Rondo of Swords, Unique Turn Based Strategy Game for DS Options

[jcdietz03]

OK folks, the game this time is Rondo of Swords.

Created by SUCCESS / Fun Unit (Same people who brought you Izuna)
and Presented by Atlus USA (in the USA)

The game's website is here.

Lots of weird game mechanics here:
Normal turn based strategy attack: You move next to the enemy (or within range for ranged units) and then you attack. Spellcasters and fighters are the same in this regard.
Rondo: To attack, you move through the enemy. This means that it's possible to attack more than one enemy on your turn. But that's only for direct attackers.
Rondo: Spellcasters can cast a spell on their turn, but only if they do not move. To make up for this, spells are quite powerful.
Rondo: Archers can move and attack (at range) on their turn. In this regard, they are rather cheap.

I picked up this game, and it is massively difficult. Unlike Fire Emblem, you're allowed to lose units. If you do, that unit will be "Hurt" for 1 battle, and have reduced stats. However, the game is so massively difficult that it's hard to win even while losing units.

I'm currently stuck on Mission 16, "Young Lions." There is a time limit for the mission. Basically, you are caught in a pincer attack. You can stop the enemies on one side of the pincer, and it takes about seven turns for the enemies on the other side of the pincer to reach you. The goal of the mission is to defeat the enemy leader on either side of the pincer. I am having trouble defeating the enemies on the "choke" side of the pincer in time. I am about one turn too late. I think I missed picking up some key party members, and that is why I'm having troubles. I'll need to restart, because there are only two save slots on the cart. I am using R4DS, so I could save the RAM that way but...

Did anyone else pick this up? What were your thoughts?

[WhiteKnight]

On what I'm pretty sure is the last level...

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

Mephreyu, WTF. You're like a glorified SRW boss, what with your MP regen and using that to shield your HP. You're only hard because of infinite pairs of 10 move Elite Linesmen. I'm just going to have Cotton wipe out your MP and murder you with my Alberich Cannon from 13 spaces away.