Nokia pulled a major scoop when they secured the first ever video game version of the Palladium Books RPG, Rifts. Many of the fans were utterly gobsmacked when creator Kevin Siembieda decided that the mobile device would be the perfect platform for Rifts' debut. Well, those fans can rest easy in the knowledge that the developers have done an utterly incredible job of recreating the sci-fi/fantasy universe and have produced what might just be the most compelling purchase for the platform yet seen.

The universe itself is certainly a fascinating one; a nicely drawn introduction briefly describes a future Earth where a cataclysm has resulted in dimensional rifts opening all across the world, awakening dormant magical forces and allowing monstrous entities to enter our reality. The result of this is the total collapse of existing society, with the surviving human population living in small shanty towns, not unlike those depicted in the Mad Max films. The concept of modern technology combined with wizards and magic is certainly not a new one and I found it very reminiscent of the classic Super Nintendo title Shadowrun.

Another similarity to Shadowrun is how the plot unfolds. You begin the game as a prisoner who has lost his memory and are quickly joined by a fellow inmate wishing to make an escape. It's an excellent plot device, as you have a believable reason why your character needs to constantly ask about the world and means that repeat plays never really become tedious - and you will be back to replay the game. For an N-Gage game, this offers some incredibly diverse character development options. From the initial choices, it is possible to go one of 12 different paths, some being combat monsters, some magic users and others with more specialised skills. This means that it is possible to play the game through a number of times to try out different abilities.

Gameplay is divided between real time exploration and turn-based combat, not unlike Final Fantasy Tactics. Each battle map is represented as a grid of squares and each participant has a number of action points that are used to pay for movement, shooting a gun, casting a spell, healing or getting your character into cover. It's a system that works very well and presents the player with lots of strategic options, especially later in the game when you can be joined by other NPCs to form a party. It also forces you to balance such parties well; combat experts need to be backed up with firepower and magical support.

Graphically this game is nice - in fact it's very nice. The isometric view works very well on the N-Gage screen and can be rotated manually as you navigate the maps in real time. The shanty towns look suitably dank and depressing as you explore and chat with the NPC cast, with each character having a nicely drawn portrait to accompany the interaction. Character sprites are basic but clear and easy to make out, while the effects of gunfire and magic are also impressive. Nothing screams stunning about the visuals, but that actually works to Rifts' favour; by keeping the visuals relatively simple and the screen uncluttered, the player is never overloaded with information. By the press of a button you can call up the nicely presented menu screens.

Character development has also been handled well and RPG novices can elect to let the CPU choose development options for you. This is definitely recommended for a first play through, until you get the hang of what skills are important and what physical attributes are suitable for the class you are playing as. Like in most RPG's you accrue experience points that are used to pay for improving your characters' abilities. However, because of the future setting you can also buy implants that further benefit your character. Of course, shops are on hand for you to spend the money you accumulate and a full range of weapons and armour are made available to you, as well as the obligatory health packs. The only real downside to the game is the soundtrack and effects, which suffer from the little memory available to the developers. Most music tracks are played on an endless loop and some weapons sound a little limp. This is a minor gripe though and one that certainly does not detract from the game at all.

Rifts: Promise of Power is quite simply a game created by fans of the series and it really shows. Backbone have done a terrific job and created one of the best games yet seen on the Nokia platform. Not only does it boast over 40 hours of gameplay, but it also supports Bluetooth and online play for up to four players. This is an RPG that deserves to hold its head up high with any of the great console role playing titles, and if you are a fan of the tactical RPG genre and have not yet tried the N-Gage then I suggest you try this gem out as soon as possible.

Reviewed by Ashley Martin for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).