Growlanser Generations

An extremely enjoyable experience, and any fans of "Disgaea" or "Final Fantasy: Tactics" would be doing themselves a disservice by not checking it out.

If you've ever loved strategy-based RPGs, you're gonna like this. [Jan 2005, p.62]

Working Designs did an excellent job of localizing the game, not only providing a quality translation, good voice acting, and an informative full color manual, but also adding new options like the ability to mute out individual characters’ battle cries if they get too annoying and the ability to use the L & R buttons as shortcut keys in battle for quicker gameplay.

Taken together, however, Growlanser Generations is great fun and can offer diehard role-players anywhere from 60-100 hours of entertainment.

Fans of role-playing games rarely get as good a deal as this package offers--two full-length tactical RPGs with branching paths, numerous side quests, and tons of content for the price of a single game.

It’s not the greatest thing since sliced bread, but if you try it out it will likely become one of your newest guilty addictions. Not for everyone, but those who like this sort of thing will absolutely love it.

Though some new-school players will balk at the slight sluggishness afforded to 2D titles or the occasionally bland graphics, the game's outstanding characters make up for it. [Jan 2005, p.74]

If you're the kind of player that likes to spend only a few hours a week playing one particular game, Growlanser Generations could last you a year. It's a big package, well worth the price.

GL2 might be on the short side, but it's 100 percent pure beef; GL3 feels like cow eyeballs and kangaroo meat are mixed in—even if, in point of fact, the developers have actually expanded the game.

That constant activity is one of the series' greatest strengths since it allows objectives and plans to change as battlefield conditions shift. More than most strategy games, the Growlanser games make you feel that what goes on in the skirmishes is the plot, rather than something that happens between the story sections.

I strongly believe tactical RPG fans will get a whole lot of mileage from Growlanser Generations. Just don't ask me to recommend dropping $90 on the deluxe package with a watch, ring, and deck of playing cards. My advice: be happy you have a regular-priced option.

Tactical RPG enthusiasts should pick this one up no questions asked. If previous games in this genre have left you cold, there’s enough unique about Growlanser: Generations to recommend.

The presentation is probably the weakest spot in Growlanser: Generations. The graphics consist of 2D sprites, and the characters are very pixilated. Backgrounds can be bland at times, lacking detail. Spell effects are also rather lackluster.

Though the battles themselves get incredibly complex, the combat system remains simple and sometimes frustrating due to the use of an awkward real-time/turn-based combat hybrid. [Jan 2005, p.125]

The character art is so good, I forgot about the graphics. More importantly, the gameplay is gripping. [Holiday 2004, p.126]

Hours of deep strategic gameplay, excellent music and interesting stories (particularly in "The Dual Darkness' chapter of the saga) make Growlanser Generations a keeper for RPG strategists in need of a noggin-shaking fix.

These games are much too late to receive any real critical raves, but the fact remains that you get a lot of game in Growlanser Generations.