PlayStation

Nobody can accuse the Japanese of being boring when it comes to their hobbies, interests, and obsessions. Anyone who dabbles in Japanese culture or frequents import shops can tell you that not only do the Japanese create all of the coolest toys, they also come up with some of the funkiest, craziest, and most off-the-wall stuff youve ever seen.

Final Fantasy Anthology seemed to be just what the doctor ordered for old-school role-playing game fans like me. After seeing what Square did with the Japanese version (called Final Fantasy Collection), I was more than a little excited to see the game on these shores.

Game Description: Combining the highly acclaimed titles Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy Chronicles offers fans a nostalgic journey back in time to relive a part of gaming history. Final Fantasy Chronicles features the best original elements of both titles, like groundbreaking epic storylines and memorable casts of characters, along with all new features that will delight every fan.

After reading Dale's coverage of Final Fantasy Chronicles and being assigned the task of doing the Second Opinion, I was strongly tempted to simply write "Ditto" and call it done.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes

Game Description: Maya Amano, a cub reporter at the Seven Sisters High School is trying to solve a series of gruesome murders in Sumaru City. That’s the setup for Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, an engaging RPG with somewhat serious overtones. Maya and friends will wander through a world of monsters and demons on a quest to save the city from the grips of The Joker. In addition to monsters you can outwit rather than outfight, you’ll also come across rumormongers that can be told lies that will change the entire complexion of the game. Throughout the city there are also engaging spells that let you call on additional personas to help defeat the Joker and solve the case. This engaging RPG is filled with realistic monsters and demons, 80 different persona spells, captivating dialogue that both informs and entertains, eerie music that sets the tone for the game and a rumor system that lets you affect the game's events and story.

While most games in the genre place an onus on fighting and leveling up your characters, Eternal Punishment relies far more on having the right personae equipped than being at a high level or having the newest weapon. That demons can be contacted and battle avoided adds another twist to the formula as well. Brawn doesnt win many battles in this game, and reaching the end successfully will require a great deal of forethought and experimentation.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment is definitely an RPG in every sense of the word, but changes the formula enough to become a breath of fresh air instead of a double dose of valium. The bare-bones gist of the story is that you play the role of magazine reporter Maya Amano, who is tracking down a serial killer terrorizing metropolitan Sumaru City.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Animated Blood, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes