Baten Kaitos for the Nintendo Gamecube is a great new addition to Namco’s list of quality RPGs. With a compelling storyline, in depth character development, and a story line that will leave you satisfied, Baten Kaitos is perfect for any RPG fan looking for that certain satisfaction.

Baten Kaitos follows Kalas, a young mysterious character who is apparently out for revenge. At the start of the game you take the role of Kalas’ Guardian Spirit and throughout the game Kalas and his friends speak directly to you. They refer to you by your name and asking you where you want to go and what you want to do next. This element adds a new twist on a familiar genre that is already intended to immerse you in a new world.

Not long after you and Kalas unite, the two of you are out on your own battling the forces of nature. While the two of you investigate a nearby forest rumored to be dangerous you run into a girl under attack by a strange creature. You quickly find that she isn’t as innocent as first she appears. After you, Kalas and the girl defeat the creatures threatening your life the girl introduces herself as Xelha. She then proceeds to tell you that she is looking for something in the forest. Her goal seems to overlap with that of Kalas’ for revenge so he decides to go along with Xelha. What appears to be a simple storyline quickly becomes complex, involving lots of different characters, all searching for themselves on the same path.

The world of Baten Kaitos is one of sheer wonderment. There are several different continents that all float in the sky and below them are clouds that are said to be extremely poisonous. The history behind the world this game takes place in has been thought out a great deal. Each continent is unique in its own way; so much so that you may feel that you are switching planets each time you and Kalas travel from one place to another. Each of the characters that join your cause through out the game comes from different continents and they bring their own unique touch to your team.

While the characters may be unique, their spirit and storylines have little effect on the battle system of Baten Kaitos. Battles are based around card called Magnus. Each Magnus is the essence of a real object trapped in a card for easy transportation. What makes this battle system so unique is that it that not only requires strategy but also a great deal of skill, timing and quick reflexes. Each game you are dealt a hand of Magnus cards. Each card has numbers located on the corner. The objective in battle is to create pairs of like numbers or straights. This is no easy task however, because as you are carefully studying your cards there is a timer counter down till the end of your turn. Luckily the game starts you off easy by giving you few cards with few numbers and plenty of time to figure out what the best course of action to take. Towards the end the game your time is cut down to just seconds to keep you on your toes.

This battle system of Baten Kaitos may frustrate some traditional RPG fans that are used to the slow turn-based system of many games in the genre. Another element that might be frustrating is learning how to play your cards correctly. Most of the tutorials in the game are from NPC characters through out the world and while it is impossible to miss them, it’s not impossible to just not talk to them.

On the topic of talking, the voice acting in Baten Kaitos, as with any translated game, is under par. Luckily if the voices bother you there is an option to turn them off. The voices in battle can not be turned off, but they actually don’t sound half bad, even for a translated game.

When it comes to graphics in this next generation era, Baten Kaitos is nothing special. For a Gamecube game released in 2004 however, it’s what is expected and then some. The game is extremely colorful and uses pre-rendered backdrops, coated with animations to take away from the static feel that plagues pre-rendered backdrops. In-game, in-battle, and the game’s cut scenes are all done with in-game graphics. This may be a turn off for some gamers who like pre-rendered CG cut scenes, but keeping everything true to the game graphics makes the world feel more immersive.

Baten Kaitos does have its share of hiccups along the way, like a 2D inspired puzzle that kills the classic fantasy feel, but it has so much to offer that its slight problems can be overlooked. The story line is crisp and obviously well thought out, making a full circle in the end which brings everything to a close. The battle system stays fresh and fast paced throughout. If you are an RPG fan, own a Gamecube, and want to be part of an interesting and face paced game, you need to check out Baten Kaitos.