"A statistical and strategic miracle. Great fun too!"

Sometimes this game gets forgotten in the excitement over Disgaea 1 and 2, and it has been compared to these and found wanting. However, although La Pucelle Tactics may not be as popular as Disgaea; maybe because, although it predates that game, it was released in the west after Disgaea, and maybe due to the overtly religious setting, it shows the unique Nippon Ichi talent at its very best.

The story is excellent and explores mature themes not often seen in a game which at first glance appears to be light hearted and winsome. The graphics are as in most Nippon Ichi games, 2 D with character sprites, yet the voice acting is brilliant, (though restricted to certain portions of the game) and the characterisation superb. Each individual's back story is explored and their motivations explained and developed in ways that surprise and satisfy. Their interactions are also credible and often comical as when, for example, Alouette, Prier's rival in her ambition to be the best candidate to take on the role of Maiden of Light, frequently hits Prier over the head with a holy book when she gets out of line, or when the young Culotte falls head over heels in love with the very grown-up and aloof Alouette. These three main characters are all members of the church of La Pucelle and the chief antagonist is the leader of an opposing church. Ambiguity pervades the story as you discover more more about the complex histories of each character and more about the identity of the powerful Dark Prince whom the Maiden of Light is destined to oppose.

This ambiguity is most evident in the the leading character. Prier, known to Disgaea fans as a fierce demon enemy, makes her first appearance in this game as a stroppy, belligerent, and yet soulful young girl, who, together with her young brother, Culotte and many allies, struggles to conquer evil and find love. Her success in these ventures is limited, but if you work very hard at it you can gain the title Demon Overlord for Prier. Though this is not quite what she had in mind in her desire to be Maiden of Light.

The game is divided into 12 chapters and the story is beautifully constructed, with never a dull moment, and although there are missions to complete, it never feels as though you are just going from one dungeon to the next to get the best result. Although the story takes precedence, there is plenty of freedom to revisit dungeons and replay many areas. And you will want to do that because although the story is very good, the best part of the game is the game play.

After an initial instruction dungeon with Prier, Culotte and Alouette, you learn the basics, but, again as in other Nippon Ichi games, there is so much more to it than first appears. You move characters on a map that is marked in a grid, placed over various types of terrain, a mountain, a lake and woods, a palace, a library, and so on. On each map there is a panel where your characters are kept hidden. All of them are accessible from this panel, but only 8 can be used in one map area. The Dark World areas are random (more of that later) but the story mode maps are not, so these can be replayed with confidence. As you gain in levels and get new equipment so your movement increases and your abilities and strength whether for physical or magic attacks. Your task in each map is to reach the exit where ever that may be. That takes you to the next map. In the story mode there will be specific tasks to be accomplished but in the Dark World you can just run for the exit and keep going as long and as far as you can. About half way through the game you get some additional allies, one of whom has an extended movement range and so this task becomes easier. There are also extra rewards for high scores on a map and for killing every enemy and clearing all the dark portals.

Each character has specific weapons and spells and attacks, and their prowess and range increase as levels increase. But here is the clever bit. Their equipment can be modified to improve its statistics through purifying coloured panels that appear on the dungeon floor, by the use of what are called "miracles" These range in colour and are beautiful to watch, and the skill in the game lies in setting up a series of miracles, called "mass miracles" which purify the portals and result in the increase of the statistics for each piece of armour or equipment that is held by the character that sets off the miracle. Basically you direct a flow or stream of coloured energy to make the four sides of a kind of square, so that all the energy is flowing one way. Each item has different coloured attributes that correspond to the colour of the miracle, so a red miracle will increase the red, the blue the blue and so on. If blue and green are present these will combine to produce turquoise and that is a healing colour so all characters will be healed. A mass miracle will rack up tons of points and all your equipment will improve in its stats and quality.

And there is more. Enemies standing within the miracle can be severely damaged according to their elemental colour. They also can be "converted" to the side of good and then become part of your ever increasing party. Equipment can be given to a captured monster and if they are sent into the dark world they are in effect sacrificed and the equipment is returned upgraded. First though you have the extra task of training them. Treat them well and you can increase their stats, but be cruel and they might run away. This sounds complicated but it is in fact easy to understand and manage, and there are helpful characters who will explain everything to you should you need any help.

Then there is the Dark World. The Dark World is accessed through the coloured portals in any dungeon, and these be opened if sufficient bad karma is accrued. This can be done by such things as killing your friends, or letting the portals remain open so that new enemies emerge if you fail to purify them. Once in the Dark World, which varies in level and difficulty according to how dark the portal is, you traverse many levels and kill many enemies in order to find new items and equipment and to capture monster allies. This again is a system unique to La Pucelle.

There are special monsters called haniwa which can only be found in the Dark World. They are both comical and useful as allies. Each has its own features and abilities and they can be converted to your side. This takes time but is well worth it. Some of the human characters and your other monster characters have the capacity to try to convert the bad monsters to the side of good, and after many attempts a message will appear showing that the haniwa is "thinking about converting". If you attack and kill it after the message shows that it will definitely convert, well, then it becomes your ally and any equipment it possesses is yours as well. The higher its level, the better its items and the skills.

This is one of those games that can be as difficult as you want it to be. The gameplay is beautifully simple and yet intriguingly complex as you experiment with miracles and team work. Surviving deep into the higher levels of the Dark World is no easy task and the difficulty increases greatly. The main story can be completed relatively easily but if you want to get the most out of the game you have to go to the Dark World and when you have access to the bonus dungeons, try that out as well. Here you get the best weapons, the best armour and items and the most fun, as you attempt to find the best strategy for defeating hordes of high level demons.

The graphics will, of course, not be to everyone's liking. The towns are coloured in soft pinks and blues and greens and appear like a children's story book. The dungeon areas are simple and yet varied. The enemies range from elemental spirits who appear as blue, red or green balls, to bears, hippos and skeletons, and various large demons. They are all visible on the field of play. Every enemy has a name, and there are hundreds of them, though the basic models are not so varied. All their stats are there for you to see at a glance. This helps when you are planning your strategy. The menu designs are clear and easy to use despite the wealth of detail. The music is the same. Clear, charming and easy on the ear.

Finally, there are many endearing things about La Pucelle. The moment when Croix, an early addition to your team, lowers his sunglasses cocks his gun, and Prier falls in love. The French setting adds an unexpected twist: the town is called "Pot au Feu", the pirate ship is "L'Escargot", Eclair is the princess with a dual personality. Then there are the pirate cats, the double love stories, the lascivious fighting priest Father Salade, and the enemy with a mother fixation. There are the names of the weapons, such as Family Jewels, and armour called the Bustier or Smelly Jacket, and there are comic animations and names for some of the combo attacks. Oh there is so much more to this game that can delight and amuse. It is a perfect creation in an imperfect world. The only slight downside is that you cannot keep one of the main characters right until the end. But at least in the PAL version there is a New Game+ so that is some compensation.

Reconsidering the game for this review I am hard pressed to think of anything negative to say about it. However, if the thought of lots of statistics and lots and lots of item management is not appealing, then I would suggest avoiding it altogether. But for those who might be thinking of trying another Nippon Ichi title, La Pucelle Tactics is a charming and clever miracle of a strategy role playing game.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/11/07