Grandia II
Genres
Summary
Grandia 2 is a three-dimensional role-playing game that primarily uses a top-down view for exploration and switches to a third-person perspective during combat. As Ryudo, players traverse a variety of locations, interacting with townspeople and objects by navigating the environment. Both towns and dungeons are presented similarly, but dungeons are typically maze-like and populated with enemies, while towns are more welcoming, offering dialogue and shopping opportunities. Enemies in these areas are visible and move around freely. Simply walking near or making contact with a monster triggers a battle. If the monster detects the player's approach, it becomes a standard battle. However, if Ryudo can approach unnoticed, the player's party gains the initiative. If any party member other than Ryudo is spotted by an enemy, the party loses the initiative in battle.
Storyline
Ryudo, a mercenary known as a Geohound, is hired by the Church of Granas to accompany Elena, a Songstress of Granas, to Garmia Tower for a sacred ceremony. Upon arrival, he is asked to wait while the ritual takes place. But when he hears a scream, he rushes to the top floor and discovers the scene in chaos—everyone dead and Elena now bearing a pair of wings. He saves her and they return to Carbo village. There, the village priest asks Ryudo to escort Elena to the St. Heim Papal State to seek help from Pope Zera in cleansing her of the Wings of Valmar, one of several fragments of Valmar that now inhabit her. Before he can refuse, the village is attacked by a mysterious winged woman who defeats Ryudo in battle. She introduces herself as Millennia and vanishes. The next day, Ryudo accepts the mission and sets off with Elena for St. Heim. In the town of Agear, Millennia reappears, this time in a more amicable manner, and joins forces with Ryudo. She inadvertently reveals that she is the Wings of Valmar and that she and Elena share a body as two distinct entities. The group is later joined by Roan and the beastman Mareg, and they continue their journey, battling and absorbing more fragments of Valmar as they go. Upon reaching the St. Heim Papal State, Elena meets with Pope Zera, who then requests a private audience with Ryudo. The Pope asks him to locate the legendary Granasaber, a weapon once wielded by Granas to defeat Valmar. Though hesitant, Ryudo agrees, and the group travels to Cyrum, Roan’s hometown. After resting at an inn, Roan leaves the group. The next day, it is revealed that Roan is the prince and that Cyrum’s people once aided Valmar during the ancient war against Granas. The party enters the castle, discovers the Gate of Darkness open, and finds an ancient factory beneath it. They face the Claws of Valmar and later encounter Melfice within the castle. Melfice is Ryudo’s estranged brother and the one Mareg seeks. After defeating the group, he flees, challenging Ryudo to a final confrontation at home. Roan is crowned king and chooses to remain in Cyrum to inspire his people to forge a new future. Tio, a being possessed by the Claws and an Automata, joins the group after being rescued. The party arrives at Garlan, Ryudo’s hometown, by boat, and is immediately met with hostility. The villagers demand he leave, but he insists on staying, revealing that Melfice has returned and that he intends to kill him to end his suffering. At the inn, a disguised Skye recounts Ryudo’s past to Elena. Garlan was once a village of swordsmen, and Melfice was the greatest among them. During a storm, the villagers sent Reena, Melfice’s fiancée, to pray at the altar in the hills. She never returned, and Melfice went searching, secretly followed by Ryudo. In the shrine, Ryudo witnessed Melfice kill Reena. He fled the village and stayed away for three years, leading the villagers to believe he had abandoned them. The next day, the group climbs the mountain to confront Melfice. At the summit, they defeat him, and before dying, he reconciles with Ryudo and reveals the location of the Granasaber. As Ryudo mourns, the Horns of Valmar take control of him, causing him to collapse. Back at the inn, Elena pleads with Millennia to help, and after some hesitation, Millennia seals the Horns within Ryudo, who awakens with a renewed sense of purpose. Yet Elena questions Granas, as it was Valmar who ultimately saved Ryudo. The group travels to Nannan, Mareg’s hometown, near the location of the Granasaber. There, Mareg is celebrated for his role in the mission, and the group learns the Granasaber is hidden within a massive cyclone to the east. They journey there, neutralize the artificial storm, and uncover the Granasaber. However, Selene, the High Priestess, appears and sacrifices a Cathedral Knight to awaken the Body of Valmar around the weapon. The group enters the body and destroys it. Tio reveals the Granasaber is actually a ship, which transports them to St. Heim. The "Day of Darkness" arrives, and the group witnesses the Cathedral Knights slaughtering innocent townspeople, which they then destroy. Elena finally reveals her true mission: to absorb the fragments of Valmar so they can be destroyed by the Granasaber. In the Cathedral, Selene transforms into the Heart of Valmar, and the group defeats her. They then intercept Zera, who confesses the truth: Valmar won the ancient battle, and Granas was killed. Zera plans to use Elena to revive Valmar and abducts her to the Moon of Valmar. The group uses the Granasaber to reach the moon and rescue Elena. A wounded Mareg sacrifices himself to allow the others to escape. They crash near Cyrum, now under siege by creatures from the moon, and reunite with Roan to defend the town. As Valmar’s Moon collides with the Granas Cathedral, the new Valmar emerges. With no clear way to defeat him, Roan suggests they travel to the nearby Birthplace of the Gods for answers. There, they learn the history of the ancient war and the origins of both deities. Meeting another Automata named Elmo, Ryudo confronts the Horns within him and faces many trials. He overcomes his fears and is granted the true Granasaber. The party challenges Valmar and enters his body. Inside, they are attacked by Zera, who sends a false Millennia after them. Ryudo’s team emerges victorious, and the real Millennia, now separated from Elena, joins them. Zera splits the group and launches a final assault on Ryudo, Elena, and Millennia. They defeat him and destroy Valmar, restoring peace to the world. A year later, the ending shows the characters moving forward. Roan remains king and begins a journey to reunite with his friends. Tio becomes a nurse in Cyrum, Millennia becomes a teacher, and Elena tours the world as a singer in a troupe. Meanwhile, Ryudo lays the Granasaber to rest and returns to the world, ready to begin anew.
