You know what's even more sad? Ubisoft doesn't bring JRPGs anymore.

Grandia is Game Arts, no? Same Japan studio that made Lunar.

Today the Game Arts is member of Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association in Japan... they co-developer games with partners like Square Enix, Bandai and Koei.

The last game I remember they co-developer was  Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Ubisoft translated and published Grandia and Grandia 2 here (Published atleast, not sure about translate).

Europe only... ESP in Japan and Sony in US.

The game just released in Japan for Saturn (so Sony publisher in US).

Grandia II was published by Ubisoft in US and EU.

Game Arts also developed Ragnarok Odyssey for Vita.

Nice writeup, and refreshingly from a 'does this mechanic make the game more or less fun?' perspective.

I agree, I'd like to see more like this. Another thing is to make the actions themselves involve personal skill on aiming and timing. Paper Mario did this, and at the other extreme, Dota-style games are almost entirely about this. It means the player can practise their physical skills in addition to strategy and arbitrary levels, and it also means the player is involved in the action and invested in its outcome more.

Very cool article. Thanks for posting.

It seems just a little similar to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. Equipping a weapon gives you an ability. After enough battles, you eventually permanently learn that ability. Learning enough abilities in a class gives you access to new classes. Sometimes, you need several abilities across more than one class to open a new class. It makes regular battles important to advancing your characters. It also allows you a lot of flexibility to customize your party as you see fit.

Never played the first one but Grandia 2 for the Dreamcast was pretty good.

They only published some of the games they never developed a JRPG.  Also there a French company so it would be kinda hard for then to develop a true JRPG.

I wish it was all like that.  It is the only thing I really care about when it comes to games.