What an odd kettle of fish Yggdra Union: We'll Never Fight Alone is. Developer Sting blew up the tried-and-true turn-based tactical combat format and built something that looks familiar, but plays completely different. The average gamer will take a long time to feel comfortable with Yggdra, and even hardcore tactical RPGers may be turned off by the labyrinthine battle system. Yet this is not a good thing since the battle system is Yggdra's core concept.

Yggdra puts you in control of a small army dedicated to restoring the kingdom of Fantasinia, which was overthrown by the New Empire of Bronquia. Starting with just two members, Princess Yggdra and the thief Milanor, the army grows to encompass knights, undines, archers, and more. Sting displays its skill at creating interesting characters as each new member of the army (and some of the villains) possesses a unique and sometimes even memorable personality. The characters talk to each other briefly on the battlefield when moved next to each other, which makes for a fun touch.

Actually, everything takes place on the battlefield. Each battle takes place on a sparse-looking map, dotted with forests, towns, castles, etc. Before battle, you select a number of "cards" that convey various bonuses or special effects. On your turn, you select a card that tells you how many spaces you can move your units. You can also engage one or more enemy units per turn. Each character has unique attack and defense ratings, further affected by the card used, the time of day, the type of enemy attacked, the weapon equipped, etc. etc.

Confused yet? Wait, there's more. After a battle, the losing unit gets a percentage of its morale subtracted from its total. The card used, the terrain, how the battle was won, and the type of unit all affect how much morale is lost. Units disappear from the field once out of morale, usually after saying some pithy phrase.

Unfortunately for Yggdra, this complex game mechanic doesn't bring increased enjoyment. The story, while interesting, isn't compelling enough to put up with such a cumbersome system. It's a shame, because many other aspects of the game, particularly its character designs and the battle animations, are top-notch. If Sting had stuck to a more basic combat style and invested in developing a deeper story and additional character interactions, Yggdra Union could have been a special game.

Developer Sting's unique presentation style shines here, with large character portraits and sprites. Be prepared to squint at some of the text, though.

A stirring, original battle soundtrack. Character voices would work wonders in helping immerse the player in the story.

Once the battle system is mastered, the game becomes a lot more fun. It can take hours to master, though, despite the game's attempt to introduce you to the various battle concepts gently.

Worth a couple of play-throughs, if only to explore some of the different story branches.