Sting

In my opinion good RPGs are hard to find. There are a lot of them, but barely any are worth the time and effort needed to see them through to the end. Portable RPG's are even scarcer, and with the competition between Nintendo's DS and the Sony PSP, I was more than a little surprised to find a quality RPG on the GameBoy Advance new release rack. Not surprisingly, it comes to us courtesy of Atlus. One of my favorite publishers, Atlus certainly knows their niche market.

Game Description: The fate of Riviera: The Promised Land is in the hands of two resurrected angels, who must strengthen powerful seals before a horde of demons are unleashed upon the world., This RPG concerns a world torn apart by the strife of gods and demons, when two warriors quest to determine the fate of the paradise land, Riviera.

From Bens review of Evolution 2, I can tell he didnt play the first part. I know because the sentiments he expressed about the sequel are very similar to my critique of the original. Those exposed to the series for the first time—whether it be part one or two—are bound to have a positive reaction.

The sequel to Dreamcast's very first RPG, Evolution: World Of Sacred Device, Evolution 2: Far Off Promise doesn't tell a particularly enthralling story, nor does it provide much of a break from the familiar RPG fighting. What it does do is take a more logical and fun approach to a genre that has changed very little over the years.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Mild Animated Violence, Use of Tobacco & Alcohol

Game Description: Mag Launcher and his crew are back for more role-playing adventures on the Dreamcast with Evolution 2. Delving deeper into the story and characters than did its predecessor, Evolution 2 starts by showing how Mag's dungeon-exploring exploits have gained him a little notoriety, leading Dr. Whitehead to invite him on a new expedition. This sequel adds a new character to the cast, Yurka, but there's reason to suspect his motivations. You'll fight battles both day and night, collect treasure, and solve puzzles that bring you further into the game's story. Evolution 2 features 3D characters, a third-person perspective, Visual Memory Unit support, and a turn-based battle engine that's easy to learn.

I agree with Dale that the impressive graphics, relaxed nature, and often-humorous settings of Evolution is what sets it apart from the dozens of other RPGs on the market. At the same time, the goofy antics of the anime-style characters and settings isnt what impressed me most about the game.

Everything in Evolution emits a charm and sense of humor that is lacking in the RPGs currently garnering industry attention. For one, the lead character, Mag Launcher (all the characters in the game are named after weapons munitions), is not like the standoff-ish Squall from Final Fantasy VIII. Instead, he is a happy-go-lucky kid who goes about his day in a totally upbeat mood. This optimistic and light-hearted nature is further exploited by the games supporting cast.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Mild Animated Violence, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco & Alcohol

Game Description: Evolution is a classic RPG that acts in true RPG style: an engrossing adventure with a story that unfolds as you progress through the game. You play Mag Launcher, the youngest in a family of adventurers, who has a taste for danger and the courage to back it up. Mag and his group of ragtag explorers are in search of an ancient artifact known as Evolutia, and the search will take your party to dungeons, forests, and caves that house some of the deadliest creatures in the land. See if you can lead your party to Evolutia and continue the Launcher family tradition with Evolution.