Astonishia Story - PSP

In Astonishia Story players assume the role of Lloyd, one of a group of honourable royal knights ordered to escort the sacred Wand of Kinan through many towns and villages across the kingdom. As the knights journey, they are ambushed and a ferocious fight ensues, during which an evil rogue knight steals the sacred Wand.

Surviving battle, our hero goes in search of the Wand, seeking assistance from wizards, fighters, knights, and other mysterious allies. Strength, powerful weapons and magic spells must serve the player well, as bandits, elves, sorcerers and other malevolent creatures hinder the quest. Battles take place in forests, pastures and dungeons, where a selection of single-button commands control Lloyd's fight against the enemy.

The 2D visuals are reminiscent of many role playing games stretching back as far as the original Game Boy and even the NES, but the graphics are detailed never the less. Dialogue, a core element to any RPG, remains witty, as do the numerous characters encountered during the journey. A you'd expect from any handheld game, your progress can be saved at any point - perfect for those irritating moments when, in mid-battle, you realise you're about to miss your bus or train stop.

If you've played every RPG under the sun and are looking to fill some time on the move, then Astonishia Story is worth a look. more