Always wanted to play this, and while the remaster itself has its issues, the underlying game is incredible. It is biologically impossible not to fall in love with Grandia's characters. I was already finding the character design, their interactions and their story compelling, and then Sue and Puffy did their cheer attack, and that was that. Love.

While the overall story is a familiar one - an organization of baddies is digging into ancient ruins and awakening powers they don't fully understand and certainly cannot control - the details greatly differentiate it from similar stories I've played before. The light steampunk setting, the way the story unfolds over a massive amount of terrain, the cross seas adventuring, the naked medusas and guitar-wielding bad guys - great ideas are packed into every corner.

The remaster itself is a bit sloppy. I'd greatly have preferred the original pixel art over this very smudgy "smoothing" of the artwork. And the game is far too easy, only really rising up to a challenge on optional dungeons or a few major bosses. But the wildly engaging and smart battle system keeps even the easy fights fun.

All in all I loved this game, the world, the characters, the quest the systems. I just wish the remaster did it more justice.