Rogue Galaxy once again proves that Level 5 is one of the top RPG game studios in Japan. This game which revolves around a space pirate theme features a plot line and characters that are light hearted and fun as opposed to what you usually get from Japanese developers. Where the game really shines is in the sum of its parts - from collecting oddly named objects to battling with insects and running your own factory. Rogue Galaxy is an all around great gaming experience that is mostly fun, sometimes frustrating and always beautiful.

The game begins on the desert planet of Rosa where a young hunter named Jaster is getting by on the rations of the planet's occupiers- one of many planets that have been annexed as a war rages across the galaxy. Jaster dreams of one day exploring the galaxy and visiting exotic planets. Unbeknownst to him destiny is about to kick his door in and make his dreams come true. One fateful day three strangers change Jaster's life forever. One is a mysterious hunter named Desert Claw - the top hunter in the galaxy - and two space pirates that land on the planet to find him. After fighting alongside this mysterious hunter, Jaster and Desert Claw abruptly part ways - but not before he receives a legendary sword. The space pirates (a quirky robot named Steve and a rather rotund creature named Simon) run into Jaster just he prepares to defend his home town from a menacing monster that threatens the residential district. Mistaking this youngster for the real Desert Claw, this weird duo team up with Jaster and help him fend off the monster. After the battle they ask him to join them on their ship, the Dorgengoa.

Thus begins the adventure in Rogue Galaxy, and this adventure is worth its weight in gold. At the heart and soul of Rogue Galaxy are a few key components that make it so much fun. The first is a real-time combat system where Jaster and up to two companions battle it out against a cast of thousands of weird monsters, humanoids and robots. Each character has a melee attack using their weapon of choice (for Jaster it's a sword) and a secondary attack that in most cases consists of some kind of ranged attack. There are of course exceptions to these rules for certain characters who use everything from kung-fu moves to missile racks and beam weapons. The combat takes place, much like Final Fantasy XII, on the field in real-time. As each battle happens (at random) enemies and objects appear. The objects can be used to daze opponents by simply hitting them in your target's direction. Players can also lift certain enemies up and throw them for some added damage. Combat uses action points, which deplete as you use your primary attack. By blocking or holding still your power will replenish and you'll be ready to fight again. For airborne or super huge enemies, players can also leap in the air and attack or use a ranged weapon like a gun. Guns have a a limit much like melee attacks. The attack system is pretty straightforward to understand but it can be brutal sometimes. Rogue Galaxy certainly is not a game for quitters or those who can't handle sudden and utter defeat. Death happens in role-playing games, and Rogue Galaxy delivers those moments when you least expect them. Perseverance and some tactical thinking are a must in these situations.

Luckily each character has access to a unique set of skills that they can use in battle. Skills are learned by combining items on a skill board not unlike the board system in Final Fantasy XII. Using objects in the right combination on this baord called the "Revelation Flow" unlocks a skill set and further opens up a connected web of stronger skills that cover everything from buffs and debuffs, to healing and powerful field attacks. If you can find the right objects it's pretty easy to unlock these skills. Of course some items can only be found in certain locations, while others are random or can be purchased in stores. Skills are a very important part of the game and can often be the only way to take down certain enemies.

One other thing worth noting is that leveling is pretty easy. As the game progresses you’ll get more playable characters, and though you can only take a couple with you at a time, everyone benefits from level grinding. That’s because everyone in your party gets experience whether they are actively fighting or back in the ship doing nothing. This is a good thing for those that don’t want to have to take every character out in the field to grow them and a bad thing for those who love the grind of leveling.

Another important element of the game is the weapon merging system. When you use weapons they gain experience and elemental power - use them enough and they'll hit a maximum level. When you have two of the same kind of weapon and they are both at their maximum level you can merge them using a friend named Today to merge them together. The affects of merging are unpredictable but usually positive and fooling around with the process can be fun. Along with this system for combining weapons comes a special device called the Frog Log. This device documents successful merges and filling it up provides a special bonus to players that have the patience to fool around with it. It's important to merge weapons because it is the only way to get the best weapons in the game. One thing you can't do with Today is merge two weapons that aren't in the same family - you can merge a gun with a sword, as an example. The system is pretty important to the game but more than that it's a lot of fun and a great way to spend a lot of time doing something other than fighting.