detail. In the first Grandia, players take control of wannabe adventurer Justin. Starry-eyed Justin has dreamed of becoming an adventurer ever since his father, also an adventurer, left him a mystical artifact from a long-lost civilization. Now, it’s his turn to explore the world. Grandia II takes a more serious turn as players meet Ryudo, a mercenary hired to protect a holy maiden named Elena. Ryudo doesn’t realize that this protection order will lead to him and his cadre to the truth about the legend of the Granas, the god of light and Valmar, the god of darkness. The stories in both games aren’t groundbreaking, but the characters and the way they grow as individuals, and the bonds they form with each other make up for it. One thing I always tell first time players is to talk to everyone multiple times. Additionally, I recommend doing this after any story event. You’ll be rewarded excellent dialogue that brings you closer to each character and their surroundings. I prefer Justin’s campaign to Ryudo’s for reasons I won’t get into due to spoilers, but both are enjoyable.
People new to the series will look at screenshots of both games and immediately think gameplay is traditional. In some ways, that’s accurate. Again, I won’t be getting into the specifics, but the formula for both Grandia and Grandia II is straightforward when moving the narrative along. Things take a turn when we’re looking at the combat. Since day one, the Grandia series has provided exciting battles that combine the best aspects of all things turn-based and real-time. A running joke for Grandia players is that the games become “too easy” because gamers seek out every fight they can. Inevitably, their party becomes overpowered. So much so that bosses fall after a few turns. (I’m guessing that this was balanced in the harder difficulty of Grandia II.) Regardless, Grandia’s combat is a constant delight. Both games have unique features that help differentiate them.
The HD treatment was an excellent choice. Grandia and Grandia II were always lookers; now they’re enhanced. They have classic presentations filled with color, personality, and vibrance. Grandia features 2D sprites whereas Grandia II uses 3D stylized anime models, and both take place within environments that can be viewed from 360 degree vantages. There are a few issues with blurring while playing Grandia, but that’s a minor nitpick. The soundtracks for both games are nostalgic and anachronistic in the best ways possible. Hearing these tunes again brought me back, and for those that are new to the series, I’m willing to bet that they’ll remind you of the games you enjoyed from yesteryear.
Sadly, the music is where issue lies for both games. They aren’t game breaking, but they are important to point out. Sometimes, the music will glitch and either go silent or sound like a CD trying to skip to the next song. Some folks claim it happened frequently. Personally, it only happened once in my experience. I also experienced some graphical lagging and a few voice clips that were messy, but again, nothing that will inhibit the overall experience. Grandia II’s music tends to have more inconsistencies. Speaking frmo experience: when the music or sound glitches, it means that a game on the whole is about to follow suit. In the case of the Grandia HD Collection, that never happened. Just keep this in mind when playing either game.
For first time players that wish to do it all, Grandia will take about 40 hours to complete. Grandia II will take somewhere closer to 30. Both games are as linear as linear can get, which was always my biggest gripe. They offer close to zero backtracking; if you miss something in an old dungeon or town then you can forget about retrieving it. This linearity makes the series difficult to replay since the process of getting from Point A to Point B remains the same. That nitpick, and the note about the bizarre sound issues aside, it’s easier to focus on the good than the bad with this collection. Fans that are itching for a replay of either title since their release will be pleased, but I think this collection will be most enjoyed by people curious about the series. The Grandia games epitomize RPG and adventure in the best ways possible. They’re classics that deserve more recognition. This collection is the perfect way to do that.
Overall, 8/10: Adventure will always stand the test of time. The Grandia HD Collection is proof of that.