Fun to play,worth putting into your collection.
RPG games are my second favorite choice of genre, first being RTS. As far as PSP games go, I like RPGs due to the fact I can do things like exploring, farming or leveling in the face of constant interruptions. I can always go back to it later.Jeanne D'arc fits my ideal RPG game for the PSP. This is a turned based RPG with a lot of story telling and video sequences. The setting is medieval time with a little fantasy added to some historical events. You control Jeanne and her party of adventurers as they set forth to find out why their village was attacked and the secret powers of her amulet. Along the way you discover new skills and items, also a few people will join your party aid in your quest.
Game play:
Not too much innovation here. Set more like a turn based strategy game where you move your characters by squares and attack your opponents with weapons or spells. You can also heal or use other spells to increase abilities. There are also indirect options such as archers, spell casters and pike men. Pike men usually are able to attack 2 squares away. The use of the indirect attacks prevents you from getting any enemy counter attack. Most of the missions are straight wipeout the other party but there are a few escort missions or just plain run missions. Most of the battle locations can be replayed to level the character or find hidden items. Along the way you will find skills. This gem looking items are equipped in slots of characters. They enhance that characters abilities or give them special attacks. While not needed in early stages you will find you will use them 90% of the time in later stages.Graphics:The graphics on the game play itself is detailed enough to see the weapons equipped. You can zoom in and out of the battlefield quite clearly in any angle as you rotate the views also. The cut scenes come in two forms. There is full motion video and sound that is anime quality. The others look like the game play but with text speech at the bottom. There are decent but I would have preferred more anime style cut scenes.
Sound and Music:
The battle sound are nothing spectacular, normal to any style game. The clank of swords hitting, the sound of an arrow leaving the bow and so forth. The music is not too annoying and I didn't turn it off. The music changes somewhat, the same theme and is all instrumental.
Difficulty:
There are few things that make this game very easy. First off as the player you always get the first move. Also computer AI is weak and can easily be tricked to traps where multiple characters can pounce. The use of archers can seriously help reduce enemy numbers or hit points before they reach your frontline characters. You are never vastly outnumbered. At best its 3 to 1 ratio you will be out numbered. The time (turns) given to each stage is generous. And lastly the ability to use previous stages to level you character is too easy, while you level up the enemy stays at the same level. You even get the same experience for killing the same enemy even if your level 10 to 70.
Final Thoughts:
If you look past on the lack of difficulty on the game, you will find it is a well developed game. If you're an RPG fan you will certainly enjoy the leveling and storyline. This is one of the better games for PSP.
Side quests (SPOILERS):
Each map has hidden treasures. To find them you can get near the square they are located and golden sparkles indicate their locations. To obtain the item you simple stop you character on the mark square to get to them. After a certain stage you will be able to merge skills gems to much stronger gems to use against stronger monsters.