Battle B-Daman
Based on the Japanese animated series by the same name, Battle B-Daman takes place in the B-DaWorld. Here your worth is judged by how well you compete in the popular sport B-Daman, fighting your way through the ranks to become a B-Dachampoin. The game consists of battles in the style of the old marble-shooting board game Crossfire. Basically you protect your goal while attempting to shoot a ball or puck from your weapon/shield, also called a B-Daman, into your opponent's goal. These battles are framed by RPG interstitials that tell the story through still images and scrolling text. It also features a B-Daman weapon/shield customization.
Eragon
Christopher Paolini's best selling novel Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1) is being developed into a major feature film by 20th Century Fox, and into a video game by Vivendi Universal Games, for all major consoles and Game Boy Advance. Instead of trying to recreate the console game on the GBA, developers Amaze created an all-original turn based RPG that follows the novel closer than the film. For instance, the events that lead up to the main character, Eragon, discovering a dragon egg is an instrumental part of the storyline. On consoles it is only shown as a cut-scene cinematic, but in the GBA you get to play out the events. Eragon also features nine playable characters from the book with three members in each party. Each character can also be customized with skills, weapons and magic and battles are fought in a time-based battle system like Final Fantasy IV. The demo was part of a special exhibit that had long lines the entire show. Those with patience got to see a terrific, absorbing, old school RPG that any classic fan will enjoy. My only regret is that I couldn't play it longer.
MegaMan Battle Network 6: Cybeast Falzar and Cybeast Gregar
You can always rely on Capcom's MegaMan Battle Network series to deliver high quality RPG action and excitement. They are also following the format they started with Battle Network 3 by releasing two slightly different versions sold separately. What makes this series so unique is that it combines the classic Mega Man universe in a mix of RPG storytelling and arcade-style action with card style weapons. In this game you can use your enemies abilities against them. Each time you defeat a baddie called a Link Navis you gain their special “Cross Abilites”. This allows you to use the Link Navis' power in battles. You can also "Beast Out" by channeling the abilities of the ancient creature called the Cybeast. If you liked any of the previous MegaMan Battle Network games your sure to love this one as well.
Summon Night: Swordcraft Story
In RPG you have the choice of playing a young boy or girl, each of which is the child of the great Craftlord Shintetsu, leader of the Seven Guardians of the City of Wystern. Three years prior Shintetsu mysteriously died and it's up to you to discover the secrets behind your father's death as you battle a series of tournaments to select his successor. Although the story unfolds in the form of a traditional RPG, the battles are in a Linear Motion Battle System. The demo had not yet been translated so it's hard to tell the feel of the game, but what was shown was quite impressive and this title has done very well in Japan.
Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation
This Japanese hit will soon be available in North America courtesy of Atlus U.S.A. You must defend Earth using humanoid mobile units called Personal Troopers, which look suspiciously like anime Robots. You can customize your Personal Troopers and build up it's skill as you succeed in battle. The graphics look terrific and if your already a fan of this genre then you'll eat it up, however if you’re a newbie this might be too complicated of a place to get started.
Yggdra Union
You play Princess Yggdra of Fantasinia, on a quest to overthrow the evil Empire of Bronkia, who has murdered her royal family and seized the kingdom. The strategy/card based gameplay in this RPG was so popular in Japan that it already spawned a sequel before its north American release. Atlus will soon bring it to our shores for avid fans of the genre. Since this is still being localized and going through the translation process the demo shown was in Japanese, making it hard to tell how the game will play out, but the graphics are outstanding.