Review | Rogue Galaxy (Retro Game)
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Rogue Galaxy is an action-packed JRPG with hack-and-slash elements set in a unique science-fiction setting that shares many similarities to the Star Wars franchise but focuses on exploring and unraveling secrets of the galaxy and planets that are presented to the player. Like Final Fantasy X, Rogue Galaxy features a linear and story-driven gameplay experience, but its “world map” opens up earlier in comparison to Final Fantasy X, making it one of the most ambitious and innovative games released in the PlayStation 2 era.
Premise:
The story of Jaster Rogue revolves around his longing to leave Rosa and travel in space, this is set in motion once a large beast attacks the city and a mysterious hunter appears. Jaster joins the Dorgengoa space pirate crew and sets out to stop the beast, along the way meeting various interesting characters with great voice acting. The game has a few pacing problems, but the story is great overall. The soundtrack is fantastic and fits each scene perfectly.
Gameplay:
The game’s structure is strikingly similar to that of Final Fantasy X, with a linear path until reaching an objective marker in order to progress the story. There are a few optional paths, often leading to treasure chests that contain a wide variety of items, such as weapons, outfits, usable items, and materials that can be used to unlock new characters’ abilities and increase their attributes. Some of these chests are locked with special keys, but fortunately, they’re not permanently missable. There’s also the trap treasure chest, which the player has one chance to deactivate using one of the options presented. In addition, the player’s party may be damaged or even lose money if the wrong option is chosen.
Verdict:
Rogue Galaxy was one of the last great titles for the PS2 era, with its fantastic cell-shaded graphics and CGI, a unique sci-fi plot with interesting characters, different combat systems that mix action combat with turn-based elements, and well-thought side content like the insectron tournament and the factory. However, it does have a few pacing issues, character development getting a bit stale, occasional lengthy dungeons, and brutal difficulty that can be appreciated by many but can turn a few players off. Nonetheless, it’s a mandatory game for fans of JRPGs and those who like to seek hidden gems.
Platform(s): Playstation 2, Playstation 4 (digital)
Release Date: Japan (December 2005), North America (January 2007)
Developer: Level-5
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
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