Jeanne d'Arc

"A game which deserves to be praised"

Introduction
Jeanne D'Arc is historical turn-based strategy with RPG elements. It was developed by Level 5 and published by SCE. The game was released in Japan in 2006 and hit US shores in 2007.

Gameplay
Tons of stuff can be said about the battle system but I'll be brief. Firstly, the game has a so-called "map", through which Jeanne travels. This map features towns and battling areas. It will be very similar to those who played FF Tactics. The map is quite big, so test assured - there will be a lot of places to visit. Secondly, the cream of the crop - the battle system. It doesn't have much changes from the strategy systems we've seen earlier, but it's unique and innovative in it's own way. You can have up to 7 characters on a battlefield, which consists of many elevated spots, so don't expect that you can move freely here and there. Each character equips his unique type of weapons. For example, Jeanne can equip swords. You can also equip your character with three types of skill stones which are used in a "rock-paper-scissors" manner (we've seen something similar in Fire Emblem, for example). Note that enemies also wear them, so it's going to be a vast field for tactical experiments. Characters can form auras like "Unified Guard" and "Burning Aura", and I also find this a very fascinating innovation. "Transformations", used by certain characters, also help you to turn the tide in your favor. Overall, the battle system is great and the controls are just fine. I never got bored or tired of it, anyway.

Story
As I said in the introduction, Jeanne D'Arc is a historical turn-based strategy, but with the advancement of the plot, the word "historical" loses it's sense to some extent. Evil Duke Bedford makes his nephew Henry VI (the future ruler of England) possessed with demons, so that little Henry attacks France. That's where Joan of Arc comes in. She fearlessly fights for her dear motherland, learns many secrets about herself, and finds new friends and enemies. The plot is interesting to follow, so I guarantee you'll be pleased with what you'll see and hear.

Graphics/Sound
The visuals of the game are done nicely, but not perfectly. There are still some flaws in the graphical part of the game. Sometimes characters look too poorly detailed, especially from a close view. But the animated cut-scenes in the game save the day! They are pleasant to look at and wonderfully voiced! You must surely listen to that French accent, I'll tell you! The music in the game is quite authentic, so there's nothing more I can really say about it, though it has some epic moments.

Replayability
The game is approximately 35 hours long, if you do only the main story missions. Side missions and the game's optional battle arena will take another 25 hours of your precious life. Overall, it's a long game in terms of handheld strategy RPGs. Replaying Jeanne D'Arc is for you to decide.

Final Recommendation
Rent or buy? Well, let me think... If you love SRPGs - 100% purchase. If you're new to this kind of games - rent. What I can say for sure is that I'm happy to have a PSP to be able to play such an outstanding game. Jeanne D'Arc proves that this console still has a bunch of appealing and addictive games!

Final Score 8.5 out of 10
Reviewer: Damage_dealer

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/15/08

Game Release: Jeanne d'Arc (US, 08/21/07)