La Pucelle: Tactics

Computer Games Magazine

One of the most in-depth strategy RPGs ever. [July 2004, p.6]

eToychest

Everything about this game has it positioned to be an instant hit among fans of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, as well as tactical RPG enthusiasts in general. Deep game play, an endearing story, likeable characters, and stunning hand-drawn backgrounds round out this experience.

Console Gameworld

Despite a few minor hiccups (and I truly do mean minor), this is hands down the best tactical RPG I have ever played.

Warcry

With a nice story and hours of strategy to create, you can not go wrong with this game. I found myself wanting to see the next part of the story even though I knew 3 hours of sleep was not going to get me through the day.

GamingWorld X

Between the bonus stages, hidden areas, and multiple endings, this game could keep you going for months.

Thunderbolt

One the best turn-based strategy RPG I’ve ever played. It combines so many great elements to come together to create a very friendly game that anyone can enjoy.

XGP Gaming

There is so much depth involved with the tremendous amount of variables, that you can get your party decimated in a short few seconds, even though you have all of the upgraded armor and weapons that money could buy.

PGNx Media

Disgaeas’s great gameplay is present in La Pucelle, although the game still won’t win any “Best Graphics” awards.

GameZone

The controls are very simple and there is a variety of different ways to get things done in this game. The object is to find the most effective way to do it, so you do not waste too much time and energy playing one level.

BonusStage

Great character art and solid plot aside, it’s really all about the gameplay and SRPGs don’t get much better than this.

Pelit (Finland)

A very competent tactical RPG. There is nothing too revolutionary, though.

GamingTrend

La Pucelle doesn't have as many extras as Disgaea, but it is much heavier on the story, the music tracks are incredibly awesome and the voicework is excellent.

IGN

Very much a powerful gaming experience and serves as a terrific companion piece to "Hour of Darkness." And it goes without saying that every role-playing PS2 owner out there needs to give this a try.

Worth Playing

Incredibly well done. It may even be considered better than "Disgaea," at least on the game-play side.

GameSpy

Quirky, innovative and charming, La Pucelle: Tactics is at once one of the best tactics games out there, as well as one of the best RPGs.

TotalGames.net

Given that it actually came out before "Hour Of Darkness" in Japan, it'll come as no surprise that this is marginally the weaker of the two titles but what has taken us aback is both how different the game feels and how dangerously close it actually is in terms of quality.

Just RPG

An excellent battle system, humorous characters and an interesting story are just a few of the things that combine to make this a great game.

Gaming Nexus

Just be prepared to get into it for the long haul with this game, as you’ll constantly find yourself giving this game another play through just for the great story.

Game Over Online

It’s the margin of potential character advancement, simple yet strategic combat, endearing story and intriguing character interaction that makes a strategy RPG for me. La Pucelle has all that and more.

DailyGame

Its difficulty and niche sensibilities prevent me from recommending it to casual gamers, but those hardcore tacticians with at least 30 hours on their hands will not be able to get enough of it.

GamePro

When taken as a whole, La Pucelle: Tactics is a great strategy/RPG loaded with hours upon hours of solid gameplay, multiple endings, side-quests, and a high degree of customization. [June 2004, p.91]

WHAM! Gaming

The great sound, variety of characters, deep tactical options, and a neat ability-learning system will ensure that fans of the strategy-RPG genre will not be disappointed. Overall, La Pucelle: Tactics is a well-crafted gem that is clearly a labour of love from Nippon Ichi.

Game Informer

Its balanced strategic gameplay is only matched by its tremendous challenge. [June 2004, p.127]

GMR Magazine

The best thing about Nippon Ichi's games is the way they strike such a good balance between accessibility and depth, and La Pucelle is another good example of this philosophy. [July 2004, p.85]

GameCritics

Enjoying La Pucelle Tactics requires a compulsive temperament and a perverse sense of humor.

Gamer's Pulse

A superb entry that offers seemingly limitless gameplay (to the tune of 120 hours). In terms of bang for your buck, value does not get much better than this.

DarkStation

A solid strategy RPG experience that's only downsides are the graphics and the slow pace.

games(TM)

Another superb feat of strategy gaming...and while the depth of "Disgaea" simply isn't present, there's more than enough here to please the more cerebral gamer. [July 2004, p.121]

Electronic Gaming Monthly

This game has it all: monsters to capture and raise, upgradeable items and spells, and incredibly rich character customization. I got sucked in to this as badly as I did with both "Final Fantasy Tactics," so that's saying a lot: 50-some great hours, lots. [June 2004, p.97]

GamerFeed

If you're the type of cerebral gamer who relishes in attacking enemies from behind to do extra damage, or perhaps placing everyone perfectly for a combo attack, then La Pucelle is just as good as the best entries in the genre.

PSM Magazine

Pucelle's rather excellent localization brings the game world to hyper-kinetic, over-the-top life and that, (coupled with many, many gameplay hours), is more than enough to entice RPG fans into Pucelle's worthy fold. [July 2004, p.32]

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

Your key characters do much more duing battle than just attack the enemy. [June 2004, p.84]

Armchair Empire

The game walks a very fine line in providing something that is familiar, with something that is new for those who like Nippon Ichi’s other strategy RPG effort.

Gamers' Temple

Anime fans who enjoy slower paced tactical games will love what’s got to be the cutest strategy RPG this side of Teddy Bear Junction.

Game Chronicles

It combines the storytelling techniques and character designs of a quality anime with a deceptively simple combat system and a plot that can be quite captivating at times.

Gamer's Hell

Its weaker links – graphics, battle structure, tactical depth – balance out pretty evenly in its strengths of story, voice acting, character development, and atmospheric maturity.

GameSpot

It's not the best way for newcomers to get acquainted with this style of gaming, but fans of anime and other strategy RPGs are naturally going to like La Pucelle.

Game Revolution

A hard, somewhat lengthy tactical RPG that gets the job done. However, it’s an older game being published by Mastiff as though it were new. And even more importantly, "Disgaea" came out last year and is more polished than La Pucelle.

Gamezilla!

If you’re into jacking monsters out of their XP, treasure, and items for hours on end, La Pucelle: Tactics is for you.

Edge Magazine

While there isn't the sense of playing something that opens up a new era for a genre long written off as dying, there is a simple freshness and a delightful accessibility which might endear it to an even wider market. [July 2004, p.106]

NTSC-uk

The hidden worlds and multiple endings provide plenty to do, certainly enough to keep any SRPG fan occupied until the highly anticipated "Phantom Brave" arrives.

Pelaaja (Finland)

For friends of "Disgaea" and "Phantom Brave," La Pucelle Tactics guarantees entertainment for many hours. If the afore-mentioned games are not already familiar to you, La Pucelle is the one you should get, as it’s simplest and best of the three. [May 2005, p.64]

Play Magazine

The story centers on wall-to-wall teenage girls of the squeaky kind, but La Pucelle certainly delivers as advertised. [June 2004, p.61]

G4 TV

If you’re a stat-maxing, power-leveling, anime-watching RPG fan, this game was made for you. Expect a couple of hundred hours of entertainment.

netjak

Supposing that anyone of a mature age does have the patience to endure the yelling and whining of little girls (in English AND Japanese!!), a serious strategist won't be happy with this one.

Gamestyle

Feels like an add-on pack which has been stretched too thin between the cracks of a cracking good yarn (see: "Disgaea").

Adrenaline Vault

While it’s unlikely that the inferior graphics and sound would turn away any serious strategy RPG fans, boring gameplay mechanics and glitchy implementation should do the job.