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When it comes to monster-fighting RPGs, Nintendo fans have hardly been left wanting. For almost two decades the publisher's world-beating Pokemon franchise has continued to captivate, sapping the life from an untold score of AA batteries, grinding styluses down to gnarled plastic stumps. Of course, there has been plenty of competition in the past eighteen years - and even the occasional shameless copycat - yet even today Pokemon has a firm grasp on one of gaming's biggest monopolies.

Its latest challenger, Fossil Fighters Frontier, happens to be another Nintendo published title, marking the series' first appearance on 3DS. Much like previous instalments, from the outset it's clear to see where Frontier draws its inspiration. Players adopt the role of an eager youngster looking to become a member of the Wardens, an elite group tasked with reviving, training, and battling creatures known as Vivosaurs.

Although there is a story to Fossil Fighters Frontier, the game uses this as an excuse to transport players to various locales around the world. Amidst all the globetrotting, there are characters to interact with, although building relationships with them will often come second to Frontier's focus on battling and exploration.

Away from the game's traversable hub stations, players roam open plains, dense forests and mountain ranges, driving their custom buggies through each of the world's continents. Each zone is its own self-contained open world, packed with Vivosaurs to fight and dig sites to uncover. The battles themselves follow your standard turn-based template with players able to deploy a trio of Vivosaurs against up to three enemies.

Unable to reinvent one of gaming's timeless systems, developer Red Entertainment has attempted to spice it up with a few small tweaks of its own making. For example, when initiating an action or defending an incoming attack, Wardens have a small window of time in which to use "shots". These consumables can help to boost a Vivosaur's stats such as attack power and defence while also being used to top up hit points. When used at the right time, shots can easily turn the tide of battle, adding a unique dynamic to Frontier's gameplay.

As in just about any RPG, defeating enemies will net the player experience points, allowing them to gradually improve their squad of Vivosaurs. However, it has to be said that the XP rate in Fossil Fighters Frontier is excruciatingly slow. Even at a very low level it takes ages to grind out enough points to rank up - a design choice that proves problematic throughout. Luckily there are training options on hand to help quicken the pace, with fossils also providing a faster way to level up.

Fossils are scattered throughout Frontier's numerous environments and can be traced using your buggy's on-board radar. Once marked on the mini-map, players are free to drive up to them, triggering an excavation minigame. During these cutaways, you use a small selection of tools to unearth the fossil in question by tapping or drawing on the console's touchscreen. Apart from improving your current stable of Vivosaurs, fossils can also be revived to create new ones or simply sold for money.

Initially, these mini-games appear to be a great idea, helping to pace the game between constant bouts of fighting and exploration. However, after about three or four of them, you'll come to realise that it's essentially the same bitesize chunk of gameplay being repeated over and over. Although the shapes you need to draw around change in shape and size, you'll find yourself employing the same tactics over and over with little to no sense of reward or satisfaction.

When brought to life, Frontier's gallery of Vivosaurs look great on the handheld's display, especially when the 3D is switched on. Even when idly phasing through battles using the game's autopilot feature you'll come to appreciate the design work underpinning each of its prehistoric beasties.

1. Interesting premise.
2. Plenty of Vivosaurs to train and fight.
3. Tries something different with the JRPG template.
4. Battles look great, especially in 3D.

1. Slow progression.
2. Dull excavation mini-game.
3. Inconsistent visuals.
4. Flat story and characters.

There are definitely plenty of similarities when comparing it to Pokemon, yet labelling Fossil Fighters Frontier as a clone would be perhaps a little too harsh. Its developers have made genuine attempts to spice up the JRPG blueprint with vehicles, mini-games, and other interesting features. However, many of these feel tacked on with no real impact on the overall experience.