Generation Of Chaos
Strategy RPG geniuses, NIS America, debut on Sony PSP!
Tags: Generation Of Chaos Categories: PSP Reviews, Reviews
Posted by Craig "American Idle" Hansen on Apr 4th, 2006
| Title | Players | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation Of Chaos (title page) | 1 | ||
| Developer | Publisher | Genre | Online |
| Strategy | No | ||
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Ever since the debute Disgaea on PS2, NIS America has quickly risen to the top of tactics-style RPG fans’ list of favorite publishers. Their games have all the charm and wit of a Working Designs title, but they publish a lot more than one title every four years or so. With NIS America, it’s more like four titles per year. Bliss! The big question in most folks’ mind has been, will the company ever deliver one of their gloriously deep, complex tactical RPGs on Sony’s new handheld system? Well, with the release of Generation of Chaos, the answer to that is: kinda!
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Generation of Chaos is indeed published by NIS America, but it’s not an in-house title. The game, developed by Idea Factory, doesn’t bear a strong resemblance to Disgaea, Phantom Brave or any of NIS America’s other masterpieces. Instead, what is delivered is a game that is one part Risk, one part resource-management strategy title and one part chess. The mix isn’t bad, but if you come in expecting Disgaea PSP, you’ll leave disappointed.
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Unlike most of NIS America’s best titles, Generation of Chaos is not a true tactical RPG. Instead, it’s closer to a real-time strategy game. Folks who love thinking while things stay in motion will appreciate the action this option brings with it. And just because it’s not turn-based doesn’t mean it’s not strategic. With a mix of Risk and chess-style game play, there’s plenty of strategy involved. You move across a tile-based map and have to deploy your generals and their support troops in smart ways, so that they’re not overwhelmed.
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One of the classic mistakes you can make in this game is to send your high HP general against a low HP enemy general without taking note of where other enemy units are on the board; sure, you may tear through that low HP general, but your forces will be thinned and if you are outside of a town or castle where you can recruit replacement forces, a line of two or three low HP generals will be within reach of you and pick away at you until your high-HP general is TOAST. This game is smart … and ruthless. And to be honest, you’ll have a hard time winning right away.
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Graphically, the game looks sharp; while NIS America games look a bit behind the times graphically on PS2, that’s not the case with Generation of Chaos. The game, simply put, looks sharp on the small-n-wide PSP. The environments are well-detailed and the character designs, courtesy Youji Hiraiwa, are appealing. Add to the mix a generous amount of voice acting for a PSP title and you have a very nice little package.
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In the end, Generation of Chaos may not be quite what you expect from an NIS America title, but if you adjust your expectations to what it is – real-time strategy rather than turn-based tactical – you’ll have plenty of fun and experience a decent level of challenge. If you survive the steep learning curve, you’ll be in for a treat.
| What Works | Score |
|---|---|
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+ Graphics look sharp on the small-and-wide PSP screen. + Plenty of voice-acting for a PSP title. |
7.1 |
| What Doesn't | |
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– No wireless game play option. – Real-time strategy may take Disgaea fans by surprise. |
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| Under the Shrink-wrap | |
| Generation of Chaos delivers real-time strategy thrills on the go; but Disgaea fans be warned: this is not turn-based tactics! | |
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Tags: Generation Of Chaos
Posted by Craig "American Idle" Hansen on Apr 4th, 2006 and is filed under PSP Reviews, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can post a comment, or trackback from your own site.
