Spike's new PSP action adventure game Gachitora has what may be the oddest battle system name ever: the "Soul Nude Battle" system. It certainly sounds strange, but it's actually a good description of what you do during combat.

[end_p text="Continue reading for a look at the Soul Nude Battle system" /]

The Soul Nude Battle system isn't actually a system for fighting enemies. Main character Torao Kaji uses it to help his students, and other people he encounters around town, resolve their problems.

Symbolically, the Soul Nude Battle system involves striking the student with "soul" words. These words could break the wall that the student has erected around his or her heart. Continue striking the student with soul words, and the student may end up totally naked.

Seriously... just like this:

That's Torao unleashing his golden tiger aura to make a student's soul nude.

When you convert all that thematic jive into gameplay, you get a combat system where you punch and kick your students, slowly depleting them of energy. In the background, you can see Torao and the student arguing.

As Torao connects his blows, he'll grow angrier and angrier. You can see how annoyed he is by watching the face icon in the lower right of the screen. When it becomes red, you'll lose control of the character and open him up to great damage. To avoid this, you can press L and R to make Torao breathe to calm himself. If it's too late and Torao has already lost control, you can recover him by feverishly rotating the analogue pad.

Reduce the student's life gauge through repeated blows, and the student will eventually enter into a desperation state and will unleash powerful attacks that can't be guarded against. In this state, you'll see a more personal side of the students. For instance, Chihiro, the journalist student (mentioned here) will shoot out light at you from his camera. If you're struck by this, you'll find yourself trapped in a photograph! Your idol student, Yui, will sing a song that releases a powerful wave at you. Moe, the student who's working part time jobs to support her family, will summon a giant wallet to suck up Torao.

You can try out the Soul Nude Battle system for yourself right now via the Gachitora demo. You'll find details on how to get the demo here.