Suikoden: Tierkreis, epic

The Suikoden series is known for epic storylines about conflicting nations, intense war battles, and huge casts of characters.

The latest installment, for the Nintendo DS, to the distinctive role playing game franchise is entitled Suikoden: Tierkreis, and will hit US shores on Mar. 17.

Tierkreis follows a young man from Citro Village on his quest to recruit the 108 heroes (yes, this game really has 108 characters that join your party!) to prepare for an attack against an antagonist known as "The One King."

Tierkreis separates itself from other Suikoden titles, as it focuses on parallel worlds and other such phenomena.

The graphics of Tierkreis are aesthetically pleasing, combining 3D sprites, an anime art style, and vibrant environments, as far as Nintendo DS games go.

The musical score is equally impressive, the game contains sweeping orchestral numbers, and beautiful melodious tunes. The voice acting is also decent.

The battle system, just like previous Suikoden games, is turn-based. The player gives commands to a team of four characters, after which, the enemies are allowed to attack. Characters can attack with their weapons, cast magic spells, use items, and engage in powerful combination attacks with other characters.

For battles where winning is a snap, the option to have the computer control the team for a round is available.

One reason why Tierkreis is great is the headquarters system. Upon establishing a headquarters at a fortress, the players will be excited to see visible changes to their home base as more characters are recruited. For example, some characters open up shops and mini-games.

The trading system is also fun, allowing the player to sell and trade items in various regions to make money quickly.

With an interesting storyline and a huge cast of characters, Tierkreis is the most epic RPG experience available for play with the DS as of late.