Project X Zone

Why settle for comparing two or three worlds when you can gather around thirty. This is just crazy challenge that developers have launched Project X Zone. Imagine a tactical RPG that draws in both the catalog of Namco Bandai in the Capcom and Sega. Have foaming at the mouth? That's good because against all odds this ambitious title made ​​the trip to our small 3DS.

The Japanese tactical RPG usually accommodate quite well on their way to handhelds. We remember that Disgaea, Final Fantasy Tactics or Tactics Ogre other have been delighting gamers on the go. It is however in a different configuration with Project X Zone. This is indeed a far cry from classics and offers both a concept and gameplay that may surprise more than one. The title should nevertheless recall memories to some players, specifically those who have had the chance to try Namco X Capcom. Released in 2005 on the Japanese PS2, this title was never officially made ​​the journey to the West. However, the Japanese gaming enthusiasts and lovers of rarities import have discovered a crossover really attractive and rather original. Project X Zone can be addressed as a result of this as unknown in our country: it largely repeats the same recipe, while still increasing the number of characters and series represented.

A cast XXL version

You Hold, Project X Zone does not do things by halves for cross-over. This is no less than 29 licenses that are collected from catalogs Namco Bandai, Capcom and Sega. Street Fighter Resonance of Fate through Tales of Vesperia, Tekken, Resident Evil or Ghost'n Goblins, they all said this. There is even much more obscure franchises such as Yumeria or Zombie Revenge. In short, there is something for everyone, from fans and RPG fans fight, there will be some characters from the proposed fifty that you will type in the eye. Also note that Reiji and Xiaomu, the two protagonists who appeared in Namco X Capcom make their return here. We may even have a new colorful and totally unique pair: Mii Koryuji, a young bourgeois extroverted, and Kogoro Tenzai, guardian as well as his bodyguard. You can imagine that you can not combine so many characters without the scenario is not to suffer a little. It is indeed a question of inter-dimensional travel and great villains who put the world in danger, but inevitably, the pitch is totally far-fetched and you simply carry around an arena to another without always worrying about inconsistently. Fortunately, the quality of the writing manages to keep us in suspense for a little bit of English that we control. The dialogues are full of humor and references of any kind. In short, the title plays on the fan service and can only be welcomed. Of course there is a fateful question: how to fit all these people on the battlefield?


For the group!

It should be understood that Project X Zone is a unique tactical RPG. The battlefield is indeed grid, but the characters do not have movement points so far, rather they have an area where they can move freely. The other major feature of the title is that the units always move in groups. Basically the game forces you predefined pairs of characters often from the same series: Ryu and Ken, Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, Kite and BlackRose ... Note however that some couples are rather surprising, Frank West is such a nice comedy duo with Hsien-Ko and both fun throwing a lot of strange things on their enemies. You can also strengthen these groups by adding a character format of your choice which will then give a nice hand during combat. The constitution trios is more strategic than it seems: we must put the right people together in ensuring harmonization skills, to monitor different types of shots available and to ensure that the attacks type more or less same level. You are free to specialize in assisting certain groups, while others are naturally better to cut up to the front. Where things get tough is that you can also place two groups side by side so that they can help each other during the assaults. Specifically, you significantly increase your attack power by keeping your loved one different from the other units on the battlefield.


When battle rhymes with combo

If this famous battlefield looks indeed a training ground for player failure depressed, things are changing beyond recognition when a fight starts. The interface looks simple, we simply hammering the A button and use the directional pad to launch various attacks. You will not get far if you do not make more effort. To start, you need to diversify your attacks if you are triggering a bonus shot and continue a little longer and your assault. But the most important thing is to find the right timing to chain your attacks, it is only in this way that you will manage to make beautiful combos, even to inflict critical hits. The goal is simply to juggle his opponent to prevent it falls to the ground. The Y key to start special moves impressive, resulting in small cutscenes that will delight fans once again the original series where various characters are drawn. The triggers are for their dedicated to the audience: L will bring up the third companion, while R called the other team while fighting alongside the first. We must recognize that the whole is quite repetitive, it is ultimately only the spectacular staging of the apparitions and the large number of characters available that prevent us from falling into monotony. Involve other fighters can perform Cross Hits coming, like combos, boost results at the end of the confrontation. It's a way as any to raise the gauge XP. You think this is experience points? It would be too simple ...


Do not confuse EXP and XP

Do not confuse XPVous EXP and you quickly realize that there is in the game gauges EXP and XP, but they have nothing to do. The first refers to the experience that each group of characters over wins his fights. The fact leveler will unlock new skills and a greater number of attacks. It starts with three basic attacks, but you can have up to five, and the fiercest can even access formidable Multi-Attacks that can shrink multiple enemies at once. These famous skills are not to be taken lightly, they will pass on you a lot of bonus when you're on the ground and especially valuable care, which will save your items. It is also necessary that you have the means to use these skills ... These have indeed always a cost in XP, ie in Cross Points, the famous points which are also called upon to launch special attacks or Multi-Attacks. But this is not all, XP can also be used when you are attacked: the sacrifice is then given the opportunity to defend himself or to retaliate. The management of these cross points is the heart of the tactical aspect of the title: will you save then launch devastating attacks or otherwise use them quickly to take advantage of a host of extras? It is not always easy to find the right balance and it is advisable to stake on the different characteristics of his troops, even to train before going to an arena to another. Project X Zone is not a bewildering difficulty lovers challenge will probably wait for the new game + to drool a little more, we can also blame her repetitiveness ... In short, all is not rosy but it's still a fun to play in short sessions that should delight players fond of original concepts and crossover improbable title.