That said, there are still some great environments here. Except for the barren frozen wasteland in the North, the rest of the world of Veil is teeming with life, with cultural ruins from the previous war, and all manner of flora and fauna dotting the landscape. Though you travel tight paths, your imagination will easily broaden the borders. Rushing underground rivers and encroaching tree roots are just a couple of the beautiful design touches that makes every inch of every level worth exploring.

The game definitely looks best with the 3D slider at full, allowing the world to stretch vertically. You'll truly feel like the overseer, looking down from above and controlling the heroic actions of your character. It also makes the already heaving ecosystem that much more lively. Your biggest concern will be the system's poor battery life, as online campaigns and the 3D effect drain the juice in less than three hours.

The musical score fits right in, not overpowering the action, but adding ambience and crescendos at just the right time. They are brief, and staying in one area for an extended period will get redundant, but they sound good nonetheless. The speakers on the portable don't do it justice though, with waves of scratchy static escaping during heated battles when four other players are using blaring attack powers.

Aside from the mediocre narration, the rest of the voice acting is limited to salutations and goodbyes from NPCs, and taunts and flourishes from your respective classes, all of which are cheesy and overplayed but still give a true representation of the characters attitudes.

A few fantasy RPGs have made their way onto Nintendo's new handheld, but Heroes of Ruin is the first with a truly Western feel, hence it launching in the UK and U.S. before Japan. With an addictive loot system, easy matchmaking, and continuous content, there's a lot right on the surface that would justify the reasonable purchase price. Delving fully into the game, you're bound to find many small nuances, some you'll find pleasing while others might cause you to complain. But as the time passes and you find yourself continually picking up your 3DS for another quick solo dungeon or a full afternoon with friends, you'll realize with pride that Heroes of Ruin was a worthy choice to add to your collection.

By Sean Engemann Contributing Writer Date: July 17, 2012

Game Features:

Connect with other heroes around the globe - Experience the game and the adventure in full, whether you battle alone or with friends. Chat with your team in real time using the 3DS microphone, trade items with them, forge new alliances, and engage in tactical team play to overcome enemies.

Unique and personalized experience - Explore and fight through wild, varied, and dynamic environments. Battle against a wide variety of deadly creatures, who will stretch your combat and tactical skills, collecting loot, weapons, armour, and other gear to empower and enrich you on your quest. Discover new layouts, routes, items, and enemy encounters each time you play.

Keep the action going - Play in new ways and access more rewards and achievements by completing challenges sent to your 3DS every day, or download frequent new game content, including new character items and quests.