Game Boy Advance

Lufia: The Ruins of Lore

Lufia: The Ruins of Lore is a solid addition to the Gameboy Advance's RPG library. It is not outstanding, by any means, but it is fun enough to warrant a purchase for any RPG fan out there. After playing through the gaming equivalent of a 70-hour gaming orgasm with Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis, I was really expecting a lot more from Atlus on this one. It shows flashes of inspiration in some areas, while being content to rehash ideas in others. If you're the type who wants another fun RPG romp without worrying about trying anything new, you'll have no problems with this title.

With popularity comes selection. Like the PS2, the mainstream console of choice, nobody could suggest that the GBA is suffering from an RPG drought. Nintendo's got its high-flying Golden Sun series, and Capcom's Mega Man Battle Network games offer a refreshing take on the genre. And, of course, there's the formidably popular Pokemon series -- as well as many more. With variety comes varying quality, of course. While Lufia: The Ruins of Lore doesn't reach the ignoble depths of Dokapon or that Fellowship of the Rings game, it doesn't have what it takes to compete with the top games in the genre.

It's become clear by now that the Game Boy Advance is like a refuge for near-extinct genres of games, such as 2D side-scrollers and traditional console role-playing games. RPGs are particularly well suited to the system, and the GBA's got a good number of high-quality ones already, including originals like Golden Sun and Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis, as well as accurate translations of classics like Phantasy Star Collection and Breath of Fire II. Now another recognizable RPG series has found its place on Nintendo's handheld. And while Lufia: The Ruins of Lore may appeal to hard-core fans of the series or the genre, it's mostly a straightforward RPG that's not recommendable over the competition.