Product Description
-------------------
From some of the visionaries behind the Final Fantasy
series, Persona, and Soul Hackers comes this
strategy/role-playing game where players use magic to control
their environment. Kartia is named after a card game that the
game's characters use to conjure all sorts of magic. You'll
freeze rivers, raise or lower ground, and clear fields to give
your army a advantage. And you'll also be able to create
your own weapons, armor, and phantoms to go with you into
turn-based battles--some of which comprise over 20 characters.
In Kartia, you'll choose between two characters whose unique,
intermingling stories come to different endings. As a bonus,
players can trade special items from the game with friends via a
standard memory card.
Review
------
Atlus is getting better at this. After finally bringing
over the most recent PlayStation installment of its unique Megami
Tensei series, Persona, it has become encouraged by the wide-open
RPG market and be porting over its best titles: Ogre Battle,
Tactics Ogre, and now Kartia.
Originally titled Rebus (in Japan), the newly renamed Kartia
refers to the card-based magic the game centers on. Similar in
style to Tactics Ogre, Kartia is mainly a strategy game with a
unique twist. Instead of concentrating so heavily on the
aspects of the game, Kartia focuses on creating phantoms, which
are creatures that enter into battle with you. You can also use
all sorts of elemental magic based on Kartia as well. During the
game you will have the chance to create weapons and new kinds of
phantoms. The variety found in Kartia is refreshing and the
innovations abound.
You begin by choosing one of two characters, Toxe or Lacryma, and
follow the story, which is different for each character. Like any
decent RPG, the plot is lengthy and involved, and the game time
invested in either quest will require significant commitment.
Considering you can choose between two different characters adds
considerable value.
With character designs by Yoshitaka Amano (of Final Fantasy fame)
and game design by the producer of the Megami Tensei series, RPG
fans will find much to enjoy here. Graphically, the game
resembles a simpler Final Fantasy Tactics. However, the game is
sharper, clearer, and more colorful than FF Tactics and much
easier to navigate with an easy-to-see overhead perspective.
Backgrounds are 3D and can be rotated 360 degrees, 90 degrees at
a time. Characters are sprite-based and animated well for this
sort of game, while spell effects give a good bang for the buck.
The sound effects are particularly sharp and add a tangible
authenticity to the battle scenes. Gamers who enjoy well-done
soundtracks will enjoy the orchestral compositions that lace the
Kartia experience. An interesting feature that many gamers will
enjoy is the versus mode, where you can take on a friend's army.
You can also swap items with other players using your memory
cards.
Perhaps the only downside (which is not unique to most RPGs,
strategy or otherwise) is that the game is quite linear. Aside
from that, battles tend to get a bit monotonous; however, the
sheer number of options at your disposal goes some way to
lightening that burden - small details to be sure and nothing
that detracts from the game. Once past the first couple of
battles, the subtleties sink in, and it's then that the game
becomes a blast.
Considering the drought of good RPGs recently, Kartia's presence
on the market is perfect timing. The fact that it's a good RPG
makes it even better. Kartia's a game with substance and style,
one that wins you over without resorting to flashy pyrotechnics
or cheap gimmicks. Hopefully gamers won't overlook this game as
they salivate in anticipation of games like Final Fantasy VIII.
Kartia is a first-rate RPG that we're lucky to have on these
shores. Atlus' daring move has resulted in one of the finest RPGs
this year. --James Mielke
--Copyright ©1999 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction
in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written
permission of GameSpot is prohibited. GameSpot and the GameSpot
logo are trademarks of GameSpot Inc. -- GameSpot Review
- About this item Two different storylines complete with FMV, spread over 30 hours of gameplay. Character designs by Yoshitaka Amano. Create your own weapons, armor, magic, and monsters using Kartia! Trade special items with your friends via the memory card or fight to the death in Versus Mode. Control up to 20 characters in battle!.