From Contrail (once known as Media Vision, the producers of Wild Arms), and Sony of America comes Legend of Legaia, a fabulous game which can only be described as a fighter/RPG hybrid. It's sure to satisfy the thirst of RPG fans everywhere.  This game is Sony's first domestic RPG release of 1999, which is shaping up to be  a banner year for the genre.

Long ago, god created the world and humanity. However, humans were weak compared to the wild beasts and came close to extinction many times.  To save the people, god gave them powerful spirits called Seru which, when attached to a person, gives him powerful magic to command.  Humans and Seru lived for eons in peace.  When a mysterious Mist began to infuse the land, it caused the Seru to attack the humans and thus destroy civilization. Now, a few vestiges of human life remain hiding from the evil influence of the Mist.  The story begins in a small seaside town where a young man, Vahn, saves his village from attack by awakening a Genesis Tree. This Genesis Tree harbors a Ra-Seru. This special spirit is immune to the Mist and wishes to help humans to combat the evil.   Vahn is chosen to join with the Ra-Seru on a quest to awaken all the Genesis Trees of the world to banish the Mist and restore peace.  On the way, he meets two companions - Noa, a girl raised in the wild by a wolf, and Nala, a warrior monk, both of whom acquire their own Ra-Seru. As they travel the world, they are in a constant battle against the force behind the Mist as well as their own personal problems.

The characters in this game are developed well, with lots of expression and very sharp dialogue.  The translation appears flawless and really delves deep into the personalities of the characters.  The environment is highly detailed with beautiful graphic scenery.  Unfortunately, though, it is not rotatable which can be a hindrance at times.  The expressive environment is complemented by an excellent orchestral soundtrack, which acts to enhance the quest-like mood of the game.  Within battles, the enemies all have their various animations and the characters each have their own victory dances which further add to their personalities. Luckily, Sony retained the Japanese battle cries. 

The strongest aspect of this game is the gameplay, specifically in combat.  The fighter style of combat is what makes this RPG unique.  Combat is random and still menu based, however, its the details that make it original.  When the attack option is chosen, the character can either high kick, low kick, left punch, or right punch. A series of moves is input and, when finished, the character attacks the enemy in a way that looks and feels like a fighting game.  A series of moves can be randomly linked to discover Super Arts which are special attacks.  The Art attacks use up AP points, which can be recovered by another command. This recovery increases the number of moves the character can make during the next turn, and more powerful Hyper Arts and Miracle Arts can be uncovered.  Attacks are also altered by equipped weapons and Ra-Seru.   Alternatively, rather than inputting attack moves each time, an auto option is available.  If this is chosen, then the game AI controls the character's attacks.   The down side is the random control may choose ineffective attacks such as a low kick to a flying enemy which will obviously miss. However, even in this mode, Art attacks can be learned randomly.  The magic system is also a lot of fun. Magic has to be absorbed from special Seru enemies, which can only be found inside Mist-infested areas and are indicated by elemental icons.  

A Ra-Seru character must fight a Seru without using magic to have a random chance of absorbing that Seru.  Once a Seru magic is acquired it can be leveled up with use for a more powerful magic attack.  Thus, a varied series of combinations of moves coupled with an innovative magic system actually makes RPG combat fun instead of dull.   Random combat does not occur as often as some players would fear and is alleviated by the fact that you can run surprisingly fast through dungeon areas.  Another aspect of the game --  besides the main quest and exploration -- is the inclusion of mini-games. These include fishing, gambling, and even a dance contest, which can win the player an assortment of valuable items. All these elements add depth to an already satisfying RPG experience that cannot be missed by the gaming public.

Legend of Legaia has all the makings of a hit for Sony and is highly recommended.   Its interesting characters, awesome story, beautiful graphics and soundtrack, and the incredibly addictive combat system translate to a winner. May the RPG assault of the year begin!