	White Knight Chronicles
	Developer: Japan Studio/Level 5 Publisher: SCEE Release Date: Out Now Players: 1 to 5 online co-op	Words By:
White Knight Chronicles is a Japanese RPG developed by Level-5 (also responsible for the successful PS2 title Dragon Quest VIII) and Sony Computer Entertainment Japan. The game was originally released in Japan in 2008 and has now finally been released in North America and Europe. The story is unashamedly cliché, full of all your hallmark JRPG stereotypes. The lead character is a young androgynous merchant named Leonard who is caught up in a quest to rescue the princess due to his discovery of a piece of armour which transforms him into the 'White Knight' of the title. At the start of the game you're required to create an avatar, although the avatar you create is more for the online side of the game. Your avatar is always present in the story mode, it is lead Leonard who progresses through the game, which seems a strange choice as this makes your avatar look like a silent voyeur. You are, however, able to 'choose' who you play as during the field parts of the game if you want your avatar to feel more involved in the action. Gameplay is also your typical RPG affair, your characters levelling up through the game, picking up items, fighting their way through 'dungeons'. The game utilises a real-time system similar to that of Final Fantasy XII and also similar to many MMORPGs. The battle options are customisable, giving the player three sets of 7-slot tiers, to which they can assign physical and magic attacks. This sounds more complicated than it is, and the game very gently tutors the player through a series of menus, and before long it feels like second nature, and even those with the patience of a 5-year old will be sailing through the game happily before long. In battle you control the character you have chosen to control in the field, whilst the other members of your party are AI-controlled. The standard enemies are exactly that, standard, although some of the bosses are much larger and very cool looking. The graphics are functional but not particularly special for two reasons. 1) This game has a very clear budget and although certain cut-scenes are spectacular, it does have an overall feeling of being unfinished; and 2) This game is over a year old. Now I know that isn't that long really, but the increasing quality of games is really moving at a pretty fast rate and any weak links in games are becoming increasingly more apparent thanks to the slew of highly polished titles recently released for this generation’s platforms. The style of this game is much more rooted in the traditional RPG as opposed to the futuristic sci-fi vibe that a lot of newer RPGS have (most notably Square-Enix titles), and those who are more fond of Zelda, the older Final Fantasies and Lord Of The Rings will no doubt appreciate this game’s somewhat throwback style. The online component comes in the form of 'bounty hunter'-esque quests which can be performed with friends. Although not nearly as deep as some of the MMORPGS available, this does offer a lighter and less life-consuming option to fans of the game who want more replay value and to hang out and slay monsters separate from the story. Possibly too much of a 'diet' MMO for hardcore RPG players, but let's face it, there are plenty of options for them already, and WKC offers a far more friendly and sane experience than most games of a similar ilk. For hardcore JRPG fans (who are probably going to play this game no matter what), this game is either going to be a case of too little too late, or an enjoyable romp through a relatively successful Japanese game which is nice on the eye and has a tight battle system, possibly something to tide them over until Final Fantasy XIII is released. For the rest of us, WKC offers a somewhat less hardcore experience that I expect most gamers could play and enjoy. Once the battle system has been learnt the game is nice enough to play, and although not breath-taking on any level, it’s a good solid RPG experience. The time chosen to release this (so close to the incoming Final Fantasy XIII) is an odd one, considering the absolute ferocity and domination of that franchise in the RPG market. But European gamers have been waiting for this game so I guess those people will enjoy it, and although in a few months it'll be a lost shadow under FF XIII, for the time being it is what it is; which is an unoriginal, yet well-made RPG.

Best Bits
- Some cool enemies/visuals
- Tight battle system
- Wholesome traditional RPG feel
- Functional online

Worst Bits
- It’s a year old and the graphics sometimes show their age
- Relatively unoriginal
- Online may not be deep enough for hardcore RPG fans


by: Olly