I remember when strategy role-playing games were the gems lost in a mass of first-person shooters and platforming action games. Now the SRPGs are coming in mass, and I cannot be too happy. Of course, leading the wave is Nippon Ichi, developer of Snackbar favorites, La Pucelle: Tactics and the critically acclaimed Disgaea. Nippon Ichi's third installment is Phantom Brave. What you can expect in Phantom Brave is more of the same over-the-top (read wonderful) voice acting, beautifully simplistic graphics, and deep tactical gameplay. Phantom Brave delivers in aces.

A Dangerous cute, dangerously deep

A funny aura hangs over most of the Nippon Ichi games. It is that cutesy but deadly anime feeling. To build that vibe, the storyline revolves around a young Chroma named Marona. As a Chroma, Marona can summon forth phantoms to help out during the battles. However, in a unique twist, your whole party is phantoms, and did I mention the phantoms only last a certain amount of rounds?

Marona is the only party member who starts each battle. She can then confine the phantoms to certain objects on the battle grid. With each confinement, the phantom gets certain attribute bonuses depending on the object to which it is confined. For example, flowers and most organics give a boost to your Intelligence, making them perfect with which to confine mages. Hard objects like rocks are perfect for any fighters you have in your phantom party. It works out brilliantly, and timing when and where to confine your allies is essential to winning a match-remember, they only last a few rounds. The enemies, too, get stat bonuses from certain items on the battlefield, and it is best to get rid of those as quick as possible. Of course, the system is deep, but half the fun is finding out what does what on your own.

Also new to the gameplay is a perimeter movement. You get a circle now as opposed to your broken up grid system. It works basically the same way; however, getting in key positions for attacks and abilities is a hell of a lot easier. Of course, you can equip items that add bonuses, and back is the ability to pick up party members (Disgaea-style) and toss them off the battlefield. Get your fling on baby.

Atmosphere

Phantom Brave offers so much for a video game. Everything about the game screams charisma in such a way not seen a lot in games. The voice acting and animations of the cut scenes make you feel for the characters. It is amazing to see cut scenes that work this well without the CG a la Final Fantasy.

The world is painted in an anime style of course; however, it is perfectly fitting. It is broken up RPG-style by different islands, each with its own stage that is at least five missions long. At the end of the missions, you get your rewards and you will be damned glad to have them. As close to perfection as it comes.

This is a video game

This is a work of art, a game that has followed two fantastic games, taking the best from each. Phantom Brave is the best SRPG I have ever played, and it is perfect for the vets of the genre and simple enough for rookies to jump right in and experience why games get imported and translated. Phantom Brave is a definite buy, a Snackbar Favorite, and one of my favorite games of all time. Pick it up and save it. People will be talking about it for a long time to come.

Mar 22, 2005 | 0 comments
Mike Carabajal