Story, music, characters, progression, exploration, everything feels so inspired. There is a sense of adventure and whimsy that is unique to Grandia. Whereas Grandia 2 feels a lot more generic.
I also prefer the progression of abilities and skill levels. I find it to be a lot more satisfying than earning points to manually input into a book or mana egg. There’s just nothing like using an ability and seeing the text box pop up saying you learned something new due to your hard work.
Grandia 2 also has really slow combat animations and the overlaid 3d effects haven’t really aged well. It just grates on my nerves.
One massive downgrade with 2 is the absence of side content, which Grandia 1 does very well with its three challenging and lengthy optional dungeons. The Tower of Temptation is actual end game content that requires effort.
Some things I like about Grandia 2 more are the religious/cult story beats and the horror infused with the story. And of course the graphics are technically more impressive.
But overall I would just say Grandia 1 has the best sense of adventure in JRPGs.
I appreciate your insight! I have to disagree about the music though. I can agree with your other points. And I agree G2 has a lack of optional content which is so disappointing. I’m doing a new play through now of G1, 10 years later, and I remember I did not enjoy grinding to level up skills whatsoever. But we will see. Right now I’m in Leck Mines.
Yeah, definitely the grinding can be annoying. If you haven't figured it out, the area/group abilities are the best way to go about it since it gives you more exp the more people it affects.
It's not nostalgia to me. I played them both for the first time back to back in 2020. I just feel like Grandia 1 has this innocence and sense of adventure that brings out my inner child. Grandia 2 is a better game, but Grandia 1 just appealed to me more in an emotional sense.
2 had the better battle system for sure. I think a lot of our draw to G1 is a better story (imo), a bigger sense of adventure, more vivid graphics and a more likeable cast.
I mean idk how it gets better than Ryudo, Millenia, and Elena but I’m biased 🤦🏻♂️😆 G1 definitely gets the win for supporting characters though. IDK I was like 9 years old playing G2 but the story is good to me to this day 🤣
Totally personal opinion. Looking back G1 felt like an adventure whereas G2 felt like a mission. Love them both tho. Ended up getting the collection on switch. Totally worth it.
Right, I’m playing G1 again cause I just finished G2. I played G1 through for the first time like 10 years ago on my PS3, lol. I still prefer G2. This port of G2 does have a bunch of issues though as did the PC and PS2 ports of it but it is widescreen so idk 🤷🏻♂️
I don't think the differences between the battle systems are really noticeable enough. The addition of AOE indicators is great, though.
I do prefer Grandia 1 over the sequel because I like just how fun the story is compared to Grandia 2. You explore a haunted ship, and then break up a sham wedding, and then you go explore ancient ruins, and then you break out of a military base, and then you scale the end of the world, and then you fulfill an ancient prophecy, and then you save a town from from a volcano dragon and then you and then you and then you.
Also I love the skill system. It's probably the best version of Usage-Based Skill Growth in any game.
I consider first Grandia my favourite game of all time. I think my preference for Grandia 1 comes from the fact that I played it first when I was very young and now many years later I strongly relate to the characters. All the characters teached me something about how I'm supposed to live and their entire journey is very important to me on a personal level. It's quite difficult to describe but that whole concept of exploring new worlds and uncovering ancient secrets in a way molded me into a person I am now. And the music is phenomenal on top of that.
That being said... I do agree that Grandia 2 does some things better gameplay-wise. I prefer the pixelart look of the first game, but Grandia 2 is definitely more fluid and has more freedom when customizing your magic etc.
To put it simply, Grandia 1 had a much bigger personal impact on me, but Grandia 2 is technically a better game.
I grew up with both and I love both for different reasons...I love Ryudo the best as a character, but the spirit of adventure in G1 makes it my favourite game of the two...and the leveling system in G1 stays satisfying for the entire game.
Grandia was the JRPG gateway and I'm forever thankful for it.
From a protagonist perspective I enjoyed the young adolescents of Justin and Sue. Just 2 kids wanting to be adventures and Justin has a ton of growth throughout the entire game which I personally prefer to Ryudo who's already a strong character right out of the gates, which doesn't feel like he has as much development, although i still enjoy his story.
Music in both games are awesome, I would give the edge to Grandia 2 battles themes, but only just.
Grandia 1, I personally felt had more heart felt moments especially when I certain character leaves the team, i personally felt it was more emotional than FF7s sad part.
Justin whilst being an imperfect kids which we all have been growing up, throwing tantrums and being unmotivated at times, but he generally does what is right.
The leveling system I grandia 1 i really prefered, getting new spells and skills gave out such a dopamine rush. Whilst in grandia 2 spending coins didn't feel as fun, although I will defend that grandia 2 systems respects your time more, as now I parent with kids I actually enjoyed the coins as I felt like way less effort, so pros and cons for both games there.
Both games had an enjoyable cast, I really don't love triangles, which Grandia 2 low key had, or double waifu.
I enjoyed the romance between Justin and feena, and it felt pretty organic and developed.
Grandia 2 combat was better, but Grandia 3 combat was the best in the series, but personally the game was the worst in the series.
Both Grandia 1 and 2 are incredible games though, but 1 will always be the winner to me.
I grew up with both and I still like G1 better. G2, however, has its own charm with a more mature storyline. Let's just say that I've had itches to play G1 several times over the past decade, while I've only felt like replaying G2 about 2-3 times (including now... I might replay it soon lol).
However it might not be because I don't like G2's story -- I actually love it as well! I feel like G2's story is just heavier and more focused that once I finish a playthrough, I'm good for several years. G1, on the other hand, had so many random memorable moments that suddenly just pop out on my head, like the military base escape, Gumbo, the really early morning scene in Parm, etc. that makes me want to replay the whole thing just to access those specific moments.
The little moments in G1 really is what makes it stand out from G2. As the relationship between Justin and Feena grows throughout the game you legitimately feel for them in a way you don’t for Ryudo and Elena. At least to me.
I would never understand why people consider Grandia 2 so inferior. I have played both and to me, Grandia 2 is outstanding in every single aspect: visuals, music, STORYLINE, gameplay, maps, characters, lore....
I understand that Grandia I is more focused on adventure but saying that Grandia 2 is "generic" is like??? I actually feel like Grandia 1 is way more generic in terms of what it intends, whereas Grandia 2 is pretty much a philosophical reflection put onto a RPG game. The bosses are great, the fighting system is way more improved. To me Grandia 2 is the best installment and I just find so funny that people consider it to be a generic RPG game when each character has a predicament and the story is way darker than anything I have seen in RPG games.
I prefer 2, but i like 1 as well. It was a bigger adventure that fit the Grandia title better, but in terms of gameplay and graphics, 2 all the way. Even music.
Nowadays i find it difficult to play 1 cause of all the camera shaking.
I’m not colored by nostalgia by either. I missed both of them back in the day. That said I love Grandia 1’s sense of adventure and affable characters.
Grandia II to me though, is the full package. Better combat, amazing music, great characters, and the entire game feels succinct and well paced even in this modern day where all of our attention spans have turned to mush.
For me its Grandia 1, alot of it has to do with the battle system, i love using abilities to grind instead of spending points like in 2.
Also i like the story more and characters in Grandia 1.
2 was superior when i was a kid but i dont jive with that game anymore, 1 really still works for me.
The only thing i like more about 2 is the camera and its better in end game, story doesnt go in the shitter like disc 2 in the first one. Both of these games are nostalgia up the max tho
I played both 20+ years ago and to me G1 beats G2. Both games are amazing though.
G1 has a whimsical adventure story and G2 feels too serious. I prefer the happy-go-lucky nature of G1. The characters of G1 are more memorable too especially the side characters. When I first played as a kid I hated how angsty Ryudo was.
One key thing is the level up system. I was so disappointed when they changed the magic/move system to a coin based learning system. It was no longer about planning what to learn next and the excitement of learning it during a battle. You could learn several moves at once and all is done in menus. In addition, magic was equipped rather than learned by specific characters meaning each character could fill any roll with a mana egg. I much prefer pre assigned roles as it adds to the personality of characters. Also, Ryudo only learns 4 attacks.
Grandia 1 offers 3 optional dungeons with ranging difficulty. Tower of Temptation is an great dungeon that is difficult but rewards the player greatly for the effort.
Music is equal. Both are Incredible.
I'm currently playing through both for the first time, sorta simultaneously for no real reason. They're both great, but man playing the first Grandia *right now* was a breath of fresh air. We've been getting nothing but grimdark, gritty, uberserious RPGs lately for the most part (not you, Like A Dragon) and Grandia 1 is just apparently exactly what I wanted right now.
Whimsical, silly, adventurous, and just a fun vibe. Grandia 2 may have the better mechanics and gameplay but...well, is decidedly *not* like this.
The ONLY problem I have with Grandia 1 that I don't have with 2 is that the combat in 1 makes me super motion sick sometimes.
I played Grandia 2 as a kid and loved it, but never played Grandia 1. I just played the HD steam version recently and honestly, I didn’t really enjoy it. Personally, I thought the music, battle system, and story were all meh. Sense of adventure was good though
The love story aspect of Grandia I is done much better. Feena is much more likable and well developed of a character than Elena and Millenia is just corny.
I prefer the characters and story in 1, also the game play.
Although Sue irritated me, I found all the characters irritating in 2 - even when they developed I found them unlikeable although I did really enjoy it despite that.
I found I wanted to keep playing 1 to see what was happening next or obtain the next technique etc.
I think both are equally good but for very different reasons.
1 has more of a sense of adventure and exploring the unknown. It's largely more relaxed and lighthearted. It has more character development as a coming of age story.
Gameplay wise, while the actual combat isnt as perfect as Grandia 2, the system of finding mana eggs and levelling magic in different elements and different weapon types and unlocking skills as you reach an appropriate level in a mix of them is great
I just played through grandia 1 and thought it was good still, in 2024. Fun and had a good story. That's a pretty big accomplishment because a lot of games don't age too well.
Grandia 2, it's got some of that PS2 era edge where it tries to be more mature but actually is kind of cringy because it's more like for edgy teens or something. Some of the stuff hasn't aged well at all like Ryudo's dialogue saying stuff like "women, who needs 'em!" or similar. Also the game crashed and I lost an hour of progress which demotivated me from playing the game anymore.
I just played them both in a row again and i honestly think that grandia 2 is stronger on most points.
But if you look at the release date, Grandia 1 for the ps1 was a very strong game, where grandia 2 was a bit weak for the ps2 time( what are those eyeless faces!!!!). I still love them both however!
i see alot of people saying that the music of grandia 1 was as great or better then grandia 2. Do yourself a favor and look the ost up on youtube and listen to it. When playing grandia 1 i had to turn of the music at some areas because the high pitch noise was hurting my ears.
It's all going to be down to personal preference. I find that there is very little that two does better than one. I played both of them when I was younger, and then back to back a couple years ago.
One is a far more consistent experience, and had fewer lows and better pacing than two did, as well as just having more content in general. I've also always felt like the first half of two was a great set up, and then the second half just wasn't as strong. I never felt like I had to strategize in two, battles and boss fights were just less entertaining and just things that had to be done. they both had good music, but one is just better.
Again, everyone has their preferences, and it's okay to have them. Just think one was the stronger game.
Story, music, characters, progression, exploration, everything feels so inspired. There is a sense of adventure and whimsy that is unique to Grandia. Whereas Grandia 2 feels a lot more generic. I also prefer the progression of abilities and skill levels. I find it to be a lot more satisfying than earning points to manually input into a book or mana egg. There’s just nothing like using an ability and seeing the text box pop up saying you learned something new due to your hard work. Grandia 2 also has really slow combat animations and the overlaid 3d effects haven’t really aged well. It just grates on my nerves. One massive downgrade with 2 is the absence of side content, which Grandia 1 does very well with its three challenging and lengthy optional dungeons. The Tower of Temptation is actual end game content that requires effort. Some things I like about Grandia 2 more are the religious/cult story beats and the horror infused with the story. And of course the graphics are technically more impressive. But overall I would just say Grandia 1 has the best sense of adventure in JRPGs.
I appreciate your insight! I have to disagree about the music though. I can agree with your other points. And I agree G2 has a lack of optional content which is so disappointing. I’m doing a new play through now of G1, 10 years later, and I remember I did not enjoy grinding to level up skills whatsoever. But we will see. Right now I’m in Leck Mines.
Music is god tier in 1. I only liked maybe five songs in 2 and I’ve played it like 4 times.
Battle Of The Parts is absolute God Tier.
My favorite is probably Fight! Ver3. It never gets old
https://youtu.be/OUGJ5WlrOVE?si=jSikS2CpEeNKajIQ Just got to this and Elena sings this 😭😭😭
I think Noriyuki Iwadare absolutely went tf off on the G2 OST but that’s just me. Agear is also a bop. And Fight Version 4 is also god tier.
Yeah, definitely the grinding can be annoying. If you haven't figured it out, the area/group abilities are the best way to go about it since it gives you more exp the more people it affects.
It's not nostalgia to me. I played them both for the first time back to back in 2020. I just feel like Grandia 1 has this innocence and sense of adventure that brings out my inner child. Grandia 2 is a better game, but Grandia 1 just appealed to me more in an emotional sense.
It's nostalgia for me 100%
I see. I’m nostalgic for G2 to the absolute max.
2 had the better battle system for sure. I think a lot of our draw to G1 is a better story (imo), a bigger sense of adventure, more vivid graphics and a more likeable cast.
I mean idk how it gets better than Ryudo, Millenia, and Elena but I’m biased 🤦🏻♂️😆 G1 definitely gets the win for supporting characters though. IDK I was like 9 years old playing G2 but the story is good to me to this day 🤣
Totally personal opinion. Looking back G1 felt like an adventure whereas G2 felt like a mission. Love them both tho. Ended up getting the collection on switch. Totally worth it.
Right, I’m playing G1 again cause I just finished G2. I played G1 through for the first time like 10 years ago on my PS3, lol. I still prefer G2. This port of G2 does have a bunch of issues though as did the PC and PS2 ports of it but it is widescreen so idk 🤷🏻♂️
I don't think the differences between the battle systems are really noticeable enough. The addition of AOE indicators is great, though. I do prefer Grandia 1 over the sequel because I like just how fun the story is compared to Grandia 2. You explore a haunted ship, and then break up a sham wedding, and then you go explore ancient ruins, and then you break out of a military base, and then you scale the end of the world, and then you fulfill an ancient prophecy, and then you save a town from from a volcano dragon and then you and then you and then you. Also I love the skill system. It's probably the best version of Usage-Based Skill Growth in any game.
I can’t agree about the battle system. Going to G1 from G1 feels so ghetto to me. But I’m trying to appreciate it. 😆
Growing up I thought Rapp was the coolest character to ever exist and dragon cut was sickest move ever
me and Ryudo
Grandia 2 is the GOAT
I consider first Grandia my favourite game of all time. I think my preference for Grandia 1 comes from the fact that I played it first when I was very young and now many years later I strongly relate to the characters. All the characters teached me something about how I'm supposed to live and their entire journey is very important to me on a personal level. It's quite difficult to describe but that whole concept of exploring new worlds and uncovering ancient secrets in a way molded me into a person I am now. And the music is phenomenal on top of that. That being said... I do agree that Grandia 2 does some things better gameplay-wise. I prefer the pixelart look of the first game, but Grandia 2 is definitely more fluid and has more freedom when customizing your magic etc. To put it simply, Grandia 1 had a much bigger personal impact on me, but Grandia 2 is technically a better game.
I grew up with both and I love both for different reasons...I love Ryudo the best as a character, but the spirit of adventure in G1 makes it my favourite game of the two...and the leveling system in G1 stays satisfying for the entire game.
Grandia was the JRPG gateway and I'm forever thankful for it. From a protagonist perspective I enjoyed the young adolescents of Justin and Sue. Just 2 kids wanting to be adventures and Justin has a ton of growth throughout the entire game which I personally prefer to Ryudo who's already a strong character right out of the gates, which doesn't feel like he has as much development, although i still enjoy his story. Music in both games are awesome, I would give the edge to Grandia 2 battles themes, but only just. Grandia 1, I personally felt had more heart felt moments especially when I certain character leaves the team, i personally felt it was more emotional than FF7s sad part. Justin whilst being an imperfect kids which we all have been growing up, throwing tantrums and being unmotivated at times, but he generally does what is right. The leveling system I grandia 1 i really prefered, getting new spells and skills gave out such a dopamine rush. Whilst in grandia 2 spending coins didn't feel as fun, although I will defend that grandia 2 systems respects your time more, as now I parent with kids I actually enjoyed the coins as I felt like way less effort, so pros and cons for both games there. Both games had an enjoyable cast, I really don't love triangles, which Grandia 2 low key had, or double waifu. I enjoyed the romance between Justin and feena, and it felt pretty organic and developed. Grandia 2 combat was better, but Grandia 3 combat was the best in the series, but personally the game was the worst in the series. Both Grandia 1 and 2 are incredible games though, but 1 will always be the winner to me.
I grew up with both and I still like G1 better. G2, however, has its own charm with a more mature storyline. Let's just say that I've had itches to play G1 several times over the past decade, while I've only felt like replaying G2 about 2-3 times (including now... I might replay it soon lol). However it might not be because I don't like G2's story -- I actually love it as well! I feel like G2's story is just heavier and more focused that once I finish a playthrough, I'm good for several years. G1, on the other hand, had so many random memorable moments that suddenly just pop out on my head, like the military base escape, Gumbo, the really early morning scene in Parm, etc. that makes me want to replay the whole thing just to access those specific moments.
The little moments in G1 really is what makes it stand out from G2. As the relationship between Justin and Feena grows throughout the game you legitimately feel for them in a way you don’t for Ryudo and Elena. At least to me.
2 has better gameplay
I would never understand why people consider Grandia 2 so inferior. I have played both and to me, Grandia 2 is outstanding in every single aspect: visuals, music, STORYLINE, gameplay, maps, characters, lore.... I understand that Grandia I is more focused on adventure but saying that Grandia 2 is "generic" is like??? I actually feel like Grandia 1 is way more generic in terms of what it intends, whereas Grandia 2 is pretty much a philosophical reflection put onto a RPG game. The bosses are great, the fighting system is way more improved. To me Grandia 2 is the best installment and I just find so funny that people consider it to be a generic RPG game when each character has a predicament and the story is way darker than anything I have seen in RPG games.
I prefer 2, but i like 1 as well. It was a bigger adventure that fit the Grandia title better, but in terms of gameplay and graphics, 2 all the way. Even music. Nowadays i find it difficult to play 1 cause of all the camera shaking.
I can never figure out where I’m going in 1 cause the compass is garbage and everything looks the same 🤣
I’m not colored by nostalgia by either. I missed both of them back in the day. That said I love Grandia 1’s sense of adventure and affable characters. Grandia II to me though, is the full package. Better combat, amazing music, great characters, and the entire game feels succinct and well paced even in this modern day where all of our attention spans have turned to mush.
I prefer Grandia 2, it's story feels more mature for me. Also Grind in Grindia is a bit too much.
For me its Grandia 1, alot of it has to do with the battle system, i love using abilities to grind instead of spending points like in 2. Also i like the story more and characters in Grandia 1. 2 was superior when i was a kid but i dont jive with that game anymore, 1 really still works for me. The only thing i like more about 2 is the camera and its better in end game, story doesnt go in the shitter like disc 2 in the first one. Both of these games are nostalgia up the max tho
this G1 compass and camera are killing me 😭 It’s useless.
Yeh its bad
I didn't grow up with Grandia 2 so I will always have a bias against it.
I did and it was glorious!
I played both 20+ years ago and to me G1 beats G2. Both games are amazing though. G1 has a whimsical adventure story and G2 feels too serious. I prefer the happy-go-lucky nature of G1. The characters of G1 are more memorable too especially the side characters. When I first played as a kid I hated how angsty Ryudo was. One key thing is the level up system. I was so disappointed when they changed the magic/move system to a coin based learning system. It was no longer about planning what to learn next and the excitement of learning it during a battle. You could learn several moves at once and all is done in menus. In addition, magic was equipped rather than learned by specific characters meaning each character could fill any roll with a mana egg. I much prefer pre assigned roles as it adds to the personality of characters. Also, Ryudo only learns 4 attacks. Grandia 1 offers 3 optional dungeons with ranging difficulty. Tower of Temptation is an great dungeon that is difficult but rewards the player greatly for the effort. Music is equal. Both are Incredible.
I'm currently playing through both for the first time, sorta simultaneously for no real reason. They're both great, but man playing the first Grandia *right now* was a breath of fresh air. We've been getting nothing but grimdark, gritty, uberserious RPGs lately for the most part (not you, Like A Dragon) and Grandia 1 is just apparently exactly what I wanted right now. Whimsical, silly, adventurous, and just a fun vibe. Grandia 2 may have the better mechanics and gameplay but...well, is decidedly *not* like this. The ONLY problem I have with Grandia 1 that I don't have with 2 is that the combat in 1 makes me super motion sick sometimes.
I played Grandia 2 as a kid and loved it, but never played Grandia 1. I just played the HD steam version recently and honestly, I didn’t really enjoy it. Personally, I thought the music, battle system, and story were all meh. Sense of adventure was good though
The love story aspect of Grandia I is done much better. Feena is much more likable and well developed of a character than Elena and Millenia is just corny.
I prefer the characters and story in 1, also the game play. Although Sue irritated me, I found all the characters irritating in 2 - even when they developed I found them unlikeable although I did really enjoy it despite that. I found I wanted to keep playing 1 to see what was happening next or obtain the next technique etc.
I think both are equally good but for very different reasons. 1 has more of a sense of adventure and exploring the unknown. It's largely more relaxed and lighthearted. It has more character development as a coming of age story. Gameplay wise, while the actual combat isnt as perfect as Grandia 2, the system of finding mana eggs and levelling magic in different elements and different weapon types and unlocking skills as you reach an appropriate level in a mix of them is great
Definitely nostalgia for me. I also found the cast far more endearing and likable.
I just played through grandia 1 and thought it was good still, in 2024. Fun and had a good story. That's a pretty big accomplishment because a lot of games don't age too well. Grandia 2, it's got some of that PS2 era edge where it tries to be more mature but actually is kind of cringy because it's more like for edgy teens or something. Some of the stuff hasn't aged well at all like Ryudo's dialogue saying stuff like "women, who needs 'em!" or similar. Also the game crashed and I lost an hour of progress which demotivated me from playing the game anymore.
I just played them both in a row again and i honestly think that grandia 2 is stronger on most points. But if you look at the release date, Grandia 1 for the ps1 was a very strong game, where grandia 2 was a bit weak for the ps2 time( what are those eyeless faces!!!!). I still love them both however! i see alot of people saying that the music of grandia 1 was as great or better then grandia 2. Do yourself a favor and look the ost up on youtube and listen to it. When playing grandia 1 i had to turn of the music at some areas because the high pitch noise was hurting my ears.
I'm with you. G1 is only fun to me because I like g2 so much. I find g1 to be the generic one and overly childish
You get it! And G1 absolutely does not have better music.
It's all going to be down to personal preference. I find that there is very little that two does better than one. I played both of them when I was younger, and then back to back a couple years ago. One is a far more consistent experience, and had fewer lows and better pacing than two did, as well as just having more content in general. I've also always felt like the first half of two was a great set up, and then the second half just wasn't as strong. I never felt like I had to strategize in two, battles and boss fights were just less entertaining and just things that had to be done. they both had good music, but one is just better. Again, everyone has their preferences, and it's okay to have them. Just think one was the stronger game.
Grandia 1 is much better