Lost Kingdoms has probably passed under the noses of most gamers which is a shame as this is quite a little gem of a game. Part RPG, part card-trading game - mightn't sound like everyones cup-of-tea but it really is a very tight, simple game that anyone can enjoy.

The main character (a princess entrusted with the expulsion of dark forces from the land) moves around her isometrically viewed kingdom randomly encountering enemies (as in the Final Fantasy games), with these encounters (unusually for a card-type game) being played out in real-time. This sees the four cards on top of your deck being assigned to the 4 main fascia buttons and being unleashed as you see fit.

There are three different types of beasties you can summon forth from these cards- Independent creatures which will fight along side you, Weapon style creatures which attack immediately when summoned and then dissappear; and Spell creatures which can alter the attributes of those on the field. Different monsters require different amount of energy to use and if your summoning energy runs dry your health is drained in its place, therein lies a carefull balancing act.

The 100+ monsters aren't conceptually amazing (the usual adherence to the clichéd Skeleton Warriors, Fire Dragons, Stone Golems etc) but they are well animated and full of character and subtleties. The cards containing these monsters are mostly to be found in the shop/hub but can also be the benefits of exploring the maps, beating maps or, most interestingly, captured during play. Side-mission maps can be unlocked and used to find those elusive rare cards.

The main strategy of the game lies in tailoring your deck to the mission in hand. You can only hold 30 cards at a time and each area has its own elemental-based type(s) of enemy (with water beating fire etc.). Handilly the map indicates what types reside in each area so you dont have to resort to trial and error.

Combat can seem a bit frantic and hap-hazard at first but with a familiarisation with the cards it becomes clear whats expected. Boss encounters are particularly exciting as you will often be down to only a handfull of cards by the time you reach them.

It isnt the longest of games (including completion of the side-missions it shouldn't take more than 10 hours) but it can be challenging at times and theres always those 106 cards to find and the 2-player option which is competent if not amazing.

This game is lying in a second-hand bargain bin somewhere near you and is really worth the pittance of an asking price especially if you fancy something a little different.