Nintendo are bringing the classic role-playing game to the Game Boy Advance in Europe this March! Head inside for details...

We've got some great GBA news to warm your hearts this dreary Monday morning. For those yet to play the RPG classic Tales of Phantasia - you're soon about to have a chance. Originally released on the SNES, Nintendo have revealed the epic adventure will be coming to the GBA in Europe on the 31st of March.

A tragic storyline, insurmountable odds and a tale of one man's bravery � normally the stuff of a Hollywood movie but these are actually the key components of what Nintendo are calling "2006's ultimate hand-held RPG". The story begins when the mysterious Dark Knights wipe out the village of Totus in search of two magical pendants, which are needed to awaken an evil sorceror. Fortunately, Cress and Chester, two youths from the village, are hunting when they attack, with the pendants in their possession. Returning to find their village wiped out they swear to avenge their families and set out on an epic adventure.

Tales of Phantasia combines traditional role-playing elements with the Tale's series trademark battle system which requires both strategy and reaction speed. This battle system, featured in the Tales series since the game's original launch in 1995, allows players to strategically place and command a group of up to three characters, before taking direct control of the star of the game, Cress. Once the fight has started the player executes attacks and casts spells as they would in an action game, while the computer AI controls the rest of the group. The emphasis is placed on Cress, but a tactical choice and placement of allies can make the difference between success and failure.

The game is a hybrid of two different versions of Tales of Phantasia, combining the best features from both. It utilises the map and field graphics from the original SNES game, but with the enhanced battle animations and sprites from the titles' later remake. The expansive world map in Tales of Phantasia will see players explore villages, caves, forests and fortresses while searching continents for a way to destroy the evil sorceror.

With twelve different "Tales" titles now available in Japan, 2006 will allow you to re-experience the original game that launched the series, coming this March to a GBA near you.