My Favorite game of all time!
The story starts out when twins Lucas and Claus were out visiting their grandfather with their mom, Hinawa, wile their father, Flint, was at home taking care of their sheep.
Nearing nightfall the family sets off into the forest to go home, but... Soon in another part of the woodland some strange men in pig costumes were setting forest fires.
Soon, the local fireman, Thomas, came to Flint's house asking for help to try to rescue those already in the woods and find out where Flint's family is...
The game play is pretty simple, but still is very enjoyable and unique. For the first few chapters, there is no money to deal with, you find random equipment and healing items in presents scattered throughout the world.
There is only one town during the first few chapters too, there you will be able to receive maps, listen to gossip, sleep for free in the hotel (early in the game) save and buy items. (Later in the game)
But most other places the focus will change to fighting monsters and solving puzzles. (Puzzles are usually easy) Also in most areas there will be hot springs witch heal you and usually there will be a frog nearby witch will let you save and deposit/withdraw your money. When in places like the Forest you will see creatures walking back and forth though the screen, these are the monsters. If it sees you it will probably start chasing you and if it touches you will enter the battle screen. If you touch its back wile exploring the battle will start with you getting an extra shot in battle. If it touches your back it gets the first shot. And if you both are looking at each other before the fight the battle will start normally In the battle screen there will be a few things to do…
The first icon is to attack, if your attacking you can press the "A" or "R" buttons to the beat of the music to get up to 16 extra, but weaker, combo hits in. The next Icon is for items, some are weapons witch can only be used in battle,(like bombs) others can be eaten to heal you(like foods) and others are equipment witch if you use in battle, it will waist your turn.
The third is for PSI (magic) and Techniques, each of your party members have their own skills, Lucas and Kumatora both have PSI witch can be used for healing or to damage your opponents, but will consume your PP. Forth is defend witch will reduce the damage taken by the user and slow down their HP drop rate (HP and PP are shown on rolling counters, so you can be attacked for massive damage but still live and be able to heal yourself if your fast enough.)
Last is run away, it’s only available for your party’s leader and if used, every other party member dos nothing for the round. The music is perfect and many of the tunes are used over and over slightly remixed for each chapter. Every enemy gets their own battle song too, all but the bosses get remixed and reused at some point but it’s not at a problem. There is also a Music Player on the main menu that lets you listen to all 250 songs.
Over all, unless you know Japanese you probably should not play it. It would be pretty darn hard to play if you can't understand Japanese or you just didn't feel like memorizing what every item and skill dose, then not understand the story... But if you had some sort of translation, I would recommend it to any Nintendo fan! I know I enjoyed it!