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A nice looking JSRPG that is only held back by slow pacing.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 29, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Lets face it, even some of the greatest JSRPGs of all time can be a bit slow. (FFT,Disgaea) Jeanne D'arc also suffers from this issue, the problem is magnified however by the CPU AI taking a very long time to complete even the most basic of turns like a "wait, wait, move 2 squares,wait, attack" etc...

The game has very sharp and cute graphics one would expect from this noted developer. Unfortunately we are stuck with only 2 perspectives, far away, and very far away. This results in a sometimes obstructed view of the battlefield.

Another issue, while there is auto leveling of characters you do not use, they don't level nearly enough and you will find yourself either completely ignoring 2-5 characters or wasting time leveling up in free combat.

The game does provide customizable characters in a sense that you have skill slots and the ability to fuse skill gems into other skills. The problem is the first time you fuse 2, you don't know the outcome. This can often result in a final gem that you don't want or need and a wasted powerful/useful gem.

This is further magnified by the inability to change class types. I had many fighter types, far more than I needed by chapter II and no ability to change them to casters. You can slot them w/ caster abilities and it works ok, except you won't have access to the "staff" weapon type which also allows more caster abilities.

I am really nitpicking and you can see how the developers really focused on balance. Battles have a turn limit. No more infinite leveling up like in FFT etc..., you must finish the battle in say 12 or 20 turns (larger battles allow more turns)

Many of these battles can become too easy once you discover fusing skill gems. Unfortunately the process of fusing skill gems consists of selecting one gem, selecting a second, pressing a button and then watching the animation of a frog swallow, chew and spew a new one. This animation can take a few seconds each time. It doesnt sound like much, but when you want to create say a +100 hp gem and are starting with +25 it can quickly add up to a sizable amount of playtime for a portable game.

By the time you are done "binding skills" as the game calls it, your train ride may be over.

Even tho I find these flaws a real drag to the pacing, overall this is a very addictive, visually pleasing and fun game w/ a neat spin on one of histories most classic war fantasies of a young girl called by god to liberate a nation.

Throw in some monsters and anthropomorphic beasts and its a very Dragon Quest looking RPG that can be quite cute and enjoyable.

Definitely a game for JSRPG fans only, and those with patience for battles that are slowed down by pointless CPU AI not moving quickly enough.

Yuck...

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: August 10, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Fun?! ZERO
Since I can't properly rate this, I'll have to rate it here in the commentary.

How much fun is this game?.......... ZERO ZERO ZERO ZERO ZERO
How do you rate this game overall? ZERO ZERO ZERO ZERO ZERO

The story may be fine in my opinion of what little I've seen in this bought game, but the game mechanics itself is AWFUL! You're allowed only a set of a few turns on every map and I'll understand that if the map's conditions require it. Like if I have to get out of the area before backup for the bad guys show up and such...

But EVERY STICKING Map has this turn limit in IT!!! I truly enjoyed the PSX Final Fantasy Tactics, because the creators knew of that idea and limited the turn limit to a few nerve racking stages. Good Lord those d'arc idiots didn't have the common sense to have a menu selection option to shut down this insane concept!

>:<

A surprisingly good game with a strange historical inspiration.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 25, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Jeanne D'arc is one of those games that I initially blew off. The cover art and basic premise of the game left me really skeptical about the quality of game that was contained within. I have to say that I am glad one of my friends showed this game to me because I otherwise would have ignored it.

Basically, Jeanne D'arc is a fantasy retelling of the Joan of Arc legend and the 100 years war. I'll admit, it took a bit of getting used to seeing the great deal of liberty taken with the story, but overall it is quite good. The game is a turn based strategy game a la Final Fantasy Tactics, Tactics Ogre, Vandal Hearts, and Fire Emblem games. As far as turn based strategy games go, I have to say this game ranks among the best and fans of the genre should pick it up.

Pros:
+ Vibrant graphics (usually)
+ Compelling (albeit quite weird) storyline told with animated cutscenes.
+ A deep character customization system that doesn't require users to micromanage for hours on end to build the perfect party.
+ The ability to go into free-battle mode on a number of maps in order to gain treasure and experience.
+ Individual battles are usually fairly quick, ideal for portable play.
+ Some absurd but funny French and English stereotypes.

Cons:
- The frame rate is kind of jerky at times
- For history buffs, seeing Joan of Arc fighting orcs, lizardmen, and dark elves takes a little bit of getting used to.
- Some levels have atmospheric effects such as fog that look just plain ugly.
- Some absurd stereotypes and a few really annoying character designs that make you say "Hmmmmmm..."
- The menu controls are not as intuitive as other games in the genre
- Battles usually limit you to a small number of characters on the battlefield. On the plus side, battles don't drag on forever and ever.

Overall, this is an excellent game and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the strategy RPG genre. The game obviously contains some very religious overtones due to the source material (Joan of Arc) but approaches the subject in a relatively inoffensive manner.

Excellent choice for RPG Fans

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 01, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Great game for any RPG Fan. And a must have for PSP RPG Fans. Loading times and cut scenes can be a bit annoying, but all in all a great game. Simple to pick up and learn. Fun to play, easy to follow and understand. Great graphics.

Also a big plus in my book is the ability to put the game down for awhile, then pick it up later and not be "lost". Which happens a lot with RPG's.
All in all Great game.

just like FFT/etc... in a good way :)

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 30, 2008
Author: Amazon User

if you're a fan of the genre (turn based strat / rp) you owe it to yourself to get this. it's one of the reasons i bought a psp, and i absolutely love it. wish there were more cut scenes but it's still a blast.

One of the best portable games of all time!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 25, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This has to be the best SRPG I have played since Final Fantasy Tactics on the PS1. The controls are simple and the game is very polished.

I cannot recommend this game enough. If you are a SRPG fan or just an RPG fan you owe it to yourself to get this. Do not take my review lightly as I only review games I adore. Its definitely in the top 3 portable games out. Crisis Core, FFT and this game make the PSP platform an RPG heaven.

Pros:
+ Modern Graphics
+ Good Story (man tears unavoidable)
+ Memorable characters
+ Refined simple Gameplay
+ Best SPRG after Final Fantasy Tactics (also available for the PSP)

Cons:
- A bit on the easy side.

Final verdict: Buy this game. Don't have a PSP, then buy one with this game. If you like meaty games that will suck you in and leave you wanting more, than this is for you.

A Beautiful, Simple Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 05, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Pros:

+Gorgeous Graphics with some great anime cutscenes
+An engrossing storyline
+Really loveable characters
+Easy to become acquainted with
+Surprisingly large amount of customization

Cons:

-For those looking for innovation they won't find it

The PSP has slowly been gaining a lot of RPGs and tactical RPGs. In late 2007 we saw the release of three Strategy RPGs in particular. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness and Jeanne D'arc. While Final Fantasy Tactics and Disgaea were two fine ports from two fine systems, Jeanne D'arc stands on its own as an original creation. The result is a beautiful, simple SRPG that while it doesn't change the face of the genre, it's a game that manages to be fun nonetheless.

The story of Joan of Arc has been told numerous times. However, it's never quite been told like this. That is to say the story itself mixes in Fantasy with History. In short, any student hoping to use this game has an interactive history lesson won't find it. On the other hand, though, the story is well told through some fantastic Anime cutscenes that are by far some of the best to grace the PSP thus far. There are some great characters to accompany you on your travels as well. It also helps that the game has some spectacular voice acting with French accents that aren't overdone, but aren't too tame either. The cel shaded graphics looks absolutely astonishing as well. The environments are enormous and detailed. The enemies are also pretty detailed as well. In terms of production values, Jeanne D'arc exceeds by being both artistic, and showing what the PSP is capable of doing. It's very rare when a game does both very well, but Jeanne D'arc does.

A beautiful game can't stand alone without some good gameplay to go along with it. Luckily, Jeanne D'arc has some good gameplay too. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but the simplicity of the game makes it so that there is no need for overly long tutorials that plague a few other tactical RPGs. While this can be a little annoying for those who dwelled into more complex SRPGs such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Disgaea, it does have a few traits that make it overall fun to play. As usual, you'll control characters on a grid and there are a set of objectives. In some missions the goal is to defeat the enemy leader while making sure a specific character doesn't fall. In other missions it's simply to crush all the bad guys. The game adds a twist on this as well. You must finish the battle in a certain amount of turns or its game over. While this is a nice twist it's hardly something that merits being included. You'll finish most battles long before you get that warning telling you how many turns are left.

Much like other SRPGs you'll have a set of commands to attack your enemies and use skills. Unlike many SRPGs, though, the counter attack rate in Jeanne D'arc is through the roof. The good news is that this makes the battles go faster. That may be one of the things that helps this game out. In many SRPGs battles are slow winded and last for a long time. In Jeanne D'arc they go relatively fast. In between turns you'll also see enemies and allies shout things out. For a moment this is alright, after a while it gets annoying.

There are skills at work in battle. You can equip certain skill stones to let you do things like cast healing spells or perform special attacks in battle. Equipping skill stones doesn't just grant you abilities or status enhancements. It's also there to raise affinity with the three spirits, Luna, Sol and Stella. There is no one spirit greater or more powerful than another. This works in a Rock-Paper-Scissors, fashion. One spirit is stronger than one but weak against the other. This puts a lot more emphasis on strategy. Some attacks deal far more damage based on which spirit you are affiliated with. The same thing works for your enemies.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Jeanne D'arc is that the games transformation system. Jeanne can transform once she has enough SP. This gives her a significant boost to her stats. It also gives her the ability to take another turn immediately after killing an enemy. This is great, but because of the increase in stats in some areas it makes the game unreasonably easy. That doesn't mean the entire game itself is easy. You'll find that in many maps you're outnumbered. And that a mishap or two in your strategy can cost you the battle. Jeanne D'arc may be a simple game to learn but it can be a bit tough to master.

Jeanne D'arc also sounds masterful. The soundtrack is beautifully orchestrated. While at some points the music can be repetitive (particularly hearing the "Enemy Phase" music over and over again), it still sounds absolutely fantastic. If there was anything holding Jeanne D'arc back, it would be the games lack of voice acting. While you hear a lot in the animated scenes, you don't hear them that much beyond that. It'd be nice if some of their battle callouts, for example, were screamed out. This is a minor problem and in no way detracts from the game itself, though.

Any PSP owner looking for a fun, engrossing SRPG ought to look to Jeanne D'arc. It's incredible story, simple battle system and good use of customization and balance make it an engrossing adventure. It may not reinvent the wheel, but that keeps the game from being a needlessly complicated endeavor.

Excellent choice for tactical RPG newcomers

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 17, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Jeanne D'arc is the first PSP RPG from developer Level 5 (Dragon Quest VIII, Dark Cloud 2). This time they tried their hand at the tactical role-playing genre, instead of their usual action-RPG and standard turn-based offerings. The result is successful in all respects. The combat system works well and offers plenty of tactical options. The special attacks, spells, and other abilities equipped by characters via skill stones that are dropped by enemies or purchased in shops; are varied, and have a significant effect on combat. The game-play balance is well-tuned to the mid-range. Experienced players will rarely have to play a stage more than twice, but the difficulty level won't frustrate those playing a grid-based tactical RPG for the first time. Except for enemy reinforcements that magically appear in inconvenient places in a couple of stages, Jeanne D'Arc never feels cheap; but you feel as though you earned your victories. The story isn't epic, but its fanciful take on the
hundred-years war and the tragic figure Jeanne D'Arc, is more than interesting enough to give you a reason to keep playing through the stages.

If I was going to recommend a grid-based tactical RPG to someone that never played one before, this is the one that I would recommend; more for the things that it doesn't do, than the things it does do. The developer generally steered clear of a lot of the more tedious game-play elements of well-established tactical RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics, Fire Emblem, and Disgaea; making it a good introduction for new players.

For example:

There is very little need for level-grinding in Jeanne D'Arc. Maps completed in story mode often become Free Combat stages that can be used to level up and accumulate gold, but it really isn't necessary. Free Combat stages usually have different enemies, and item drops, than they did when they were visited during a mission; so they are worth visiting again, but only once. Completing the stages to advance the story, and completing each Free Combat stage once; will provide about all of the experience points that you need to complete the game. Occasionally it may be useful to play a handful of free combat stages to level-up a rarely-used character, but even characters that are never used in combat receive significant experience points. None of the characters are generally more than 7 or 8 levels behind any other character, and they will close the gap quickly if used for a few battles.

There are no character deaths in Jeanne D'Arc, except ones that are scripted as part of the story. Characters that fall in battle are all full revived when the stage is cleared. If you don't clear the stage, the game is over anyway. That means that you don't have to replay stages that you've cleared, over and over, until you get through them with all of the characters that you want to use later still alive. There is, on the other hand, no way to revive fallen characters during a battle.

Gold-farming is almost pointless in Jeanne D'Arc. You can get plenty of cash by selling unneeded skill-stones dropped by enemies, especially if you use the skill-stone binding system to combine common skill-stones into rare ones. Past the mid-point of the game you will rarely buy anything from the shops except for healing items. All of the really good items are acquired free as rewards when you complete certain combat stages the first time. You don't have to play stages over and over again, just to get enough gold to buy the best armor and weapons. I finished the game with over 15000 gold pieces, and over a hundred spare skill stones left; without making any effort to accumulate money. There just wasn't anything else to buy.

There is no wandering around the game-world for hours trying to find the one location to visit, or one person to talk to; that will move the story forward, and open up the next area. In Jeanne D'Arc, pressing the Objective button from the world map display at any time will tell you exactly where you should go next to advance the story. You are free to visit any location that is visible on the world map, but you always know where to go when you are ready to move on. This removes the exploration aspect that is important to some RPGs, but most tactical RPGs don't place much emphasis on exploration anyway.

Overall, once you start Jeanne D'Arc, the game tries not to give you a reason to put it down and play something else for a while; which is a good thing.

From a technical perspective, everything is fine. The graphics are similar to PS2 tactical RPGs, and the music is serviceable; if not inspiring. Most of the cut-scenes have no voice-acting, but the voice-acting that is there is very good. The animated cut-scenes are also well done. Not as impressive as Valkrie Profile Lenneth, but still very good for a game that isn't from Square Enix. Jeanne D'Arc isn't a long game by RPG standards, but it is reasonably long for a PSP game. There
are about 40 hours of solid game-play, and the game shouldn't require more than 50 hours to complete. With a list price of $29.99, the game is an excellent value.

People that have spent 100 hours or more grinding their way through games like Disgaea and Final Fantasy Tactics will probably find Jeanne D'Arc too short and basic for their taste; but everyone else Jeanne D'Arc is a well-made game, with an interesting story, that is an excellent choice for newcomers to the tactical RPG genre. It is also one of the best titles in the PSP library.

Interesting, but cut scenes are annoying

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 3
Date: February 11, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is my first PSP RPG so I don't have anything to compare it to. I do think the gameplay has potential. What I do find annoying however, is the goofy anime-esque characters and the mechanical cut-scene animation. But all in all, it seems to be a solid game. I think WOW has popularized this new breed of cartoon-ish RPGs and I'm more in favor of traditional RPG settings.

Great graphics and storyline. Wished it was more challenging and a true epic.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 29, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I had more fun with Jeanne D'arc than I've had with other RPG's, except for Final Fantasy 3 and 7. The graphics and gameplay are fantastic, although I wished that the game was more challenging and the story a bit longer. I spent a total of 25 hours to beat the game, and after getting the hang of it, I found the levels less challenging to beat the FF series. But if you want a shorter RPG that's a lot of fun, Jeanne D'arc's a good one. It exceeded my expectations.

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