Vagrant Story

 PlayStation
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 247 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 222 out of 247
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 247
  3. Negative: 14 out of 247
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  1. PeterJ.
    Sep 6, 2003
    10
    I really wish there was a squel to this excellent game. The Graphics/Music/Story was all excellent!
  2. MattP.
    Feb 21, 2003
    10
    Great game.
  3. ChrisR.
    Sep 30, 2003
    10
    A new word should be made for this game. How about... splendiferous.
  4. Andy
    Mar 1, 2004
    10
    Awesome game ! loved every minute i played ! the best looking and sounding game on PSX, with a cool comic style to the cutscenes :oD too long? first tiem u play thru it took me 40 hours, but you get to keep al ur stats for the next play thru and after doin this a couple of times ive finished it in 2 hours :o) very cool ! u need it !
  5. Isaac
    Aug 5, 2005
    10
    Greatest game ever. not nearly long enough.
  6. WillybachW
    Feb 15, 2008
    10
    One of the best games I've ever played without doubt. Played it through the three times too, just to unlock all the extra content. Still talk about this game sometimes even all these years after playing it. Great artwork, atmospheric, great storyline and dialog. A genuine mystery why they never did a sequel...
  7. DetectiveA
    Mar 18, 2009
    10
    One of the best games of all times. Incredible gameplay, outstanding soundtrack, great story. Wish Square Enix would make a sequel.
  8. Cody
    Jul 2, 2002
    10
    This game is truly amazing and deserves to be recognized as an instant classic for any rpg fan.
  9. LeonardD.
    Dec 1, 2003
    10
    One of the best games I've played, looks are good sounds great, one of the best classic action RPGs.
  10. CaillanT.
    Apr 29, 2003
    10
    I want a sequel!!!!
  11. Ericf
    Nov 19, 2004
    10
    I'm still hoping for a sequel after all these years.
  12. JustinF.
    Jul 17, 2005
    10
    Vagrant Story is to me and a few of my friends, one of the best games ever! However I hope if a sequel is made it stays true to the story and the battle system. Continue the story where it left off, use the new better graphics available, but change nothing else. I still have nightmares about the difference between the system in Chrono Trigger, and the one in Chrono Cross.
  13. Mithyus
    Apr 1, 2007
    10
    The one game you'll be crying for a sequel for the rest of your life.
  14. SunWoo
    Aug 21, 2008
    10
    Greates videogame ever made, and i'm not kidding here. This is perfection made into pixels.
  15. JaimeS
    Aug 26, 2009
    10
    This is the best action rpg on the psone, no question. My favorite game on the console after metal gear and chrono cross. Hell, if it werent for the lack of voice acting i would say it had mgs beat for most cinematic game of that era.
  16. Nekomancer
    Nov 21, 2011
    10
    A game from the golden age of Squaresoft :) One of the best games I have played. Whate else can there be said? Just go and play it yourself! You won't regret it:)
  17. Caestus
    Jul 31, 2013
    10
    A rare gem, that doesn´t get the recognition it so much deserves. The plot is genius with unexpected turns and a strong cadre of characters. The battle system, being on par with the story shows incredible depth with much variety and possibilities. The decision, not to make FMVs for the story sequences but instead using the in game graphics greatly helps the immersion, making smoothA rare gem, that doesn´t get the recognition it so much deserves. The plot is genius with unexpected turns and a strong cadre of characters. The battle system, being on par with the story shows incredible depth with much variety and possibilities. The decision, not to make FMVs for the story sequences but instead using the in game graphics greatly helps the immersion, making smooth transitions from cutscenes and gameplay possible and with that offering a on top presentation.
    Easily on of the best games ever to be made.    … Expand
  18. SirCaestus
    Jun 11, 2011
    10
    The complex story, the deep battle system, the great OST and the beautiful PSX graphics make this game the best one ever made. Great work by Matsuno and his team. (10.0)
  19. Hakaze
    Jan 25, 2012
    10
    Story, dialog, combat, customisation, grafics (for it's time), replay walue, atmosphere... It got it all!

    One of my all-time favorite games. Maby a bit to hard core for everybody, but that just means they made the game to be good, not to sell.
  20. Zynko
    Jun 20, 2012
    10
    "Blown away" is an understatement for this game. When I criticize and RPG, Vagrant Story is one of the metrics I use to compare. GraphicallyMusically: The game was developed to push the very limits of the original PlayStation, and it did just that without compromising anything; especially game length and content. The engineering for the music and sound effects has a place in my heart"Blown away" is an understatement for this game. When I criticize and RPG, Vagrant Story is one of the metrics I use to compare. GraphicallyMusically: The game was developed to push the very limits of the original PlayStation, and it did just that without compromising anything; especially game length and content. The engineering for the music and sound effects has a place in my heart especially. The musical score is wonderful.

    Content: The story is enveloping. One becomes entranced at the dialogue, plot, and twists. Nothing is predictable. Nobody's part is fully understood till the very end; even then it leaves you debating the integrity of what you see (in the best possible way). The characters are unique and the style of presentation is just perfect.

    Gameplay: Vagrant story made you play it twice. It wouldn't let you "finish" until after you beat it the first time. The battle system was amazing and very strategic, the puzzles made you think pretty hard, the crafting and equipment system is totally unique, the atmosphere was perfect, and the challenge of the game was very real. In fact, it makes me think of the much newer games Dark Souls and Demon Souls in its lack of forgiveness with many of the parts. Finally the balance of the game brought on by the "Risk" system as well as every conceivable detail taken into account by the team that made this game served the utmost justice to my expectations.

    The game as a whole, in my mind, has no equal on the PS1. If you are a fan of what a "good" game is, regardless of the console system or age, then this game comes extremely high on my list of recommendations.    … Expand
  21. Anb
    Feb 3, 2016
    10
    Easily my top 5 games of all time. The amount of effort that went into refining every aspect of this game is just astonishing. Even in 2016 it's storytelling, music and script are top notch.
    Don't let the old PSX trick you, if you love epic rpgs - this is one of the best ever created.
  22. Kai82
    Jul 23, 2021
    10
    It has a deep story full of twists and characters hidden agendas, a great battle system and exploration elements from a Metroidvania. Atop of this for its time it has excellent graphics and a really memorable soundtrack. It is a mixture from action RPG with a lot of strategic elements and a Dungeon Crawler. It is set in Ivalice the same world as Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy 12.It has a deep story full of twists and characters hidden agendas, a great battle system and exploration elements from a Metroidvania. Atop of this for its time it has excellent graphics and a really memorable soundtrack. It is a mixture from action RPG with a lot of strategic elements and a Dungeon Crawler. It is set in Ivalice the same world as Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy 12. However I think it is far later in the timeline as many the fantasy elements are missing and magic is something that is not common knowledge if I remember correct. You are playing as Ashley Riot who is a Riskbreaker. Those are special agents deployed only at really dangerous missions. Like a fantasy “Mission Impossible” squad but with the expected death toll. If I remember correctly the game sources say that 50% of all Riskbreaker’s do not survive their first mission and later missions have still a double digit death risk. Ashley however is one of the few veterans that survived many assignments. Shortly before the games story Ashley was sent to investigate Duke Bardorba’s estate as he has ties with the mysterious Müllencamp cult. There he meets briefly their leader Sydney Losstarot who has incredible magic abilities and Sydney abducted the Dukes son before he escapes. The story starts when Ashley together with fellow Riskbreaker Callo is set to the abandoned city of Lea Monde which is on a dangerous to reach Island of the coast and holds many secrets to find Sydney Losstarot and free the Dukes son. However others also have intention to find him. With this the story starts. It has a lot of depth. Nothing is as easy or direct as it (firstly) seems as there are hidden layers and plots or agendas at play. With each twist and reveal you unlock more and more of the truth. At the end of the story I was deeply impressed. The gameplay is excellent but definitely something you have to put attention to as it can be a bit overwhelming at first. Lets start with the battle system. It has elements from Parasite Eve 1. You move in real time through 3D rooms until you tap the attack button. Now a dome / spherical grid appears displaying the range. Now you can attack an enemy and with the correct timing make a long chain of attacks if you hit the corresponding attack button (A ! mark is shown as help and you can use different types of attacks out of the available once and some have additional effects). Many say it is like a rhythm game and I agree. Beware that long chain have a negative effect. There is the “Risk” system. Long chains add risk points (the longer the more). With these your defense, accuracy and evasion is lowered which can be devastating. There are also defensive abilities that decrease damage or avoid status effects. Each weapon has some proficiency or elements. There is the type like slash, piercing or blunt, an element like fire, earth, water etc. and its usefulness against an enemy type like humans, lizards etc. The higher the rating the better the damage. Also using it against a type increase a value but can decrease the opposite too (Fire decreases water and vice versa for example). There is more to it as there are different materials, gems that can be inserted and special abilities for each of the many types of weapons. It is quite interesting to make or improve new weapons but can be overwhelming first. I use multiple weapons for different types of enemies. Then there is the exploration which is like a Metroidvania game. Lea Monde is huge and there is a lot to explore. There are optional areas, hidden secrets and shortcuts to unlock. It was already marketed with a slogan like “Your second problem is fighting this man and your first is finding him”. It is really enjoyable to explore the world but remember not everything can be found in the first playthrough. All this together make a remarkable gameplay experience. Maybe a bit to overwhelming for some would be my warning. The presentation looks amazing for its era. It was well done and the art style is so great done that I would buy an artbook. The locations have also a European medieval style and I read that they studied French architecture for inspiration for the game. Lastly the soundtrack is a hidden game that works amazingly well. Overall this is a somehow forgotten masterpiece that never got a sequel. I say it is still worth playing and should be recognized as classic game of its time.… Expand
  23. mutterfujjer
    Jun 29, 2017
    10
    I won't use technical writing to describe this game because it's a game beyond anything I've ever experienced. It's like the developers knew how to enter our brains and how to hook people up, with challenging situations, requiring constant critical thinking, through either puzzles or combat. I was instantly grabbed by this game, every minute I've spent with it in absolute awe, desperateI won't use technical writing to describe this game because it's a game beyond anything I've ever experienced. It's like the developers knew how to enter our brains and how to hook people up, with challenging situations, requiring constant critical thinking, through either puzzles or combat. I was instantly grabbed by this game, every minute I've spent with it in absolute awe, desperate to explore every single bit of content it offered, from the first time I've turn the game on to the last piece of equipment I've perfected, hundreds of hours later. It was the pinnacle of game design of it's time and it didn't aged a single day in terms of gameplay. Even today, when I replay it (as I do every year or so) I still feel greatly challenged. It's the kind of game that makes you feel bad when you realize what we used to have compared to what the gaming industry has become.… Expand
  24. Dyakar
    Apr 5, 2021
    10
    its the best action RPG made EVER. yes, some clunky menus,but, as today, no action RPG comes close to the refinement, the aesthetic, and the story.
  25. toxicon
    Oct 10, 2016
    10
    Without doubt one of the best PS and one of the best RPGs ever made. Makes many recently developed 'masterpiece' RPGs look like certain crap. Trully a great experience for every fan of the genre
  26. kailoone
    Sep 20, 2016
    10
    I just don't know what to say about this game... I bought it back in 2001mainly because the cover's artwork caught my eye, I used to be more of a Silent Hill, Resident Evil or Metal Gear player but then that year I saw this game and bought it although I played it some years later mainly because I was busy playing many other action titles Legacy of Kain, Parasite Eve ect ect. Well afterI just don't know what to say about this game... I bought it back in 2001mainly because the cover's artwork caught my eye, I used to be more of a Silent Hill, Resident Evil or Metal Gear player but then that year I saw this game and bought it although I played it some years later mainly because I was busy playing many other action titles Legacy of Kain, Parasite Eve ect ect. Well after some time I decided to give this game a try it was probably 2003 so I was like ok time to play it... wow the moment it started playing and all the story and everything was like watching a movie, the more I played the more I was mesmerized by the beautiful dungeons and amazing story. The game is a little complicated so it took me some time to understand everything, after all this was my first dungeon crawling game I had ever played, this game is what made me want to play other titles such as diablo, darkstone, dungeon siege and even Final Fantasy games etc etc. It's been nearly 15 years since I first bought this game and 13 years since I finished it and in that time I have played many many titles new and old for PC and every possible console up to this moment 2016 that are hack and slash and dungeon crawlers but truth is I have never found in all these years a game so perfect as this one. I just don't know where to start about this game and I could make a whole book praising this gem of a game, the music is just perfect it fits every dungeon and place perfectly on par with Final Fantasy's music the ambience is soo beautiful makes me wish there was a place in this world as beautiful as Lea Monde, the story oh boy the story worthy of a novel and movies and a whole series. The gameplay is a little confusing but once you understand it, it's smooth sailing from there, the game has a very good build up in every possible way and I mean storywise and also game wise, it's very well balanced in work and reward I would say perfectly balanced, it's not senseless grinding with unbalanced rewards like almost every other dungeon crawling title out there. The story is just so intriguing and it has an excellent pace. This game also has replay value since new areas are accesible in a replay and you get to save stats and some items. I wish I could forget I finished this game 20 times and enjoy it like it was the first time, sadly I already know every corner of this game so I can't play it anymore without getting a little bored, just a little. What else can I say about this game? It's simply perfect and it's what I use to measure any other game of it's type even to this day, Vagrant Story will always have a place in my mind and in my heart till the end of my days for whatever time is left, this game in my humble opinion is just the best game ever made and boy have I played and (finished) thousands of games. 11/10 gift from god… Expand
  27. 22446688Bb
    Jul 16, 2019
    10
    One of the best arcade games ever has a strong story and characters as a package and a beautiful and amazing world of a previous game of its time by all standards
  28. fuger1992
    Sep 30, 2016
    10
    Really nice game for ps 1 play in 2000-2001 and i m playing it right now!Square plz Make Vagrant story 2 because final fantasy is die ((( Waiting for second game !
  29. Malachi2017
    May 3, 2018
    10
    Played this game some time in late 2000. Arguably it has the (or among) best graphics and artwork for the PS1. The story is very intriguing, dark and mature, with a variety of complex characters. As an old gamer in this PS4 era, VS gameplay has more complexity compared to most current gen games. Its battle system is still very much unique, immersive and one's understanding of the gameplayPlayed this game some time in late 2000. Arguably it has the (or among) best graphics and artwork for the PS1. The story is very intriguing, dark and mature, with a variety of complex characters. As an old gamer in this PS4 era, VS gameplay has more complexity compared to most current gen games. Its battle system is still very much unique, immersive and one's understanding of the gameplay mechanics will define how you will succeed in the game, it's a combination of good reflexes, comprehension, strategy and wit.… Expand
  30. Kunray
    Feb 5, 2019
    10
    Also hope to see Vagrant Story follow up to compete with this again.Probably the best game I've ever played.
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best PS1 Game of 2000
6
#6 Most Discussed PS1 Game of 2000
8
#8 Most Shared PS1 Game of 2000

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. CheckOut
    90
    Despite all the disparate elements crammed into it, they all manage to complement each other and function as if Square has been secretly planning and polishing this gem for years now.
  2. CNET Gamecenter
    90
    It can get a little too technical and difficult at times, but the various systems in the game, such as Break Arts, chaining attacks, and the weapon creation system, are simply revolutionary for an RPG.
  3. Gaming Maxx
    100
    From the second you put this game in; you will not want to stop playing. It might consume your life until you finish it, or until you get stuck that you can't deal with the stress anymore.
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