Game REVIEWS

Knights in the Nightmare

System: Nintendo DS
Publisher: Atlus
Category: Strategy RPG
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  “Knights in the Nightmare” is a strategy-shooter role-playing game hybrid for the Nintendo DS.  It was first developed by Sting Entertainment in Japan, and then released in the North America by Atlus. It has a unique story line, great game play experience, and some very interesting features. The opening scene, playing alongside with the opening credits, shows a Valkyrie is fleeing from a castle with a group of Knights.

  The game begins with the wisp, the soul of King Willmgard who died recently, making its way through a dense, dark forest to an unknown destination (note that the advancement of the wisp is made only during the game’s cut scenes and has no control over it until battles. One controls the wisp, during battles, with the touch screen.)  Along the way, the wisp encounters demons from the underworld triggering a cut scene then followed by a battle. When this occurs the player is then taken to the “Tactics Screen” which is handled completely by the touch screen. By tapping/touching the enemy with the stylus, one can view their, the enemies, projected destination.

  The player has the option to either use the Knights provided or deploys their own Knights, if they have been recruited in any of the previous stages. Combat is all handled in real time; you don’t have to take turns in attacking, although there is a timer. The timer only depletes when the whip gets hit or when your knights’ performs “Skill Attacks”; other then that the player has unlimited time. 

  There is also two Action Phases: Law and Chaos. This allows the player to change the attacks of their unit and use certain weapons. Depending on what “job type” the unit is, determines what attacks they can change to, for example a Lance Knight can attack in a row or column during Chaos Phase. If the weapon does not match one of the two Action Phases, the player is to switch to the phase that this weapon can be used in.

  There are other good features in “Knights in the Nightmare”: Tutorial mode, which walks you through the basic and advance techniques of this game; level mode which allows the player replay the stages they have cleared; the freedom to customize your units by using “Transoul”; weapons can be powered up, but too much and their durability decreases; lastly once the game is cleared the player is given the ability to start the game over with another character showing the story in a different perspective. 

  Knights in the Nightmare for the Nintendo DS delivers a solid RPG experience for its unique storyline: high touch screen interactivity, top/down tactics style game-play, and amount of depth. The addition of the tutorial mode is great as it introduces the player to the gameplay mechanics. If you’re one of many people looking for a great RPG, this game is definitely for you.

**Written by David Lopez