Shining Force EXA

Role-Playing Action RPG

The world of Shining Force EXA has long been steeped in devastating wars and oppression. Two bitter nations wage constant war upon each other by summoning armies of beasts and demons. Now, decades later, neither side has gained any perceivable advantage over the other, while the world and its people lay ravaged and devastated by the ceaseless fighting. Players take the role of two characters in Shining Force EXA; Toma, a warrior who holds the power to wield the Shining Force, is destined to unite the divided world in which he lives; and Cyrille, a powerful sorceress who fights to create a better future for her homeland. Together Toma and Cyrille embark on a quest to bring peace and order back to their war-ravaged world. Shining Force EXA debuts an innovative Fortress System by which players manage the growth, layout, and defense of the Geo Fortress, the player's home base. As players leave the Geo Fortress to go on missions and quests, they are kept abreast of events at the fortress. If at anytime the Geo Fortress is attacked during the quest, players must switch between parties and use members from the defensive force that were left to protect the fortress from invasion. The Geo Fortress can evolve during the game to match players' personal style and tactics. [Sega]

Champions of Norrath

Role-Playing Action RPG

Create your own champions, each with unique powers, appearances and skills in this Action RPG. Experience an epic adventure filled with powerful action and ominous intrigue. Battle vicious monsters where your mastery of weaponry and spells is the only thing between you and the supremacy of evil. Champions of Norrath allows gamers to create their own unique hero to journey from the city of Faydwer into the wilds of Norrath to save the land from a gathering army of evil orcs and goblins. Players can adventure alone or with a band of up to three other players either over the Internet or on a single PlayStation 2 system with a Multitap. Import player characters into friends' games using a memory card and then take them home to play solo--the play options offer console gamers the freedom to play anytime and from any location. Champions of Norrath offers players more than 100 hours of gameplay per player character, unlimited battles, deadly missions and unmatched character customization in an enthralling fantasy world. [Sony Online Entertainment]

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria

Role-Playing Console-style RPG

Hundreds of years before Lenneth's tale, another saga lies concealed by the gods. The valkyrie Silmeria once served Odin loyally, but after an incident ignited a conflict between them, Odin forcefully reincarnated her as a human. The human soul that would carry her spirit was that of Alicia, Princess of Dipan. Ordinarily, Silmeria’s consciousness would have been sealed, her spirit dormant until she was next summoned... However, the forced transmigration causes Silmeria's spirit to awaken within Alicia, leaving two souls to inhabit a single body. The spirit that should have been sealed has awakened—a situation Odin will not ignore for long. This installment introduces the new Photon Action System to the classic side-scrolling action format found in the original. Projecting photons grants players more freedom to explore and expands the action, resulting in challenging puzzles with clever solutions. Add to that "sealstones" that affect the laws of nature in dungeons, launching strategy to new heights. The unique battle system of the previous game has evolved into the Advanced Tactical Combination Battle System. [Square Enix]

The Bard's Tale

Role-Playing Third-Person

One man on his own. A poet and a rogue, with no friends to speak of, no one to mourn his passing shouuld it come to that. Even those beside hime are no more boon companions than bondservants, summoned by sorcery and song, as cold and indifferent to him as the light of a wanderin' star. Is a Dragon terrorising the locals? He'll take care of it for the right price. Local princess held captiver? The Bard is your man as long as she's hot. Forget the quest to save the world, our hero is interested in just two things...Coin and Cleavage. The Bard's Tale is a new generation action-RPG with wicket humour and stunning graphics. [inXile Entertainment]