NIS America offers up a role-playing dose of fan service by bringing the compilation role-playing Cross Edge to North America. Featuring a cross-blending of franchise characters you’ll get to explore the dream realm in traditional role-playing sense. If a mixing of Capcom, Nippon Ichi, Idea Factory, and Gust characters in one game sounds like a good idea then step closer to the edge.

Cross Edge will be on the top of a lot of role-playing fans "must have" lists when see the number of characters that are coming together in this one role-playing opus. However, one might want to do a little research before they jump into the turn-based action of Cross Edge. Cross Edge isn’t going to be for everyone, even gamers who enjoy some of the niche franchises which these characters grace. Before I continue I should clarify who is behind the making of Cross Edge because this will lead you into what you should expect out the game. Cross Edge was developed by Compile Heart which is a subsidiary of Idea Factory (Spectral Force 2, Generation of Chaos), and not by NIS America. NIS only published this title, so expect more Idea Factory gameplay rather then the typical strategy hijinks you have come to expect from a NIS’s homemade titles. Each company is different and in no way should a Nippon Ichi title be compared to the Idea Factory, and vice versa, but the both make similar and yet very different games.

We Amalgamate
If you’re like me then you where ecstatic to see the list of franchises that are in Cross Edge. Being a fan, lets get into the main selling feature behind Cross Edge, the different franchise’s that lend their characters likenesses to the game. Starting things off lets look at the most surprising entry, Capcom’s Darkstalkers. Darkstalkers is the most curious entry because it is a fighting game where as all the others are based off role-playing entries. Darkstalkers has crossed over with some anime products and a few guest appearances here and there, but it is still mainly a fighting game. After Darkstalkers the list branches off to other Japanese made role-playing franchises, Ar Tonelico (Gust), Atelier Marie (Gust), Disgaea (Nippon Ichi), Spectral Souls (Idea Factory), and Mana Khemia (Gust). Fans of any of these games will probably be the first adapters to Cross Edge which is great because Cross Edge has its moments that will be very familiar to gamers who have played one of the above titles (minus Darkstalkers).

The New Blood
Cross Edge also introduces a few new characters which include a new main hero, York Neely, along with his female companion, Miko, and the NPC character of sweet little May. These three start out the adventure being trapped in a paradoxical dream world looking for answers to their unique situation. Along their travels they hook up with the characters from the other franchises that are also trapped in this strange world. Lost, feeling out of place with no solid memories each group of characters set out to fight the evil within this new world and return to the worlds which they originated from. The storyline isn’t anything spectacular and a lot of the time I would be nodding out as the Cross Edge tried to be more than it is. This is to be expected, a lot of JRPGs try to have a “larger than life” message, and in Cross Edge is no exception. Basically, Cross Edge acts as an excuse to put all these characters together and let them fight it out against the A-Typical random monsters.

Curiosity
The main driving force that kept me in the game was a curiosity to see how they would make all the characters interact. Since I know a good majority of them fairly well, I was definitely funny when Etna ran into the full bodied Morrigan, or some of the wise cracks that come from our lead character in his adolescent rampages of insecurities. It’s a shame more wasn’t done with the characters, the cast definitely had enough star power to make a inspirational role-playing game. Sadly Compile pushes their humour a little too much and comes off as a nice attempt that don’t really add up. Like a star studded Hollywood blockbuster, sometimes the actors can carry the film if the backbone material isn’t up to snuff... and that’s exactly what we have in Cross Edge.

Old, Old, Old School
The presentation in Cross Edge is based on the more Japanese traditional role-playing games with a combination of 2D and 3D Sprits along with static hand drawn images and pop-up dialog boxes. All the above games (again, minus Darkstalkers) use the same method in their presentation, so it wasn’t a shock to see it used in Cross Edge. This “old school” approach is loved by some, and despised by others. I know a great deal of the hardcore J-RPG fans swear by this delivery while others think its high time developers moved on with something a little more modern.

Wonky Trappings
In this respect, Cross Edge falls into a number of standard trappings. A forced plot, unintelligent random battles, a wonky grid based fighting system, to make a game that feels glued together. Other games like Ar Tonelico might run on a similar system, but it all seems to fit together in the game space. It could be the merging of characters, or simply that Cross Edge is a little weak on the story end. It doesn’t help that the game tries to extend its length by having you scanning over old sections of maps to find new items even though you’ve already been over them a few times. The concept of scanning landscape works for the first little and then its simply overused.

Deceivingly Complex
Another factor that doesn’t help Cross Edge’s cause is the combat system that is deceivingly complex. This turn-based, real-time action, grid structured system pits two group of fighters against each other. The system seems like it would be easy to learn if you are familiar with role-playing games, however as expected, things are trickery then they look. Character formation is important with attack range being the most import factor in placing each unit. Since Cross Edge has so many characters, it’s almost limitless on your combinations. At any given time you can have up-to four characters on your side even when your numbers continue to grow.

Keeping the combat moving is a real-time combination system that allows you a certain amount of time to chain together attacks. This is how you unleash the cool moves, and on top of timed combinations, combination links between characters you have special moves that really do a lot of damage. The whole system runs of an action point (AP) system that can be saved up, or used each turn. A little bit of strategy comes into play depending on your enemies, although you likely march through most of them with a strong line-up of four characters. The difficultly level also has a huge effect on how the combat comes across. Hard will be too hard for new gamers, and easy will be a little too easy. I recommend playing on Normal, although keep in mind that Cross Edge makes you hand out and level up with big pay outs coming when you can take down a boss... and for those who want a second shot at the game, Cross Edge supports the new game + feature.

Strange enough Cross Edge keeping things more complex then they need to be with its unfriendly interface of menu hopping. In battle you need to be able to jump into a totally separate menu to move within menus to do certain actions. Even the stand alone main menu is confusing with a more options then there has to be. Also, they left out a number of essential features like being able to see who can hold each type of weapon, or if they current weapon is better than a new one when trying to outfit your characters. This makes the story a crap shoot that you’ll have to hop out of, into your character menu, and then back into a safe location, and into another menu. Yea, it’s a lot of menus and something that could have been more streamlined with a little more focus. I know Japanese Role-Playing games have been getting away with for ages, however now on the Playstation 3 we are starting to expect a little more polish.

2D/3D/Ugly D
Speaking of expectations for the Playstation 3, I have to bring up the graphics in Cross Edge. Like I mentioned earlier they are a cross between 2D and 3D sprites along with some solid hand-drawn unanimated art. The 2D models which can be acceptable in some instances really seem to be pushing it a little bit in the next-generation. Pushing it a little more is the use of 3D sprites along side the 2D sprites... this just looks horrible and makes for an inconsistent art style. One minute your fighting 2D sprites and thing you know a 3D monster will join the battle... ouch, its not easy on the eyes. Topping it off, Cross Edge has a few inexcusable moments when the framerate will slug down... point blank; this shouldn't be happening. I wasn’t expecting Final Fantasy, but I expected a little more than Compile pushed out.

For the good, the hand-drawn art which as always looks beautiful, with its own unique charm. Too bad they haven’t done more with the animation. Again, lots of potential that was missed with a feeling of bieng under developed. Keeping with the good, Compile has given gamers a fan service with the ability to unlock new costumes that works in favour of anyone wanting to see more of the females in the game. From Etna’s outlandish Prinny outfit, or Lilith’s slinky Bunny outfit, or even more skin in a few of the bathing suits, gamers will no doubt be into playing dress up with the cast in Cross Edge.... a little cosplay never hurt anyone.

Audio Me In
Helping out the audio side of things is the inclusion of the original Japanese and English voice tracks. As you’d expect the English tracks have that hint of childish acting and that’s fine, for what we expected Cross Edge keeps the smiles rolling. The music on the other hand won’t make anyone run out and grab the soundtrack. It’s the same old glam cheeseball rock that never goes away. Outside of the opening sequence which is always the stand out part of these games, Cross Edge is almost worthy of one ear plug. Music is subjective, so if you can't get enough of blistering reverb soaked guitar solos and four power chords then you'll be entertained with the few tracks that are rocking out.

Why Compile?
After playing several hours of Cross Edge, experimenting with the different difficulty levels and snagging a few achievements, I couldn’t help to wonder what this game would have been like if one of the other featured developing houses would have provided the lead in this project. Imagining the characters from Cross Edge in a Nippon Ichi tactical strategy game, or even a Capcom made fighting game has me jumping out of my seat. I guess that’s how the cookie crumbles and it is what is it, but anyone who has played a number of NIS titles, or other niche JRPGS knows more could have been done with the impressive roster imported into Cross Edge. For what Cross Edge has going for its marginal, although if you're a die-hard fan I would bump our final rating up a good 10-15% Cross Edge conceptually was on the right track, so lets hope we get more amped up sequel that feels more like 2009 then 2003.

Ah Cross Edge how I wanted to love thee, it’s too bad the clunky menus, overused traditional storytelling and mediocre fighting system wouldn’t let me. Even with my love affair with a few of the all-star cast of niche Japanese role-playing characters, Cross Edge struggles to become likeable. That being said, Cross Edge gives up enough fan service and strange diversity in how they mix everything up to keep your curiosity interested. For those who can’t tell Lilth from Morrigan, or know who is notorious for saying “dood” then Cross Edge will likely have you reaching for the power button. Hardcore NIS fans, you’ll want to check this out even if it’s not the best NIS title on the market. Other curious gamers, even ones who fancy JRPG titles, I would have to unfortunately slap Cross Edge into the rent category. Maybe next time?