Blaze & Blade - PC Games

You can choose from eight character types and build your hero up with different characteristics and alignments--you can play again and again from a wide variety of perspectives. Though the setting and opponents are relatively unimaginative, the graphics are sleek and reminiscent of the cartoonier anime in the broadcast market--plus you can quickly change the point of view to get a better look at the big picture. Most of the controls are intuitive, though it's definitely better to use a game controller than a keyboard. Party-member interactions take some getting used to, though you'll soon be swapping magic items and other goodies like it's second nature. It's probably better to think of Blaze & Blade as a complex arcade game than a true role-playing game, but either way you'll get just as much demon-killing fun. --Rob Lightner

Pros: Wide range of character types True multiplayer options Good quest progression Cons: Limited interaction with NPCs Less problem solving than most RPGs

Amazon.com Product Description
Enter the Land of Foresia, where you can join in the adventures of four heroes who travel the land in search of fame and treasure. Discover Foresia's intricate landscape with dangerous paths into dark dungeons. Prepare for the unknown.

Battling the forces of absolute darkness is a challenge for even the most seasoned adventurer. Fortunately, help is on hand with Blaze & Blade. In a first for RPG games, up to four players can take part simultaneously on one screen. Single players aren't left on their own either, as powerful AI takes control of the other three party members. To further enhance the multiplayer game, weapons, items, and even characters can be enlarged between machines. The game is set in a stunningly drawn 3-D environment, and its nonlinear structure gives you complete freedom to explore the world.