Result : 9 - Modern adventuring in an olde world!
 | Graphics: 9 - Ooooo, ahhhh, pretty. |
| FMV : NA - Rendered, very nice still. |
| Sound : 8 - Sampled sword clangs anyone? |
| Music : 8 - A whole score written just for this game. |
| A.I. : 7 - Mainly hack and slash, but the smart ones do think. |
| Lifespan : 9 - Woolly mammoth. |
| Gameplay : 8 - Adventure? Strategy? Platformer? |
| Adrenaline : 7 - Sublime slaughter. |
Vagrant Story, from the makers of FF7, Square have done a different take. You control one memory addled Riskbreaker Ashley Riot, an elite policeman, on the job to catch a crim who has taken hostages. It is swords and sorcery stuff with modern political plotlines. There is a good dose of questioning morals (loyalty, power, governments responsibilities to the people etc), and loads of exploration of a ruined city. You get to fight all the usual suspects, with a sprinkling of well animated and flavoursome bosses (mainly Dragons, elementals, giants and such). The combat mechanics are semi-turn based, hidden beneath a real-time veneer. There are block-puzzles, chases, and plenty of fiddling with weapons. Offensive magic is limited, but there are utility spells, and gems to play with (materia on weapons). Stats galore, and limit break type special moves.
No FMV's so far, all the ingame stuff is rendered using the game-engine, this allows conversation to flow almost seamlessly into combat. It is all very pretty, with only a touch of Japanese. The graphic artists supposedly went to France to get the medieval feeling down pat. Stacks of sampled sounds. Music adjusts to the level of action taking place (supposedly).
Vagrant Story is, IMHO, far better than Final Fantasy 7, but still has slight annoyances - swapping weapons (an integral part of the game) and Inventory checking are the most noticeable. Good fun, involving, it all adds up to a winner!
