Just about every tactical or strategy RPG to come down the pipeline these days is little more than a regurgitation of the concepts laid down years ago by the classics. Of course, while they might be regurgitations, they're usually addicting and almost always quite challenging. But they're predictable to a fault -- and when a game comes along that breaks the mold, it's worth taking note.

Atlus' newest SRPG venture, Rondo of Swords for DS, looks like one of those rare exceptions. Though it appears to be a fairly standard take on the genre at first glance (thanks largely to developer Success' decidedly retro sprite-based visuals), Rondo's unusual features unfold the instant you enter your first battle. The skills and instincts you may have cultivated across dozens of tactical RPGs are completely useless here; Rondo offers its own unique take on strategy gameplay and demands a solid grasp of its mechanics from the very first battle. The tutorial is an optional feature in name only -- you sincerely need to take a quick run through it if you hope to survive even the prologue encounter, which pits a party of three heroes against an enemy army dozens strong (attacking in waves from four different directions) and demands you employ its unconventional battle system to full effect. While the challenge level scales back slightly after that initial skirmish, the action doesn't seem to slip into the familiar patterns of your usual Fire Emblem wannabe.