Vagrant Story released on Japanese PSN

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 12th 2009 at 12:45PM }

Square's PS1-era RPG, Vagrant Story, is a weird, brilliant little game. This under-appreciated gem had a number of interesting elements that enraptured those who played it when it was released in 2000 -- elements like deep weapon creation tools, a real-time battle system and a tragic, Shakespearian plot that few RPGs since have been able to emulate.

Folks living in Japan recently received a second chance to pick up the game -- it just got added to the Japanese PlayStation Store for the extremely reasonable price of ¥600 (about $6.25). We've contacted Square Enix to see if and when Vagrant Story (as well as a few other of Squeenix's PS1 Originals) will be making their way stateside.

Tags: japan, playstation-store, ps1, ps1-originals, psn, rpg, square-enix

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jake @ Aug 12th 2009 12:54PM

Yes! I still have my copy, yet I would love to buy this again on PSN. It's a true classic, one that I've played through many times.
I wouldn't want to wear the disc out, so hurry up and release this for us too! :D

j.howlett @ Aug 12th 2009 12:55PM

i'll be all over it if it comes to the states

Kareem @ UGO1UP @ Aug 12th 2009 12:56PM

This is fantastic news! I can't wait for the eventual (it better happen) US release!

So fantastic, *tears of joy*

doc j @ Aug 12th 2009 12:57PM

Anyone know if there is an English subtitle option available if I download the Japanese version? Yeah, I know it's exceedingly unlikely, but on the off chance of success it's worth asking.

Also, It makes me feel old to realize I played this the summer before I turned 16.

devilsei @ Aug 12th 2009 1:44PM

I doubt it Doc, be odd if they added english subtitles for what is a japanese-only PSN game (at least for now). I do hope they actually release it here as well though, I miss playing this game...

Chrono @ Aug 12th 2009 12:58PM

I never played this is it any good

Utmost Nutszo @ Aug 12th 2009 1:14PM

The game is great. Buy it like 100 times.

Kareem @ UGO1UP @ Aug 12th 2009 1:33PM

Vagrant Story is a fantastic game with a underappreciated combat engine. It is the first game in which the world Invalice (e.g. Final Fantasy Tactics / Final Fantasy XII) was introduced and to be honest the only reason why I was interested in FFXII was because the original creator of Invalice was brought back in and originally FFXII was going to use the Vagrant combat engine - which it toned/dumbed down and bastardized into a traditional FF/Vagrant hybrid - minus the little details like tactical targeting of body parts.

This game, with all the unlockables, and weapon creation is made for the PSP! I simply can not wait.

alamos @ Aug 12th 2009 4:34PM

@Kareem

Tactics was way first... and it's IVALICE.

karlwulfekote @ Aug 12th 2009 1:02PM

Everyone raves about this game. I missed it myself. If it comes stateside, consider it sold.

Exemplar @ Aug 12th 2009 1:11PM

If I were Japanese, I would rejoice. Until then, I maintain a greenish hue of envy.

I'm done with Final Fantasy VII, now let's get this and a few other Squeenix titles (i.e. VIII) over on the PSN too please.

kamishiku @ Aug 12th 2009 1:17PM

thankfully i already own both vagrant story and ff7 on actual discs

doc j @ Aug 12th 2009 2:05PM

Still have all the FFs, but Vagrant Story suffered a cracked Disk 1 and Parasite Eve just doesn't work, can't tell why.

Exemplar @ Aug 12th 2009 2:44PM

In addition to having FFVII on disc, I have it as a downloadable as well, just for PSP. Nothing better than levelling AND taking a dump.

Unfortunately my copy of FFVIII doesn't work (it's a known issue and unlikely to be resolved), so a downloadable is my only option..

Utmost Nutszo @ Aug 12th 2009 1:12PM

I need new pants.

I have this on disc and will still probably download on PSN if released in the US. Vagrant Story is the most under-appreciated game of all-time. No exaggeration. The franchise got canned because of low sales and it's high difficulty, but the game is just brilliant. Combat. Deep story. Interesting characters. Customization. It's all there.

VS is always at the top of my list during discussions of remakes/possible sequels for PS3. The only bad news about this is that it'll get my hopes up for either one.

Shufflekingsasuke @ Aug 12th 2009 1:22PM

Yeah I agree that game is great! Never got to beat it can,t find the disk.

This game is very under appreciated but this game is really great!

Hope I get the chance to beat it!

Shufflekingsasuke @ Aug 12th 2009 1:24PM

Yeah I agree that game is great! Never got to beat it can,t find the disk.

This game is very under appreciated but this game is really great!

Hope I get the chance to beat it!

alamos @ Aug 12th 2009 1:57PM

Did you hear that it was set in Ivalice? Pretty cool if they ever decide to add on to the story, they'll have a world to work with. Presumably, it's set around Final Fantasy Tactics, or at least before the implementation of the other races.

kamishiku @ Aug 12th 2009 1:17PM

1 of the best ps1 games released

Kareem @ UGO1UP @ Aug 12th 2009 1:34PM

I completely agree!

Nobledevil @ Aug 12th 2009 1:13PM

I own it on disc, but I'll be happy to throw down $6 for it if/when it comes out in the US PSN store.

Of course that's mostly because every time I tried to play this game, the memory card I was using got corrupted and I never actually finished the damn game.

sony boy @ Aug 12th 2009 1:13PM

vagrant story...nice. i would rather have that ps1 chrono game, ff8, and ff9.

p.s. why do people call Squareenixeidos, Squeenix???

Utmost Nutszo @ Aug 12th 2009 1:17PM

PS1 had a great stable of RPGs. I didn't even play RPGs before PS1. FFVII, VIII, Chrono Cross, Vagrant Story, Parasite Eve, Legend of Dragoon - I can go on.

rells009 @ Aug 12th 2009 11:55PM

It's Squenidos. I know. Sounds like a pokemon but all parties involved decided it was the best name.

Asher @ Aug 12th 2009 1:20PM

NICE, this is one of my favorite games!! This is the only PSX game I actually still have with my PS3. Just a few weeks ago it was MGS and Vagrant Story. I'd buy this in a heart beat if it was on the PSN. Then i could play it on the PSP as well. I really hope this comes out in the US PSN soon!

Luke @ Aug 12th 2009 1:23PM

HELP I NEED A PAPER LUNCH BAG!

QUICK!!!

HURRY...BREathing too fa--

*passes out*

Tridrakious @ Aug 12th 2009 1:30PM

This is awesome. I just wish NA got the same Square-Enix treatment as Japan. So far the PSN outside of Japan has only gotten Crystal Defenders and Final Fantasy VII.

nightmare452 @ Aug 12th 2009 1:32PM

I NEED THIS!!!!!!!!!!!! and I hate RPGs, but I would buy this is a second. *drools*

Played it and loved the art and story, something that not many games did for me those days (PS1 games). Which I could find my version, lost it in a move. :(

alamos @ Aug 12th 2009 2:00PM

I completely agree about the artwork and the story. If this had voice acting, it would have been a solid rival to Metal Gear Solid.

Cerpin Taxt @ Aug 12th 2009 1:54PM

I just bought it a month ago. It has one of those battle systems that feels like it should be automated in the beginning, but makes perfect sense after an hour of playing.

SonyHomie (PSN: superballa123) @ Aug 12th 2009 1:57PM

Oh Yeah!!! Been waiting to try this one. If we could get legend of dragoon next my RPG list will be complete.

MilsurpShooter @ Aug 12th 2009 1:58PM

This game holds one of the top spots on my PS1 list, only higher is Suikoden and Suikoden II lol

*Protects his Suikoden II disk* mine, you can't have it

alamos @ Aug 12th 2009 2:06PM

I am happy to see this classic get a rerelease. I bought it about 4 years ago for $25 and saw it again at the same EB Games two years later for $45. Now it's back down to around $20. It's totally worth it. The game is an instant cult classic set in Ivalice, with one of the coolest protagonists I've seen in a while. Ashley as all of the style of James Bond with mannerisms of Balthier from FF12... minus the womanizing, angry father, and sky pirate parts. The battle system was also fun because it makes real time combat actually strategic. Definitely worth a playthrough.

joe @ Aug 12th 2009 2:20PM

never passed this game and just forgot about it. lol, i see it in my collection. i may just pick it up off the shelf and continue....i enjoyed the little bit i played it.

xaos @ Aug 12th 2009 2:29PM

Wow, this really needs to come to the US. Humiliating as it is to admit, I have the Rood Inverse from this game tattooed on my back (though it *is* a nice design)...

The game looks gorgeous, has a great story and translation, ridiculously deep battle system; if it comes out here, I'll be sinking at least 100 hours into it

Bewoulf @ Aug 12th 2009 6:29PM

This game is AMAZING! I'm actually replaying it and have appreciated the item creation system more then the first time I played through.

My only beef with the game (the one and only well... except maybe besides length and lack of many sequels) is it's limit on the number of inventory spots. You can't get very far into a dungeon before you're full of armor and have to go back to combine/store any non-essential.

But that's it. I wanted a re-make with increased inventory, but I'll take a PSN copy. I still have my disc copy that works fine. One of my all time favorite games! This is my favorite non-final fantasy SE title. It has a huge learning curve, but once you master it it is really fun to play.

mutebunny @ Aug 12th 2009 7:54PM

Please, oh please, let this come to US PSN..
I don't want to cough up $40 for an original copy on eBay, but want to play it so badly. :<
Even more incentive for me to continue begging Sony for it with every PSN update. yes. :)

ryan_gliebe @ Aug 12th 2009 8:30PM

Sure hope this makes a PSN release stateside... last time I saw a copy actually in a store, at GameStop years ago, I of course had no cash.

Plus, everything Ivalice just plain rocks... FFXII, Tactics, Vagrant Story... make for some of the best FF entries in the series.