Astonishia Story [PSP]

Thanks to extraordinary titles like Oblivion and Kingdom Hearts II, role-playing games are back with a vengeance. So it goes without saying the market is ripe for an immersive handheld RPG to keep us hacking and slashing while on the go. Ubisoft is hoping it has the right game at the right time with Astonishia Story. While this new entry isn't going to win any awards for originality or depth, the game proves to be a fun and accessible adventure for fans of the genre.

In Astonishia Story, you play as Lloyd, a young knight who is given the honor by the royal family to help escort the sacred Staff of Cainan back to its rightful owner. However, the caravan is ambushed; when Lloyd awakens, he finds everyone but him has been wiped out and the staff is missing. The only clue is a Griffon seal found on some clothing, so Lloyd sets out to recover the artifact and exact justice.

In doing so, Lloyd must travel through dozens of towns, countrysides and dungeons to battle foes, pick up valuable items for his inventory, search for clues and recruit other heroes to help in his quest.

Similar to many classic Japanese RPGs, the game is played from a top-down perspective as you move your character through the various overhead maps. When Lloyd touches an enemy, the screen zooms in for a battle view. When the fight is finished, you return back to the larger map of the land.

Battling foes is very straightforward. You will see your position on the screen and the whereabouts of your opponents. If you're accompanied by allies, you'll be grouped relatively close to one another before the turn-based fight begins. Whenever it's your turn, you'll be presented with the usual options: move, attack, skill/magic, run, use item, or end your turn.

Each fighter has its own unique skillset. Rudoug, a monk warrior, can create shockwaves on the ground or perform a Chi Strike with concentrated energy that shoots out of one hand. His coolest move is a "sunrise kick," which flips the enemy up before he kicks them down.