Demon's Souls Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Note: There are additions to the review below my original review.
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I wanted to provide a review, but I see that most of the others have already addressed most of what this game is all about. This review is based off of the "Deluxe Edition," which differs from the regular edition in that it includes an official strategy guide and a slip cover case that houses the game and strategy guide. The game is exactly the same in both versions.

Demon's Souls is a worthwhile experience in itself, and I highly urge any who are on the fence about it to at least give it a rental. It's a game that one will need to play through more than once in order to feel as though the game has been completed. Read other reviews for details into all of the aspects of the game.

I am going to focus my attention on the "extras" provided with the deluxe version. Is the strategy guide worth the extra $10? As somebody who did not play the import versions of Demon's Souls (many people here have), I can safely endorse the purchase of the deluxe version in order to get the strategy guide. For one, it's beautiful. There was much effort in organizing the art and text in a concise and useful way. It's very easy on the eyes. Each walkthrough section has pictures to go along with the walkthrough instructions, which is helpful. It runs 159 pages and is as big as the game case - not bulky at all. Even though it is small, it does not look or feel cheaply made. Here are the topics considered in the table of contents:

Introduction, Class & Gender, Character Building Guide, Survival Guide, Non-Player Characters, Merchants, Living Body and Soul Form, World Tendency and Character Tendency, Demon's Souls Usage, Magic Guide, Weapons Guide, Weapons Upgrades, Armor, Rings, Items, Enemies, Crystal Lizards, Quirks & Tricks, Trophy Guide, Online Mode Guide, Leveling Guide, Walkthrough (Worlds 1-5), End Game, Perfect Run Walkthrough

There are a couple drawbacks to the strategy guide. Demon's Souls has been out for awhile in Japan, Korea and China. This means that there are already plenty of online resources that discuss just about everything provided in the paperback guide. The guide does not provide illustrated maps of each level, which would have been icing on the cake. This is especially true since the game does not have any sort of mapping system. It would have been nice if the guide were a bit fatter - more detailed descriptions - but sufficed to say, this is a small gripe considering that all items, weapons, rings, monsters, and NPCs got descriptions and pictures to go along with them. It's a blessing and a curse because there is always a want for more content, but an efficient guide is also desirable. This strategy guide is efficient to say the least.

Again, I recommend the "Deluxe Version" even though the only real difference is the strategy guide. If you have no need for a tangible guide then there are online resources that definitely match the content. However, the guide is organized, in full color, and there are pictures that go along with the walkthroughs, items, monsters and other aspects of the game. Most online walkthroughs/guides I have looked at do not provide these things, and the ones that do are not in the same league as the guide provided with the deluxe version.

In summary, the guide is NOT necessary, but it is useful and convenient. Hope this helps!
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*Edit:A few additions to the review.It was brought to my attention that the cover of the guide, most noticeably the spine, fades easily.I found that both the spine and front cover have begun that process.

The information in the guide is still very good.However, after much use of the walkthrough I can honestly say that it's not as extensive as I initially thought it was.It covers the essentials for getting main items and tackling bosses, but it does not cover most items that can be found in each level - it does note which levels all items are located, but the walkthrough section skips over where to find them.The walkthrough also minimizes boss battles in some cases and I found myself deviating heavily from the boss guide.Again, it's still a very good guide overall, but do not expect it to have an answer for everything in the game.If you want to get the main, most powerful items, this guide is definitely for you.

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Product Description:
Beautiful, compelling, and at times unforgiving, Demon's Souls is the hardcore RPG experience PS3 owners have been waiting for since the platform's launch. Revolutionary online features define your adventure like never before, presenting seamless interconnectivity that serves in every instance to enhance the single-player game. Unprecedented in its depth and subtlety, peerless in its relentlessly challenging gameplay, Demon's Souls is the ultimate action RPG. The game features:

- A hardcore RPG challenge

- In this brutal land, death is inevitable, but not final. Combining the best features of an action game and RPG, you'll slice, smash, shoot, and cast magic against some of the most horrible, vicious enemies ever encountered. Are you strong enough to face up to the impossible and win?

- Ground-breaking online capabilities

- Network features go far beyond any previous RPG, allowing players to leave hints for each other, replay death scenes, cooperatively revive dead players, or invade and wreak havoc in another's game. Not merely an add-on feature, multiplayer options are vast, and uniquely focused on changing and intensifying the single player experience.

- Freeform and flexible

- The open-ended structure of the game means that there is no single path, but rather a wealth of options. Set your own pace and progress as you like. Build exactly the character you want by creating a detailed avatar, nurturing the right stats, and customizing your skills and equipment.

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Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga Review

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(More customer reviews)Having played most of the RPGs out on all three console systems, I had been looking into another time waster RPG that I could play that would not only keep me entertained gameplay-wise but also story-wise.There was a series I kept hearing about, Shin Megami Tensei.Two games have been released not even 8 months apart from each other, Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne and now Digital Devil Saga.I quickly bought both.One I loved, the other not so much.

As it turns out, I tried playing Nocturne first and was completely and utterly frustrated at some design choices in the game.Not only that, but the story didn't seem to be going anywhere, so I quit playing it.I decided to give the Shin Megami series a second chance and tried Digital Devil Saga.All of my complaints of the first game were completely addressed in this game.

Let's start with the story.Digital Devil Saga incorporates a very dark story involving demons and human nature and computers into a wonderful package.The strengths of its story not only lie in the huge events that propel it along but also in some subtle areas.Character reactions that seem a bit over the top in the beginning make perfect sense the more you think about it.SPOILER: it's like the characters are experiencing feelings for the first time and therefore all of their actions and reactions may seem over the top because they are experiencing this heightened feeling for the first time.The story continues up to a climax that leaves the game hanging.Good thing the sequel comes out in August.

Another positive is that you are playing with static characters, humans who can transform into demons.These characters allow more a story format to follow since you have a full party that talks and acts on their own.It's also nice not to have to worry about screwing the characters up (like you could in the fusion system of Nocturne).

And this is a good thing because the combat system in DDS is exactly like in Nocturne.It's based on strength and weaknesses.Every character in the game (save for some bosses) have strengths and weaknesses and it is through manipulating these weaknesses that you can win battles.For instance, if a monster is weak against fire, you want to use fire on him not only to do more damage but to also give you an extra turn to attack.Each character gets one action but by using a weakness, the character only uses 1/2 of their action points.Conversely, enemies can use your weaknesses against you.It's here that you want to combat that.If they use an ability a character is strong against, it takes away their turns.By manipulating strengths and weaknesses, you can control the tide of battle.

I also like what they did with the abilities.Whereas in Nocturne, if you took a new ability you had to effectively forget another ability and it was lost forever, DDS fixes this by allowing you to learn abilities then giving you slots to choose which ones to equip.That way you never fret over having to "forget" an ability which might be the only key to your success later on.It seems like such a small thing, but the ability to customize your characters to battles really helps the game move along.

Speaking of abilities, DDS uses a system much like the sphere grid in FFX.Each character starts with certain abilities already learned from Mantras, and by learning beginning Mantras, you open up paths to bigger and better Mantras.You download Mantras from Terminals for Macha (the monetary system) and by winning battles you gain AP used to learn each Mantra.Afterwards, you can equip learned abilities how you see fit.This gives you a much more rewarding customization option than seen in Nocturne.

The graphic style is also like Nocturne and is real interesting to me.And the art style is also intriguing, the demon designs are inspired, especially the demon you and your friends can turn into.The music is pretty decent (you get the soundtrack album with the purchase) and the voice acting is decent.Once I realized why the characters were over-emphasizing every little emotion they have I appreciated it much more.In the beginning, it is a little jarring because they are talking about emotions in such a heightened, over the top, roll your eyes way.But it's all for a point.

I know that in my review I kept referencing Nocturne.I can't help it.The two games are so intertwined on so many levels that comparisons are impossible to miss.I also bring it up because there might be other players out there like me who couldn't really get into Nocturne and are on the fence with this game because of it.I think if you are new to the Shin Megami Tensei series and want to get your feet wet, try this game before you try (if you even want to try) Nocturne.It is more in line with a traditional RPG format.I will say that DDS is a truly exceptional RPG game with a dark and mature story that brings to life questions about humanity.And it solves all of the problems I had with Nocturne (you can see my review on Nocturne to see what I mean).Not only does it fix problems in Nocturne, but it stands in line with what are considered the pillars of the console RPG community.An excellent adventure with fun gameplay.If you like RPGs you should definitely give this one a try.

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Product Description:
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga collects the Digital Devil games that redefined role-playing in Japan, and updates them for an all-new experience and a new audience. You are seeking the path to Nirvana when you develop the power to change into a demon. Use this power to defeat your enemies and build up enough to storm Nirvana and earn a place in paradise.Discover special link attacks to unleash the power of your party

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Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha versus King Abaddon Review

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(More customer reviews)Many of you may ask me in my opinion what justifies giving a game 5 stars. As a reviewer I care about a few key factors. Originality, good game play, decent atmosphere/plot, and a seamless non broken experience rate the highest on my list. Things such as "glitches or bugs" can knock down a grade on my end.

Let me state right off the bat any title with "Shin Megami Tensei" stamped on it somewhere will be a Japanese rpg but not a "stereotypical" J-rpg. Devil Summoner 2 continues this proud tradition in style.

As someone living through a new recession the story line hit home. Devil Summoner 2 has a mystery novel vibe to it. You are Raidou, a young man who can negotiate with demons so they will join you but you are a detective during the 1920's in Japan as well that is struggling to hold onto traditions as it enters the modern era.

The Capital's people are hauntingly enough a reflection of us. For some unknown reason "luck" has become imbalanced in the universe. Those that are poor and unlucky are EXTREMLY destitute while the wealthy with good life circumstances go about charmed oblivious existences often not caring or even knowing about the suffering around them. The back drop of this "past Japan" is much akin to "Modern America". There are unemployed workers that are completely without hope. Those fortunate enough to have jobsare forced to labor in harsh conditions thus resort to alcohol and other vices to dull the pain. There are nice girls who turn tricks at the red-light district because they cannot make ends meet any other way. The only glimmer of optimism is as Raidou you can accept cases and help many of these people thus turning back the tides of misfortune.

SMT games are good for addressing issues that effect normal people. The Persona series is most renowned for that and Devil Summoner 2 is no exception to that rule. Sure, things may eventually lead up to an epic confrontation with a mad-man trying to plunge the world into Armageddon but the bigger focus is always "monsters" created by our own society more so than denizens rising from the depths of hell.

The game-play in Devil Summoner 2 is "improved" over the first game in many ways. Raidou can roll and cartwheel with the dodge button to avoid attacks and he no longer has limited ammunition. However after 6 shots he still must reload. In close quarters the hero brandishes a sword to dish out the justice. Normal attacks focus powerful slashes on one foe whereas "special attacks" can hit multiple foes but normally do less overall damage to each adversary.

Now comes the real treat for you traditional SMT fans. Demon negotiation is back. Any person who loved Persona 1-2 or Nocturne knows what demon negotiation is. At any time during combat you can talk to most demons. They all have quirky traits. Like real people demons will judge you based on a first impression and they all have likes and dislikes. Have a stimulating enough conversation and various cute, scary, and sexy beasties will ally with you, allowing you to have them as friends in combat and even during investigations. Negotiating has many layers. For example your friends can better your chances of impressing another demon and may add their voices to the peace-talk. If you have a certain demon type already in your party other demons from that species will almost always be friendly to you if you choose to interact with them kindly instead of slaying them outright. Demons have as much "personality" and "heart" as your back up class-mates in the Persona games so you will get attached even to the weakest ones. (As you raise in level you get more "tubes" which store more demons.)

Speaking of Persona you can fuse demons in much the same way. Instead of dropping by the velvet room you talk to Victor, a mad scientist who loves making new creations from meshing demons together. As with the velvet room you can make more powerful buddies and even call back demons in their separate forms by paying a fee. The more powerful a demon was, the more it costs to recruit them anew. A good thing to also remember is registering your demons often. As they increase in level and rank you'll want to be sure Victor records their improving stats.

By itself the system of "negotiating" and "fusing" is fun enough as it is. However what is really innovative is you can summon one demon from your list to help you in non-combat situations. Inugami can read minds when you question someone showing you their true thoughts. Petra is good at diving down wells to retrieve items for you. A skill caste demon such as Pixie can even let you take on the appearance of your suspects and enemies in order to get past guards or other obstacles. All this accumulates into an engrossing and entertaining romp whether you are fighting creatures or merely gathering clues.

However there are a few minor gripes. First and foremost if this is your first SMT game you may not know the weaknesses of every demon type. I suggest using the analyze skill whenever you can and attempting different things in battle. You can switch out demons in combat so never be hesitant to trade someone out if they don't seem to be doing well in the present situation. If a creature can do insane melee damage try distancing yourself and using your gun. Sometimes bullets can temporarily stun foes. Lastly remember you can "hide" your demons by pressing one of the left shoulder buttons. This reduces the punishmentyour party has to take.

Beyond battles occasionally spiking in difficulty level my only other qualm is a mild one. There is no voice acting. The main characters are so deep, artistically rendered, and expressive the lack of speech did not phase me much but if you got spoiled by the great localizations and voice talent from the digital devil and persona games this maybe a red mark on your scoring sheet.

Overall Devil Summoner 2 is a great rpg. I liked its' strategic yet live action battles as well as the various ways demons can offer their aid both on and off the combat field. I'd go so far to say I haven't seen as much charm and creativity woven into many next gen titles. Give Atlus a stone wheel and a crank and they'll make you a reliable yet flashy all terrain automobile! Atlus does so much with last gen hardware and software I cannot wait to see what heights they will soar to once they catch up with the pack!

Pros

+Great story

+I could relate to the desperate gritty semi industrial setting of 1920's Japan.

+Interesting and lovable antagonists and protagonists

+Combat physics improved upon since the first game

+Don't have to play DS 1 to appreciate DS 2.

+ Demons are valuable friends both during investigation and in the thick of battle.

+Touches on issues experienced by real people. Sure there is epic cheese too, but not too much of it.

+Talking black cat familiars are awesome.

+If you love pokemon (Aka collecting creatures, fusing them to make more powerful variants, and interacting with your adorable entourage of misfits) you will love Devil Summoner 2!

+No longer run out of ammo though you still must "reload" after 6 shots.

Cons

-Those new to SMT are not going to know the weaknesses of all the demons

-Battles can easily go from "reasonable" to "OMFG....it shanked me with one hit!"

- Status ailments which "mind-frag" your allies really suck. Stock up on appropriate items to keep your demons mentally and physically sound.

-The very term "demon". It encompasses all creatures you interact with even those whom are not truly classified as demons by mythology. For example "pixies" are fey. However modern religion does "demonize" all things of the old faiths so it makes sense if you look at it from a certain perspective. Aka "demon" is the term humans give to any creatures they fear and don't understand.

-If you enjoyed the turn based battles in Digital Devil saga, Nocturne, and Persona 3-4 the new "live action elements" may take awhile to get used to.

-No voice acting

-It's a shame certain gamers may get the wrong idea by the title "Devil Summoner". While there are adult themes it also is about doing the right thing, using negotiation instead of violence to make new friends, and impacting the lives of other people in a positive way. Kind of a chuckle-fest to consider how many yokels are going to assume this game encourages satanic worship and deflowering virgins to bring ol Horny back into the world.

Pro or con? +/-: Raidou is yet another silent protagonist. He's cool, chill, and fashionably verb but doesn't express much emotion. Compared to say Yuri from Shadow-Hearts he is a stick in the mud. However Raidou is supposed to represent the player and if he was given an opinionated and wacky personality would we be able to relate to him any better? That is debatable. Gouto, Raidou's familiar luckily has plenty of pazaaz as does the lovable cast which offer support. Perhaps even a quiet hero is a bit more impressionable with a black cat side kick pouncing around at his side. Either you like "silent protagonists" or you don't which is why I bring this up as a big neutral point.

Overall: Despite its' flaws DS 2 gets 5 stars from me. There are no game halting glitches, lag, or other nuisances which actually seem to pop up more in next gen titles. The 1920's era is portrayed perfectly, I love the artistic direction, and as with Persona it touches on the struggle and triumph of the human spirit. For the price you cannot beat this bargain. Also though it shames me to admit it I love my Raidou plushie. Apparently I'm not as macho as I thought. Oh well, back to playing!

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Product Description:
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha versus King Abaddon is the newest game in a popular Shin Megami Tensei subseries that delivers significant gameplay advancements over the original while maintaining its stylish design and unique setting. New features, like demon negotiation, combine with fully enhanced and retooled components of the previous game, like the battle system, weapon alchemy, and more. Possibly the PS2's RPG swansong, and sure to be one of the more popular games in the famed SMT series, Devil Summoner 2 is poised to make a big splash among genre fans upon its release.


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A new threat to Japan's Capital calls for the return of Raidou Kuzunoha the 14th, the case-solving, tube-slinging protector of the city. When a woman walks into the Narumi Detective Agency and asks to find a man, Raidou's boss is reluctant to accept, but soon it's clear there's more to the case than it seems on the surface. It isn't long before Raidou is on the trail of crooked gamblers, masked ninja, and strange insects... a trail leading him inexorably to the mysterious King Abaddon.

Key Game Features:

Massively upgraded battle system--Advancements to the battle system include a MAG balancing system, dodge and hide abilities, and the ability to command two demons in combat. Use the retooled Weapon Alchemy system to create new swords with unique special attacks.80 hours of classic dungeon crawling.
Deeper demon integration--Demon negotiation returns with more than twice the number of demons to attempt to recruit to your side. Create more powerful demons through fusion and skill transfer. Control two demons in battle and choose from more tactical options.
Phenomenal creative team--The rich environment of this Taisho-era Japan comes to life with the character designs of Kazuma Kaneko and the musical score of Shoji Meguro.

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Thousand Arms Review

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(More customer reviews)Thousand Arms is in my opinion the best RPG to date on the Playstation console.It has a light spirit but a deep plot.This game is filled with subtle jokes.It will keep you and your friends playing for the entireweekend. (Forget about that homework!) Thousand Arms is not that difficultbut it will certainly challenge in some areas.
The only complaint that Ihave about this game is the random battle system.Although almost everyRPG has this I wish they would do something new.For example when in acertain dungeon while trying to explore one will keep on continuallyrunning into random monsters.This gets very repetetive.
The graphicsare excelent with some of the best anime every seen on the playstation. This game actually has voice acting although Metal Gear Solid still beatsit in this area. This is the only game I have seen on the Playstation wherethe graphics do not continually shimmer and a another small thing I noticedis that this is the first time a game has actaully done trees right!
Allin all Thousand Arms is a great game for anyone!

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Shin Megami Tensei Devil Summoner Review

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(More customer reviews)To avoid becoming stale, Devil Summoner, the fourth game with the Shin Megami Tensei name to be released on the PS2 in three years, had to change its focus. The other MegaTen games for the PS2, as well as the PS1 spin-off series Persona and the gameboy's Demi-Kids series, were all challenging turn-based, dungeon crawling RPGs. Devil Summoner, while retaining some of the characteristics of previous MegaTen games, has largely scrapped tradition by throwing out the strategy-heavy turn-based system for a more frantic action-oriented battle system. As the story uses a heavy 1920's detective motiff, it also incorporates elements of PC adventure games. Change is not always for the better, as Devil Summoner makes a mess of most of its attempts are innovation because the game has the absolute worst flaws of the console RPG and PC adventure game genres.

The battle system, while likely to please fans of action games, will most likely turn off MegaTen veterans as being too simplistic. Raidou, the main character's, set of skills is very limited. He can block, fire his pistol, and used 3 different sword techniques. As the screen is quite small and the game enjoys filling the screen with enemies until it overwhelms the PS2's processor,causing annoying slow-down and obstructing the player's view of what is happening on the field, most battles quickly devolve into into a mindless hackfest. The system of exploiting enemy weakpoints from previous MegaTen games is still there but the frantic nature of the battles and the fact that Raidou and its demonic allies are heavily outnumbered means that the player won't be exploiting the system so much as the enemies will be hammering away at your ally demons, who are controlled by a rather dim AI.

The best thing related to the battle system is, of course, the demon recruitment and fusion aspect. Raidou can stun and trap almost any demon he encounters in battle and make it fight along side him. Some enemies are too power to capture though, and to get the best allies, he must fuse two demons together to make a new more powerful ally. The new ally may pick up skills it normally wouldn't have from its "parents".

The story is highly entertaining. Raidou, a young devil summoner, is charged with protecting the capital of Japan by the gods of Yatagarasu. He moonlights as the detective solving all kinds of supernatural cases. One night, he encounters a school girl who claims to be possessed by a demon and begs him to kill her. Before he can react, she is kidnapped by the military. It's a very interesting tale, told in twelve chapters, that involves killer cyborgs, mutiny, and inter-dimensional travel. Easily the game's best aspect, because if the battle system doesn't put you off, the exploration system will.

This game plays out like a PC adventure game. As a detective you'll be traveling all over the city, talking to witnesses and gathering evidence. Unfortunately, most people want you do something for them before they tell you anything, so you will be going back and forth, back and forth between the various neighborhoods of Tokyo alot. These fetch quests can be utterly ridiculous at times, as the game will tell you go somewhere to talk to someone, then that person will tell you to go find something, but before you go looking for it you have to report in to Raidou's boss. It just fills like busy work. However, as Devil Summoner features very few actual dungeons, enemy encounters happen in town. And the encounter rate is high, sometimes with only a few steps between fights. That's right. Enemy attacks happen just about anywhere. Luckily, Devil Summoner is a short game. Even with all the nonsense it has to pad the play time, it should only take about 25 hours to complete.

There really isn't that much else to say about Devil Summoner. It's technical aspects are average or even a little below average. Sound and visuals aren't terrible or outstanding. It's interesting enough to play to completetion, but this is a game most people can safely live without.

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Product Description:
Raidou Kuzunoha is a private detective in Japan's Taishou Period of the 1910s and 1920s, but he's much more than just a well-dressed crime scene investigator; he also has the power to capture and conjure demons to do his bidding. Take control of Raidou and his otherworldly companions, guide them through thrilling episodes of action and intrigue, and learn the incredible secrets of the Soulless Army!

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Persona 2: Eternal Punishment Review

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(More customer reviews)Persona 2: Eternal Punishment is the sequel to the currently Japan-only Persona 2: Innocent Sin (and the earlier Revelations: Persona). My biggest gripe with the game is that constant references are made to the world of Innocent Sin -- however, by watching the included trailer and through the events of Eternal Punishment, you'll get a good idea of what happened in the earlier game.
With a somewhat contemporary setting, Eternal Punishment is an oddball in the world of RPGs. That doesn't mean, however, that it's bad! On the contrary, it's a superb game with deep gameplay. In battles, you can kill the demons, like in ordinary RPGs, or you can negotiate with them for money/items/information/tarot cards (the last of which is used to summon more Personae, facets of the user's personality which can be summoned to fight for them).
The characters are interesting and more adult than your typical spiky-haired teen heroes. They range from reporter Maya and policeman Katsuya to computer hacker/wiretapper Baofu and fashion model Ellen (from the first Persona). The innovative rumor system allows you to change the face of Sumaru City by spreading rumors. Want to buy weapons at your local bar? Spread the rumor that they are, and you can get a gun along with your martini.
My only other gripe, and it's small, is with the localization. Some of the text is a little stilted (Ulala's "The goodness of a woman isn't in her bra!" is a prime example). But considering the vast amount of text in this game -- and I mean VAST -- it's a very good localization overall, and in no way hinders your enjoyment of the game.
Atlus has hinted that they may release Innocent Sin if Eternal Punishment does well enough. If it's even half as good as its sequel, RPG fans around the world should rejoice.

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Product Description:
The rumor going around Sumaru City is that if you call your own cell phone number, you will speak to the Joker, who will assassinate the person of your choice... and rumors in Sumaru City have a funny way of coming true.On assignment with hip youth magazine Coolest, daring young reporter Maya Amano stumbles onto the Joker's trail at Seven Sisters High School.A convergence of fate brings Maya, her roommate, and a police detective together in pursuit of the maniacal assassin.Will they awaken the power within before it's too late to stop the evil forces behind him?NOTE:Persona 2: Eternal Punishment is compatible with PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 systems.Key Features:Multi-Character Contacts - Negotiate contracts with demons using one, two, or even three party members at a time. Experiment with a wide variety of approaches and reactions for each demon!Fusion Spells - Use certain skills in a particular order to unleash especially punishing attacks on your foes!Bonus Disc Included - Each and every copy of Persona 2: Eternal Punishment includes a special Bonus Disc with an anime trailer for Persona 2 and a special video interview with the makers of the game!

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Rhapsody, A Musical Adventure Review

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(More customer reviews)This lighthearted, charming RPG has lots of appeal for preteen and teenage girls because the main character is a sixteen-year-old girl named Cornet. The heroine of this story, Cornet dreams of meeting and falling in love with a handsome prince. One day in the woods, she is rescued from an evil witch's cronies by a young man who turns out to be Ferdinand, prince of the kingdom she lives in and heir to the throne. Ferdinand will soon turn eighteen, and is looking for a bride. He and Cornet soon begin to fall in love, but Ferdinand is then kidnapped by the evil witch. The rest of the game follows Cornet's quest to find and save Ferdinand. Although the game was rather short (it only took me ten hours to complete) it was just so fun that I didn't mind. The songs were really cute. I hope Atlus decides to bring the other two games in this series to America. I'd certainly buy them the day they came out. Rhapsody's no Final Fantasy, but it's definitley an enjoyable game that I'd highly reccomend.

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Tactics Ogre Review

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(More customer reviews)I must confess, I bought this game only because I had played Final Fantasy Tactics and loved it. Desperate for a strategy/RPG fix, I got TO because many of FFT's creators had worked on it. But just because it preceded FFT does not mean it's not as good...on the contrary, it actually is more fun and absorbing than its slickly polished descendant.
Let's start with the bad news. Tactics Ogre was originally released for the Super NES, and it shows. With small, blocky sprites and the inability to rotate a camera (because the background is also 2D), TO won't be winning any graphics awards anytime soon. The in-game speech portraits are nice, though.
Tactics Ogre can also occasionally get monotonous - the most common culprit being the constant need for training. There's also a special 100-floor (!) dungeon that is not for the faint of heart.
Now the good news: The story is absorbing. TO takes place in the island nations of Valeria; you play Denim Powell, a young member of the Walstanian ethnic group. He, his sister Kachua, and his friend Vice are determined to lead Walsta out from under the oppressive hand of the ruling Gargastan. They're helped in this aim by a group of exiled warriors from Zenobia: the heroes of the first game in the Ogre Battle Saga. Eventually the scope of the conflict widens to include the rest of Valeria, and culminates in a bitter struggle for the High King's throne and for the power of an incredibly powerful magical artifact. TO's story would be its strongest point...except for one thing.
The gameplay.
Dear God, the gameplay. It's like a sundae smothered in hot fudge, chocolate sprinkles, whipped cream, and with a cherry on top: wonderful, but occasionally overkill. TO's gameplay is definitely deep; while it doesn't have the huge list of jobs and abilities that its descendant, Final Fantasy Tactics, does, I can't help but feel it's without a doubt more complex in terms of strategy. With over a dozen sidequests, not to mention three distinct paths through the game (each of which has its own special characters to get), there's no question that TO has even more replay value than FFT. And that's really saying something!
Tactics Ogre is definitely a game not to be missed. While Atlus is no longer making the game, if you can buy a used copy, do!

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Ogre Battle 64 Review

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(More customer reviews)First... any fan of the original two games including spin-offs of either (like FF tactics) will be very happy with this game.Stop reading and order it now.I'll try to explain why in a way that someone who's never played the series can understand.
This game combines elements from many different genres with classic D&D style theme.The story is very detailed and on the level with FF tactics, much more detailed than the original OB.Of course, the most important thing to consider is gameplay.So here goes.
You are in command of a growing regiment of troops that can include everything from knights, archers and wizards to dragons, other "monsters" and even the undead.You command your troops from an "overhead" position guiding units of up to 5 troops around the battle areas to take strategic positions, liberate towns and conquer your enemy.
Battle takes place when your unit meets with an enemy.This may come as a shock, but you don't directly control any of your troops in battle, they attack the enemy according to the way you previously set up the unit.For example, as battle starts initiative is automatically deterimined by row: your first row which might contain two knights launches an attack.As the first knight is swinging his sword the next knight is already moving towards his target and the rest of the battle follows suit.Thus, the battles are much more fluid when compared to the original game and most importantly the vile balance destroying tarot cards were removed and replaced with something which can be used much less.. in fact, I havn't had a chance to use it yet.Don't be worried about the lack of direct control if you havn't played the original OB, you'll find that setting up your units to fight effectively is just as rewarding, if not more so than the tedious task of choosing individual targets yourself.The possibilities are much more detailed in battle now.The grid you set your units up on is 3x3 which adds a middle row to the original front and back.As old fans know, different classes fight differently depending on which row they are in.Sometimes the number of attacks they perform is different, sometimes the attack itself will change.Obviously, the front row provides better offense and the back defense; the front row *generally*, allows for more short range and nonmagic attacks while the back row usually allows more ranged attacks to be performed.
In a game like this it's the little details that make or break the game and OB64 is just full of great little details in all things.One thing old fans will love is the suspend features.Some of the later battles can get quite long... the suspend feature lets you pause the game in the middle of battle basically and turn the system off to pick up where you left of later.Unlike a save function, you are forced to quit when you use it and the data is eliminated when you start up again so that you can't cheat.Another little thing, if you have 2 or 3 wizards in the same row in battle, they may combine their magic to create entirely new spells.In the battle and story scenes the beautiful rendered backgrounds come alive with grass blowing in the wind, little things moving in the back ground and excellent use of light and shadows on the characters.The animation is extremely excellent with small hand gestures and such being animated very explicitly.This game really has a lot of character and no flaws that come to mind.To a new comer especially, there is a little bit of a learning curve before you can truly master the game, but what game of this type doesn't require a little.. "work".. from you.
A final word about the music.Some of the music is used from the classic games but it's been given a "64" polish and sounds great still.We know the N64 isn't a CD player and I think Quest did a great job with the N64's limited sound capability.In fact the quality sounds great, the only thing I can't vouch for yet is the quality of the compositions themselves since I havn't been all that for into the game yet.
Bottom line... buy this !now! unless you have adverse reactions to RPG's/strategies.You won't be dissappointed.

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Product Description:
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber N64 game. You play Magnus Gallant who leads the revolution for the kingdom of Palatinus. The kingdoms lord Holy Lodis Empire is rumored to be planning the domination of the entire continent of Zeteginia. This creates concern among the people and it is up to Magnus to rid the Lord from the kingdom to free the people from slavoury forever.

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Metal Slug XX Review

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(More customer reviews)just like the other metal slug games but new weapons, new enemies, new characters, and new vehicles. Basically all it is is part 7 from the DS version but on the PSP with the same options. It is much like the arcade version with the animated blood which lacks on the DS version, and has better graphics than the DS version. I recommend you buy the PSP version instead of the DS version its much better.

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Product Description:
Metal Slug XX for PlayStation Portable (PSP) is the new addition to the beloved Metal Slug series that captures all the glory of the arcade experience and more. In it classic Metal Slug characters, as well as two from the King of Fighters series return to take on General Morden and his new and improved Rebel Army. Features include classic 2D gameplay, 70 unlockable missions, co-op multiplayer wireless support, the original Main Mission Story mode and a new Combat School ranking system.

Story
Thanks to the reconstruction proceeding at a miraculous pace, the scars of destruction to the thoroughly destroyed headquarters of the regular army and its surrounding city were becoming less and less noticeable. But just then, a video transmission arrives at HQ. Discovered in the clip is a brief flash of a figure appearing to be one of Morden's soldiers. HQ swiftly organizes a six-man covert strike force assigned with the following objectives: confirm the presence of Morden's forces, and eliminate them-with extreme prejudice. Marco, Tarma, Eri, and Fio are quickly assembled as the initial members for this mission. Ralf and Clark, who had previously thrown in their lots with Marco and company, are also soon on board. So begins our heroes infiltration of Garbage Island, perhaps the final lair of Morden's Forces. But will this be the last gasp of the dreaded General Donald Morden? We shall see.

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Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne Review

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(More customer reviews)Nocturne is one of the most interesting (both plot and gameplay-wise) RPGs I have ever played.Having borrowed a successful monster collecting formula from Pokemon, and a plot line out of a horror movie, this game definitely monopolized my attention over some other recent RPGs.

Nocturne introduces the players into a strange post-apocalypse world where the hero becomes a demon after the rest of the world is destroyed.There are no princesses to save here, nor are you some do-gooder so typical of other RPGs.Basically you are trying to survive in a world full of demons, and you get to choose your own destiny.Most of the choices are pretty dark though.

Gameplay-wise Nocturne is a lot like Pokemon, but taken to the next level.The hero starts off alone and must recruit other demons as allies.The hero's party can either talk/bribe/kidnap demons to join, or to use a system called "fusion" which allows the player to fuse two or three demons together so to create a brand new demon.There are around 180 demons total in this game, seperated into multiple classes and levels.There are also around 100 (very rough guess) different attacks/skills here shared by these demons.When you fuse demons, you can randomly combine different skills of the parent demons.Of course, the gimmick here is that you can only keep up to 8 demons, and for each demon you can keep only 8 different attacks/spells.

Understanding of different attacks and spells make up bulk of the strategy here.Attacks are divided into phyical, fire/ice/lighting/wind elemental, curse/mind, and light/dark magical types.In addition you have stat buffing/debuffing spells.Since most of the enemies you fight against will have certain weaknesses, finding a weakness will not only allow the player to do more damage, but it will also allows the player to attack an extra turn.This mechanism means that even if the player's demons are leveled up high, the player can still easily lose to low level demons if the demon lineups are wrong.Having said this, it's very difficult to beat this game without dying many times, since you wouldn't know what to expect from most demons/bosses the first time.

Graphic-wise this game is Cell-shaded (reminds me of the game Breath of Fire V dragon quarters), and very stylish in terms of character designs.The overhead world is a bit blend though.Unlikely Final Fantasy you wont see 2 mintue summons or outlandish spells when you fight enemies and the attacks are mostly unspectular.Nothing too good or bad in this department.

The music for this game is very good if you can stand heavy metal/industrial.I actually like most of the pieces alot.The sound is fairly crisp.When you destroy some enemies they will moan, while others just simply disappear.Nothing too impressive here either.

My biggest complaint about this game is the naming convention used in this game.The monsters' names are mostly confusing and there are no numbers IDs assigned to each monster.This makes fusing a bit confusing/difficult for beginners.It's not too bad though if you get used to it.

Last but not the least, this game is definitely not for kids.The demons in this game do not only swear and use the F-word on a regular basis, this game also has many occult references which will certainly offend most religious fanatics.The Demons include Christian Biblical figures, far east deities, and various mythological creatures.This game's story line features alot of philosophical mumbo jumbo which will be difficult to understand to some, and possibly to be considered satanic to those who do understand.

This game will take a while to finish.Probably 50-60 hours the first time through, and alot more if you are planning to collect all of the demons in the game.Overall I recommend this to any RPG fan who are not too religious or easily offended.

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Product Description:
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is a continuation of the popular role-playing series, set in our modern world. It's an average day, as a typical Japanese high school student goes to the hospital, for a visit with his sick teacher. While on the train, he gets a mysterious vision that the Apocalypse is coming. Arriving at the hospital, the boy is sucked into a Vortex Field, into a dark mirror-image of his world. When he learns our world is ending to make room for this new one, he'll do what he can to get back home and (hopefully) stop the Apocalypse.

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Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one of those games that, despite it's flaws, is worth playing for what it is. And it's a halfway decent JRPG with a somewhat interesting fight mechanic and awesome character design... which is basically Trigun-meets-Mobile-Suit-Gundam-meets-Girls-on-Trampolines.

The humor and overall vibe of the game is something that is distinctly Japanese, and the developer didn't change a thing. So the story doesn't make a whole lot of sense, everything is over-the-top, the dialogue is in Japanese, and yes - the heroines of the game have bouncy Anime boobs. But it was meant to be more funny than anything and blessedly - the game never takes itself too seriously.

I've never played any of the other titles in the series, and I bought this b/c I was looking for a new DS game and the trailer looked fun. And the game is fun. Atlus delivers a unique experience that is certainly worth your time and money.

The gameplay is simple and the battles are fun. The sprite actions and animations are nifty, silly and often times full of boobs. The only downside is that they are repetitive...but then again - it's an RPG, so...uh...yeah.

If you've seen the trailer for this, and thought to yourself "Hmmm...that actually looks like it might be worth playing." I can tell you that it is.

Is it going to blow your mind because it's the best game ever?

Nah. But the point is - it doesn't need to. It just needs to be fun. And it is.

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Product Description:
The famed Super Robot Taisen Role-Playing Game (RPG) franchise comes to DS. Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier is a unique single player sci-fi, fantasy RPG that takes place in the "Endless Frontier," where different worlds are separated with barrier-like "dimensional walls." With a mixture of traditional JRPG (Japanese RPG) gameplay elements and fast paced, action-packed combat not unlike the very best fighting games, Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier manages to deliver the kind of grand RPG experience fans of the series have come to expect, while offering a multitude of new and exciting gameplay mechanics that are sure to appeal to franchise newcomers.

Classic RPG item upgrades.
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Flexible battle formations.
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Wide selection of weapons.
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Mature RPG gameplay.
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Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier is set across a variety of worlds, ranging from an apocalyptic wasteland covered with the hulks of downed spaceships to a fantastical place of fairy tales and dark magic. Join Haken Browning: gunslinger, professional bounty hunter, and amateur ladies' man, along with his motley crew of robots, were-beasts, secret agents, and busty princesses as they delve deep into the mysteries of how their worlds came to be and face a threat that imperils the multiverse.

Battle
While engaged in combat in Endless Frontier players utilize everycharacter available, but only four characters will be acting as front-linefighters. Use the formation option to rearrange your party, where charactersin the front will be the ones getting up-close and personal with enemies,and characters in the back will be available to provide support for attacks.During a battle each character will make use of HP, SP and COM. HP isthe character's health. When it is down to zero the character is knockedout and can't be used in battle until revived. If all four charactersin front are knocked out, you've lost the battle and the game is over.SP is used for skills and spirit commands. These provide a variety ofuseful effects like healing or special attacks that deal status effectsto enemies. COM is what allows you to perform attacks each turn. Eachattack a character makes has an associated COM cost. More damaging attacksrequire more COM and if a character doesn't have enough COM to continueher/his attack sequence, the turn ends. Each character regains some COMevery turn, and some items or spirit commands will refresh a character'sCOM as well.

Hit Count and Combos
Every time you strike an enemy, that enemy will be lifted off the groundslightly. As long as the enemy is in the air each successive hit willadd to the hit count. The higher the hit count, the more damage you'lldo in a series of attacks. In addition, your chance of getting criticalhits increases in direct proportion to the current length of the combo.Critical hits deal a lot of damage. To keep your hit count high, use carefultiming to chain your characters' attacks together into an unstoppabletidal wave of pain. These tricks will keep you fighting at the top ofyour game.

Chain Attacks
While one of your characters is attacking, if the next characters to attackis another one of your characters, you can begin the second character'sturn before the first has completely finished his attacks. This mightseem wasteful, but it lets the second character jump right into combatand begin attacking while the enemy is still being juggled from the attacksof the first character, further increasing the hit count and dealing moredamage through critical hits. You'll also get a boost to the frontiergauge, making it even easier to use overdrive attack more often.

Support Attacks
Characters in the back row can still help you out, even if they're not part of the fighting force. Call upon those members of the party to use support attacks, during which they will quickly jump into battle, deal a few hits, then leap away again. This takes place while your party members are attacking, so you can continue attacking on your own. Let the assisting characters attack, or use this opportunity to chain in more characters to extend the combo even further.

Key Features

Fighting style combat - Combo attack your enemies and never let them hit the ground to deal the most damage. This unique "juggling" gameplay and timing-based attacks keep every encounter fresh and exciting, unlike most RPGs.
Story intended for mature RPG gamers - Intended for the more seasoned, older gamers, the story includes more nuanced, complex characters and manages to mix drama, romance, and humor to great effect..

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Odin Sphere Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been an avid gamer since the Atari 2600 days. One thing I've noticed over those 2 and a half decades of console gaming is that almost always the best games for all of the systems come out at the end of the systems' life cycle. Look at the games the SNES had in its last year of life. Chrono Trigger anyone? And other games like Donkey Kong Country were displaying graphics that seemed inpossible for the SNES. I also remember playing a Batman game on the NES (forget the title)that came out as the NES was dying, it too had graphics that seemed impossible for the NES. One big reason this is is that by the time a system is about to be taken off the market, developers have had a lot of time to get to know the system's hardware and know all the ins and outs when developing games for it. Games have gotten more involved as years have passed, especially RPG's, so now the games that come out at the end of the newer system's life not only have the best graphics seen yet on the system, the developes have also had years to flesh out the story, combat and item systems. You'll understand this when you play the awesome Odin Sphere.

At its core, the game is an action/adventure RPG. You wander through areas going left to right and attack enemies in real time. It's a bit like the first Valkyrie Profile that came out for the PS1, but way more fine tuned. When enemies are defeated, they release spirits called Phozons that you can magically absorb into your weapon making it more powerful. All areas are set up in "Stages". When you get tot he end of a stage, Odin will drop a treasure chest from the heavens you can open to collect rewards. The cool thing here is, the faster you complete a stage, the better items the treasure chest will have. Also, the less damage you take within that stage will also grant you better items.

Speaking of items, you can get them in a variety of ways. There are vendors scattered throughout castles and battlefields, and you can also grow them. You find seeds all over the place, as well as sheep seeds and more. What you do is plant the seeds near some enemies, and defeat the enemies. Instead of absorbing into your weapong, the phozons will absorb into the seeds making a plant grow that will have various items hanging off of them depending on what seed you planted. It's a very unique concept. You can also cook in the game, and there's a fairly easy alchemy system you can use.

The story is all about Norse mythology, and the graphics that are hand painted reflect that. You have the option to play the game with English voiceovers or in the original Japanese with English subtitles. I selected the English option, and the voice acting is actually pretty good.

If you're a fan of RPG's at all, especially if you're looking for something that's different from anything else out there right now, Odin Sphere should be a game you should pick up as soon as you can. The game seems very involved, and it is, but the game also lets you select from three different difficulty levels at any time.

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Product Description:
In Odin Sphere, players enact the story of their world's end. A great kingdom named Valentine was brought apart by natural disaster and internal strife. As war broke out, the once-great nation became a wasteland. As a demon lord named Odin schemes to conquer it, a far-off sorceror plans to use ancient magic that will bring an apocalypse. As the nations struggle for control, the world steadily slips unknowingly toward its demise, ancient prophecies are ready to be fulfilled -- unless a young princess named Gwendolyn can stop the bloody feud between nations and fight for unity.

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What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord!? 2 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I haven't used my PSP in a long time, but after reading about this game I decided to take a chance.I ordered the game, plugged in my PSP to charge and waited for Amazon's next day delivery.When the time came I was blown away!The graphics take me back to late 80's and early 90's, the game play keeps me glued to the PSP, and the game's humor takes the cake! The game is like tower defense and a mini life simulator rolled into one.Now these two genres alone are worn out, but with both combined with this kind of style and humor, this game is a winner.

You are an evil god summoned to build a dungeon and create the evil monsters that inhabit the dungeon.What makes this fun is the way the game mechanics work.You smash the blocks to build the rooms and halls and by hitting certain blocks you release the lower forms of the food chain, they combine and multiply and spread out to "infect" other blocks that allow you to create the next tier of the food chain.The next tier feeds off the tier below it and they multiply and so on.However, you can't just start destroying blocks willy nilly, you have to plan out the design and keep the wide open spaces to a minimum.There is a monster almanac in the game that keeps up with what monsters you have created along with little stories and humorous bits.As you are building out the dungeon waves of heroes come in and try to wipe out your minions and capture the head honcho "Badman", the guy that you work for.There are training scenarios, challenge levels, and a story mode.

PLUS, you get both the first and second game all on one disk if you buy the UMD, they are sold separately if you download the game via Sony's store.The first game can be accessed by pressing L then R five times at the main screen. L,R,L,R,L,R,L,R,L,R.If you play through the first game before starting the second you unlock extra levels in the second version.

Bottom line, if you like old Dungeon Keeper game, tower defense, life simulators, nostalgic graphics, and snarky "I don't take myself too seriously" humor from a game, you will absolutely LOVE this game.I cannot put it down!

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Product Description:
What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord!? 2 is the single player strategy game for PlayStation Portable that drops players in the unlikely position of both monster farmer and dungeon creator. Protect Overlord Badman from the hordes of heroes that are compelled to attack as you excavate dungeons filled with monsters, grown, mutated and arranged to create maximum problems for pesky heroes and the traps they bring with them.

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Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES Review

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(More customer reviews)I was impatient with Persona 3. I got it even before Fes came out when all us fans still thought there was no way in hell Atlus was going to ship it over to the states. However we signed a petition,rallied a bunch of team spirit, and miraculously Atlus took our whining as a valid point. Sure they likely did it because they knew they could make more money but at $29.99 this game is very much a steal! All I have to say is thank you Atlus.

Honestly I'll start by saying this rpg is not for everyone. If for example you hate dating sims, destest Japanese culture, or prefer more traditional RPGS that include knights,barbarains,dragons, fair damsels, and scantily clad spell casting elf babes Persona 3 is not for you. I do not say this to sound snutty or elite I'm just warning you so you know what you are getting into.

However if you are open minded to heavy social interactions in rpgs, a great modern day story in which our world is threatened by demonic shadows of ill intent that come out during a hidden 13th hour, and a group of teenagers that use their inner psyches to battle for the fate of mankind while trying to keep up with their responsibilities tied to high school life you will love this improved Persona 3 dearly.

As much as I want to describe evokers, Apathy syndrome, fusing cards to create new personas, strengthening social links to make your Arcana types more powerful, and running around in the labyrinth of Tartarus which oddly enough is your High School during the day time I think it is more important to discuss what is new in Fes. I assume most of you have at least researched the original title so I will not waste your time going over what has already been covered.

If you think "The Answer" segment with Aegis is the only thing new about FES you are mistaken. "The journey" has an added hard mode, more ways to increase your social links, a weapon/persona forging system,more interactivity amongst your SEES comrades,additional quests, and though it may seem like a trivial detail everyone will change their clothes throughout the year. Getting the sexy costumes for the female heroines is a guilty pleasure if you are into that sort of thing. (Maid wear and swim suits anyone?) and if you are a girl playing you'll get a giggle out of dressing down the guys too. If anything at least P3 fes does not descriminateagainst either gender. No feminists will have the excuse to wail about burning bras here. The female characters have alot of depth,personality, and lovable quirks and there's so much more to them than looks alone. The same thing can be said for the guys. You'll take to Junpei's class clown antics and Akihiko's fighting spirit in no time flat. I must say this is one of the only RPGS I played in which I liked every character and none of the cast felt like over blown comic relief or tacky add-ons. The endearing heroes/heroines in P3 Fes will make you wish Final Fantasy as a series still cared about giving their characters heart and soul instead of just marketing them to be "cool" as shallow gimmicks.

While the Jorney is easier due to all the additional ways you have of balancing normal adolescent life with fighting shadows "The Answer" is automatically on hard mode. For those of you that do not mind a challenge you'll still enjoy the same old level grinding but if you are a casual gamer it can get tedious. That said getting more revelations about the first game will be worth the drudgery to most of us. Because "The Answer" ditches social links and focuses more on combating your way through the new dungeon called the abyss of time the only conversations you'll see are between the SEES members themselves as they discuss how they feel about where their lives are heading after the events in the journey. Aegis takes the role as the lead so at the very least she has acess to more thenone Persona and can enter the velvet room.

By now if what I said has intrigued you Fes is likely worth your dollar. There are alot of less fun RPGS out there going for higher prices so right now Fes is a win/win situation.

Pros

1. Taking Elisabeth for dates outside the velvet room.

2. Walking the dog to up your social links

3. More social links to estabalish.

4. P3 fans get more answers and more closure

5. Getting revealing or outlandish costumes for each character

6. Hard mode for those that thought the original was too easy.

7. Metis is a good new character both as an antagonist and an ally.

8. Fuuka gets more love

9. More quests (One which deals with Chidori)

10. Great translation and voice overs

11. Addition of classic Persona battle songs in "The Answer"

12. Good music that fits the game. (By this I mean the music would be weird or abyssmally bad if not in P3 but it compliments this type of adventure perfectly.)

13. Very affordable

Cons

1. Gameplay is mostly unchanged

2. The Answer is nothing more then a difficult story driven dungeon hack.

3. Tartarus and the abyss of time get very repetitive. It would have been nicer if more missions took place outside the main dungeons or there were more enviorment types.

4. Those not open minded to modern Japanese culture may feel alienated.

5. Atlus could have waited so we only had to buy this version instead of belting out money for two versions of essentially the same game. Hopefully Persona 4 will come to us finished the first time. If they later release P4 fes I'll be irrate.

6. The game is very linear (especially if you've romped around in the wide open spaces of Dragon Warrior 8 or Final Fantasy 12)

7. Likely the copies are limited so snatch it soon or forever be in gamer purgatory. (Atlus always has limited copies. What gives?)

8. To clarify evokers are not real guns but the imagery of putting a gun like object to ones head and pulling the trigger to summon a persona is still risque. No problem for gamers with a good grip on reality but if you are a parent considering this a purchase be sure your teenager or child is firmly rooted in common sense before you get them P3 fes. Overall it is not nearly as violent or vulgar as God of War or GTA San Andreas however.

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Product Description:
A brand new chapter of Persona 3 featuring 30 plus hours of gameplay and an enhanced version of the original game loaded with new content and features, Persona 3 FES is the comprehensive version of one of the most acclaimed RPG's of 2007. Over 120 plus hours of total combined gameplay, numerous additions and enhancements, and critically-acclaimed game and art design.

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Warriors Orochi 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)If you're like me, the most attractive thing about the PSP is it is essentially a portable PS2; as such, I like to have games that are quality play experiences that I can also take with me and start and stop when I want. Warriors Orochi 2 is just the thing - if you are a fan of the Samurai Warriors or Dynasty Warriors franchises by Koei, Warriors Orochi 2 is a worthy successor of both.

I have played Samurai Warriors and Dynasty Warriors games on a number of platforms (PS2, PS3, PSP) and, in general, loved the PS2 and PS3 versions. However, I always found the PSP versions of those two games (Samurai Warriors State of War and Dynasty Warriors Vol 2) to be lacking: they were too compartmentalized and didn't allow you to roam around the battlefield like you could in the console versions.

Warriors Orochi 2 clears up the sins of past PSP Samurai/Dynasty Warriors games and adds some great new twists; those of you familiar with the PS2 version of Dynasty Warriors 5 will find a lot to like in Warriors Orochi 2 - the characters and gameplay are more similar to that game than to Dynasty Warriors 6 which, in my view, was over-complicated with too little reward for your time.

In Warriors Orochi 2, the casts of both the Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors universes have been brought together to battle the serpent demon Orochi; this gives the game more than 96 playable characters (including the dread Orochi himself). When playing in Story Mode, you choose three characters to be your strike team. You can use them interchangeable through each battle - while one fights, the other two regain health and Musou powers. In certain circumstances you can even bring out all three team members to perform devastation Musou attacks at once. The battlefields are full-sized, and there are often missions to accomplish during each battle; power-up items are liberally dropped and you can earn extra weapons, etc. One great feature of this game is the ability to customize and upgrade your weapons between battles; also, you can use experience points gained during battles to Level Up any character that you've unlocked.

The graphics are good - a little bit below high-grade PS2 graphics, but they look great on the PSP's screen, and the music and sound is great (unlike previous games, there are a lot of cutscenes and spoken dialogue before, during and after battles). Gameplay is repetitive (you'll be hitting the same three buttons a lot) but for those fans of previous games, you know that already. There is an in-game save feature also, which is wonderful for those of us on the go. The big problem with that, however, is that if you have an Interim Save and then you die, your progress in that mission is erased and you need to start from scratch; I'm not sure why they did that - it makes no sense. Also, unlike in some other games in the franchises, some of my favorite characters are unlockable, including Meng Huo, Zhu Rong, and the wily wizard Zuo Ci; almost all of the characters are easily unlockable simply by clearing missions - no next-to-impossible battle conditions to meet here. The focus on the game is just fun and not frustration. However, you'll definitely put in a lot of time leveling up your characters and getting them their best weapons, etc.

There are a couple of drawbacks to this game I should mention: first, the load times, which are frequent and often lengthy; this can be overcome via the game's Install feature, which lets you install the game's memory on your Memory Stick Duo to reduce the time it takes to load, but it can take at least 250+ MB to do so (if you want to go this route, you'll need at least a Sony 2 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo Flash Memory Card MSMT2G). Another issue is that, right off the bat, you have only a very few characters to use; there are a lot to unlock, and this will take a lot of time. However if you're a fan of the franchises and/or looking for a fun action game that won't be too time consuming, Warriors Orochi 2 is for you.

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Product Description:
The best-selling WARRIORS OROCHI 2 comes to PSP(PlayStation Portable) system with continuing stories for SAMURAI WARRIORS, and the kingdoms of Wu, Wei and Shu, plus a story for Orochi himself! WARRIORS OROCHI 2 features three new game modes: Dream, VS and Survival, as well as "Tag Team"-style matches that pit fighters in deadly head-to-head combat!STORY:Shattering time and space, the venomous Serpent King Orochi kidnapped the DYNASTY WARRIORS and SAMURAI WARRIORS in a scheme to test his might. The heroes eventually defeated Orochi and his menacing army. Now the slain Orochi lies in the netherworld, and a mysterious alliance is hatching a plan to resurrect Orochi.

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Disgaea: Hour of Darkness Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Most rpg games that I have played always have had a serious tone to them. This is understandable since most rpg games, especially those of the fantasy genre, involved defeating a Dark Lord of some sort and saving the world from destruction. This is not the case with ATLUS' Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. Disgaea is one of the funniest and most irreverent game I have ever played.

For starters, the main character in the game is a teenage demon by the name of Laharl whose sidekick Edna is a young demoness who seems to be constantly ridiculing Laharl and maybe even plotting behind his back. Laharl is clueless and behaves the way he thinks demon lords should behave, Edna and the rest of his courtiers barely give him his due respect and yet they still follow him for some reason. Weird and unusual cast of characters for an rpg.

With Disgaea being an rpg in the same vein as Final Fantasy Tactics and Ogre Battle Tactics, there will be an inordinate amount of jobs you as a player can recruit to join your team. Jobs that can be recruited from can range from stereotypical fantasy fare like wizard, mage, cleric to more out there jobs like being a gunslinger of some type. There is even a a unit character one can recruit that is nothing but demonic servants in the shape of penguins that are called Prinnies and who always say "dood!'.

The levelling system in Disgaea is very extensive. If one had the time and inclination to do so, they can level up every character in their team into the 10000+ level. The same goes for the levels of their items. The good thing about Disgaea is that there are certain levels --- I will leave it up to the new players to figure out which --- that helps immensely in powerleveling a team member in the tens of thousands.

The story for Disgaea is funny and doesn't make sense at times, but I think that may have been a plan of the developers from the beginning. But in the end, the story and its many subplots meld well together and everything starts to make sense. The dialogue ranges from downright funny, some sexual innuendoes thats either very mature or juvenile, and to very poignant and sad. I enjoy the option of keeping the voice-over in its original Japanese voices and using English subtitles. Or one can just go straigh to English voice-overs. More rpg games should make good use of this option. It'll save alot of gamers from having to listen to very bad English dubbing.

The graphics is very simple and some may say dated for a PS2 game. It uses anime-style 2d animations unlike most rpgs that have gone the 3D-animation route. The animation looks very colorful and nice even if it's not 3D. The music ranges from operatic to J-pop in styles. Disgaea is really very simple when it comes to its visuals and audio. It could've been done better, but its a minor quibble when taken in context to the rest of the game.

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is a fun time of a game and one that doesn't ever get old or boring. For gamers who enjoy powerleveling their characters and who like to micromanage every detail of their gears and abilities, then this is a game for you. I hope ATLUS will continue with the success they had with this game and make an even better follow-up. I highly recommend.

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Product Description:
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness takes you into the challenge of a lifetime -- the right to rulethe Netherworld!More than 40 hours of intense gameplay, with multiple endings

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