Presentation is one of the better things Generation of Chaos has going for it. Character sprites are big and show off nice variety. Each unit has its own look that makes identifying them on the battlefield easy to do. Maps and battlefields are a little muddled, but still look good. For better or worse, the battle effects are where the game really shines. Pulling off special attacks in battle unleashes all sorts of glitz and fireworks – some of which take about as long as a summon spell in Final Fantasy (okay, so I may be exaggerating just a bit), so you may want to turn them off. Sure, you'll lose some of the glitter, but it helps speed up the gameplay.

Both the Japanese and English voice tracks are available, which should make some purists happy. However, both sound rather campy, which makes it difficult to take any drama present in the story seriously. Voice tracks also skip during some story sequences. Music is passable and works, which is really all you can ask for.

On the plus side, Generation of Chaos brings a lot of game to the PSP. In addition to managing an army, you can also work out supplies, equip troops, manage your other generals and even view your troop’s loyalty. In other words, if you want depth, Generation of Chaos offers more than enough.

Generation of Chaos is set in the world torn apart by 10 kingdoms locked in constant war. At the start of the game, only two of the kingdoms are available; the other eight must be unlocked by completing campaigns. Each campaign has its own story, though it isn’t presented in the clearest manner. Little background is given, so most of your time is spent trying to figure out what is going on.

Campaigns are broken down into chapters. At the start of each chapter, you are given a target that must be defeated in order to move on. From here, the game moves into an overhead map dotted with battlefields, towns, castles and the occasional dungeon. Gameplay is something akin to Risk; you strategically expand your kingdom while making sure your territories are covered from attack. Occupied towns generate money to help fund your war, making them one of the more important targets on the map. Within your territory, you can also build structures, recruit new soldiers, develop an economy or search for treasure.

Moving into occupied land begins a real-time battle sequence. Battles take place between massive armies with you commanding their every move. Commands are issued to generals who then give them to the troops. Troops can be put into formations and given basic commands like attack or defend. New orders can be issued at any time during battle, giving the system some flexibility.

During battle, generals can use spells and special moves, making them similar to single troop types in other Strategy RPGs. Some specials do insane damage amounts on large groups of enemies. Others will inflict status ailments. Up to three specials can be stored on a character’s special meter and they can be unleashed at any time during battle.

Other factors also influence battles. Some troop types (like vampires) fight better at night while others function better on certain terrain types. Then there are things like defense and attack ratings as well as range.

Overall, the battle system works, but that’s about it. Strategy doesn’t feel all that functional or exciting thanks to a clumsy interface and slow pacing. By their nature, Strategy RPGs aren’t the most exciting of games, but Generation of Chaos drags that feeling down even more. This is a shame since there are a lot of good ideas buried in the poor execution.

Generation of Chaos is a challenging game. A lot goes into each battle, from planning to adapting your strategies to managing your holdings. These factors alone should be enough to keep most casual gamers away and should make hardcore strategy players think before purchasing the game. The difficulty is compounded by a complicated menu, lack of tutorial and a manual that doesn’t explain much.

Aside from just not looking good, the game’s interface is poorly designed and hard to navigate. I consider myself a seasoned Strategy RPG player and even I struggled a good bit with navigating the menus – and this was after I read through the instruction book. There are simply too many menus to dig through, and once you do find the right one, you’ll spend a good minute or two trying to decipher the small, abbreviated text. Only the most dedicated of players will be able to get a handle on these problems; average players will simply give up.

Hardcore Strategy RPG fans who don’t mind digging through clunky interface systems might find something to enjoy about Generation of Chaos – especially those craving a deep, long game for on-the-go gaming. Just don’t expect it to be something up to par with Disgaea or Final Fantasy Tactics.