Z.H.P.: Unlosing Ranger VS. Darkdeath Evilman: Long Title. Longer Game. Company: NIS America I interact with a lot of gamers every day, so it isn't uncommon for the "What are you playing?" question to pop up at least once a day. Usually the answer is met with a few comments, but Z.H.P: Unlosing Ranger VS. Darkdeath Evilman got a completely different reaction. "How is it?" was replaced with "What is it?" followed by a lengthy explanation. Now, keep in mind, this conversation has been played out numerous times over the last few weeks, so by now, you would think I was good at explaining NIS's latest SRPG entry. But I'm not. Like most NIS developed games, Z.H.P. defies most common game descriptions. On the surface, it looks and plays like a SRPG. Much of the game's layout and core gameplay resembles Disgaea's, but Z.H.P. offers its own unique spin. The most interesting change is the inclusion of real time combat rather than the usual turn-based brand. To some extent, Z.H.P. handles more like a roguelike than a SRPG. Every time you perform an action, everyone else on the map does the same. Every single move is important, creating a chess-like thinking process as you go through dungeons. You need to worry about enemies as well as keep an eye on your hunger level. Each move depletes your hunger level. Once your hunger level drops to zero, you need to eat food or start losing HP. Food is available in most dungeons, or in the general store. Roguelikes aren't known for their ease of play, something Z.H.P. embraces. As the game's story goes, the Unlosing Ranger is on his way to defeat his nemesis, Darkdeath Evilman, but is hit by a car. With his dying breath, Unlosing Ranger gives his powers to a scrawny nerd (that would be you) and dumps the responsibility to defeating Darkdeath Evilman on your shoulders. Jerk. One of the perks to Unlosing Ranger's powers is the ability to escape death (there's an explanation... trust me). As a rookie Ranger, you'll need to venture to various dungeons in order to build up your powers. This is a tall task, so whenever you're about to die, you are instantly transported to a magical world. Once here, you can upgrade your character, take care of other business and drop back into the dungeon. The amount of customization available in Z.H.P. is staggering. You can buy new weapons and armor, as well as body upgrades, to help you navigate areas. For instance, you can purchase new heavy-duty legs and steamroll past spiked pits. Unlosing Ranger's base of operations is also customizable. Like the Batcave, your base is the hub of all your operations and comes with a number of helpful perks. Depending on what sort of tech you decide to load into your base, you can perform different in-game actions. For instance, one upgrade gives you the option of switching out body parts while in a dungeon at any time. Choosing the right upgrades can go a long way in determining difficulty. I still have a ways to go in Z.H.P: Unlosing Ranger VS. Darkdeath Evilman, but its already well on its way to being my new obsession. Keep an eye out for our full review soon. -Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker Related Links: Z.H.P: Unlosing Ranger VS. Darkdeath Evilman -- Official Site PlayStation Illustrated's Review of Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice on PS3 PlayStation Illustrated's Review of Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days on PSP PlayStation Illustrated's Review of Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness on PSP