Cross Edge

Most of your time in Cross Edge will be taken up with the very deep battle system. Perhaps best described as a scaled-down turn-based tactical system, it's not easy to explain, but nonetheless works well in execution. In essence, the battlefield is split between two three-by-four grids, with the player setting up on the right and the enemy on the left. You're allowed up to four fighters on your side of the grid and can arrange them as you wish. Character placement is a big part of the strategy as different attacks have set ranges, but suffice to say spellcasters go at the back, gunslingers in the middle and anyone with a sharp or bludgeoning implement at the front.

Each of your fighters starts a battle with a set amount of Attack Points to expend on attacks. A character can bring up to four different attacks into a battle with each one mapped to a face button, but the clever bit is how certain attacks can combo together. As an example, melee attacks are of A, B, C, D or R type and of a skill level from one to five (except for R which goes no higher than three). By following up a C-level one attack with a C-level two attack, a Trick Vanish branch combo will be performed for more damage with both characters attacking simultaneously. Throw spells and EX attacks into the mix and Cross Edge has over 100 different branch combo combinations, each with its own explosive animation.

As you gain new attacks and more Attack Points, the options increase. By the time you reach the top tier branch combos with quirky names like Fanatic Rave and A Thousand Deaths, it's possible to get the consecutive hit counter past 1000. Getting your head around the system can be tricky at first, but once everything clicks, it's satisfying to destroy a boss with a sick combo. Cross Edge is a technical rollercoaster of statistical depth - and that's before taking into consideration the Break, Down and Burst gauges.

The challenge that Cross Edge represents is quite steep, and in addition to level grinding, players will need to make full use of the item customisation systems to overcome the later battles. Much like the battling, this is far from simple, with options to upgrade, synthesize and composite your characters weapons, armour and accessories. Equipment can be upgraded up to level five by expending EP earned from battles - increasing the base stats. By acquiring new synthesis recipes you can also use materials gained from dead enemies to construct better equipment. Any item you create will also become available to buy in the shops for gold thereafter. Finally, materials can also be composited onto your equipment for additional effects. Needless to say, a strategy guide can be useful.

But despite an impressive level of depth that's comparable to Disgaea, there are elements to Cross Edge which feel restrictive. The most poignant example of this is how the branch combo system limits the effectiveness of certain team combinations. So if for instance you fancied a team that was heavy on Darkstalkers and Disgaea - say Morrigan, Demetri, Felica and Etna - their collective lack of a level one and two attack of the same type is more or less crippling. As far as I could tell, this team wasn't even able to exceed a measly level one attack combo, with only a few options for magic combos. A minor criticism, as this extreme example is more the exception than the rule, but being penalised for picking your favourites is annoying.