Hobbies And Interests
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
This Square-Enix title is a prequel to the original Kingdom Hearts released on the Playstation 2 in 2002. The narrative takes you through three campaigns following three related characters. Just as in previous games in the series, most of the characters and settings are borrowed from classic Disney and Final Fantasy titles.
Jeanne D'Arc
A liberal retelling of the Hundred Years War between England and France from 1357 to 1453. The story follows the titular character (a fictionalized Joan of Arc) as she rallies support and fights off her invaders. The anime stylization of a classic western story makes it an interesting addition to the PSP's library.
Half-Minute Hero
A parody of old RPGs from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras. The game exploits classic genre cliches and conventions and brings striking new gameplay mechanics. Quests are broken into 30-second missions. The game is really one of a kind and its humor makes it a must-play for longtime RPG gamers.
Persona
Technically a remake from an old Playstation title but if you haven't played this classic you shouldn't let it escape you a second time. The game follows a group of high school kids who must balance their everyday lives and relationships while battling unseen forces in another dimension at night. It's a unique and open experience with a distinctly Japanese feel.
Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite
This is an expansion on Monster Hunter 2 for the Playstation 2. Although it doesn't have much of a story, it's lengthy and deep enough to be well worth a play-through. It's a challenging game that's best played with friends. Clever thinking and strategy is more rewarded than the typical grinding with most RPGs.
Valkerie Profile: Lenneth
Assuming the role of Lenneth, you recruit lost souls for an upcoming apocalyptic battle. A great story and a good emphasis on characterization are it's strong points. Moreover, it's faster-paced battles make it more exciting than other RPG battles. Side-scrolling platforming shakes up the pace. Unfortunately, long cutscenes and load times can put off many players. Well worth a look for story lovers.
Valkeria Chronicles 2
A sequel to the surprise hit on the Playstation 3. The sequel takes a graphical and narrative dip but the unique turn-based strategy is as strong as ever and some key additions make it enjoyable purely on its gameplay mechanics.
Final Fantasy: Crisis Core
Square-Enix's much anticipated prequel to 1997's Final Fantasy VII. The player controls Zack, a minor character in VII's story and uncovers the events that led to Final Fantasy VII's story. The narrative is strong but best with knowledge of the original game. A fresh combat system based on its predecessor makes it enjoyable to anyone who played and liked Final Fantasy VII.
Dragoneer's Aria
Unlike many handheld RPGs, Dragoneer's Aria is completely original. A stylistic turn-based RPG that spares no expense on graphics. Unique character attacks and combinations put less emphasis on grinding and more on quick thinking. It can be quite challenging though.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
A spiritual remake of Square-Enix's 1997 title Final Fantasy tactics. The game follows Ramza, a noble involved in the War of the Lions, a race for the unclaimed crown. Mixed with a growing supernatural influence, the story is one of the best of any RPG in the last decade. Furthermore, deep and challenging battles make it a very engaging title. Add in co-op and competitive multiplayer and it's simply a must-own.