Growlanser iv

Growlanser: Wayfarer Of Time is the fourth entry of the Growlanser series by published by ATLUS. The version I am playing is a PSP port from the original PS2 game released back in 2003. The PSP port add in some new characters to the game. 

Wayfarer Of Time is set in the world of Noievarl during a war between 4 nations. Noievarl is a science fantasy based continent where the war between angels and humanity rages. Unusual for strategy games, it has a free range mode of level design in contrast to a square based one which was interesting.  

The equipment system is markedly different from most RPGs. Characters can equip two pieces of armor, one being a "Ring Weapon".  A Ring Weapon transforms into different weapons depending on the user’s personality. These rings are obtained after an enemy is defeated. Rings can be equipped with different bonus status. Players find these rings after the defeat of an enemy and can equip different rings for different stat bonuses and different gem-equip slots. 

Major events in the story have various battle gains, such as the ability to rescue an NPC from enemies rather than simply 'defeat all enemies'. Because enemy forces can call up reinforcements, you have to plan ahead for this occurrence.  Mission goals can vary from defeat all enemies to avoid fighting without killing anyone, protect the NPC, or set fire to the enemy camps, to name a few. 

If the player's entire party dies it is Game Over, but if the player survives a battle they can achieve four outcomes: Mission Failed, Mission Passed, Mission Clear, and Mission Complete, all of which let the player continue the game and may unlock an alternate story branch.You can get bonuses depending how quick you finish missions. 

While it can get grindy from time to time, the game has a good amount of replay value. The dialogue choices are superficial as is the case of many ATLUS/SEGA games. The voice acting is nonexistent during gameplay apparently because of system limitations. This is strange as I've played many jrpgs that had voice acting, it clearly a sign of the games age. There were the occasional mistranslations. 

I also really did not liked the lack of overhead map. Even Hexyz Force, while rudimentary for its time still managed to have a useful map you can zoom in and out while in gameplay. At least you can still get a idea where to go next once you gain your familiar (a fairy in the game that assist the player) 

There is also dating sim elements in the game and the more you spend time with them, the more bonuses you get. Limit abilities are also a thing in the game too where its either support or offensive stuff based on the circumstances you are in combat. Later on in the game, fast travel becomes available through the transgate system. The retro styled art and graphics as well as the music are all excellent. The anime cutscenes too were fairly ok. 

Overall, it was a decent game. 

It gets 4 out of 5 stars. 

Out of all games Atlus needs to bring back, this is the one that really needs to come back not another persona or smt game.