Arc the Lad fans, prepare for the next installment in the popular RPG series. Namco and Sony are working together to add quite a bit of new features to Arc the Lad: End of Darkness, as the series takes a small departure from its roots. End of Darkness takes place five years after Twilight of the Spirits, and will feature characters from every Arc the Lad title to date. However, this is where the similarities between End of Darkness and previous Arc the Lad titles end.

Arc the Lad: End of Darkness will be the first Action-RPG in the series. The game plays like a cross between Champions of Norrath and the turn-based Arc the Lad games of the past. Instead of your typical hack and slash, you actually have some RPG-like depth in End of Darkness. The game will feature 24 playable characters, all of which will have various advantages and disadvantages. Some will have better ranged attacks, while others will be able to dispatch large amounts of enemies in a single attack. Each character will be able to combine magic and melee attacks in order to get the job done.

During combat, which occurs in real-time, you'll be able to switch between magic and melee on the fly. You can also power up your magic meter by using the Triangle button. In addition, as you progress through the various stages you'll collect cards that can be used to obtain new skills. Up to four cards can be equipped per stage, so you'll need to choose your arsenal wisely if you want to make it out alive.

The real draw of End of Darkness will be the online gameplay modes. Once you've completed the offline story mode, you can hop online and play through some of the online-exclusive missions. Players can gang up in four-player co-op complete with voice support for easy communication. Online lobbies will allow players to launch the game with two, three or four players in the co-op gameplay mode. However, if you've got more friends that want to get in on the action, up to eight players can go head to head in the four on four versus mode. In both online modes of play, you'll be able to bring your custom fighter into the fray and dispose of enemies or friends. The more cards you collect, the more options you'll have to customize your character's attack arsenal.

So far, Arc the Lad: End of Darkness looks to greatly expand on the Action-RPG genre by adding the depth of a turn-based RPG. While some fans may frown upon the change from turn-based to action, rest assured that End of Darkness is shaping up nicely. In fact, we'd go as far as to say that Arc the Lad: End of Darkness could be the best Action-RPG of the year. We'll have more on End of Darkness at E3 2005. Look for the latest Arc the Lad to hit retail shelves in early June.