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 Vagrant
Story, the first RPG of the year from Squaresoft, is also possibly
the best game ever to come out of their offices.
Once again redefining what gaming can be, Square’s latest is a
winner after a long string of losers.
Created
by the team responsible for
Final Fantasy
Tactics, Vagrant Story
follows the adventures of Ashley Riot, a mercenary knight of Valendia,
which is an elite unit working for the kingdom.
His mission is to penetrate a ruined city in order to free
hostages taken by the Mullenkemp terrorists, who are led by the
mysterious Sydney. Along
the way, a much bigger plot is uncovered as Ashley fights a myriad of
enemies and learns about the past that he has mysteriously forgotten.
Many
have called the feel of this game a medieval
Metal Gear Solid
due to
the intense cinematic action and riveting story.
However, in most respects, this game offers much more in terms
of gameplay and depth. The
cinematic flare for presentation is distinctly felt during the opening
sequence and continues with cut scenes throughout the game.
The graphics are top-notch, showing many details and eerie
worlds. The characters
are also highly detailed although, at times, blocky due to the
PlayStation’s limitations. Speech
is delivered in comic-strip type bubbles that also add a unique flavor
to the game. All 3D environments can be fully rotated to reveal hidden
items and passages. The
menu screen brings up a map complete with compass and locations of
exits that also can be rotated in any direction.
 The
music complements the game superbly.
Slight, dreary tunes ring out in the catacombs and eerie music
plays in the snow-laden forest that makes up a few of the locations
Ashley must traverse. The
battle music is also pleasant because it changes based on what enemy
is fought and in what area. Sound
effects are also well used as Ashley grunts with exertion or pain when
taking damage.
The
gameplay system is perhaps the deepest and most complicated system
ever designed. Although
intimidating at first, if the player takes the time to learn it, the
game is highly rewarding. First
of all, Ashley can use a wide range of weaponry and armor such as
swords, axes, spears, bows, and knives.
Each weapon has an elemental affinity as well as a monster
class affinity that rises the more it is used against a particular
enemy. The classes
include Human, Undead, Evil, Phantom, Beast, and Dragon. As a weapon
is used against a particular class of enemy, it grows in power against
that enemy. Thus each
weapon should be maximized for each class.
Elemental affinities are good against magic attacks such as
fire, air, water, and earth.
In
addition to weapons, all the armor also grows in strength depending on
what elements or monsters attack it.
All equipment loses durability points and raises phantom attack
points inversely. All can
be fixed at the many Workshops scattered throughout the world.
In addition, Ashley can upgrade his weapons by combining them
with each other, adding gems to increase effectiveness, or even
constructing new weapons with raw blades and grips found in the
dungeons.
 Each
weapon, when it is used, acquires experience points that unlock Break
Arts. These are special
attacks that deliver higher damage but lower HP as a price.
Upon an enemy attack a big green sphere envelops Ashley
indicating his radius of attack.
The player must push the attack button to select the target and
attack it. Timing is also crucial because if the button is pressed just
as Ashley hits the target, a Chain Ability is activated. These are special attack abilities that Ashley uncovers with
experience and can assign to any of the three controller buttons.
With precise timing, the player can unleash a whole chain of
barrages against an enemy for massive damage.
There are also corresponding Defense Abilities that can be
activated with a button press at the precise moment an enemy strikes
Ashley. As Ashley
attacks, a Risk meter goes up in points.
When high, the attack will miss more often but may deliver more
damage if it does connect. Concurrently,
the enemy will do more damage to Ashley sometimes wiping him out with
one hit even at full HP. The
Risk meter can be reset to zero by using items or going into
non-combat mode that also recharges health and MP slowly.
Magic is obtained from locating books which when used allow
memorization of the spell. Finally
in addition to combat, Ashley must navigate a wide assortment of block
puzzles. What makes these
block puzzles different are the types of blocks you can play with.
There are the lift-and-carry blocks, sliding blocks, turning
blocks and even magnetic blocks that float!
With this array of weapons and powers, Ashley will encounter
enemy armies, legions of undead, wild beast, and magnificent dragons
all thirsting for his blood.
Its
fair to warn potential players that Vagrant Story is possibly the most
difficult game ever made. If
you don’t master the game system, weapons will do tiny damage to
bosses while the bosses dish out upwards of 100 HP of damage per hit.
Healing items are also in low abundance and increasingly you
must rely on healing magic to keep your HP up and survive.
 That said, if you can get past the pain for dying in the boss
fights all the time, this game will be the best ride you’ll ever
take in gaming. This game
is a new interactive cinematic adventure that once again ups the bar
for all games in the future.
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