First Look: Tsugunai

Sony has released new information and screenshots of its PlayStation 2 RPG, Tsugunai. In the game the lead character must cleanse his own ills by possessing the bodies of various characters and solving their problems. Several characters, including men, women, and children, ranging from castle soldiers to merchants and fishermen can be possessed. These NPCs then become playable characters with unique items and weapons. According to Sony, the lives of the lead characters and those around them are changed by the actions of the player.

The turn-based battle system and the use of summoned beasts in the game should be familiar to most console RPG fans. One twist is that if the appropriate button is pressed during the enemy's attack the damage sustained can be reduced - this can be used as a defense mechanism during battle. The timing of this guarding technique is different for each enemy character.

Tsugunai will be released on February 22 in Japan. Sony has not announced a North American release of the game at this time.