Zynko

"Blown away" is an understatement for this game. When I criticize and RPG, Vagrant Story is one of the metrics I use to compare. GraphicallyMusically: The game was developed to push the very limits of the original PlayStation, and it did just that without compromising anything; especially game length and content. The engineering for the music and sound effects has a place in my heart especially. The musical score is wonderful. Content: The story is enveloping. One becomes entranced at the dialogue, plot, and twists. Nothing is predictable. Nobody's part is fully understood till the very end; even then it leaves you debating the integrity of what you see (in the best possible way). The characters are unique and the style of presentation is just perfect. Gameplay: Vagrant story made you play it twice. It wouldn't let you "finish" until after you beat it the first time. The battle system was amazing and very strategic, the puzzles made you think pretty hard, the crafting and equipment system is totally unique, the atmosphere was perfect, and the challenge of the game was very real. In fact, it makes me think of the much newer games Dark Souls and Demon Souls in its lack of forgiveness with many of the parts. Finally the balance of the game brought on by the "Risk" system as well as every conceivable detail taken into account by the team that made this game served the utmost justice to my expectations. The game as a whole, in my mind, has no equal on the PS1. If you are a fan of what a "good" game is, regardless of the console system or age, then this game comes extremely high on my list of recommendations.