Well, I actually picked this game up last Wednesday, and i would've posted about it sooner...I've just been too busy playing it. ^_^;

Digimon Story/Digimon World DS is the latest Digimon game to come out, this time on the Nintendo DS if the name didn't tip you off. You fall into the role of a young man/girl that you choose at the beginning and name. For the sake of keeping myself clear, I'll go by my character, a boy named Naota.

Naota walks into a classroom one day talking to..well..himself..about the rumors of Digimon that've been going around the world. Curious, he logs into the school net to find more information, and ala Akiyama Ryou from the original Digimon series, is sucked into the Digital World. Only difference? No partner Digimon to wait for him, meaning he's at the mercy of whatever Digimon decides he looks real nice to rape.

Naota comes upon a Clavis Angemon training a group of Digimon on their purpose and powers. One such member of this group is Gaogamon...who is dubbed Gaogamon. There goes one fear about the possibilities of the dub.

Naota follows the Digimon to DigiCentral, the hub of the area of the Digital World they're in. Naota is introduced to his surroundings, and given a Digivice IC (black with white trim) as well as a choice of three Digimon: Tsunomon, Tanemon, and Koromon. Whichever you choose, you can still get the others. However, I'd suggest going to Tsunomon if you're a completionist freak/fan, as Agumon and Raramon (dub name, however that was what people were suspecting her name was pronounced, no harm no foul). I've yet to see a Gaomon, but evolution is weird in this game, so maybe I just need to experiment.

From there, you and your partner have adventures, and you tend to a DigiFarm, which is where all your other monsters are cared for while you're adventuring, still being trained and raised. You are allowed up to four farms, though really it's three, as the first is a standard fair given to you at the start. However, this first one is your most reliable, as it's balanced, no preference, and can grow the largest. The other three are meant for exact types you play to death, like insects/plants, dragons, aquatics, holy types, etc. You can name each farm you make, remodel it to be larger, customize what equipment is there for your Digimon to use, and much more.

Digivolution and getting more Digimon is handled like so. You get a Digimon by wandering around. Whenever you come in contact with a Digimon, the game will tally its Scan Data. You don't have to win the fight or continue it to get the data either. When you get 100%, you can convert the data into the Digimon it came from. If you go over 100%, converting takes all the data on that Digimon, but anything over 100% improves the stats of the Digimon that emerges from the data. If the Digimon isn't too your liking, you can erase them and they'll revert back into data for later use. This is ideal for those that need to make room and have a Digimon they're not using, or you get a sex of a Digimon you don't want.

Each Digimon has a programmed personality, and will develop pending on that personality. Energetic Digimon take to their training quickly, while Lazy ones will take their time, and so on. There's more to this, but you should find out for yourselves.

Digivolution takes a cue from Digimon Worlds 1-3. Each Digimon has a level cap. Usually by the time you reach said cap, you're free to evolve to the next level. However, the stronger Digimon require more than just levels. Some require your friendship level be at a certain level, others require levels your Digimon cannot reach, so you must devolve them and raise them again, with each degeneration resulting in a lower level partner, but one that can go toe to toe with Champions and Ultimates. Also, put them with a stronger team of Digimon or leave them at the farm and they'll grow real freaking fast. Next is the Species Experience. It's a lot like DDT's DNA System, just minus the Minor DNA (the elements). You get Species EXP by fighting other Digimon, getting Dragon from Dragons types, Holy from exalted beasts and angels, etc. Getting certain forms requires that you get this experience. Usually the more requirements for the form, the more powerful it is compared to the other available options.

Now as for why I put this post in the Savers forum, aside from the appearances of the Savers Digimon, are DATS itself. Masaru, Yoshino, and Touma (names unchanged) work for DATS and see to the security of the Digital World. They are represented as closely to the anime as possible, with the only change I've seen is Agumon calling Masaru "Boss" instead of "Aniki" for obvious translation reasons. Masaru comes to trust your character readily, while Yoshino and Touma are a little more cautious. In the game thus far, Yoshino calls the shots, and Masaru and Touma jump to her orders, when not fighting between themselves.

Thus far, the game is very enjoyabe. You meet the four Sovereigns, the Royal Knights, the Seven Great Demon Lords, its pure fun. My only beef thus far is the level of enemy competition and the fact you can't see your characters fight on screen, all battles are from a first person viewpoint. When I say enemy levels, it means train your Digimon's asses off, as the game will pit Rookies against Ultimates at the drop of a hat, and they take up a lot of the screen.

This GM gives Digimon Story/Digimon World DS a 9/10, scrutiny hell gives it 8/10. This isn't too advanced an rpg, but I rather like that, as unlike other RPGs (especially FF12 or .hack) you're not left with a shitload of ideas and plot twists to bog your mind, and it's a good game to just pick up and play...though for some it may be hard to put down.

*snaps fingers* Attack!

Hai, Chiefu!

I'd say maybe I'd pick it up... If there weren't already a few dozen DS and PS2 games I couldn't currently afford ^^;