Anybody who hasn’t had their fill of JPRGs need not worry. Q3 of 2010 has a trio of big hitters in the genre thanks to Square-Enix and SEGA. But JRPGs aren’t the only genre represented here. Head past the break to see the full list of titles we have our eyes on.

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (DS)

“To say the last installment, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, was a hit in my household would be a bit of an understatement. It is nearly single-handedly responsible for my wife’s interest in my silly little hobby.

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies has made a lot of changes from previous entries. For one, it has been moved to the DS. While traditionally JRPGs are a solo affair, DQIX lets you team up and go questing with three of your friends.

Rather than the set of pre-made characters that you would usually find in the series, you create a hero. DQIX also features a loot system in which your character class is based solely on how you have outfitted your character. All of your gear is also reflected on your character, which is a mechanic I am personally a sucker for.

I am looking forward to sinking way too much time into my DS come July 11th.” -Jonah

Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep (PSP)

“It’s been four years since the release of Kingdom Hearts 2, the last game in the series to not be a big rehash of old worlds. The wait is finally over. While it may not be Kingdom Hearts 3, Birth by Sleep looks like the closest thing to it. You’ll take control of three different keyblade wielders, each with their own unique play-styles, as you embark on a journey revealing what happened ten years before the first Kingdom Hearts.

You’ll explore new worlds such as the Dwarf Woodlands from Snow White, the mysterious tower of Fantasia, and even Deep Space with Stitch (before Lilo). With a revamped combat system featuring a heavy emphasis on customization and four new multiplayer modes, Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep looks to finally be the next real Kingdom Hearts game.” -Jesse

Valkyria Chronicles 2 (PSP)

“Finally, the sequel to my GOTY 2008 is coming. Valkyria Chronicles 2 takes the Strategy/RPG/Third Person Shooter hybrid gameplay and moves it to the PSP for battles on the go. VC2 keeps the same watercolor art style and manages to shine visually even with the limited hardware.

While the system is smaller, the game will be bigger with more advanced unit classes branching from the starting five. Missions now have alternate paths leading to other smaller maps. If that wasn’t enough for you, the sequel will feature both co-operative and competitive multiplayer modes. This looks to be one meaty sequel.” -Jesse

Batman: The Brave and the Bold (DS) [Hands-On Impressions]

“When I saw the screenshots for Batman: The Brave and the Bold, it immediately brought me back to my time busting baddies as the Caped Crusader back on the SNES with The Adventures of Batman & Robin.

Based on the cartoon of the same name, the co-op brawler teams Batman up with the likes of Green Lantern, Plastic Man, Blue Beetle, Aquaman, and of course, Robin.

You can even connect the DS edition with the Wii version to bring the all-powerful Bat-Mite in on the action. I enjoy a good brawler and am looking forward to teaming up with a buddy to crack some criminal skulls.” -Jonah

Ace Combat: Joint Assault (PSP)

“For the first time in the history of the Ace Combat series, the battle has been brought to the real world, with locales such as London, Tokyo, and Egypt replacing the fictional lands of the previous games. Take on objectives with up to three friends in co-operative missions or play against each other in an eight-man showdown.

The new Joint Assault Mission System puts players into two teams adding an extra dynamic layer of strategy as the coordination of one team’s attacks may affect the situation of the other team. Ace Combat: Joint Assault boasts more than 40 licensed aircraft for you to pilot on the go.” -Jesse

What DS and PSP games are YOU looking forward to this quarter? Let us know in the comments!

Tags: Ace Combat: Joint Assault, anticipated games q3 2010, Batman: The Brave and the Bold: The Videogame, Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, DS, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, psp, Valkyria Chronicles 2

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