Idk man I've kinda been sitting here rumminating on this one.

In a lot of ways this game encapsulates so much of what I love about RPGs. The sense of a high stakes quest, the people you meet along the way, seeing character become stronger and change, and so much more. Moments of really high suspense and honestly some of the most depressing and discouraging plot points at times couples with lighter moments as well that bring this kinda of calming warmth when things arent so bad.

Something I find especially well done is showing that Riou really is a kid who gets tossed into a war. I think there a lot of moments where it shows that hes kinda lost in all this and kinda taking it a step at a time. Whether that's done through his very hesitant and unsure dialogue options or the several times he passes out from exhaustion throughout the story. The game really does a great job of showing that this is a war that isnt even particularly his to fight but alas he is there trying to, for better or worse and whether he wants to or not.

I also really enjoyed the 100 something chars you can have join you (not all for battle but its fine). A lot of them are pretty thin personality wise but the interactions you do have with them gives enough of a glimpse of who they are or what they have going on that i enjoyed. I think the amount of character in the sprite work helps with this as well.

Honestly the only thing I didnt like where the SRPG battles, or the grid based ones. They just felt very wishy washy and not really ironed out. Which sucks cause the 1v1 battle method i think is simple but effectively excecated, and used in some really really good moments.

I probs have more thoughts and feelings but this is sufficient for my thoughts on it.

I just have a feeling this game is gonna mean a lot to me as the days go by.

Little did I know that a game I bought because the artwork on the gem case looked cool would turn out to be one of my favorite RPGs of all time, still living rent free in my brain 20+ years after I initially played it.

For those wanting to experience this game in a more modern setting, they're giving it a remaster and re-releasing on steam and switch, including an update on the translation, which would be my only real knock against this gem. It wasn't as horrible as some of the worst offenders at the time, but it could...Certainly have been improved.

But the core of the experience remained in this game, which is a JRPG which is NOT 'teenagers go and kill god', but rather one based on politics and intrigue. So you know. Relatable reasons. Its a game with so many well placed twists and betrayals and reveals that 20 years later I still don't want to spoil them. It also includes one of most memorable villains in any game ever, Luca Blight.

You can also hire a detective who can look into the background of a unicorn that joined your party, and he complains about what went wrong in his life to lead him to this juncture.