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Just to preface this section, these games are challenging, but worth the effort. Your goal with story-based battles is to get a “Mission Complete.” Non-essential battles are randomly generated as you move from point to point on a map. Plot points are invoked by talking to key people or visiting key areas across the map, though the tedious can spend time picking up extra story elements/hidden items/sidequests and characters if they choose.
 The battle system is simple and well designed. Each person can equip a piece of armor and up to 3 gems into a ring. Rings are won in battle and can be equipped by artisans in the town shops. Gems have levels, ring slots have levels, and the higher level slot, the higher level gem that can be equipped (such as gain life equal to 20% of the damage dealt to enemy). There is fun to be had with gem combinations.
The level up system involves stat increases as well as points that can be assigned to skills, magic, or techniques (very similar to the system in Wild Arms 2). So, you can develop a magician by having him/her learn various spells or a warrior with attack skills, and so on.
Battle is turn based, where you assign an ally to an enemy and they will move about the screen, or perform an Aria (basically charge time for spell casting). Growlanser 3 adds to the system by allowing spell casting between battles and other additions.
The biggest problem with the battle system is GETTING STUCK! Characters do not “float” through each other, so as your party gets bigger and battles get bigger, you will often have problems with an ally getting stuck behind another. This can be costly in some situations, but with the proper foresight, you can counter it before it happens by using the move command to position characters and then attack. Additionally, and not really a problem with the game, but for those of us who like to level build, Growlanser Generations isn’t as supportive as say Disgaea or others. You will find that you have to move very far in the game (and keep moving) in order to gain the best rings to make use of the best gems.
Growlanser Generations is a collection with personality—likeable characters; cute, clean graphics; a fast and exciting battle engine; a decision system that breaks the linear feel of more traditional RPGs; and enough story elements and endings to warrant a possible replay or two.
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