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Characters gain experience to level up their stats, as well as unlocking new classes for their shadows. The shadows, from which the game gets its name, are magical manifestations that do all the fighting, and gain experience in whatever class they currently have equipped. There are a wide range of classes, but they're not all created equal, with black and white magic being the only true essentials outside of boss battles. Leveling these classes gradually unlock new abilities, and these abilities can be mixed and matched between classes to customize your fighting force. The subtle genius here is things like spells are normally limited by class level, unless you're using that as your primary class, so someone who's never even used barrier magic before can suddenly become a defensive wizard as long as the barrier class is equipped.
As a result, you don't have to curse spending six hours leveling a class, only to curse the creators when you find it wasn't the one you needed. This is a game meant to be enjoyed, not induce frustration. Events are often flashy, occasionally sappy, and always provide a strong motivation to where your party is heading next. Blue Dragon never once leaves you floundering in uncertainty. Even the various splendid "dungeon" designs have one clear path, and all these little side nooks and crannies that are worth exploring if you want all the best spells and gear. So it's a game you can rush though, bolting past wandering enemies to take down bosses and enjoy what's really a well crafted children's story, or you can fight every monster (on Hard where they'll all be a challenge), and not miss a single item if you're obsessed with that kind of thing.
Plus it has Marumaro, the most endearing non-human punk with a pot on his head to ever grace a videogame. From his Devee dances to his direct honesty shouted at the top of his little bat-like lungs, he's a comic relief character with a lot of heart, and just one example of the fantastic characters that populate the charming world of Blue Dragon. |
