RPG Video Games

Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love is a console-style strategy role-playing game for single players, the fifth in the Japanese Sakura Wars series and the first to be released in North America. The game is set in an alternate-reality New York City during the 1920s. The storyline follows a band of six secret warriors, who are in the city undercover as performing musicians, but who were actually sent to defeat a supernatural villain who is attempting to take over America with a legion of demons. The game is played in two modes, Adventure and Battle, each having significant influence over the development of the plot and the conclusion of the game. In Adventure mode, the heroes explore the city and interact with other characters. Decisions the player makes in dealing with other characters influence how well the heroes are trusted by those around them, and which options become available as the story progresses. As do earlier games in the Sakura Wars series, So Long, My Love uses the "Live & Interactive Picture System" (or LIPS), which has players making situational decisions in character, with a limited amount of time for consideration. Battle mode includes ground and air combat, both using the series' "Active and Real-time Machine System" (or ARMS). Heroes fight in customized 'mechs that stomp across the land and jet through the sky. Each turn, players choose the actions for each character in their squad, according to unique special abilities and the amount of time and energy each action requires. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

The superhero universe is embroiled in civil war, and it's time for players to choose sides in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. The game is a mission-driven action-adventure with a focus on small-squad combat, viewed from an isometric perspective. As in Marvel's earlier 3D action games (such as titles in the X-Men Legends series, as well as the original Marvel: Ultimate Alliance), role-playing aspects also influence the adventure, with gamers choosing which heroes to control, and how to improve their various superpowers and abilities as they gain experience by defeating enemies and accomplishing goals.

In most scenarios, a team of four Marvel heroes battles a path through areas teeming with high-tech defenses, heavily armed thugs, and rival superhero and supervillian enemies. Players can switch control between the characters, while the computer takes control of additional teammates. Co-operative multiplayer modes for up to four are available. While all the heroes and villains can perform basic maneuvers such as leaps and melee attacks, each also has a distinct superpower. Over two dozen heroes and villains are available for play, and the special powers of any two super-beings can be combined into a new, even more powerful "fusion" ability. A team with a good mix of special abilities is better prepared for the diverse dangers and challenges that wait in each mission.

The story of the Ultimate Alliance 2 is taken from the Civil War saga, the major crossover event that was first revealed in the pages of multiple Marvel comics in 2006 and early 2007. The U.S. government is calling on all super-powered humans to reveal themselves and register with an official agency, for the safety and protection of the population at large. Heroes and villains now reevaluate past loyalties and regroup according to their stance toward this conflict, which pits the security of the people against the liberties of the individual. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

NIS America's sci-fi/fantasy RPG Ar Tonelico returns with another dose of its own unique blend of turn-based battles, harmonic magic, and light dating-sim elements in Melody of Metafalica. The Reyvateils, an artificial race whose "Song Magic" can be used for attacks and recovery, have been plagued by an epidemic of the deadly and extremely contagious virus known as Infel Pira Dependency. Gamers step into the world as Croix, a young knight sent to help prevent the disease from spreading. Players will face numerous challenges as they travel around the world of Ar Ciel, with the eventual goal of uncovering a magic hymn that will create a green utopia to replace the artificial landmass known as Metafalss. As in the original game, Ar Tonelico II lets gamers synthesize hundreds of weapons and items for custom use with the game's eight playable characters. Developer Gust promises four distinct endings and a storyline designed to offer more than 100 hours of gameplay. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories is a PlayStation 2 remake of the 2004 Game Boy Advance game, and follows the story of Sora, Riku, and their Square and Disney character companions, in the time between the events of the PS2's original Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II. As in the GBA original, the play of the game is driven by memory-empowered cards that the characters collect in their travels. The various cards can be used to perform special moves in combat or to create rooms containing treasure, enemies, or save points. Display of card information is more detailed and accessible in the PS2 version of the game, and managing a deck of cards is easier with a Dual Shock 2 controller. Released well past the console's prime, the game makes use of many well-honed graphical and presentational techniques to enliven the Chain of Memories story from a fresh perspective. Characters are voiced by the actors who performed them in the original PS2 game and its sequel, including Haley Joel Osment as Sora and David Gallagher as Riku. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

In the creature-creating game Monster Lab, the right parts in the right combination are the key to mastering a spooky world of combat and role-playing. Players earn new monster parts as they hone their skills under the tutelage of three different mad scientist specialists, by competing quests of exploration and combat in six areas. A mission-driven storyline leads players to continually uncover ingredients for new, more powerful parts, while the game's random monster generation system creates different computer-controlled opponents for essentially every fight.

Each of the three other mad scientists represents one of three monster types, biological, mechanical, and alchemical. In "rock, paper, scissors" fashion, each type is more powerful than one of its rival types and less powerful than the other. The 3D monster battles play out in a turn-based fashion. Different parts offer different defensive, offensive, and special abilities. Between the fighting and exploring, players complete action mini-game "experiments" to make their monster parts more powerful. Monster battles can also be waged between two player-controlled creations, in a special head-to-head mode.

Monster Lab players take the role of a mad scientist -- or, at least, an apprentice mad scientist -- who is selected to join forces with three others, each with a different monster specialty. The big boss in town, Baron Mharti, has his own mad methods, which include cruel tyranny over people in the local village. By exploring the land, uncovering new ingredients, experimenting on parts, and developing powerful creatures, the apprentice character aspires to one day master an army strong enough to stand against the evil Baron and set the villagers free from his oppression for good. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is the story of a proud narcissistic young prince. King Krichevskoy, the monarch of Netherworld died two years ago and demons are scheming to control the dark realm. Prince Laharl awakens from a deep sleep and, with the help of his vassal Etna, embarks on a quest to regain the throne of Netherworld.

Gameplay includes over 100 spells and specialized skills, various battlefield formations, 150 character classes, detailed character development, and an interactive battle system allowing on-the-fly adjustments. Friend and enemy characters can be picked up and thrown for tactical advantages, and the environmental Geo panels can be manipulated with deadly results. Players can participate in over 40 hours of action and experience multiple game endings. ~ All Game Guide

Mana Khemia is a console-style role-playing game set in an academy of magic. Players take the role of a young alchemy student, and quests involve interacting with teachers and other students, exploring the school campus, and learning the ways of the alchemist. Some not-so-friendly creatures are known to patrol the campus, so students must be prepared to protect themselves through turn-based, magical combat.

As a freshman at the academy, players can choose which classes they will take and which powers they will learn. Passing classes is no cinch, however, and students who do not complete their assignments on time may be forced to repeat. The game's alchemy theme, of creating magic by combing collectable objects, should be familiar to fans of NIS' Atelier Iris series. Mana Khemia takes place in the same universe -- and could even be considered the fourth game in the series -- although the school campus setting allows for a fresh storyline and a different kind of adventuring. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

The PlayStation 2 edition of Innocent Life is a port of the PSP game, which presents a more insular take on the classic farm-life RPG. As is series tradition, players take the role of a young, inexperienced character who must learn how to exploit the natural resources around him to bring forth the wealth and beauty of the land where he lives. In Innocent Life, however, players take the role of a robot boy who can use helper automatons to do most of the grunt work of planting, weeding, and harvesting, leaving the hero in a much more managerial role than in earlier games in the series. There are still villagers to meet and befriend, however, and also a quiet, looming danger that might be quelled by finding the proper magical gems in the island's deep, unexplored cave system. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Japan's Growlanser series of strategy role-playing games makes its second U.S. appearance with this special limited edition of Growlanser: Heritage of War. The fifth entry in the fantasy franchise continues the blend of turn-based commands and real-time movement on wide-open battlefields with varied terrain. The setting is an island continent besieged by war and famine. Monsters known as Screapers are seizing fertile lands, so the time has come for a group of heroes to mount a dramatic counterattack.

What follows is an anime-flavored storyline spanning five main chapters and an assortment of bonus missions. Party members can acquire and train fairy creatures, equip "ability plates" to customize skills, and even develop close bonds with one another. Satoshi Urushihara once again lends his artistic talents to the character designs and hand-drawn animation, and dedicated fans can admire his expertise in detail with the 100-page color book found in each package. Also included with the game are a key chain, three pins, two lenticular cards, and a bonus disc filled with music and artwork. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

It is 2017 and the dangers found in .hack//G.U.: Vol. 3 Redemption are filtering out of the game. The evil entity terrorizing players in "The World" is free and wreaking havoc in real-life. Players once again take the role of Haseo, a young adventurer who is the only hope for restoring peace in "The World."

Gamers lead Haseo through many recognizable environments and into such new root towns as Breg Epona and the Net Slum. The steam bike makes a return and players can now upgrade their bikes and speed through five riding missions. Toward the end of the game, players may access a 100 floor dungeon and work through each level with their most powerful party members.

Haseo has earned a few upgrades via a mysterious hacker who broke into his account and added a new set of powers. These powers, called the "Xth" form, allow Haseo to use a pair of pistols with blades on the barrel. With these weapons Haseo can deal greater damage and perform a "double trigger" attack by invoking a special ability.

The level cap is increased to 150, and gamers can add up to 22 additional avatars to their party. In the heat of battle, if players find themselves at the losing end, they can access the "avatar awakening" power and drain the virus cores from the enemy. Additionally, there are new cards for the "Crimson Versus" game and a new arena battle. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide