Dungeons & Dragons Tactics Preview

GameSpot has conjured up a new hands-on preview of Atari and Kuju Entertainment’s upcoming turn-based PSP RPG, Dungeons & Dragons Tactics.

Based on what we’ve played so far, Dungeons & Dragons Tactics looks like it’ll do a good job of easing you into the game proper by starting you out with missions in which you only control two or four characters. It’s also worth noting that low-level D&D characters have relatively few skills and abilities in their arsenals, so the long list of actions that you can ultimately perform will generally be introduced to you one or two at a time as you level up. Each turn that you take with one of your characters comprises two phases: movement and action. When it’s a character’s turn, you’ll notice that every square on the grid that he or she can reach is highlighted blue. You’ll move simply by selecting the square that you want to move to, though you’ll occasionally want to tweak the route your character takes so he or she can avoid getting too close to an enemy. For the most part, the basic “move” command is sufficient for getting around. But as you learn the rules (or if you’re already familiar with them), you might wish to experiment with more advanced movement options, such as tumbling and taking individual steps. A similar selection of advanced options is available each time you attack an enemy. The movement phase of your turn can also be used to perform simple actions, such as opening a chest and drawing or reloading a weapon. During the standard action phase, which can be used for additional movement if you have nothing else to do, you’ll get to attack enemies, perform magic, consume potions, and so on.