#VAGRANT STORY ART UPGRADE#
#VAGRANT STORY ART TRIAL#

Vagrant Story was a huge step forward in terms of localization, and a 2017 US Gamer interview dives into why. At the same time, the game focuses on quick and snappy cutscenes that sport unique and cinematic camera angles, rather than the lengthy exposition cutscenes of something like Final Fantasy.Īll of this is supported by an utterly phenomenal script that feels vaguely Shakespearean and uses an old-English style. There’s a gothic aura to everything with such attention to detail put into each character model, even down to details like hair blowing in the wind. The development team adopted a unique visual style that makes the polygonal graphics of the PSX look almost like the game’s concept art. What’s most impressive about Vagrant Story is its stunning presentation and Shakespearean-inspired narrative. Vagrant Story’s combat sports a unique “Risk” system that ups Ashley’s critical hit chance the longer he attacks, but lowers his accuracy and defense. There are few tutorials, so you’ll be spending a lot of the early hours piecing together how all the systems interact.

#VAGRANT STORY ART TRIAL#

Combat uses a real-time pausable system similar to Parasite Eve, but has a lot you need to learn through trial and error. It’s a game that encourages players to piece everything together and learn a deep combat system. It’s a sprawling labyrinth that shows the remnants of abandoned civilization, and exploration is highly encouraged by awarding new weapons, spells, and story details. Leá Monde itself is a fascinating setting, loosely inspired by the French Bordeaux.

#VAGRANT STORY ART UPGRADE#

Players make their way through the odd city of Lea Monde entirely alone, having to contend with countless creatures while trying to upgrade Ashley’s weapons and equipment. Unlike many of the JRPGs of the time, Vagrant Story is a solitary adventure that doesn’t feature towns or even other NPCs to interact with. Matsuno’s style shines through in Vagrant Story, both in terms of the political themes of the story and how the narrative beats play out.

Vagrant Story was directed and written by Yasumi Matsuno, who’s best known as the creator behind games like Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII. Vagrant Story’s unique visual aesthetic makes the game look like its own art.

Vagrant Story weaves a tale filled with politics and intrigue, all backed up by some fascinating lore that’s revealed piece-by-piece as the game goes on. Ashley heads to the city of Lea Monde in pursuit of the leader of a religious cult called Müllenkamp. The game follows Ashley Riot, a member of the Valendia Knights of the Peace, who’s responsible for upholding state security and law. In many ways, Vagrant Story feels like a precursor to games like Dark Souls, an unrelenting role-playing experience that refuses to hold the player’s hand and puts a huge emphasis on exploration and subtle storytelling. What Vagrant Story accomplished with PSX hardware is utterly astonishing, and it was years ahead of its time in terms of cutscene direction, presentation, and overall aesthetic. This is partly what led to the game being overlooked, as fans were already moving on to the next generation. Vagrant Story was released at the tail-end of the PSX’s life cycle in May 2000, roughly a year and a half before Final Fantasy X. Vagrant Story is one of the most important RPGs ever released by Square, and even 22 years later it still holds up as a uniquely visionary title. Games like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 7spring to mind when you think of the company’s most influential games, but a more obscure title often gets overlooked. Square Enix has no shortage of classic RPGs, especially when you consider all the games released by SquareSoft and Enix before the merger.

Vagrant story art