Grandia HD Collection Review (PS5 / PS4) | Push Square

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Grandia HD Collection bundles together two classic JRPG adventures from the tail-end of the genre's golden age, a series that has long since fallen by the wayside. Grandia, initially released on the SEGA Saturn, would make its way to PS1 in 1999, and its narratively unconnected but mechanically superior sequel, Grandia II, first came to Dreamcast before arriving on PS2 in 2002.

Both games remain constrained by the limitations of decades-old design philosophy and can sometimes be maddeningly obtuse. Functionally, the Grandia HD Collection is the same release that came to Nintendo Switch in 2019, but without the performance issues. There's also very little in the way of extras or the modern conveniences we've come to expect from collections of this kind (Grandia II does get a Hard Mode). Still, the series is one even seasoned RPG fans might have missed, and it can be incredibly charming, provided you're willing to suffer a little bit.

Lesser known than storied (and still running) contemporaries like Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy, the Grandia series was nevertheless profoundly influential, thanks to a refreshing turn-based combat system that can be automated to a reasonable level of competency. Developed by the now-defunct Japanese developer Game Arts (perhaps better known for its Lunar franchise), the Grandia series spanned a surprising three mainline entries, a remix of the first game, a combat-focused spin-off, and even a short-lived MMO. Still, the series peaked with Grandia II, and for that alone, the Grandia HD Collection is worth investigating for genre enthusiasts.

Like Final Fantasy, individual entries in the Grandia series are unrelated, and the first game is rough. The mechanics being worked out in the original would solidify in the sequel, with critical elements like characters being able to counter or disrupt enemy attacks already present. Graphically, Grandia is in an awkward place, a product of that strange time when games would use character sprites in