Dungeons & Dragons Tactics

This title has a very strong appeal to anyone who is a seasoned player of Dungeons & Dragons and is interested in playing a tactical combat simulator that is faithful to the system with which it shares its name.

This is a really solid SRPG that adheres to the D&D rules and mythos as much as possible without reducing the fun factor. I recommend it for anyone who likes SRPGs in general, and even more so if you're deaf.

Dungeons and Dragons Tactics does a good job of trying to recreate those sessions where you get together with several buddies and eat junk food while rolling dice. Unfortunately, some of the rules are adhered to too well, and sometimes the game doesn’t allow you to do the things you can do in a regular game of D&D.

Kuju should be commended for packing as much authentic content as they did on this UMD.

This game could use a little more polish, but it's entertaining for the right people. [Sept 2007, p.62]

All in all, I felt this game lived up to my expectations in all aspects except for the difficulty in the party management menus and the overall storyline. Honestly, the lack of basic plot elements early on was the biggest letdown of all.

Despite all the stats management, there's no combat log; you don't even get to see what you or your opponent are rolling for attacks. But even for the true D&D aficionado -- or maybe more so for them -- fighting with party management in a game about party management saps so much life from a title that's right on the brink of being much better.

What's impressive about D&D Tactics is the fact that the game manages to cram almost every aspect of the pen and paper franchise onto a small UMD, but that comes at a price. The menus, combat issues and other exclusions really hamper the experience.

If it’s not your thing and you are looking for an entrance into that world, this one might be a bit of a steep curve for you. If you’re a seasoned player however, the fact that this game so closely follows the original rules will appeal to you greatly and definitely add a couple of points to my score.

While Dungeons & Dragons Tactics has a lot to offer, the real enjoyment of the game lies in the details. Yet it’s such a hassle to pick up its intricacies that most players will stumble through the game and have a rotten experience.

If it weren't for the horrible way in which you have to find critical information, I'd happily recommend it to anyone with a passing interest in tactical combat games.

I felt completely confined by the rigid rules, limited skill opportunities, and a between-battle interface that's more complicated than figuring out the rules for grappling. [Aug 2007, p.103]

Pure D&D, with all of the good and bad connotations that carries.

Far too technical to be described as being fun. For the hardcore only. [Dec 2007, p.82]

Although it tries to be a enjoyable recreation of a board game, the interface, camera and even its own complexity damage an experience that doesn’t seem to fit on a portable console. [Nov 2007]

Dungeons & Dragons Tactics may just have enough for fans but it's otherwise too slow and restrictive for anyone else to be interested.

It recreates the tabletop D&D experience, but ultimately Tactics just doesn't works as a videogame. D&D fans may get some enjoyment out of it, but the bland environments and animations do little to bring the rich world of D&D to life. [Issue#159, p.96]

This is a dark, depressing and boring role-playing game with complicated rules and major design flaws. With games like Jeanne D'Arc and Final Fantasy Tactics on store shelves there's no reason to play Dungeons & Dragons Tactics.

An awkward interface and visual problems take the shine off of this well-intentioned D&D role-playing game.

With an uninspired plotline and by-the-numbers missions, around 30 hours of sleepy questing and a repetitive multiplayer mode only the diehard need apply.

While this game may have some good points, namely character customization on part with the pen and paper game and solid turn based gameplay, it staggers for life almost everywhere else.