In the land of Ransei, there exists a legend - one so deeply ingrained in the people's subconscious that few distinguish the myth from fact. It is told that if any warlord is able to conquer all of the land's 17 kingdoms, then the Pokemon that created Ransei will reveal itself. This myth is the unintentional force behind the ongoing battle for control ravishing the peaceful land, as greedy warlords seek the ultimate power offered by this mythical creature.

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Such is the basis for Pokemon Conquest , the unexpected crossover between the feverishly popular Pokemon franchise and the strategy RPG series Nobunaga's Ambition. It takes the familiar RPG stylings PokeManiacs have come to know and love over the past 16 years and mashes them up with the strategy elements and heavier storyline of Nobunaga. The result is something wholly original, and a marked departure for the monster-catching franchise.Though the Pokemon name has been subject to numerous spinoffs of varying success (Pokemon Ranger, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, Pokemon Rumble, and so on), few have felt as bold or fully realized as Pokemon Conquest . At the game's outset you're given the choice of playing as either a male or female warrior - the select, privileged few able to communicate wordlessly with Pokemon. During my recent demo I took control of a young lady from the kingdom of Aurora - a talented warrior who shares a remarkably close bond with her companion Pokemon, Eevee.Fans of Fire Emblem or Final Fantasy Tactics Advance should find themselves right at home with the turn-based gameplay, though the traditional strategy RPG setup is supplemented by a handful of unique Nobunaga- and Pokemon-specific additions. As mentioned, the land houses 17 kingdoms, each with a warlord from the Nobunaga series to overthrow, as well as several training grounds to hone your skills. Each kingdom contains different types of Pokemon and human warriors to befriend, as well different surroundings best suited to the monsters harbored within (a fire castle might have lava pits, for instance).Forming and strengthening links with monsters is Conquest's equivalent to catching 'em all. Although secondary to battling and castle management, doing so increases the effectiveness of your army. This allows you to better protect your castle from attack and ups your chances of conquering all the kingdoms and successfully challenging the warlord Nobunaga (who, naturally, is out to destroy everything). Conquest features nearly 200 monsters spanning all five Pokemon generations, and includes a Pokedex of sorts (called the Gallery) where you can see stats, descriptions and so on of all the monsters you've befriended. While you certainly can (and let's be honest, probably will) make it a point to seek out every monster in the game, the focus here is more on figuring out the best Pokemon/warrior pairings and deciding how best to use the resources at your disposal. It's a fascinating twist to the normal Pokemon state of mind, and one that befits this crossover quite well.Battles have you placing your warriors and Pokemon on the field, strategically moving, attacking, and using special abilities to take down the opposing force. How you use your units in battle affects how they grow - for instance, attack with Pikachu frequently and its attack statistic will strengthen over time. There are numerous other things to keep in mind as well (range of movement, the time system, melee vs ranged moves, type compatibility and so on), all resulting in the kind of depth RPG aficionados should appreciate.During my demo I barely scratched the surface of all that Pokemon Conquest has to offer. Though I never imagined taking my Eevee into the raging inferno of a brutal war, having the opportunity to do so proved quite captivating. If you too are holding your breath to find out if Fire Emblem: Awakening will be gracing store shelves wherever you call home, you'd do well not to ignore this game.While most Pokemon spinoffs leave much to be desired, and don't nearly do credit to their source material, Pokemon Conquest is a happy exception. The mixing of strategy gameplay with the joys and challenges of fostering Pokemon is truly masterful and unexpectedly successful. It's an amalgamation of the best both brands of RPG have to offer, and a bold deviation for Pikachu and pals. Hopefully the finished product is as satisfying as my brief taste - if so, Pokemon Conquest may just be the most worthy and fully realized Pokemon spinoff yet.

Audrey Drake is an Associate Editor of IGN.com and a proud member of the IGN Nintendo team. She is also a lifelong gamer, a frequent banisher of evil and a wielder of various legendary blades. You can follow her zany exploits on herand. Game on!