IGN feel like a broken record when it comes to Atlus titles on DS, but it still rings true. In most cases, you already know if you're a fan of the company's products, and if you like one, you'll most likely enjoy (or at least appreciate) them all. Some are more mainstream than others, but Rondo of Swords feels like the exact opposite of games like Trauma Center or even Odin Sphere, and is a title that'll seem to lurk in the darkest corner of the strangest game shops out there.
It joins the ranks of games like Lumious Arc, Etrian Odyssey, and Summon Knight as titles that some gamers will never hear of, but others swear by. It's simple, visually basic, but very difficult and rewarding as well. It isn't Fire Emblem, and it isn't Final Fantasy Tactics. It's Rondo of Swords: A simple, challenging, entertaining turn-based strategy that dares to be different, and succeeds despite its flaws. If that's your cup of tea, by all means drink up.
