Grandia has an unique battle system, not like the Final Fantasy series. First, you see the enemies on the field, so you can decide if you want to fight them or not. Second, you can get initiative if you encounter the enemies without them seeing you. But if they hit your back or the party (since your whole party is running behind you) you are ambushed, that means that your enemies have the initiative.

The battle is in 3D, the party just stands random on the field. When you have to enter a command you can do the following:

• Combo - Normal attack. Character runs toward enemy and strike it twice.
• Critical - One Critical attack which can cancel enemy moves.
• Move/Magic - Do one of the special attacks or cast magic.
• Items - Use items, like healing or attack items.
• Escape - Let you flee from monsters (except some monsters and bosses)
• Defend - You can choose 'Endure' which will put the character in defend mode, or 'Evasion', which will move you out of the way of enemies.
• Look - See enemy' stats.
• Tactics - You can choose between some tactics if you want the computer to take over the battle.

Moves will cost you SP (Special Points). Your character's SP will be slowly restored when you use Combo and Critical attacks or you are suffering damage from an enemy attack.
There are 3 different Magic levels, every level has it's own MP (Magic Points). Magic Level 1 means weak magic, and Level 3 strong magic.

When you attack using a weapon or use magic, your weapon or magic skill will earn experience points. When a weapon or magic skill experience hits 100, it will go level up. You can learn new magic and moves by leveling skills.

I'll post some English screenshots soon about how the battle system looks.