Cross Edge for PlayStation 3 Reviews by Gamers

You're either an NIS fan or you're not one, it seems. Personally, I am an NIS fan and I enjoyed this game. I wouldn't say that it's an epic or anything, but really, what is? It held my attention through two playthroughs; one without guide help and one with guide help (Truthend + bonus content).

IMO, gameplay > graphics. This game had good gameplay. Always love the huge combos! :) Also, games that reward you for being good at them (guard breaks and overkill) are a plus in my book. Combo timer could've been extended or maybe removed. If you remember your combo moves, it's really nothing but an annoyance.

Music and sound was good. Generally, if it doesn't annoy me or anyone else who might be in the room, I'm in good shape. Some catch phrases, beginning of battle phrases and level up phrases got a bit annoying though.

Characters. I always love a healthy (large) selection of characters, especially when they actually have personalities and events linked to them (Prinny FTW!), and they're not just fillers. Cross Edge has that covered, even if some of the character's personalities are annoying.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I wouldn't have been angry if I bought it. Two playthroughs on hard mode, 100+ hours... that's good enough for me.

If you like RPGs, give it a shot... if you don't like it, that's why you have Gamefly, isn't it? :P

If you're familiar with any of the Nippon Ichi (NIS/A) titles, you're well-aware that they all share a rabid fascination with sprite-art and tongue-in-cheek dialogue, all of which thankfully are replicated in Compile Heart's new crossover RPG, CrossEdge. Not every game needs cutting-edge graphics to be good, and this is proof.

Not quite a Strategy RPG, and not quite a traditional RPG (your turn is based on AP remaining and combined agility stats), CrossEdge's combat takes place on two 3x5 grids, one for allies and one for enemies. Each and every attack in the game has an Area of Effect (AoE) that dictate which squares they can hit, which in turn shows you where you should place each character; if you don't check the AoE, you could place them in a situation where they can't attack! By using certain combinations of three attacks, characters can perform a special combo skill, which does large amounts of damage; the same applies to EX skills, which can be used by taking damage and defeating enemies.

The story behind CrossEdge exists solely to explain the reasons behind why all of these characters are together in one world, but overall provides a rather decent experience on par with the original Disgaea. Nothing major or groundbreaking, but certainly isn't awful. You're shown dialogue through the sprites interacting and/or portraits, similar to the majority of NIS games. Again, nothing new, although the dialogue is just as campy and humorous as what you'd expect from the creators. The english VAs are pretty decent compared to what you'd expect, and lines are delivered with believable emotion. The option for japanese dialogue is present as well, which is a boon for some of us.

The sound is pretty basic, but the biggest letdown isn't so much the game as the tutorial; there is almost none. You'll learn more by pushing every button on each menu than from the game proper, which is frustrating, but ultimately a non-issue once you get the hang of it. Take with patience. <3