Grandia

n/a

Grandia
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Game Arts, Entertainment Software Publishing
Developer: Game Arts
Sound driver: SCSP (1/1Track)
Peripherals supported: Saturn Backup Memory
Genre: RPG
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code JP 1997-12-18 ¥7,800 (8,190)7,800e T-4507G JP (Memorial Package) 1998-11-26 ¥4,200 (4,410)4,200e T-4513G
Non-Sega versions PlayStation

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Grandia (グランディア) is a Sega Saturn RPG released in Japan and later brought overseas on the PlayStation. It is the first entry in Game Arts's popular Grandia series of RPGs. It was followed by Grandia II. Because of it's lighthearted and colorful tone, the game is very similar to Lunar, another Game Arts franchise.

The game was once set for release on the Sega Mega-CD.

Story

In a humble port town, Justin is playing games with his friends, while rumors are circulating that a new continent has been found. Meanwhile, the Garlyle forces, the main militia of the game's primary villains, are hunting for information regarding power sealed inside of the ancient ruins of past civilizations. Justin, along with his friend Sue, dream of going on the same adventures that Justin's late father undertook before him. Managing to get an entry pass to the adventurer's society, he is eventually led on a tour of the ancient ruins near his hometown. Inside, he opens a door with the help of a spirit stone and discovers that the legends of these cities may be a reality. But when the Garlyle forces go after him, they learn of what he has found and from there the adventure begins.

Gameplay

Grandia was distinct from many JRPGs of its time, in that players can see the enemies on the world map. Whether or not an enemy is caught from behind or vice versa, can trigger a first-strike surprise battle in a separate screen. The battle mode is also semi-tactical; players do not move through a grid but a series of several spots in terms of evasion or reaching enemies. Attacks are performed as a meter goes up, and this is the same for enemies, meaning whoever is first in line will be next to attack. Certain skills require more time to be process and even recover after use. Players can level up individual weapons, for which each character is capable of using a different set. Magic is also leveled up, like weapons, through use, though they must be obtained using mana eggs. The field also allows people to interact with objects, which either results in something as pointless as causing a tool to rattle, or triggering a door, bridge, and such for another player to travel.

History

Legacy

The original Saturn version was a hit at the time of its release and won a Japan Game of the Year award. It sold nearly a million copies, and alongside Virtua Fighter 2, is one of the system's best selling titles. It has since become one of the system's most beloved titles. In 2015, Dengeki Online, a major video game publication in Japan, did an article recollecting the Saturn's history. In it, contributors were asked to name their 20 all-time favorite Saturn games, with Grandia receiving a nearly unanimous recommendation. In Japan, although the PlayStation port entered the greatest hits line, it did not perform as well in sales numbers as its Saturn counterpart.

The PS version features some downgraded graphical effects, mostly due to 2D layering. For example, the Saturn version has a higher definition battle background. The Saturn also saw the release of an expansion disc, Grandia: Digital Museum, which allows players to use their save files from the original game with a variety of bonus dungeons and unlockables.

The original Sega Saturn version of Grandia was not released outside of Japan, however its appearance at overseas trade events such as ECTS 1997 suggest Western versions were being considered. In the end, only the PlayStation port was localised, arriving in late 1999 and early 2000, some months after its Japanese release (which itself was 18 months after the Saturn version).

Versions

Fan translations

A fan translation in Korean exists for the Saturn version and is attributed to a South Korean ROM hacker known as CyZero. Most of the text is translated to Korean except the battle icons and the voices, which remain in Japanese as in the original.

Magazine articles

Main article: Grandia/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

PDF

Flyer

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-38: "1997-38 (1997-11-07)" (1997-10-24)

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-39: "1997-39 (1997-11-14)" (1997-10-31)

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-45: "1997-45 (1997-12-26)" (1997-12-12)

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1998-30: "1998-30 (1998-10-23)" (1998-10-09)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source GamesMaster (UK) 81 GamesMaster 88 №37

	85
Based on 2 reviews

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Consoles + (FR) NTSC-J 94 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 80 GameFan (US) 98 Joypad (FR) NTSC-J 96 Mega Console (IT) NTSC-J 91 Mega Force (FR) NTSC-J 96 Next Generation (US) NTSC-J 75 neXt Level (DE) NTSC-J 95 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 90 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 86 Sega Magazin (DE) PAL 90 SuperGamePower (BR) 80 Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) NTSC-J 97 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 90 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 95

	90
Based on 15 reviews

Grandia

Saturn, JP
Cover
Spinecard Disc 1 Disc 2 Manual Manual2

Saturn, JP (Memorial Package)
Cover
Disc 1 Disc 2

Technical information

Main article: Grandia/Technical information.

References

Grandia series
	Grandia (1997) | Grandia Digital Museum (1998)
	Grandia II (2000)