Software:The Granstream Saga

From HandWiki
Short description: 1997 role-playing video game


The Granstream Saga
Developer(s)Shade[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Koji Yokota
Producer(s)Ryoji Akagawa
Designer(s)Koji Yokota
Writer(s)Tomoyoshi Miyazaki

Original Text: Masami Ohkubo

和訳:大久保 政実

Composer(s)Masanori Hikichi
Miyoko Takaoka
Takako Ochiai
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
  • JP: November 6, 1997
  • NA: June 29, 1998[3]
  • EU: February 26, 1999
Genre(s)Action role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

The Granstream Saga (グランストリーム伝紀, Guransutorīmu Denki) is an action role-playing game developed by Shade, a development team in Quintet and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is an intended spiritual successor to their previous Super NES titles, Illusion of Gaia and Terranigma (involving Tomoyoshi Miyazaki and Masanori Hikichi).[4] The game was released in Japan in November 1997, North America in June 1998 by THQ and Europe in February 1999.[5]

The Granstream Saga is lauded as one of the first fully polygonal RPGs, as opposed to using polygonal characters with pre-rendered backgrounds, polygonal environments with scaling sprites, or other such combinations. The game features anime-style cutscenes by Production I.G. It is also somewhat unusual in that the characters the player meets in the game are faceless.

Gameplay

Gameplay consists of top-down RPG exploration and storytelling. When the player character is confronted or ambushed by an enemy, the camera angle shifts to a 45 degree angle, and combat begins. Combat consists of real-time one-on-one battles.[5] In real-time combat, the player utilizes several weapons and abilities, such as swords, daggers, axes, warhammers, and various spells. When not in combat, they spend a very large time exploring, gaining new weapons and armor, and conversing with the many characters of the different continents.

Plot

The game takes place after a short animated sequence where Eon and Valos cut a section of land off of Shilf. After discovering a young boy has disappeared, Valos performs locating magic to find the boy in an ancient cemetery. The spirit of the Wise Man speaks to Eon here, and asks him to find and help his daughter, Arcia, to use the Orb and recite the lifting verse to raise the land. Together they make it a goal to raise the other continents as well, and set off on a journey.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings66%[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStar[7]
EGM7.125 / 10[8][lower-alpha 2]
Famitsu31 / 40[10]
Game Informer7.5 / 10[11]
GameFan89%[12][lower-alpha 3]
GameRevolutionB−[13]
GameSpot6.7 / 10[14]
IGN6 / 10[15]
Next GenerationStarStar[16]
RPGamer2.5 / 5[17]

The game received average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[6] Next Generation said that the game "isn't a bad effort; it's just an average one. Neither the gameplay nor the storyline elevates it into the same category as Square's Final Fantasy, Konami's Suikoden, or Capcom's Breath of Fire."[16] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 31 out of 40.[10]

GamePro said the game was "one of the most enjoyable new role-playing games of the year", praising its intriguing storyline, enemies, and frantic fighting action. They considered the "voice-overs during most of the cut scenes" as "audio highlights" and concluded its blend of "classic RPG elements (puzzle solving, spells, saving mankind) with those of the action/fighter genre" make it a fun and challenging adventure.[19][lower-alpha 4]

Hardcore Gaming 101 gave it a positive retrospective review, commenting its combat system, story and presentation.[20]

Notes

  1. ↑ Additional work by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan.[1]
  2. ↑ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 7/10, and another gave it 7.5/10.
  3. ↑ In GameFan's viewpoint of the game, three critics gave it each a score of 92, 84, and 90.
  4. ↑ GamePro gave the game three 4.5/5 scores for graphics, sound, and control, and 5/5 for fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ "JAPANスタジオ作品一覧 1998年～1994年" (in ja). Sony Interactive Entertainment. 2021. https://www.playstation.com/ja-jp/corporate/playstation-studios/japan-studio/history-1994-1998/. 
  2. ↑ "THQ Brings Japanese Hit Game to U.S. Market With "The Granstream Saga"". Gale. March 10, 1998. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/THQ+Brings+Japanese+Hit+Game+to+U.S.+Market+With+%22The+Granstream...-a020369956. 
  3. ↑ "THQ AND SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCH FUTURISTIC ROLE PLAYING GAME FOR PLAYSTATION". June 29, 1998. http://www.thq.com/Corporate/PressReleases/press-53.asp. 
  4. ↑ DeRienzo, David (2007). "Quintet". http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/quintet/quintet.htm. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The RPG Revolution (The Granstream Saga)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (106): 87. May 1998. https://retrocdn.net/images/f/f0/EGM_US_106.pdf. Retrieved September 10, 2023. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "The Granstream Saga for PlayStation". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197486-the-granstream-saga/index.html. 
  7. ↑ House, Michael L.. "The Granstream Saga - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12816&tab=review. 
  8. ↑ Ricciardi, John; Boyer, Crispin; Smith, Shawn; Williams, Ken "Sushi-X" (July 1998). "The Granstream Saga". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (108): 139. https://retrocdn.net/images/4/45/EGM_US_108.pdf. Retrieved September 10, 2023. 
  9. ↑ Grant, Jules (March 8, 1999). "The Granstream Saga". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=69&full=1#mr_toppy. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "グランストリーム伝紀" (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=16824&redirect=no. Retrieved September 10, 2023. 
  11. ↑ McNamara, Andy; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (July 1998). "The Granstream Saga". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (63). http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=psx&path=jul98&doc=gran. Retrieved January 12, 2022. 
  12. ↑ Ngo, George "Eggo"; Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Wakamatsu, Mike "Waka" (August 1998). "[The Granstream Saga"]. GameFan (Metropolis Media) 6 (8): 16. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_6_Issue_08/page/n17/mode/2up. Retrieved September 10, 2023. 
  13. ↑ Baldric (July 1998). "The Granstream Saga - PlayStation Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34147-the-granstream-saga-review. 
  14. ↑ Kasavin, Greg (August 20, 1998). "The Granstream Saga Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/granstream-saga-the-review/1900-2547753/. 
  15. ↑ Reyes, Francesca; Perry, Douglass C. (July 14, 1998). "[The Granstream Saga"]. Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/07/15/granstream-saga. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "[The Granstream Saga"]. Next Generation (Imagine Media) (44): 96. August 1998. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_44/page/n97/mode/2up. Retrieved September 10, 2023. 
  17. ↑ Moehnke, Mike (September 2011). "The Granstream Saga - Staff Retroview". CraveOnline. https://archive.rpgamer.com/games/other/psx/gss/reviews/gssstrev1.html. 
  18. ↑ Esque (August 9, 1998). "The Granstream Saga". Emerald Shield Media LLC. https://www.rpgfan.com/review/the-granstream-saga/. 
  19. ↑ Robinson Hood (July 1998). "The Granstream Saga". GamePro (IDG) (118). https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_108_July_1998/page/n85/mode/2up. Retrieved September 10, 2023. 
  20. ↑ "Quintet Heaven and Earth Trilogy". http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/quintet/quintet4.htm. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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