Grandia: Parallel Trippers (2000). Play online

Summary

Grandia: Parallel Trippers is the series’ first handheld RPG, pulling familiar characters and Noriyuki Iwadare’s music onto the Game Boy Color with 2‑D sprites and an overhead view. What really sticks out is its first‑person battle system where actions are chosen with "Synthesis Cards" and timed by the Initiative Point Gauge, giving the familiar strategic feel of the console titles in a pocket‑sized format. Along the way I use Pinky, the rotund, ear‑wreathed flyer, to pull levers and shift obstacles from afar, adding a quirky puzzle element. Every monster you defeat fills an in‑game database, letting you catalog creatures and actions as you progress. The game launched only in Japan after hype at Space World and the Tokyo Game Show, and while the Famitsu score was modest and IGN called it “generic,” it still offers a portable taste of Grandia’s classic charm.

Storyline

Grandia: Parallel Trippers drops players into the shoes of Yuuhi, a Japanese schoolboy who suddenly finds himself pulled into an alternate version of the Grandia universe. Alongside his friends Mizuki and Shirou, he encounters familiar faces from the original game while navigating a series of varied environments. The core goal is to reunite the trio and uncover a path back to their own world.

Exploration is key, as each area hides clues, puzzles, and battles that echo the classic Grandia style. By guiding Yuuhi through towns, forests, and ancient ruins, players gradually piece together the mystery of the dimensional rift. The ultimate objective is to restore the group’s bond and secure a way home.