Got this game today! I'm sure Leo has it too, right?

Anyway, just a few impressions.

So far, it's pretty good. I can already tell that the game has high production values and a lot of quality for a DS game. There's voice acting, some good, some bad. I only played the beginning, just enough to get the feel of the game. And I think it's a good addition to the already great JRPG library the DS has.

As for the battle system, it's turn-based but I like it. It's a mix of turn-based and real-time where you have combos and other things you can do with battle points, sort of like the old Valkyrie Profile games. I haven't dug to deep yet but I think it's pretty fun. It's similar but different enough to be set apart. The battles take place between both screens and its vibrant and flashy. It's also brisk and quick so it doesn't drag. I like the pacing. I just hate it when JRPGs battles take too long.

Graphics are very good for the DS. The map is all in 3D. You can rotate the field with your L & R buttons. Only the towns and villages are isometric.  I think the characters are in sprites but it's detailed.

Character designs are typical anime. And the story is probably too. Nintendo Power criticized this game for being more of the same cliched recycled JRPG, but is that really a bad thing? I don't like it when reviewers dock off points for this if the game is solid and good. This game is solid and a good JRPG. It won't revolutionize anything but it's just more JRPG goodness for fans, which is fine by me.

I know I've been bogged down with console RPGs but games like Fragile Dreams, Arc Rise Fantasia, Resonance of Fate, and all the upcoming DS JRPGs is rekindling that fanboy inside me. Whether these games stick with me is another story, but I still enjoy them too much to just call it quits.

This, Glory of Heracles next week, Infinite Space in March...it's a great three months stretch for DS JRPGs. And this is just the beginning. With Dragon Quest IX & VI, Lufia, Blood of Bahamut, Golden Sun DS, and others, the DS has become my favorite system for RPGs.

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention the music is by Yasunori Mitsuda? And it's good music, like always!

I actually saw the World Destruction animé. Pretty disappointing, it had an interesting premise, but it was just too boring.

Wasn't this the guy who didn't like RPGs anymore?