Broccoli is working on a new board game for the PSP called Dice Dice Fantasia, due out December 17, 2009, that looks to have some RPG elements tossed in. Think of it as something similar to Sting’s Dokapon games.
The goal in Dice Dice Fantasia is to try to clear an assigned quest, which is usually to collect certain special items or spoils and drop them off at a specified temple location. Players choose a character, who appears on board riding in a cute little go-kart, and set out, encountering special events, random battles and such. There’ll be three modes – Story, Free Play and Ad-Hoc Communication. Up to four players will be able to jump in and play along if they have the game.
When it comes to battles, it your character isn’t really the one fighting. You have soldiers serving and working with you. and they deal most of the damage to opponents. As for how it works, it’s sort of a turn-based, card battle system with a die determining attacks. When a battle begins, you see a card on the left with the opponent’s picture on it and its hit points underneath. Your four chosen cards then attack in order, dealing damage to the enemy. (You set the order of your card soldiers before battles.) The dice part comes into play once you choose "attack" or "strategy" to deal damage. You’ll then have to press again to see just how much you do to the opponent.
Dice Dice Fantasia looks pretty cute so far, and could end up having a lot of potential as an ad-hoc party board game. After all, the PSP doesn’t have too many of those. Off the top of my head, I can only think of Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable.