Radiata Stories

Radiata Stories is a delightful action RPG that was originally released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005. The game tells the story of Jack Russell, a boy with dreams of becoming a knight. What starts as a lighthearted coming-of-age tale quickly evolves into an epic fantasy adventure with touches of political intrigue. I immediately fell in love with the game's vibrant world, charismatic characters, and addictive real-time combat.

Developed by tri-Ace, the same creative minds behind the Star Ocean series and later the Final Fantasy XIII saga, Radiata Stories balances its action setpieces with a touching and thoroughly well-written story that's worth playing more than once.

A Kingdom to Remember

The most impressive thing about Radiata Stories is its living, breathing world. The game operates on a 24-hour clock, and every NPC has their own daily schedule. Shopkeepers open and close their stores, guards change shifts, and party members actually go home to sleep at night.

This creates an incredibly immersive atmosphere that makes Radiata City feel alive. It's incredibly rewarding to learn characters' routines and show up to events at just the right time. Compared to most RPG towns that feel static and lifeless, Radiata City is a revelation.

Recruiting the game's 177 possible party members is another highlight. By completing story events and side quests, you'll gradually add iconic fighters, mages, dwarves, goblins, and more to your squad. I loved encountering quirky characters like the fashionable clothing store owner, the cowardly dragon, and an actual nurse who heals your party.

The recruitable roster has tremendous variety, and discovering new adventurers to join my crusade was always exciting. Games like Final Fantasy have memorable characters, but Radiata Stories takes things to another level with its sheer volume and creative party members.

Tailor-made Combat

Radiata Stories features fun, fast-paced real-time combat. Jack can string together basic sword attacks and abilities in flashy combos not unlike an action game. Timing blocks and dodges to counter enemy blows is also integral to mastering the battle system. I loved the responsive, combo-centric fighting, which stays active and engaging in every random encounter. Later in the game, Jack unlocks powerful multi-hit attacks and the ability to switch weapons mid-combo to create some seriously stylish fighting game-esque sequences.

While Jack is permanently in the party, the other three slots are filled by whichever allies you've recruited. As you'd expect, each character has their own playstyle, leading to tons of possible party configurations.

Do you want a balanced squad or an all-mage demolition team? How about beefy warriors with axes or agile rangers with bows? Mixing and matching recruits is a ton of fun thanks to the diverse roster. The ability to set equipment and AI behavior also allows you to customize allies to complement your playstyle.

Story & Replay Value

The story in Radiata Stories will take most players 30-40 hours to complete. However, the game features a major branch early on that leads to two very different endings based on your choice to side with humans or non-humans. This branching path essentially gives the game two unique storylines and endings.

Going back to see how the plot plays out by siding with the other faction nearly doubles the content. Factoring in the huge roster of missable party members and various side quests, completionists can sink 80+ hours into seeing everything Radiata Stories has to offer.

Pros:

• Vibrant, living world
• Massive roster of recruitable party members
• Creative story with two different endings

Cons:

• Lots of missable side content
• Menus can be a bit clunky to navigate

Radiata Stories is a fantasy action-adventure where you can join Jack on his wanderings through dangerous lands in search of his father's killer. Wander with noble knights, complete quests, and search for the murderer of the hero's closest human. An open world filled with magical entities will allow you to explore every corner and get involved in exciting situations.

Pros of the game:

• Freedom of Action. Kick anything and anyone you want.
• Thrilling plot
• Extensive skill tree and variety of weapons