Unlimited Saga allows the player to decide where the story begins. With seven playable characters to choose from and with all of the characters’ stories interweaving in some fashion, giving Unlimited Saga a complex and fairly interesting storyline to follow. Also within these seven different yet somewhat related stories, Unlimited Saga also provides its players with completely non-linear gameplay; something Square-Enix has dubbed the “Free Scenario System”.

However, non-linear gameplay is not what makes Unlimited Saga different than other games that share the RPG genre with it. First of all it is the interface, Unlimited Saga does not look likes it controls anything like your conventional RPG in the slightest. You don’t walk around towns and talk to the townspeople and then find out what your next quest is. The town interface is much more like a point and click interface that used to grace the RPGs of yesteryear. If you want to go to the Inn, you simply move the cursor to the Inn, click on it and presto! After the background art changes you are in the Inn with a new menu of choices. In the various locations in the towns (Taverns, Inns, Smiths, and so on) is where you will gather important information about the main storyline and to get various quests. Also movement on the overview map and dungeons are done on something that looks like a giant board-game; something pulled right out of the game Diplomacy.

The combat system in Unlimited Saga might be the most unique and interesting, as well as, radical idea implemented. Unlimited Saga uses a combat system that they like to call the “Reel” battle system. The “Reel” battle system looks random, but in all actuality, it gives you much more control than the traditional RPG. At first glance you see this giant roulette wheel with symbols, moving all around; everything about it looks completely random. However, this system is very similar to what is going on behind the scenes in most RPGs. But, this time you play a big role in getting that crucial critical strike. The symbols in the roulette wheel have an assigned value to them. Depending on your skill with the weapon you are using, factors into how “extra” damage symbols there are in the roulette wheel. Furthermore, you can “hold” an attack and string it together with another attack, allowing you to make some really nasty combos in battle.

The real bummer with Unlimited Saga’s combat and movement system is the unnecessarily complicated HP/LP system that Square-Enix decided to use. The main idea behind Unlimited Saga’s HP/LP system is that the characters’ HP (hit points) is effectively a shield for his/her LP (life points). Performing various actions while you are navigating throughout the game causes you to lose HP as well. Even after playing Unlimited for hours this system seems very clunky, and confusing.

Graphically Unlimited Saga is a fine looking game, with a beautiful art style that is truly unique and exceptionally gorgeous. Of course much of this fantastic art gets lost in the shuffle, due to its rather simplistic interface. But the backgrounds and characters are masterfully drawn, and have so much personality about them. However, the critters in the world of Unlimited Saga are very bland in contrast to the rich characters. For the most part, the creatures seem rather generic, and boring. One of the best parts of Unlimited Saga is its wonderfully orchestrated soundtrack. This is one of the best game soundtracks that I have ever heard; it truly sets the mood of each and every area that you are exploring, in Unlimited Saga’s vast world. Really some of Masashi Hamauzu’s finer work, and yes that is including the soundtrack he laid out for Final Fantasy X.

The bottom line is Unlimited Saga is a mildly amusing title, with loads of potential that just wasn’t executed quite correctly. Just based on the amount of character customization, Unlimited Saga has so many good ideas that were ruined by poor interface, poor presentation, a below average story, and truly horrendous voice-acting. All in all, if you are a fan of the previous SaGa titles or a fan of the old Commodore 64 semi-text based RPGs then there is a good chance that you will get some enjoyment out of Unlimited Saga. If not, then perhaps it would be better for you to wait for Final Fantasy X-2, or Disgaea, or Star Ocean 3, or...