GRANDIA 2 FOR DREAMCAST: AN RPG TO BE DISCOVERED

If you are a fan of Japanese role-playing games, or JRPG , you've probably heard of Grandia 2, one of the most acclaimed and beloved titles of the genre. Grandia 2 is the second chapter of the Grandia series, conceived by Game Arts, a software house also known for the Lunar and Silpheed sagas. The game was originally released for Dreamcast in 2000, making the most of the potential of the Sega console and offering spectacular graphics, a memorable soundtrack and innovative gameplay. Subsequently, the game was converted for PlayStation 2 and PC, but with inferior results to the original version (Dreamcast Rulez). In this article we will tell you why Grandia 2 is a retrogaming masterpiece for Dreamcast and why you should play it if you have the chance.

The story of Grandia 2 is set in a fantasy world, thousands of years after a battle between Granas, the god of light, and Valmar, the god of darkness, which nearly destroyed the planet until Valmar was split into pieces and scattered on earth. In the wake of battle, the Church of Granas has guided humanity toward prosperity by spreading the word of good and combating the remnants of evil. However, when a young mercenary named Ryudo is tasked with protecting a church singer named Elena, their journey reveals that the history of the church, like the history of the world, is not all as it seems. Ryudo and Elena will find themselves involved in a series of adventures that will lead them to discover the secrets of the past, confront their feelings and decide the fate of the world.

Grandia 2 stands out for its combat system, which combines real-time and turn-based elements. Characters can perform chained physical attacks or critical hits to inflict increased damage and nullify enemy actions, or cast spells and special abilities using “Mana Eggs” and “Skill Books”. Mana Eggs are magical objects that allow you to learn and use spells of different elements, while Skill Books are objects that allow you to learn and use passive or active skills that improve statistics or grant beneficial effects to characters. The combat system requires strategy and timing, as each action has an execution time and can be interrupted or preceded by that of enemies or allies. Furthermore, the game offers a wide variety of environments to explore, from medieval cities to enchanted forests, from ancient temples to futuristic ruins that increase the immersive experience.

Grandia 2 is considered by many critics and fans to be one of the best role-playing games for the Dreamcast and one of the absolute masterpieces of the past. In fact, the game received very positive reviews in both Japan and the West, praising the compelling plot, charismatic characters, soundtrack composed by Noriyuki Iwadare, and fun gameplay.
as mentioned, however, the conversions for PlayStation 2 and PC were seen as inferior due to technical problems and other more famous titles released in the meantime. However, in 2015 an Anniversary Edition version was released for PC on Steam and GOG.com, based on the Dreamcast version and with some graphics and sound improvements.

If you are looking for an engaging and rewarding gaming experience, Grandia 2 is the title for you. If you have the original Dreamcast game you can replay your backup on Nemesis Lite 2 or Nemesis Pro in full HD with optimized 3D graphics and various effects that greatly improve the visual experience, giving new life to this incredible classic.