What to say about this game? I have played this game on four different platforms, PS2, PSP, DS, and PC, and I have more than 500 hours put into this game in total. I'm not sure whether it tells more about me or about the game, but still. And I know I'm not the only one.

It takes something special to have the players want to not only revisit the game again and again after (multiple) completions, but to actually have the players want to play all the different versions of the game.

Because there is something very unique about this game that almost all its successors have sought to replicate, but have never quite hit the mark as well as this one. It's a special combination of character dynamics done just right, the pacing and the warmth of the story, and a healthy dose of quirky humour. Also, if you are a friend of endlessly tweaking stats and levels (be they character or weapon or equipment stats and levels), or planning complicated master-pupil character creation chains for optimal end results, this is the game you are looking for. If that isn't your thing, well, you can pretty much ignore all the nittygritty fiddling with the stats and just concentrate on the story.

Though I have to say, there is nothing quite as satisfying as having your fine-tuned mage throw a kick <3ss spell that nearly wipes out all resistance from the field. There is no such thing as tactical overkill, after all ;)