Grandia II

Grandia II is a Japanese role-playing game developed by Game Arts and originally released for the Sega Dreamcast in August 2000. Set in a fantasy world where the gods of light and darkness waged war millennia ago, the story follows Ryudo, a cynical mercenary hired to escort Elena, a songstress of the Church of Granas, to a tower for a ritual meant to seal the dark god Valmar. The ritual fails, and Elena is possessed by Valmar, sparking a journey to confront the chaos. The game features a colorful cast including the mysterious Millenia, young King Roan, beast-man Mareg, and automata Tio. The gameplay stands out for its innovative "Ultimate Action Battle System," where timing can cancel enemy actions. Customization uses "Eggs" and skill points to develop characters. The game features an acclaimed musical score by Noriyuki Iwadare.

Dreamcast

Released on August 3, 2000 in Japan, and December 2000 in North America and Europe, this version is the original and most acclaimed iteration of Grandia II. Widely considered one of the platform's definitive RPGs, it boasts some of the best visuals on the system, with well-animated 3D models and FMV sequences. The voice acting is highly praised, featuring notable actors like Cam Clarke and Jennifer Hale. This version received "Universal Acclaim" on Metacritic with a 90/100 score, with critics praising the engrossing story, excellent battle system, and high-quality visuals. Later ports to PlayStation 2 and PC are considered technically inferior to the original Dreamcast release. Despite a linear structure, Grandia II remains a beloved classic that set a high standard for RPGs on Sega's final console.