I have both games, and both are great. Personally I liked Skies better, lots of freedom and overall fun. Grandia was more story based if you ask me, but the story wasn't the greatest I've heard. Cool characters in both games, in Grandia mine was Mareg, the beastman guy, and in Skies it was that prince guy or w/e, I can't remember his name. Both are really fun though, so enjoy em