However, Vagrant Story pulls off some neat twists that manage to make players question their allegiances, their missions, and even main character Ashley Riot’s own identity. Caught in between is a shadowy organization looking to make things right/usurp power, and the mysterious yet charismatic villain vulnerable to grand displays of power and speechifying. Its plot takes some well-worn inspiration from JRPG tropes such as having a religious institution turn out to be corrupt, looking to silence anyone from uncovering its unsurprisingly unholy practices to (continue to) control the world in a conspiracy with/against the ruling government. They can even easily surpass enemies set into the main plot points with fixed power levels if the players choose to spend hours leveling up the characters in appropriate monster-filled areas.Īnd of course, Vagrant Story doesn’t follow any of those guidelines, resulting in a gaming experience unlike any of Square’s previous offerings, much to the dismay of its core audience, unfortunately. As the game progresses, the characters all get stronger by gaining experience through battles and acquiring better gear. Along the way they meet characters filling archetypal roles to join the party, and they all get some sort of personal story arc to justify their existence. An expansive world where the players could roam free, interacting with welcoming NPCs in towns bursting with life and unfolding a fantastical narrative where the fate of the universe hangs in the balance. For all of the little innovations its JRPGs had, they followed a winning formula. Lost amid these recognizable names is the one game that Square only dared to make because of its position then when it could do no wrong. Such titles are sure to hit many a gamer growing up in the 90’s with a wave of nostalgia, reminding them of the good ol’ days of saving a magical world as a teenage boy with the help of colorful party members, ultimate guides, and days spent grinding the night away. It had built itself a grand reputation as an industry giant with the incomparable successes of its flagship Final Fantasy franchise and its other notable JRPG hits such as Xenogears and the Chrono, Mana, and SaGa series. In the year 2000, back when Square Enix was just plain old Square, it was at the height of its power.
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