Tactics Ogre Gaiden: The Knight of Lodis
Let's admit it. The Nintendo 64 was just not a good system for RPGs, Legend of ZeldaOgre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber was released. Gamers loved it - but we want more RPGs on Nintendo! Don't make us - dare I say it? - buy PlayStations! That's where Tactics Ogre Gaiden comes in.
The Tactics Ogre series' gameplay basically consists of training units and commanding them in a sort of medieval setting. The twist is that once a battle begins, you lose most of the control of your units, and they fight autonomously. The challenge is arming your units efficiently and placing them in different formations. Best of all, the games have multiple endings, dependant upon the players' actions. A good, original RPG all around. The original game was a big hit on the SNES in Japan, and it established an underground following when a port of the game was released in the States. Following Ogre Battle: Person of Lordly Caliber, Tactics Ogre Gaiden is the series' debut in the Nintendo handheld market. The game looks to utilize the normal battle and movement system that made it popular in the first place, while further impressing us with clear, colorful graphics at a Diablo-like perspective.
The gameplay looks like a compromise between the 64 and SNES versions (am I noticing a pattern here for the GBA? Seems like a good one.) Details are scant, but from the screenshots the game's scenery and character graphics are breathtaking. The visuals suggest that the game is not dumbed-down at all because of the small screen. Warlocked wasn't bad, considering, but let's face it: Warlocked did not have the fun of WarCraft. It looks like the GBA may be a great system for RTS games after all (Napoleon, anyone?)
Of course, now having read this preview, you may be angered to hear that Tactics Ogre Gaiden is not guaranteed a US or European release. I am not aware of any petition yet, but as the GBA launch date draws nearer, I am sure that one will be organized. Let's hope so, because this game looks too good to not be played by GB freaks in all countries!
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