Parents' Guide to Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth

Fans of JRPGs will find a lot to like about this deep and challenging chapter in a long-running fantasy franchise. While it's questionable how many still play on a Nintendo 3DS -- and there are minor issues, like no English voice-overs, and confusing user interface screens -- Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth is a fantastic (and attractive) game to play on the go. You don't need to know anything about previous Persona games to play this one, but it would likely be more enjoyable if you were familiar with the characters, storylines, and game mechanics. As you roam around the four movie-themed labyrinths you're trapped in, you'll use the Nintendo 3DS stylus to draw in the walls and floor panels (on the bottom screen) to fill out the map. When it's time to battle a baddie, you'll take turns with your party with a few main options -- like Attack, Magic, and defensive Guard moves. You also have access to summoning mythical Personas and sub-Personas (only one each is allowed per player) to wield an elemental attack, a powerful healing spell for your party, or to combine powers for special attacks against the enemies. Leveling up your Persona gives a boost to your HP (hit points) and SP (spell points) meters, which gives you a better chance of fighting tougher monsters.

Of course, you'll need to find the right attack to use to best exploit enemy weaknesses and inflict the most damage. But part of the challenge, along with some time management, is the fact that enemies can also take advantage of your weaknesses to dish out extra damage. There's a lot to tactically choosing your party to round out everyone's skills, summoning a Persona (and optional sub-Persona) that complements your crew, and deciding between offensive and defensive maneuvers. If you're in search of a challenging and portable JRPG, you won't be disappointed with the latest in this coveted franchise.