Shock and Awe.......
User Rating: 10 | Jade Cocoon 2 PS2
This has got to be one of the most underrated games of all time. While this game didn't exactly make it into gamers collections, and though it wasn't half as hyped as "higher class" RPGs such as those in the Final Fantasy series, this game is a must have in any collection. This game's unusual title might cause those who know little about it to steer clear automatically but those who took a closer look were well rewarded. The game starts you out as Kahu a boy who has just arrived in the temple to prove his manhood, and to mimic the actions of his heroes, the "cocoon Masters." Soon after obtaining his first divine beast (read "Pokemon") Kahu gets himself into a predicament that drives the whole story. The cast of characters is is quite memorable and the voice acting is well done. The multiple element "forests" that make up the dungeons of this game, are lush and vibrant with color, which makes traversing them all more satisfying. The battle system is unique as you get a "beast amulet" to contain all of your divine beasts. The beast amulet is a unique method of battling as it allows you to carry up to eight divine beasts to battle with at all times. You spin the beast amulet to the element side you wish to attack with. The number of different monsters to collect and battle with is staggering. There are two ways to obtain divine beasts, through egg hatching or merging. Eggs are essentially obtained in forests guarded by an evolved form of the egg, they can be obtained there or they can be rewards of the numerous jobs you can take at the job board. The other way is through merging. You can merge many different monsters with new abilities through merging. This game is a must have for all monster raising fanatics and all RPG lovers in general. I highly recommend this game.
