So I am a JRPG lover from an early age but somehow never got around to this game; I apparently purchased it, I think back on the PS3 and never got around to it. But with the HD Re-Master I finally got around to playing. What a great story, great characters, I loved the mixed battle system. Ironically, the lack of grind (most enemies provide little XP, only bosses really level you) was much appreciated as my time these days is limited. Much overlooked gem that I really enjoyed, anyone else only discover it with it latest release?
I’m a huge fan of the game, and replay it ever bunch of years. People really criticized it because Sony was getting in on the JRPG craze. It got compared to FF7 and dropped in between FF8 and FF9 which drew a lot of comparisons. But I think you made some great points about what the game did a lot better than its peers. Gameplay was strong.
The addition system was awesome at a time where turn based RPGs were a bit static, and though the characters were a bit cliche I loved the story it told and the world building the game did. I’ve been pining for a prequel set during the dragon campaign. It’s a huge risk and would need a large budget, for a limited audience that even knows the franchise. Still, I think there’s plenty of untapped potential and it could be a big hit.
Lots of iconic parts in that game, very memorable areas and moments. Awesome soundtrack, the menu theme and Bale’s town theme are two songs that I think about and hear in my head to this day.