Grandia II was later ported to PlayStation 2, where it was released worldwide throughout 2002, and for Windows exclusively in North America and Europe later that year.
An enhanced port, based on the Dreamcast version and titled Grandia II Anniversary Edition, was released by GungHo Online Entertainment for Steam and GOG.com in August 2015.
[9] The game was developed by many of the same staff members who worked on the original Grandia, including music composer Noriyuki Iwadare.
However, it was designed around creating a more "mature" product than the previous title and the first in the series to feature fully three-dimensional graphics.
The system supports limited movement during a battle; an invisible barrier prevents characters from wandering outside the arena.
Before he can turn the job down, the village is attacked by a mysterious winged woman, who engages and defeats Ryudo in battle.
After Roan and the Beast Man, Mareg, join the group, they find more pieces of Valmar, which Millenia absorbs after they are defeated.
When the group arrives at St. Heim Papal State, Elena meets with Pope Zera, who wishes to speak with Ryudo.
The following day, it is revealed that Roan is the prince and that the people of Cyrum once assisted Valmar against Granas in the ancient war.
Roan is crowned king and chooses to stay in Cyrum to encourage its people that the past does not predict their future.
However, one night, during a storm, the idol in the hills grew restless, so the villagers sent Reena, Melfice's fiancé, to pray at the altar.
At its peak, they defeat Melfice, who afterward reconciles with Ryudo and informs the group of the Granasaber's location before dying.
Tio reveals the Granasaber as a ship, teleporting the group inside and guiding the giant sword back to St. Heim.
They fight their way to the cathedral, where Elena reveals her true mission: to absorb the pieces of Valmar so the Granasaber can destroy them.
For instance, when a party member defeats the last enemy standing while using the weapon or accessory Warp effect, the character's color scheme vanishes, and only a bright white model is left.
Several video files on the disc contain extra frames appearing as a freeze after casting specific spells.
On May 11, 2015, GungHo America president Jun Iwasaki revealed to GameSpot that Grandia II will be receiving an HD remaster on Steam and GOG.com.
[11] The game received a remastered version on the Nintendo Switch as part of the Grandia HD Collection on August 16, 2019.
[12] Changes in the remaster include enhanced details to UI / sprites / texture art, visual enhancements to original cinematic videos, widescreen support and customizable resolutions (PC only), Japanese and English audio, and additional French and German localization.
[13] The remaster was released in Japan and received Japanese language support in other regions, along with various fixes, on March 25, 2020.
[14] The original Dreamcast release of Grandia II received a largely positive response during its initial release in Japan, earning a 9.75 out of 10 rating from Dreamcast Magazine, as well as a 35 out of 40 from Weekly Famitsu, which earned it the magazine's editor's choice Platinum award.
[20] Despite good reception, sales of the game remained relatively low in the region,[18] with an estimated 184,863 copies sold.
[22] On a similar note, GameSpot stated that "while the first Grandia had lengthy dungeons full of puzzles and side routes, Grandia II's dungeons are more compartmental and linear affairs", the game was ultimately "a solid RPG ... even if it isn't as deep or difficult as the original.
"[29] The PlayStation 2 rerelease of Grandia II in 2002 experienced lower sales than the Dreamcast version in Japan despite a higher install base, selling approximately 42,060 copies in its first month.
[48] In North America and Europe, the game received chiefly lower reviews than the original, with many publications remarking on the technical shortcomings of the port to the new console.
Electronic Gaming Monthly found the PlayStation version to be vastly inferior to the original, citing reduced frame rate, color, and texture quality, adding that its "Inexplicably horrible graphics completely ruin an otherwise splendid title.
But the reviewer added that Grandia II "still manages to be fun, maybe even just because it's so different than most of the dark, dreary and serious RPGs that find their ways to our favorite platform.
"[43] Similarly, GameSpot found that the game would be difficult for consumers accustomed to Western role-playing video games to get into, remarking that "Grandia II's linear gameplay, 'young adult' sensibility, and anime artwork aren't likely to impress someone looking for another Baldur's Gate II.