Rogue Galaxy review

Think PS2 RPGs are dead? This immensely addictive space opera will change your mind

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

First, there's the exploration. Rogue Galaxy 's environments are huge, both in scale and in overall distance. We're talking cavernous starship factories, sprawling futuristic cities and mazelike jungles, all rendered beautifully and seamlessly. With all that space to move around in, it's a godsend that every conveniently located save point is also a warp point - step into one, and it can instantly take you to any other save point you've visited on that planet, whether it's in a dungeon, a town or even on your ship. Suddenly, backtracking isn't such a drag anymore.

Rogue Galaxy's real-time battles are a lot of fun, which is great, because you'll spend most of the game fighting through them. Not even towns are safe havens from monsters, who jump you at random no matter where you are. The fights themselves play out a lot like the battles in Kingdom Hearts - real-time and button-mashy, with a couple of computer-controlled sidekicks that you can order around. They seem pretty simple at first - just hop around and bust out repetitive sword combos, or stand back and unload your blaster while your allies do their thing - but like the rest of the game, a simple appearance hides layers of complexity.

More info

GenreRole Playing
DescriptionA beautiful, addictive romp disguised as a mind-blowingly lengthy space-pirate action RPG.
Platform"PS2"
US censor rating"Teen"
UK censor rating"12+"
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
More
CATEGORIES
Mikel Reparaz
After graduating from college in 2000 with a BA in journalism, I worked for five years as a copy editor, page designer and videogame-review columnist at a couple of mid-sized newspapers you've never heard of. My column eventually got me a freelancing gig with GMR magazine, which folded a few months later. I was hired on full-time by GamesRadar in late 2005, and have since been paid actual money to write silly articles about lovable blobs.
Latest in RPG
The Witcher 3 lead says "not many games" were trying to match the RPG back in 2015, and that meant "there was a risk" to making it in the first place
The Blood of Dawnwalker
The Witcher 3 dev says his new vampire RPG Blood of Dawnwalker wants to challenge genre conventions, but only if "we're changing them to actually achieve some goal"
The Blood of Dawnwalker: A screenshot of the vampire Brencis holding up a crown during the trailer for the upcoming game.
The Witcher 3 devs created a Jekyll & Hyde-style character for their new vampire RPG "because nobody yet has done that"
The Witcher 4 screenshot with Ciri using sword and sorcery to fight an ancient monster
The Witcher 4 devs explain how Ciri's fighting style will differ from Geralt's: "He's nimble, but he feels like a block...she's liquid"
Kai and Giatta battle Xaurip in Avowed
I get why Obsidian doesn't like The Elder Scrolls comparisons, but Avowed is the first RPG to have its hooks in me this deep since Skyrim took over my life 14 years ago
Mass Effect 3
BioWare lead proves he's onto us while celebrating Mass Effect 3's birthday, clarifying that's all he's doing so that "nobody can say I purposefully teased them"
Latest in Reviews
The pump header of the NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB showing a 35 degree cpu
NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB review: "Has some solid design points that make installation a lot easier"
Logitech G Pro X TKL Rapid gaming keyboard on a wooden desk with blue lighting
Logitech G Pro X TKL Rapid review: "one of the best value Hall effect gaming keyboards out there"
Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt in The Electric State
The Electric State review: "Although this may be their most visually stunning movie yet, it looks like the Russos are yet to find their footing outside of the MCU"
Doggerland player board
Doggerland review: "A delicate dance of survival and management that doesn't feel weighted toward a single strategy"
Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 DEX gaming mouse standing upright on a wooden desk
Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 DEX review: "a force to be reckoned with"
Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again season 1 review: "There have been far worse Marvel projects, but few as disappointing as this"