TOKYO--It's been a little more than a year since we got an exclusive look at Phantom Dust, an original strategic action game from Microsoft's Japan-based development studio. This fast-paced, third-person action game is set in a postapocalyptic future wherein humanity is undergoing a bit of a rough patch. In the wake of a global event that's changed the world, people are fighting off attacks from mysterious forces in arenas strewn throughout the land. Despite Phantom Dust's recent release in Japan, Microsoft had a demo of the game at its Tokyo Game Show booth. So, having played the early version of the game a while ago, we had to see how it finally turned out.

　　The game's core mechanics revolve around combat that's set in massive destructible arenas. Rather than race around shooting at your opponents using conventional weapons, Phantom Dust has you attacking your foes with your brain. No, you won't actually be throwing your brain at people. Instead, you'll be using it to perform a variety of different psychically powered attacks. You'll perform these attacks by collecting orbs that let you use psychic abilities. You'll be able to decide which attacks to use by being selective about the orbs you collect, which gives you some on-the-fly customization options in terms of how you'll fight. The control layout is easy to pick up and is user-friendly, on the whole.

　　The most striking thing about how the game turned out regards its graphics. The gameplay itself remains as solid as it was the first time we played it. The visuals have undergone a significant overhaul, though. Now, some of the major characters we encountered back in our first preview have been significantly retouched. The main character now looks radically different and is more akin to something out of a Mad Max movie, which fits the postapocalyptic setting nicely.

　　There are no plans for a North American release for Phantom Dust at this time. That's unfortunate, since this unique game seems well worth a look--particularly because of its Live options that let you play against friends online, in addition to its added downloadable content. For more updates, be sure to check GameSpot's coverage of the Tokyo Game Show 2004.