Introduction
Welcome to the map and hint guide for Grandia, GameArts' excellent 3D RPG. This guide is for the US PlayStation version of the game and will have certain differences from the other versions of the game out there.
The reason that Grandia is such an addictive game lies in the storyline and the characters. The story itself is such an interesting one that doesn't reveal too much but unfolds in stages - ever tantalizing you by showing you a little more and leading you on with hints of things to come. Thus, going through this guide at once might detract from your full enjoyment of the game and I would suggest that you refer to the guide as and when required. Each section (or map) of the game is given as a separate page so as to lessen the amount of "spoiling" done.
Using the Guide
This guide is a walkthrough adapted from an excellent guide printed in the Japanese Sega Saturn Magazine starting from the 12/26 issue and running for the next few issues. Maps and item information are derived from the guide but have been modified to reflect the changes made in the US PlayStation version. I have added information that I've discovered while playing the game as well as strategies that proved to be useful with certain level bosses. Unfortunately, I started this guide after I'd been playing the game for a while and so the information on the first few areas hasn't been modified too much from the original.
Players are expected to be familiar with the basic RPG conventions, such as experience, stats and level techniques. Just as a reminder, the triangle button takes you to the character interface for using items, equipping armor and weapons and looking at experience and special technique experience levels.
Most items should be self-explanatory, and one of the strengths of Grandia's inventory system is that an item cannot be used if it isn't necessary. Thus, feel free to experiment with those herbs and potions.
Don't worry about the dialogue that provide options. You can't miss critical decision points. If one response doesn't work, then try again. With most dialogs you have to run through all the options before the game will continue ...
Experience and Magic
Unlike your typical RPG, characters in Grandia have standard experience levels as well as weapon and magic proficiencies. That is, the more you use a certain weapon or elemental magic, the more experience you get, and the higher the level of the ability. You can check what techniques are currently available to each character in the character interface screen (second from right option). In the beginning, each character only has weapon-based magic, which uses SP.
Magic can only be used when a character learns a certain magical ability and to learn magic, you need Mana Eggs. You won't find any Mana Eggs until Merrill Road. You can exchange the Eggs for fire, air, water, or earth magic in any store. (Note: Do not sell the Mana Eggs in the store as they can be sold too) New spells and spell points are gained with certain experience levels, like weapon magic. Fire and air are mainly offensive, while water and earth are more passive, although higher magic in the latter two elements have devastating offensive spells.
You can learn magic in trade for Mana Eggs at any store after New Parm.
Game Playing Hints
- Save Point's usually have two other options - Recover and Hints. Recover allows you to fully recover all members of your party and Hints provide hints on various aspects of the game (but not about the story line or puzzles <g>)
- SP Points - One SP point is gained each time you inflict damage on a monster or when you receive damage from a monster. When SP is at full capacity, you can use more special moves. Any special moves reduces your SP points but you gain experience the more you use a special move and once you reach a certain experience level, your character will learn a new special move.
Map IndexSult Ruins
Leck Mine
Ghost Ship
Rangle Mountain Pass
Dom Ruins
Military Fortress
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God of Light Mountain
East Misty Forest
The End of the World
- End of the World 1
- End of the World 2
- End of the World 3
- End of the World 4
- End of the World 5
- End of the World 6
- End of the World 7
- End of the World 8
- End of the World 9
Valley of the Flying Dragon
Mount Typhoon
Lama Mountains
Volcanoe
Twin Towers
Hidden Shrine
END OF DISC ONE
Forest of Possibilities
Stone Forest
Tower of Destruction
Jir Desert
Special Area: Tomb of the SoldiersJir Desert
Special Area: Castle of Dreams
Savannah Plains
Burinan Heights
Pocket Dimension
Underground Temple
- Underground Passage, 1
- Underground Passage, 2
- Underground Temple, 1
- Underground Temple, 2
- Underground Passage, 3
- Underground Passage, 4
- Underground Sublevel, 3
- Underground Sublevel, 2
- Underground Sublevel, 1
Aerial Battleship
Rainbow Mountain