=== Grandia 2 (Dreamcast) Walkthrough/FAQ v0.5 ===
By Olly Dean, ryo@shenmuefansite.com
First Version started 8/6/00
This document (c) Oliver Dean 2000
All copyrights belong to their respective owners
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THE USER HAS WRITTEN (OR EMAILED) PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR (ryo@shenmuefansite.com)
WHICH SPECIFICALLY GIVES PERMISSION FOR THE DOCUMENTS USE. IF YOU ARE FOUND IN TO BE
IN VIOLATION OF THESE GUIDELINES LEGAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.
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1. (i) CONTENTS
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1. (i) CONTENTS
(ii) INTRODUCTION
(iii) REVIEW
(iv) FAQ
(v) PLOT
(vi) CHARACTERS
2. (i) CONTROLS
(ii) WALKTHROUGH
(iii) BATTLE SYSTEM
3. (i) CONTACT INFORMATION
(ii) OTHER FAQS BY ME
(iii) CREDITS/THANKS
(iv) REVISION HISTORY
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(ii) INTRODUCTION
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The original Grandia was originally released in Japan on the Sega Saturn by GameArts,
and sadly never made it to the West in English on that format. It did eventually reach
the US and Europe on the PlayStation via Ubi Soft and never quite received the critical
acclaim and chart success that it deserved. The sequel, Grandia 2, was announced on
Saturn's successor, Dreamcast, shortly after the machine was revealed in mid-1998. After
numerous delays and rumours that development had moved to PlayStation2, Grandia 2 was
finally released in Japan in late-July 2000.
Both Grandia games are traditional RPGs (role-playing games), although Grandia 2 utilises
the Dreamcast's graphical prowess to give detailed environments and anime-style characters.
The battle system is quite unique in that it is in the Final Fantasy-style turn-based
format but both characters attack or defend at the same time, meaning that certain attacks
and spells cancel each other out so that you must build up all of your characters skills
and attacks to make them a force to be reckoned with in battle.
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(iii) REVIEW
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Graphics - Outstanding backgrounds and environments to explore, great animation, and
stunning spell and battle effects. Quite detailed character models. 8/10
Sounds - Nice music, although not up to the standard of Shenmue, and above-average
sound effects. 7/10
Gameplay - Just as brilliant and fun as the original. 10/10
Lifespan - Not the longest RPG in the world but will still last a while if you play it
as you are supposed to - taking in the sights and atmosphere and only getting
help if you are desperately stuck. You may even want to play through it a few
more times. 9/10
Overall - Definitely the best traditional RPG on Dreamcast, and likely to stay so until
the likes of Phantasy Star Online and Skies of Arcadia come out, and also one
of my favourite RPGs ever. 10/10
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(iv) FAQ
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Q. How much is Grandia 2?
A. You can find it on import from www.tronixweb.com for $63 or $75 for the special
edition.
Q. When is it out outside of Japan?
A. It's out in the US in December 2000 and Europe (or the UK at least) in Spring 2001.
Q. What's 'special' about the special edition?
A. The special edition is a lot like Grandia special edition for Saturn. It comes in a
red clip-case, and contains an art and information booklet, and a special CD with
some special features and musical tracks.
Q. I've completed the game. What Dreamcast RPGs do you recommend now?
A. Wait a while for Sega's stunning-looking RPGs Phantasy Star Online and Skies of
Arcadia, or buy Sega's semi-RPG Shenmue.
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(v) PLOT
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I have a very basic understanding of Japanese (I'm taking lessons in September, though)
so I can't give you a very in-depth story of Grandia 2, but I'll give you the basics:
In the mythical land of Surisen on the continent of Granacliff there was an
ongoing war between God and Satan one thousand years before Grandia 2 starts
which had opened a large earthquake-style crack on the ground which no-one
will dare to cross. Evil won the war and took over the heavens. Naturally, your
character/s decide to find out what's inside/on the other side of the hole. Apart
from the main plot, some other things happen like the priestess, Elena, becomes
possessed by evil and a statue comes to life and becomes an beautiful but evil
sorceress.
If I find a better explanation from a Japanese-speaker or on the internet I'll update
this.
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(vi) CHARACTERS
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Ryudo/Rudo - The main character. I'm not sure what his name is exactly. Ryudo is the
literal translation but every preview I see lists his name as Rudo. He
is a robber and monster hunter of sorts who goes around the world looting
treasure chests.
Eagley - Ryudo's little (surprise!) bird/eagle friend.
Elena - The priestess of the Granas church that becomes possessed by evil.
Millenia - The sorceress that appears from a stone statue. She is beautiful but very
dangerous and evil.
Kyaro - The little dog/rabbit/mouse thing that should be in the next Pokemon game.
I haven't seen him do anything except follow you around, squeak, and make
an annoying giggle sound.
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2. (i) CONTROLS
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-- COMING SOON --
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(ii) WALKTHROUGH
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-- COMING SOON --
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(iii) BATTLE SYSTEM
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You can have up to 4 people in your group, and it's a good idea to carefully select your
team before a big fight (like a boss) or if you are going up against a lot of enemies of
a certain type. Spells that your characters have can be used in much the same way as the
'type' system in Pokemon games. For example, if you know that there are a lot of monsters
up ahead with a lot of fire attacks, get someone in your party with strong water-based
spells - water extinguishes fire - and you will do a lot more damage much quicker, as even
a fairly weak water atteck will probably do major damage to the opponents. This can however,
work both ways - if you have a fire-based character in your group, water enemies will beat
them down fairly quickly.
As battles are turn-based, but characters and enemies attack and defend at the same time
(so should it be classified as time-based?) so different attacks repel and/or cancel out
each other. It works like the below example, although not exactly:
1. Ryudo 100HP <------> Enemy 75HP
2. Strong Fire Attack, 100 HP damage <------> Weak Water Attack, 50HP damage
3. 0HP damage <------> 50HP damage
4. Ryudo 100HP remaining <------> Enemy 25HP remaining
The weak water attack does no damage as it has to stop the stronger attack, but the strong
fire attack is weakened by the water attack so it only does half it's normal damage. That
leaves Ryudo undamaged but the enemy down to 25HP.
This applies to physical attacks, too. For example, if both characters attack with physical
attacks - one high and one low - they will both do damage, but if your character has dual
weapons and can attack at two heights instead of one, then this may happen:
HEAD > 10HP HEAD
You BODY BODY Enemy
LEGS > 0HP < LEGS
Your leg attack would do no damage as the enemy leg attack would defend it, but your head
attack would do damage as it was unblocked. If your weapons were stronger than the enemy's
though, this may happen:
HEAD > 12HP HEAD
You BODY BODY Enemy
LEGS > 2HP < LEGS
The final factor that I can think of that has an effect on battle is distance and weapon
length. Once again, attacks at similar heights would cancel each other out but over a long
distance only the longest weapon would do damage, provided it was in range. Here is an
example:
HEAD <-------- HEAD
You BODY ----------------------> 10HP BODY Enemy
LEGS LEGS
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3. (i) CONTACT INFORMATION
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Email me at ryo@shenmuefansite.com
I'll be happy to elaborate on something in the guide or take contributions (full credit
will be given), and I'll try and reply as soon as I get the email.
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(ii) OTHER FAQS BY ME
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This is everything I've written:
Dreamcast:
Shenmue Chapter 1: Yokosuka Walkthrough/FAQ
Grandia 2 FAQ/Walkthrough
All my guides can be found on GameFAQs (www.gamefaqs.com)
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(iii) CREDITS/THANKS
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Thanks to GameArts for making the game.
Thanks to Sega for bringing out the Dreamcast - DOWN WITH PS2!!!
A big thank you to CJayC at GameFAQs.com for his continuing hard work - WELL DONE MATE!
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(iv) REVISION HISTORY
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v0.5 - 8/7/00 - Added Battle System Section
v0.2 - 8/7/00 - Corrected some typos and grammar mistakes and added the section on the
characters. Also updated the plot a bit.
v0.1 - 8/6/00 - Typed all the background information for the FAQ sections. Started the
walkthrough. In the same vein as the game that it's based on, none of the
guide will go online until it's ready (or at least some of it).
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"Never argue with an idiot - he'll just drag you down to his level and beat you with
experience"