Introduction

Nippon Ichi has made a name for itself in the US in a relatively short time. Within a year, three of their tactical RPGs have made it stateside and already the developer is being praised as the quintessential tactics king. Beautiful hand-drawn art, charming casts of characters and anime-esque plots are just a few tell-tale signs of a Nippon Ichi game.

Phantom Brave is no exception, but does journey into new realms of tactics and gameplay. Sporting a more free-form movement, a plot-driven 20-episode trek, a convoluted 'Summon' system, and more innovations than you can shake a stick at, Phantom Brave adds so much to the Nippon Ichi formula, yet retains all the charms that made its predecessors famous.

Also in the same vein is the incredible length, depth, and difficulty at which the game progresses. There's a lot of ground to cover, and we're here to help you out, with:

• Basics: All the tools you need to defeat the forces of evil, and tips on using them.
• Walkthrough: All 20 episodes; every fight, Protection, and enemy is accounted for.

Guide by: Kevin Cameron

On to Basics...