The Legend of Dragoon (1999)

Legends of Dragoon has been a title that I have played on and off for years. It was one I remember really liking as a kid, but never getting far in. As an adult, I dabbled, getting most of the way through disc 1 before getting distracted.

This year, partially for my podcast Grinding with the Bois, partially just for me, I decided to really give it a fully committed try.

I got most of the way through disc 3, so about 2/3rds through.

When talking over the game with my friends, I realized that I just wasn't loving it.

The story is fine, if not amazing, same with the music and art. The game really leans into flashy cut scenes, attacks, and transformations, which were stunning back in the day, but now feel like fluff that is padding out the length of fights.

The combat uses an active button input during turn-based fights, which isn't my favorite style. But the entire combat system is built around these additions, along with choosing to transform at the right moments. This meant I felt the combat was extremely shallow, borderline brain-dead. Odd choices like an extremely limited inventory cap, limited access to spells with not much variety, and special attacks that just feel like more additions all meant combat began to feel like a chore for me to get through.

I really wanted to love Legends of Dragoon. I don't think it's a bad game. But I think the more time you spend with it, the more its issues shine through. What was quirky charm in disc 1 becomes an annoying chore by disc 2.

With such a wealth of old RPGs to try, I just can't justify giving Dragoon the additional 10-15 hours I need to beat it.

I am part way into Disc 2 and can't decide how I feel so far.

Parts of this game are really great, and I like some of the concepts it tries, but I am finding the combat incredibly shallow. Between active combat and the dragoon system, there isn't much choice in how you build or tool up your party. When I compare it to other JRPGs I have played its combat really is disappointing.

However, the Dragoons themselves are pretty cool, the story is decent so far, and I have liked enough to keep chugging along.

Oh, this game. Such a special place in my heart. The demo included on a Playstation Magazine demo pack (I think) was such a long demo, and I loved that. It felt like a mini-game (it went all the way through the first cave with the snake boss).

I find it interesting people criticize this game as a generic RPG or a Final Fantasy ripoff. No Final Fantasy had the mechanics of this game when it came out. Like Super Mario RPG, this was my style of "action" RPG: instead of being constant real time, it was still turn based. HOWEVER, you could do combos. Even more interesting than Super Mario RPG, in my opinion, you could master these combos (I love games that motivate me to get 100% of everything).

The storyline gripped me as a child. Though the final boss was a bit underwhelming and more of a war of attrition and time than a challenge, I found the whole game riveting, engaging, and addicting. This is one of those rare turn-based RPGs I find myself replaying over and over, seemingly every half decade or so. It is well-paced and you usually don't have to grind much, although I always grind anyway because I enjoy grinds. Rose is such a cool character, indeed all the characters are interesting but she is so well-established and her storyline is so epic. Just an all-around amazing game and right up there with the most important games of my life.

Definitely play this if you like an emotional, gripping storyline, turn-based RPGs, and/or challenging combo systems that keep you coming back.

Look: 9/10 Sound: 8/10 Play: 10/10 Joy: 9/10 - addicting trying to master all the additions. The storyline makes me want to give this a 10, but I will have to replay this to decide. Grinding is not as enjoyable as in FFX or FFIX. Attachment: 10/10