Knights in the Nightmare - DS

This thread is probably an exercise in futility, but I don't think this game has been mentioned much, if at all, around here. Is anybody else out there aware or interested in this one? I figured I'd ramble on about it briefly, just in case anybody was interested in checking it out.

First off, it's a pretty hardcore game. There are layers upon layers of stats and stuff you can mess with and develop. The tutorials alone will take at least an hour to get through. It's probably the deepest DS game out there. There is a ton of depth to be plundered, but if you can grasp the basics even, there is much fun to be had. I'm still at the basic level, and haven't even begun worrying about strengthening/crafting/souping up items or leveling characters much yet, but I'm having an absolute blast.

As for the type of game it is, it's probably best classified as a strategy rpg, but it's pretty unique in that it also mixes in some weird 'bullet-hell' type influences. Your character is basically a wisp, the icon you move around with the stylus. You have spirits fighting for you, but they are stationary and their attacks vary depending on what type of weapon you have them use. Only your wisp takes damage and the enemies mill about the screen, which is basically a grid. When the enemies attack that's where the bullet hell stuff comes into play... projectiles can fill the screen and you need to navigate through them with the stylus while still trying to arm your spirits to attack, while still taking into account what amounts to a dark/light cycle that you can switch up on the fly changing what weapons may or may not be effective in any given cycle, while also taking into account lots of other stuff too I'm sure. When you're done, you can go back and re-play levels to stock up on items and experience.

Ok, almost one rambling... I made my way through all of the tutorials and then tried the game and still had no clue what I was doing. It took a few more tries at the game (I've had it since it was released), but it finally clicked and I've been enjoying it very much the last few days. It's very addictive if you have the patience to let it work it's charms on you, but it's definitely not for everybody.

I haven't played any more yet since my original post, but it looks like I'm all set to already go back and start all over again. I'd only played through 4 or 5 main story levels and was spending more time re-playing the levels so it won't sting too bad to start over. My brother in law has also had the game since it came out, but since I finally figured it out he went back to it to try it again as well, and he made me realize that I missed a bunch of the early characters you can recruit In any given level there are spirits who will help you and for most if you give them a 'key item' you can recruit them. If they don't fight for you the key items might lead to weapons or other items.

I was all wrapped up in just figuring out how to attack that I totally missed out on some of the key item stuff on the first levels. Normally I might be pissy about going back to make a fresh start, but in this case I don't mind at all, and am actually looking forward to it.

And HBarr, I'll be back to let you know if it keeps my attention, but my gut tells me that it probably will. Being able to go back and re-play the levels you've already done to build up characters/inventory is a big point for me. It allows a bit of room to grind, and that's something I never have a problem with (as long as it's fun). Just this morning, I replayed the 2nd level a number of times and I would have kept going at it if I didn't have to get off the subway to head off to work. That type of repetition can put me into a bit of a comfort zone with some games, so this one works for me so far. the story levels are interesting too, even if it all doesn't make too much sense yet, and it looks like it even mixes in Boss level (the first is stage 4).