DESCRIPTION

Having already endured iterations on both the Super NES and the Game Boy Color, the Lufia series debuts on the Game Boy Advance with Lufia: The Ruins of Lore. The forces of Gratze — led by the deceitful Ragule — have invaded the surrounding lands searching for the body and spirit of a legendary beast. A chance encounter with the priestess Rubius embroils aspiring treasure hunters Eldin, Torma, and Rami in this dire conflict. Together they must travel to new lands, explore ancient ruins, and journey through the fabric of time itself. A turn-based RPG in the very stoic formula of the 16-bit era, Lufia: The Ruins of Lore allows players to manage a party of up to eight characters.

Although possessing innate abilities and characteristics, each party member can be further customized with apprenticeships, which grant additional knowledge in disciplines such as spellcaster, thief, swordsman, or martial artist. Experience gleaned from frequent battles leads to higher job ranks and improved abilities. The turn-based battles are initiated when the party comes into contact with hostile enemies, which, like the Grandia titles, are clearly visible.

Certain members of each party are able to capture monsters that will then fight alongside them. Like your human companions, these creatures will gain experience, learn new skills and become increasingly powerful over time. During battle it's possible to have characters "fuse" with monsters in order to create a powerful hybrid character. However, "fusing" requires players to relinquish control and allow the hybrid monster to act independently. During the journey, players can enter the Ancient Cave in order to seek out rare treasures among its 60 randomly generated levels. Lufia: Ruins of Lore allows players to link four GBA systems together for monster trading or multiplayer exploration. ~ Gavin Frankle, All Game Guide