Unlimited Saga, Sony Playstation

Square Enix's SaGa series, though not as prolific as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, is one of the company's most popular franchises. But few have made it to UK shores. However, in an attempt to prove its new commitment to the PAL market, Square Enix has brought us Unlimited Saga for PlayStation 2. The reasoning behind such a bizarre title name is that SE's latest offering is said to be the most non-linear, open-ended RPG to date. Unlimited Saga's fantasy tale is told through the eyes of seven different protagonists as they journey in search of the Seven Wonders. The legend states that powerful gods lie trapped within these wonders and that their release will trigger a golden age of prosperity. Playing host to a refined Free Scenario System, players can experience in detail two of the most important aspect of the role-playing genre - exploration and character development. There's a map movement system that ensures the game will never be played the same way twice, and SE has also bravely done away with 'character levelling', moving that gameplay aspect over to character abilities and arts instead. The newly developed 'Reel' combat system is also a refreshing change from the norm that relies on a slot machine-like interface. Players must simply stop several spinning reels, and the resulting symbols will trigger a specific ability. But it's not entirely down to luck - agility and timing play their parts too. From a visual standpoint, Unlimited Saga looks quite unique, boasting 3D animation that looks almost hand drawn. Square Enix has good knowledge of the PS2 hardware and has demonstrated its abilities with Unlimited Saga by giving it a distinct, almost trademark look. Unlimited Saga is a fine role-playing experience that also serves as a good stopgap whilst UK gamers wait for the release of Final Fantasy X-2 and Final Fantasy XI.

Buy Unlimited Saga for 14.99 GBP

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