This game is a bit of a mind spaz. And not just because it blends nuns, turn-based monster battling, 100% proof Japanese styling and almost suicidally old-skool isometric graphics in a way that's not just playable, but perversely fun. No, La Pucelle monkeys with natural law because it's an old game from the maker of the unexpectedly seductive strategic RPG Disgaea: Hour Of Darkness (OPS2 #47 80%). And it's being released after its own two sequels have already hit the UK shops. The question is, can La Pucelle cut it when its son and grandson are, theoretically at least, spinning away in the nation's PS2s?

The answer's a little yes, and a little no. If you've enjoyed either of the developer's other two titles (Disgaea and Phantom Brave) La Pucelle's chess/Risk style of gameplay will be warm and familiar, like the last inch of Stella, or your right hand in the early hours. Pseudo-religious plotline aside, the gameplay is as expected: party-based exploration and turn-based combat with increasingly rabid monsters over a series of undulating, maps. With each victory you gain experience, items and generally set about massaging your stats towards the stratosphere. Tying into the 'gridular' level maps, La Pucelle Tactics adds strategic depth with Dark Portals. These 'squares' spill streams of elemental energy onto maps and act as both gateways for enemies and attack modifiers. By purifying these streams (well, you do control members of a demon-hunting holy order) you create powerful chain-attacks. By channelling the streams through party members it's even possible to create rings of energy that create gigantic miracle events, purifying (i.e. twatting) encircled demons. You can also recruit members to your party by surrounding aggressive monsters and 'converting' them. Of course, if you're piously laying on hands, you're not laying the righteous smack down, and it's this balancing between Bible bashing and plain bashing that provides La Pucelle with most of its charm and challenge. That said, the caustic sense of humour that did a lot to blow the musty, RPG cobwebs from the earlier games isn't nearly as well developed here. It's easy to blame the 'holy' factory for that, but it's really down to the developer not having hit its stride yet.

The core problem here is, unsurprisingly one of age. Released as it is, out of time, La Pucelle Tactics feels a little dated, both visually and in terms of the depth of ideas and options, when compared to its earlier (but younger) siblings. It's not that this is a bad or broken experience, and if you've loved Disgaea and Phantom Brave, familiarity is likely to breed contentment. If, however, you've only got room for one Nippon Ichi tactical RPG in your life, then you're better off with Disgaea.

Graphics 50%
Cute ctyling but doesn't quite cut it.

Sound 60%
Stirring score and kiddie voice acting.

Gameplay 70%
Strategic battling is absorbing stuff.

Lifespan 70%
A decent size game, by any standard.

Overall 60%
This game's heritage shows its age in both the graphics and gameplay, but the series' DNA is in place and still sturdy enough.