Torneko is an old-fashioned dungeon crawl, so gamers won't be too startled to find themselves face to face with an endlessly encroaching hoard of ravenous monstrosities. Combat itself is a relatively interesting hybrid of realtime and turn-based methodology. Characters move in turn, one after another, but if players pause too long before launching the initial attack, Torneko will forfeit his turn to the monster. While at first this may seem somewhat arbitrary, extended use of this slightly unusual system reveals the design to be a strong one, because it maintains the immediacy of realtime combat without sacrificing the strategic depth inherent in a turn-based system.

As our rotund hero slowly makes his way through the game world, his inventory begins to swell with an incredibly diverse collection of weapons, food and various magically charged doohickeys. Gamers are likely to spend a significant amount of time managing this ever-growing assortment of objects -- attempting to determine the best use for each and every item stuffed into Torneko's evidently bottomless backpack. It can become quite compulsive, with players spending hours to determine exactly which sword and spell combination provides the best competitive edge against those ever-terrifying Red Dragons.

Graphically, Torneko calls to mind the primitive early days of SNES role playing, with blocky characters and repetitive tile sets combining to create a thoroughly mediocre experience. Despite the presence of famed Dragonball Z character designer Akira Toriyama, most gamers are likely to find themselves somewhat disappointed by the game's relatively unsophisticated visual appearance. Sonically, however, Torneko is nothing if not superb, with a gorgeous orchestral score doing wonders to boost the title's otherwise lagging atmosphere.

While Torneko's dated look may come as something of a disappointment, in many ways the throwback nature of the game is responsible for much of its appeal. Older role players will most likely experience a pleasant wave of nostalgia upon first coming face to face with the residents of the game's massive bestiary. From vomiting zombies to the ever-present blue and red slimes, almost every memorable monster from previous incarnations of the Dragon Warrior series makes an appearance at one point or another. While this may mean very little to a generation of gamers weaned on Final Fantasy VII or Chrono Cross, role players of a certain age will almost certainly appreciate this tribute to the golden days of 8-bit role playing.

In an age where role players are often forced to sit through 25 minute's worth of tedious exposition before they get a chance to even look harshly at the nearest troll or kobold, it's refreshing to find a title that places its focus firmly on the ancient art of killing beasties and gaining levels. Torneko's old-fashioned design will most definitely not appeal to everyone, but there are moments when this dated dungeon crawler taps into a vein of pure gameplay that's often missing from today's high-gloss role-playing epics. For this reason alone, anyone looking for an addictive excuse to slay monsters could do far worse than give Enix's latest a gander.

Bottom Line: Strictly for the hardcore, but a great game nonetheless.