Level-5 has proven itself to be quite the master when it comes to the RPG. Dark Chronicle, a criminally underplayed and unappreciated game, and Rogue Galaxy are two fine experiences, both of which manage to completely offer a new way to approach the genre. The developer even shines when it tries a more accessible method – the Professor Layton series is widely popular the world over. Next on the company’s list, however, is White Knight Chronicles, a project that should see Level-5 excel itself once more.

Already out in the East, where it received mixed reviews, it follows Leonard, a boy thrown into the midst of a war after he saves the Princess of Balandor from the evil corporation known as Wizard. Admittedly this is standard role-playing stuff, but it’s where the game tries to innovate that could separate it from the pack.

In a similar way to Final Fantasy XII, battles are founded on a turn-based structure but acted out in real-time. Following an attack you have to wait until it’s recharged before being able to strike again. The differences come with what actions you can perform. Each character has a command bar that you can set up in whatever manner you choose. At the same time, though, your choices will be hampered by what weapons or items you’re currently carrying. As you would expect, levelling up will result in unlocking a wider range of these and it should be where White Knight Chronicles gets its real depth. Ensuring you’ve got a balance across your entire party could make or break your progress.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Level-5 if it didn’t introduce a unique gimmick to make its game standout, which in this instance is Leonard’s ability to transform into a huge white knight. Achieved by using a magic gauntlet, it totally alters what can be performed, establishing a risk/reward scenario that again can change the dynamics of an encounter.

Refreshingly, despite having ideas similar to some of its contemporaries, Chronicles doesn’t feel like anything else on the market, an area the developer has often thrived in. Once the gameplay mechanics start to click, however, it’s hard not to be taken in by how proceedings play out. There’s a small chance those who are used to a certain type of RPG may struggle, but Level-5’s insistency to focus on its own brand should prove to be an intelligent move at the start of next year.