-sigh- Any time I hear an Eddie Money song or hear the name brought up, I can't help but instantly think "Dan Ryckert. Half-Life. Crotches." In that order.

I've been playing the game now for 7+ hours and I think I've died twice.  The first time was because I was a noob and like 1 hour into the game.  The second was because I was cocky from the prior zone being too easy and then trying to get into battles with enemies that were set up for a party vs. just Oliver solo.  Drippy told me not to fight and to just head to the main town too... so it was totally my fault.  Haha!

I've beat every boss battle (I've done 5 now) my first try - both just as Oliver and now as a party with Esther.  The game really helps you beat the bosses.  You just have to listen to Drippy and to properly time your defend moves.

Recommendations for the battle system:

- "Defend" is your best friend.

- Timing "Attack" so that you can counter-attack is your other bff.

- Cancelling "Attack" or "Defend" saves you time when you don't need it and helps you switch to different moves when you do.

- Right when you get Esther give her high Defense familiars.  Yes, this means parting with Mitey as your companion but the lemur-dude kicks major ass anyway.  Plus, the lemur-dude needs to be more tactically controlled since he has no defense and you will need to switch to Oliver to defend properly against large moves.

- You will be getting tons of money throughout the game so whenever you can, give your familiars the best gear that you can buy for them at least for the initial characters.  Sell your old stuff once you find a vendor that has better gear.  It's super easy to grind for $ and it doesn't make sense for your familiars to have old crap gear.

- Experiment!  Different familiars works against different mobs.  If you find that one familiar that was doing well in the last zone is now sucking, try a different one!

- Also, when you start a battle initially wait for the mobs to attack you first.  Dodge these and then bust in for the attack.  Also helps to this when they start off with a super move and then you can go right for the defend stance.

I'm having a wonderful time with this game and I find the battle system layered and fulfilling.  There are new things in the battle system that I learn every time I play and there are new moves learned by the familiars that can be incorporated in battle.

Here's a great video review from rev3games (where Adam Sessler is now the executive reviewer, etc).  If anything the review says the game gets easier once you get the ALL PARTY DEFEND move.  www.youtube.com/watch

Remember that reviews are opinions.  So (a) please stop being negative towards Kim and (b) check out other outlets for different opinions before writing the game off.  Hopefully this helps!  =)

Well I guess if you dont like your games handed to you on a silver platter ni no kuni isnt for you.

Good episode!

Is it just me or does everyone in this show say "you know" too much? just listen to the amount of times they say it! it drives me crazy!

Kim's review of Ni No Kuni is uncharacteristic of what Game Informer usually offers and I am surprised that they would hire someone with this little interest in publishing actual game mechanics, instead of poorly formed opinion.  Ni No Kuni is a GREAT game with a wealth of content that is all around enjoyable and Kim's horrible review has the potential to turn people off who will now end up missing out because of her.  False, uninspired gibberish is not what a review is supposed to be and this is not what a review is supposed to do, unless it is of Atari's E.T. or the like!  I have been a Game Informer reader/watcher since issue #1 and I will no longer trust the magazine like I used to because of Kim!  If a reviewer like her can slip through their B.S. defenses, who knows what else can!!

Wonderful GI Show, as always!