Vagrant Story Retrospective | An Extremely Comprehensive Critique and History

Have been keeping a tab opened on this video for months. Usually by this time I just lose interest and close it, but something told me to keep it. Finally watched, and I'm completely amazed! Thank you for such great presentation and analysis of a masterpiece! Really surpassed my expectations, as sometimes such lengthy "video essays" are just waaaay over-padded.

I've owned this game since launch. I've attempted to beat it a few times over the many years since release, but never been able to due to the punishing crafting system. Watching this video tempts me once again to give it another try.

Ngl the intro has me hooked. Very tempted to stop watching and play it on an emulator

They should use this game to train AI.

I had just finished playing Vagrant Story when I started running D&D 3rd edition, and I can't deny that certain parts of my homebrew world had a rather formative event that largely mirrors the overall plot of VS.

I remember playing this long ago when I was doing compulsory military service. Funny thing is, maybe due to me playing this a lot during night guard duty I remembered the box puzzles the most. Thank you for this video.

I cannot stress enough how much I like your videos, last year when I discovered you I watched a lot of them back to back, and today I'm rewatching this one after rewatching the Eve one.

I actually haven't watched the Metroid one just because I want to play the remake first, because I know that you talk in so much detail and in such a comprehensive way that I won't be able to stop the video when the "spoilers" start, they are entertaining to watch as well as to just listen to, I hope you continue this year with many more videos (quality over quantity of course).

I know this donation is nothing in the way of money, but I just wanted to make sure you know that your content is awesome.

This Combat system would evolve Pokémon. Pun intended…

Sadly I never played this game, it came out while I was in the military and I did not own a Playstation at the time of me returning home.
I forgot this game even existed, but looking at it now I have a strong urge to find a way to play it, it looks amazing, in more ways than one.
First of all it's absolutely gorgeous to look at, most, if not all other PS1 3D games looks very dated, and while Vagrant Story also looks dated, its art direction and style is so amazingly strong it still holds up today I think, and detailed backgrounds are simple beautiful. And second of all, the story setup piqued my interest.
I stopped the video after you showed the "tutorial" section of the game, because I assume you will dive into the story, and I want to see if I can find some way to play this before spoiling myself :D
I'll return to watch the rest when I've either managed to play the game, or given up in my quest to play it.

Got 1 and a half hours into this video. Decided I wanted to play it, and I'm glad I did, I beat it, and now I'm on my NG+ run and I'm back to finish this video since it won't spoil it for me now😂

\great, wonderful work wich answer my question since long lomg time ago I asked myself - why there's no VS 2 ??? Huh I finished game at least two times, I loved crafting system, I remember I've got crafting guide from the best of the time PSX later multiplatform games magazine, and I vagly remember that I've got for sure oma but rather mode DAMASCUS items... For the time it was wonderful game. Lets hope that any remastr or even re-fresh it will be done for 35th relese aniversary... Keep that awesome work
!

I think the most mind-blowing detail about this game is one that never gets mentioned: the total file size for this game is under 100mb. That's insanely efficient for just how much content the game provides, and really shows off that the use of the game engine itself and its "painted faces" for cinematics is more than just an artistic stroke, it was a practical one as well.

I apologize if this has been mentioned already but you can actually get Sydney’s sword, which is the strongest one handed sword in the game. You have to attack him during the fight in the forest where you team up with him, but after you hit him once, he disappears. When you replay the game, his health doesn’t regenerate and you further deplete his health each time you play through the game and attack him. Once he runs out of health, you get the sword. Not sure how many playthroughs you have to do because I ran out of steam after about 6 or 7 times.

PS: I hope there is never a remake or reimagining of Vagrant Story. SE would probably put some hack like Nomura in charge who would only bastardize it.

I personally prefer ogre battle.

I remember going to family video when I was 9 and pickup up Tactics Ogre KoL for GBA because I thought the name was funny. That was my first strategy game and shaped my gaming and media consumption for the last 22 years.

Another thoroughly captivating video. I very rarely get so invested in video games outside of the genres I usually play, but you've managed to light a fire in me to finish this game (which I've only first heard of thanks to this video). There are so many cool ideas being used here, and I think my favorite concept is the idea that the weapons you use are your typical party members. It's odd really; I wonder why other games never chose to try going that route. The story is insanely interesting, and I'd love to try and play it past the end credits to see how fighting the post-game bosses play out.
This honestly was such a treat to watch, and I'm hoping to watch more of you in the future. I know you've already got a schedule of new videos that obviously take a very long time to research, play, and record, but I personally would love to listen to a Star Ocean series as I've only played Till the End of Time and really want to know how the series as a whole plays out. Again, keep up the fantastic work and I'll continue to watch more of your content.

Only frustrating on this game was open cheast load and save anytime you manipulate with you inventory.... Okej i go play Vagrant Story again then, its still good game even after 23 years.....

Fun fact, final superboss of Final Fantasy XII is named Yiazmat as a reference to Matsuno ("Yaz" "Mat") and the title of the hunt is "Farewell to a Legend," a reference to how Matsuno left the company before the game was completed, and the story Montblanc tells refers to how the development team felt about him.

Vagrant Story - Making Assless Chaps cool since 2000

I would like this as a small series...

Vagrant story is an amazing game , and ive never played anything like it ever since my childhood and it would sad to see him retire completely without seeing a 2nd game

Watching this again... Just a random, niggling issue. But what is that odd yellow/orange mark on Rosencrantz's left lower lip. Spittle? A wound? Herpes? I just realized it's bugged me for years, lol!

This needs a remake

only half an hour into this, and I have stopped the video to congratulate you. Something i would never normally do. it's incredibly good. this is the first video of yours i've seen, and really i'm highly impressed.

Good job on the documentary. But please stop publicly imagining Vagrant Story to be like a souls like. Why the hell would you even consider this? These are two completely different game genres. I dont want to keep roly poly around and ruin the Vagrant story feeling just because idiots who like things from one game want it so badly in another they have no fucking right to claim. If you want such a game so badly, use it for a completely new IP and not one fans of the original IP want to be remade!

The same shit happened to BG3 with its bs turn based system from fucking DS:O fans instead of the original BG/BG2 system back from when Bioware was decent.

The “mission briefing thing” - I have to disagree with, because starting en media res is so much more like the films he was emulating, and patient watchers would still see the exposition, which they were likely expecting.

Amazing video. As always.

Overall the game mechanics is very complicated and this just say no to people that play multiple games at the same time and casual players
It's a good game I play a few times but if you can't understand the mechanics and get the combo timing it's just very hard to progress on or complete the game

For me Matsuno design and Sakimoto music made this game.

Great video. I think the weird bait and switch kickstarter game Unsung Story which sold itself as being a Matsuno project and which he promptly left was worth mentioning.

"Ethnic cleansing, racism, class warfare, and nationalism"

One of these is not like the others

Sorry I replied before on metroid but I was wondering if U would ever consider doing a batman or Spiderman retrospective if you're into them that is I'm sorry Im re watching all your videos lol 😂

Great game, and a great video. Thanks for filling in a lot of holes about the history of both game and creator.

It's really too bad that such a great game is bogged down with so many annoying and frustrating systems that most people (myself included) just never manage to finish it.

I always saw the game but i never decided to buy it.. it's crazy to see how much FFXII is in vagrant story, even in FFT. lol
For me it sounds like he wanted to stick making smaller scale games and maybe burned out at square.

Please do fallout

Wow, thank you so much for this! This is one of my favorite games ever, and to hear about its beginnings to where we might end up just tugs at my heart strings.

Damn vagrant story was an amazing game, but i guess its undestandable that such an amazing achievement of a game burned him out like a cadle

Good God I forgot how ugly PS 1 games are. I'll take the smoothness and blurry textures of the N64 over this pixelated, wobbling-polygon mess every day. No wonder so many developers used pre-rendered backgrounds on the PS 1.

wish this game would get finally remaked for PS5, Vagrant story would profit so much from becoming finally a modern looking modernized strategic Action RPG, giving the game maybe also the needed revival, that could lead to a potential sequel that the game sadly never received.
Heck, even mana finally receives after so much time finally the love it deserves and receives a new console game finally with Visions of Mana. Square Enix has so many fricking RPG pearls to revive with that they could finally make new games. Not only Vagrant Story...but VS is absolutely overdue. The game is reaching in 2 years it's 25th anniversary !!! If by 2025 there is finally no Vagrant Story Remaster or Remake at least announced, then this IP is practically dead forever sadly.

But also IP's like Parasite Eve would massively profit from Remakes, or Chrono Trigger, or the Drakengard Series, which by the way had this year also already its 20th anniversary, just saying.
Last Remnant would be an awesome IP to give a sequel that would massively profit from the PS5s power, or a Remake, Brave Fencer Musashi would be awesome to make a return too finally

Music was amazing. Had the OST always playing when doing overtime weekends at a warehouse a decade ago. Remember crafting tuned weapons and getting their affinities up on the various dummies. I recall Samantha striking me as hot af, 32 bit texture warbling notwithstanding, lol...

I wonder if the combat aspect can be reinvigorated by a souls-like system for the modern times

"Elevates that experience beyond the hours you spend with the game"

Brilliant words

Hate this game. Love the retrospective though

At a certain point as I was watching this, a tear came to my eye. Your video is exceptionally good. Even great. You nailed the mythos of the game, you understand Matsuno's masterpiece, and your in-depth research has made me realize a lot I didn't know about the behind the scenes of the greatest game of all time. The use of the game's motif at the beginning of the chapters was perfect! Excellent work man. You've got a subscriber.

How dare you. Denzel could play JFK and it'd be the most historically accurate thing you ever saw. The white race has officially adopted Denzel into it's ranks. The Academy Awards he's received were in honor of his induction. I usually support your perspectives but you've gone too far this time.

This game fascinates me. The visuals are "bad" in a way but also charming and intriguing

I love this game. I really hope it gets a remake one day

why does it look like ff16 copied or took a lot inspiration from this game...the tone, the politics, joshua being the light, valendea to valisthea, myabe i am just seeing things but maybe yoshi P really likes matsuno style

Things you should know in early game.

1. GRIND BABY
2. The crimson blade magus isnt hard if you brat on the "dummy" after the minotaur as it can be phys and human helping to create a human destroying weapon you can carry.

A remake needs!
1 on the fly weapon swapping
2 HUGE inventory
3 a major crafting system update (nearly full rebuild)
4 the full story as 60% was supposedly cut.
5. A mild graphical upgrade to 2 levels below cutting edge
6. Tie in with both FF and TOLUCT with lore AND foreshadowings
7. A stronger combat system without touching its core pause and think style(so no VATS equivalent)
8. A new series of bosses in places where doubles were used and opting them as "round 2" fights walking back through the area's.
9. Exchange the roulette system bonus for a choice to allow full bore builds
10. A straight to box for items and gear in exchange for MP.
11. Rename risk to fatigue
12. Online element to make bosses tougher (borderlands esque)