Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time is a better version of the role-playing game Growlanser IV: Wayfarer of Time, which came out in 2003 for the PlayStation 2. This game was never released outside of the Land of Cherry Blossom, so the PSP version is his first time in the West. The Growlanser series, which started in 1999, has a tactical turn-based combat system, character designs by the well-known Japanese artist Satoshi Urushihara, and a long story with many possible endings. Wayfarer of Time is made by the Atlus studio, known for making Shin Megami Tensei and many other popular RPGs.
The world where the story takes place was once home to highly developed cultures, but their history has been lost and destroyed because of a disaster caused by gods. Two thousand years after the Holocaust, the people who did it are making themselves known again and threatening the world’s existence. According to the story, the only person who can stop them is the legendary warrior-picker, likely to be the game’s main character.
Those who like Japanese RPGs should feel right at home. How to play Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time takes ideas from the best books in the same style. We are in charge of a group of characters with many different skills, attacks, and spells. The game world is shown from an isometric point of view, and all the characters and parts of the environment are animated graphics drawn by hand. Our opponents can still be seen on the map, and we don’t just randomly run into them. When we get close enough to them, we start a duel. The fights happen in “turn-based” mode, which gives us time to devise a plan that fits the situation. We can get to know each team member better and even take a trip with them. We’ll find out more about their goals and past, and we’ll also be able to get to one of the more than 40 possible game ends.
The graphics haven’t changed much since the Playstation 2 version, but people who like Japanese dash and animation should be happy with it. The animated portraits of the characters, which were made with great care, are fascinating. Most of the dialogue in the Japanese version is done by actors. Unfortunately, because of the costs of the location, the distributor had to give up English dubbing and only do it for the animated parts.
