19 Years Later, Jeanne D’Arc On PSP Is Just As Amazing As I Remember

After randomly coming across a post describing the best JRPGs on the PSP, I said to myself, “This must be a sign.” So I dusted off my old PSP, booted it up, and was absolutely delighted to see that I still had Trails in the Sky SC and Jeanne D’Arc installed. Since I plan to do a Sky SC replay closer to the remake’s launch, I started up Jeanne D’Arc instead, and was instantly reminded of why I adored this game growing up.

That iconic intro, the nostalgic music, and the animation that felt a little too good for the PSP even back then, Jeanne D’Arc is just as stunning as I remember. The PSP has truly been a treasure trove for JRPG fans. FF4, Tactics Ogre, Ys Seven, P3P, Crisis Core, Trails in the Sky trilogy, it’s nothing but JRPG gems as far as the eye can see. Sony really did some magical stuff with the PSP, and I’m proud to still have mine around. I don’t care about the visuals; it’s gaming as I remember, and I love it.

A Historical Epic With Anime Goodness

I’ll say this out loud: no “best PSP JRPGs” list is complete without Jeanne D’Arc; PSP JRPGs knows this. I love this game now, but when I first picked it up, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Booting up, you’re soon greeted by the powerful animated intro cutscene, which immediately conveys the game’s strong production value. Seeing this sort of animation and especially art direction on the PSP is a real treat. Over the course of the game, the methodic blend of animated and in-game cutscenes really keeps you hooked on the story. 

I’m a sucker for animated cutscenes in JRPGs, and needless to say, I was thoroughly rewarded. Can I ever forget those Mahou Shoujo-style transformation scenes? The story itself is pretty engaging throughout, too. I must admit I had never heard of the Joan of Arc story before. I was a 10-year-old kid, cut me slack. The plot was a “JRPG hype moments” for me back then, but as I did subsequent playthroughs, I appreciated it all in earnest.

Yes, it’s not really a perfect rendition of the historical epic, especially with all the anime-style plot twists and fantasy elements, but it really builds on the setting and delivers something enjoyable. Characterization is powerful, and you know the narrative is well-paced when the visual novel presentation doesn’t bore you. Still, if you ask me, the story is a driving force for the much more amazing gameplay.

Just platinumed Jeanne D'arc and the game was a blast even in 2025!
byu/GoingWithTheFlaw inJRPG

The Tactical Goodness That Is Jeanne D’Arc

Now we come to the good stuff. If you like tactical RPG combat, I can’t recommend this game enough. Trust me, you’ll never regret picking up Jeanne D’Arc. It was far from the first tactical JRPG I played, but the fact that it left such a lasting impression should tell you everything. The combat is a perfect balance of “Simple and easy-to-understand design, yet enough mechanical depth that you really feel challenged and rewarded.”

The usual tactical JRPG design choices aside, I really like the “buffs for character placement” here. The existence of offensive and defensive buffs for party formation is a strong incentive to approach the battle with a plan. You have your 3 different archetypes, forming a weakness-resistance circle, you know, standard JRPG affinity stuff. However, the way this game presents it all in a rapid combat system and varied character roles is really well done.

Jeanne D'Arc – one of the best tactical JRPG on PSP
byu/Wynandrork inpatientgamers

What I love about Jeanne D’Arc is the power in simplicity. The story is engaging enough to keep you going, and the combat doesn’t really have too many complex mechanics, yet it’s so unbelievably addictive that you can’t put it down. Battles that seem like they’d be nothing always have a way to challenge you. The game takes a simple tactical combat core and layers it with just enough strategic placement, affinities, and unique character mechanics that it all feels genuinely creative and challenging. For a first tactical JRPG, Level-5 did a phenomenal job, and they have my utmost respect.