Evergrace

• Platform:    PlayStation2, No Operating System
• ELSPA Minimum Age: 11
• Media: Video Game

A fairly typical Japanese RPG, this a colourful affair that tells its tale at a fairly sedate pace, mixing six parts storytelling to four parts combat to produce an entertaining if not entirely satisfying experience.

The Evergrace experience feels a little flat, it was originally a PSOne title that was moved over to the PS2 at a late stage, as the character and world detail fall a little short of the expectations of the average PS2 owner.

Wandering monsters are the order of the day, there sheer number overshadowing many of the set piece battles and although combat is relatively easy to get to grips with there are often too many encounters too close together to allow the story to breathe.

This gripe aside there's a lot about Evergrace that is appealing. The story, when it gets a look in, is engrossing and encourages the player to progress onwards.

Among the nicer touches are the ability to switch between the main characters at will and the high degree of customisation that's possible with weapons and outfits. Mixing coloured gems allows custom spells to be cast on swords (à la Final Fantasy) and for the fashion conscious RPGer clothing can be mixed and matched to suit--really tasteful combinations even prompt shopkeepers to give you a discount on purchases.

For those starting out on the PS2 RPG ladder there's a lot to be said for Evergrace, the more adventure-hardened may wish to look to the likes of Scion of Sorcery for an equally Japanese adventure with more action and bigger adversaries.--James Gordon

Manufacturer's Description
Evergrace is the first action RPG available for the PlayStation 2. It features many unique aspects that help to differentiate it from other action RPGs currently on the market. The story follows two different adventurers named Darius and Sharline whose paths frequently intertwine. The graphics are in full 3D, using the PlayStation 2's power to render thousands of polygons as well as load intricate textures to them. Evergrace also contains full voice acting, meaning that every word by every character is spoken aloud - a rarity among RPGs. In addition, the game even shows the different clothing and armor that each character wears, and allows the gamer to participate in a fashion show! Evergrace is an action RPG that is sure to feed any fan's hunger.

• PC & Video Games > Games > Role Playing