Evergrace
Evergraceby Agetec
Platform: PlayStation2
ESRB Rating: Teen
ASIN: B00004YKHW
Check price @ amazon.com , amazon.ca , amazon.co.uk
Features:
• Action-oriented RPG
• Tons of character customization options
• Explore the ruins of the Rieubane
• 3rd-person perspective
• Alter your weapons, clothes, and items
GameSpot Review: The closest thing to a real RPG for the PlayStation 2 in Japan right now, Evergrace is a by-the-book action RPG with an emphasis on customization options and a dearth of gameplay.
Yuterald and Shalami were born apart, yet both bore the "Crest" on the back of their right hands from birth. Labeled outcasts from society by this mysterious twist of fate, the two live in shame and fear. As the legend goes, all who lay eyes on the Crest will suffer great misfortune. While on separate revenge quests, the two are mysteriously transported to another world: the desolate Rieubane Empire. Here the two heroes discover the true destiny of the Crest-born as they are pursued by the forces of evil, and they fight to save this cursed land.
While Evergrace's story is relatively original, its gameplay isn't - despite a few interesting nuances. As you explore the ruins of the Rieubane Empire from a third-person perspective, you'll search for keys, hit switches, and perform many other perfunctory RPG duties in order to advance. Unfortunately, explore is a term used loosely - Yuterald and Shalami are confined by gravity and the terrain types, making for a stiff, by-the-book tour of Rieubane. As you wander around, enemies randomly appear in your path to provide the necessary combat element. Unfortunately, the combat is a strategy-free, slow-paced affair, made so by pea-brained AI and a limited number of combat options. Most battles require you to simply shuffle around toward an enemy's backside, strike, and repeat until the foe is dead. As in the Secret of Mana games, your character has a power meter that is depleted by each strike - attack with 75 percent power and you'll inflict 75 percent of your normal damage rate. This wouldn't be a problem if running didn't drain your power - exploring the world or even dodging generally leaves you unprepared to fight, requiring you to "walk it off" before engaging in combat. Yuterald and Shalami both maneuver with taxing stiffness in some of the game's tighter areas, which is a nuisance and usually results in numerous unavoidable hits.
While you choose either Yuterald or Shalami at the beginning of the game, you can actually switch between the two characters' paths at your leisure by using save crystals. While the two tracks and stories are completely independent, each of the characters will make appearances in the other's quest. In From Software fashion, Evergrace features a high level of customization options for the avid RPG player. In a nod to Final Fantasy VII's Materia system, "palmira" gems can be mixed and matched on weapons and armor to create your own unique arsenal. For example, placing a flame palmira on a sword will result in a flame sword of some sort. Palmira have limited uses, however, so you will have to use these magical resources sparingly. Armor, unlike in most games, is accurately represented on the character models. Taking advantage of this, you can custom-color your outfits to tailor your character's appearance however you choose. Gifted with an eye for fashion, the shopkeeper may give you a discount if you assemble a pleasing and color-coordinated ensemble. Levels aren't handled in the typical fashion, either - every once in a while an enemy will drop a "Biriyana" seed. Consuming these magical seeds lets you increment your characters' stats however you please. While these are all interesting features, they don't hide the fact that Evergrace's core gameplay is awkward and uninteresting.
Originally developed for the PlayStation, Evergrace was retrofitted for the PlayStation 2 to fill the system's RPG void. Unfortunately, this shows - Evergrace isn't as graphically pleasing as a PlayStation 2 RPG probably should be. While Yuterald and Shalami have relatively high polygon counts and interchangeable armor, the enemies and environment are a different story. Sure, clumps of grass have been added and the monsters' textures are fairly high resolution, but Evergrace still manages to look like a high-resolution PlayStation game. Even with these less-than-cutting-edge visuals, Evergrace's battles are somehow subject to slowdown when more than two enemies appear on the screen. Fortunately, Evergrace's sound represents a stronger effort. Soothing fantasy-themed music wafts through the environments and digitized dialog moves the story along.
All in all, Evergrace is just shy of average - there's nothing particularly bad here, but what little good it has is purely incidental and generally ignorable. Scheduled to ship alongside the PlayStation 2 this October, Evergrace is sure to face stiff competition from Sony's deeper Dark Cloud and the number of high-profile Dreamcast RPGs coming out around the same time. In light of this, Evergrace is probably a game you can do without.--Peter Bartholow--Copyright © 1998 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited.
Customer Reviews:
a game that lacks fun in everyway, October 28, 2002
Reviewer: A 12-year old gamer
Personally, i think this game is worth less than dirt. I love action RPGs but this game doesnt cut it. The game play is rough and status effects last for hours. The bosses are insanely hard, which is a wonder because i played for hours before i got to it. Also the monsters lack detail and are weird. Personally they need to trash the entire game design and start over. This is the saddest excuse of an RPG ive ever seen.
well humm, September 19, 2002
Reviewer: Shadowed Fates (F/16) from UT United States
Well i have played better. I don't think i undersand what they were trying to do bore me to death. The music is horible, and the puzels are just strange...i don't know if it is just me. This game could have been made so much better. The one thing i do like better about this game than any of the FF games so far is that when you put on the armor or helmets and such you can actualy see what they look like on you. I think that is a welcomed change form the bland charcter normality.
Some games suck, but this game BLOWS!!!, September 13, 2002
Reviewer: bdolphens from Charlotte, NC United States
A bad rash would be more fun than this game. It would probably look better too. The gameplay and the graphics are circa 1995. This would have been a good debut game for the PSX, not the PS2. Granted, game designers didn't know the PS2's capabilities when it first came out, but come on. If they mailed this game out like they do those AOL cd's, you would play the AOL cd more, and it's not a game. Don't spend your money on this game. Instead, buy something worth your time, like a Hula-Hoop, or a pet rock. Either one will give you more hours of enjoyment than Evergrace. My advice to those of you like myself, who were unfortunate enough to buy this game, it makes a great coaster.
Nothing good and nothing bad!, September 8, 2002
Reviewer: Strife from CA, USA
This was one of those RPG's that looked pretty cool to begin with but it is not.
I am going to give everything and number out of 10
Graphics 4/10
sound 6/10
gameplay 4/10
value 5/10
There were a few good things about it you can actually see what you equip on your character. Like a vest or helmet. The other thing that was pretty cool was that it is real-time fighting, so you could go around your enemy when fighting. Everything else was mainly bad. Overall there was not any thing really good about it and nothing really bad about it.
easy to play RPG, August 28, 2002
Reviewer: An 11-year old gamer
This game was very fun because the fighting style and storyline are very easy to get into.I also like that there wasn't any text to read wich makes the game more easy to like. If you like think the turn based fighting style is to hard, then you'd like this as an RPG.
It sucks., March 25, 2002
Reviewer: Yugo xavier from MI
Evergrace is a very annoying game. It has horrible graphics. Bad voice acting and you have to have your power bar full to attack. (which is very very annoying)
Graphics:2/10. I think they're the worst I have ever seen on the PS2. The people are blocky and fuzzy. Resident evil 3 for the ORIGINAL playstation had better graphics. Even the movie Graphics are lame.
Sound:3/10. Horrible voice acting and cheasy music. I expected so much more for the PS2.
Control:3/10. You even have a power bar for running! And beileve me. It's just as annoying as it sounds.
Pros:
uhhhhhhhhhhhh......
Cons:
Horrible graphics.
Annoying power bars.
Bad voice acting.
More annoying power bars.
I hated it, January 30, 2002
Reviewer: t3chn0fusion
This game is one of the worst games i have played on PS2 it lacks excitment, and gets too complicated too soon, in my opinion you would be better off getting Final Fantisy X
Evergrace, January 29, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from Raymond, ME USA
The Game is pretty good I got it for Christmas. It is pretty easy there are some parts that make it a little tough but not much too beat bosses all you have to do is run around in a circle around the boss. Seems to be a short game. It's alot like castlevania it's like an action RPG than a regular old RPG I gave it a 3 because it was dead smack in the middle not too bad and not too great if you love video games or your just getting into video games than this is the game for you. If you play video games alot I still think it is worth it because it gives you skill.
Booooooring, December 22, 2001
Reviewer: weregamer from Union City, CA USA
I admit it, I'm desperate for a good RPG for the PS2. I bought this one at a bargain price, and I'm still upset at wasting my money.
The manual seems to be no sketchier or more incomplete than the sad norm for console RPG manuals, but in fact it's far more complete than most - you see, there's *nothing more in the game*.
My overall impression is that this game was done on a shoestring by some folks who wanted to cash in on the CRPG market, who don't actually enjoy these games and have no clue what makes them fun for those of us who do. Bleah.
A Fairly Good Game for its time........, November 23, 2001
Reviewer: A gamer from Somewhere
Yes, I understand this game came out pretty much cose to the same time the actually PS2 did. From the same company as Eternal Ring (another PS2 RPG), this game isn't that bad. I don't own, but I rented it from my local blockbuster. I was expecting alot better than it actually was, but hey, it wasn't all that bad. This is the first review I have ever written on amazon, so bair with me. I mean, now, there are tons of better RPG's out for the PS2, but keep in my mind, it was one of the first, and had nothing to compete or compare with. The graphics are pretty good. I'd give them a 4 star. Gameplay, just a LITTLE repetitve, but not too much, I also give that a 4 star. But the controls are yucko. I give them a 3 star. Anyways, my advice, rent before you buy. Some people may like it, some may not. It's one of those middle games.
| PS2 Games |
| Action & Adventure |
| Fighting |
| Racing & Flying |
| Role Playing |
| Sports & Outdoors |
| Strategy |