With some RPGs, there’s just no summarizing the story or making sense of what goes on from the beginning to the end credits.
Wayfarer of Time is actually a pretty simple tale, albeit with some fantastic elements. A warrior, inexperienced but passionate about fighting for a cause, finds himself pitted against a group of powerful creatures once responsible for the destruction of humanity. Thrust in the role, you’ll play as the hero who emerges to sweep away the seemingly all-powerful threat, by uncovering a power thousands of years old. The mix of old and new reminded us a bit of
Xenogears, not to mention the now classic trope of mixing magic with technology. It’s not derivative for a game from 2003, but gamers who’ve lived and played through the progression of RPG titles can’t help but find this a bit predictable.
Whether you embrace this emotion will dictate how much you enjoy Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time. It’s an impressive production that combines the best elements of so many RPG titles, including the Final Fantasy series. Unlike the more linear approach to storytelling taken by FF, Wayfarer of Time throws a huge number of meaningful choices at the player. Dialogue, even small talk, adds up to become the relationships between characters in your party. These relationships can influence the flow and ending of the game. All the little nuances make for a more interesting journey, and encourage you to seek out NPC interaction, rather than jet through every town. The combat system has a similar depth to it, although you may end up in fewer battles since they can be avoided. Players who like the tactical approach, with party management and lots of complicated exchange of magic and equipment, will go wild for Wayfarer of Time. The flip side is that this game is a tough nut to crack for the uninitiated.