Nintendo 64

Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber

While the 3D graphics in Ogre Battle 64 may not be stellar, everything else about the game shines. With hours and hours of engrossing gameplay, a captivating storyline that will intrigue both fans of the series and newcomers alike, and a solid game engine, Ogre Battle 64 is almost guaranteed to please any strategy RPG fan who picks it up. If you liked the original Ogre Battle, pick up OB64 post-haste; if you've never played the original, or didn't like it much, definitely give Ogre Battle 64 a try. You'd be missing out on the greatest N64 RPG experience out there if you didn't.

The game’s US box advertises approximately 50 hours of gameplay, but the truth is that I clocked over 70 on my first time through, and over 60 in each subsequent play through. The quest is massive, and if you attempt to pursue the more obscure and hidden missions, you will be further rewarded with many unique weapons and even returning heroes from the last game. I will admit that overcoming the steep learning curve is difficult, and those that fail to do so will never come to appreciate the deep and varied gameplay. If you do not develop strategies and harness your ability to think ahead, the game may either become too difficult or too boring to satisfy you. However, if you have a capacity and desire to micro-manage, crunch numbers, and above all, plot strategies, then you will be afforded a rewarding opportunity to manage every detail of every unit of your massive army, all the while partaking of a story rife with political intrigue, engaging characters, and thought-provoking issues.

Perhaps Ogre Battle 64's greatest strength lies in its replay value. Because of divergences on the world map and decisions you are forced to make, there is no way to get every major character and see every event by playing the game through once. Additionally, how you play will affect your reputation. Some characters simply won't join your cause if you haven't gained enough support from other characters and earned the trust of the masses. The huge amount of customization possible and the ability to shape the involving story unfolding before you make the game a very enjoyable experience for any RPG gamer willing to venture into the realm of challenging strategy and micromanagement. Let's hope Nintendo leaves the game's content as it is and has a North American release date solidified soon.

In the end, Person of Lordly Caliber is an extremely interesting game. It is challenging, has a pretty intense storyline, and has an intriguing combination of RPG and strategy elements, providing something that is dissimilar to the rest of the gaming market. The graphics are pretty strong, particularly during the battles. Sound is good, yet entirely too repetitive. The game runs flawlessly. To make it even better, unlike the old SNES Ogrebattle, there are actually Ogres in this one. What more could you ask for?

Ogre Battle 64 is exactly what was needed to feed the legions of RPG-starved fans with the Nintendo 64. Taking advantage of the superior graphics, while dealing with the limitations of the cart form, Ogre Battle 64 may easily be the game of the year. If you like strategy games, this one is a must have. But make sure to buy it as soon as possible. The number of copies released initially was cut back a bit, and the second batch may not reach stores for another two months. So if you see it, grab it. You won't regret it.

It's really a shame that this title wasn't able to make it out of production sooner in the life cycle of the N64. Perhaps then other developers would have perked-up and realized that it only takes a little effort and talent, and they too could have to put together a quality RPG on this cart-based Nintendo system. But regardless, Ogre Battle 64 is finally available to the public, and we simply couldn't be happier. I can tell you right now what my plans are for the weekend -- turnout all the lights, grab a soda, and hit the couch for some more RPG goodness.

All in all, Ogre Battle 64 is a remarkable strategy RPG. The story draws you in and keeps you there, the gameplay livens things up, and the audio/visual department keeps the 'ooooohs' and 'ahhhhhs' coming. Definitely the RPG to get for N64 owners everywhere and a magnificent RPG in its own right, regardless of the console it's on.