Rogue Galaxy

UPC: 711719749028

Platform: PlayStation 2

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc.

Developer: Level-5

Category: Role-Playing

Style(s): Third-Person 3D Action RPG

Synopsis: The development team behind the PlayStation 2's Dark Cloud series returns to the genre with Rogue Galaxy, an original action role-playing game offering an estimated 100 hours of content. After spending an uneventful life on the desert planet Rosa, a weary lad named Jaster is whisked away on an epic adventure led by the charismatic Dorgengoa and his crew of space pirates. Their goal is to find a lost planet rumored to possess the secret of eternal life, but they are not alone in their efforts. Emissaries from the ruthless Daytron Corporation have been sent to find the planet, and they will stop at nothing to ensure their success. Players will lead an interchangeable party of three characters as they engage in real-time combat across five planets. As Jaster and friends search the galaxy, they can embark on rare item hunts, capture and raise bugs for special tournaments, and even build a factory to forge more than 500 new melee and ranged weapons. Rogue Galaxy also features cel-shaded visuals and more than eight hours of cinematic cut-scenes to further the swashbuckling storyline. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Package Contents: Registration Card

Controls: Joystick/Gamepad

A functional manual, nothing fancy. Much of the content is repeated during the in-game tutorial that must be played through.

Some of the best-looking cel-shaded graphics on the PS2 to date, surpassing even DQ VIII in this regard. And the game has virtually no load times in most areas.

Rogue Galaxy, at its core, is a pastiche of almost every conceivable RPG released before it, from Pok?mon to Final Fantasy. Developer Level 5, of Dragon Quest VIII fame, threw almost every conceivable RPG element into the game -- from monster-rearing to item synthesis, from button-combo/rhythm games to a sweeping, epic storyline -- resulting in a satisfying, if somewhat eclectic, role-playing experience. In fact, even the introduction conjures up d?j? vu, opening with the hero of the story, Jaster Rogue, stuck on a desert planet while dreaming of voyaging among the stars (sound familiar?). Jaster soon has his chance after he defeats a giant two-story monster threatening the town, and crewmembers from the pirate ship Dorgenark mistake him for the legendary bounty hunter, Desert Claw. The pirates strong-arm Jaster into joining the crew, thus beginning his journey through space. Gameplay in Rogue Galaxy consists primarily of wandering through various mazes and environs -- something that's certainly not atypical in an RPG, but feels drawn out here. Where Final Fantasy XII moved RPGs away from random battles, Galaxy embraces its traditional RPG roots by having enemies literally pop out of the woodwork. In combat, the similarities between Galaxy and a typical turn-based RPG fall away since players control one of three characters in these real-time, deceptively difficult affairs. Prepare to die, a lot, when playing Rogue Galaxy, at least until you can get the hang of the ebb and flow of battle. Even after you master the controls, typical combat starts to be a button-mashing affair, with the player performing the same combos over and over. Though combat and wandering comprise the chief activity in Galaxy, they certainly aren't the only ones. Throughout the game, you will be called upon to collect insects and battle other players in a mini-game called Insectron, an obvious nod to monster-collecting games, such as Pok?mon and Jade Cocoon. Players can also hunt rare monsters, build items in the game's factory, or search for treasure on distant worlds. There's even a sandworm or two from Dune thrown into the game for good measure. All of these disparate elements are wrapped up in cel-shaded graphics reminiscent of DQ VIII (but better), engaging voice over work, beautifully rendered anime cut-scenes, and a catchy soundtrack. Released during the twilight years of the PlayStation 2, Rogue Galaxy takes full advantage of the system's capabilities, delivering what may be one of the last great RPGs on this console.

With over 100 hours of content advertised, there's little chance you'll even need to replay this game. You can continue to seek items and such after the game is completed, however.

Excellent, excellent voice-over work that is well-acted and well-cast. The soundtrack itself, while catchy at first, quickly becomes annoying rather than fading into the background where it belongs.

Loads of fun to play. There's something here for ever RPG enthusiast.

the game requires Joystick/Gamepad.