Jeanne D’Arc – Review

Layout 1Jeanne D’Arc

(SCEA for PSP)
By Mike Delano

Most of the time, you really have to be in the mood for a turn-based strategy RPG. As much as the turn-based battles in the average Japanese role playing game slow down the pace of the game to a menu-based crawl, strategy-based titles require you to carefully place your party members on the most advantageous squares of a rigid, board game-like battlefield and use your action turns for such thrilling commands as “moving forward five squares.” Such deliberate gameplay does reward intelligence, though, so victories never feel like the result of dumb luck. Jeanne D’Arc, a strategy RPG based (loosely) on the historical exploits of the title character, may be the most accessible game in the entire genre. That’s not to say it doesn’t require some serious planning and strategy to advance, but where other titles get bogged down in endless menu-driven customization, Jeanne D’Arc focuses on the basics, making battles refreshingly brisk and engaging. Since it also features a top-notch presentation, full of colorful battlegrounds and striking anime cut scenes, it’s recommended for all PSP users, RPG fans or not.
(www.us.playstation.com)