Panty Explosion is a perfect indie RPG to start this feature with because it has a name that would never get it published in the mainstream roleplaying game industry but nevertheless was met by acclaim and is developing a strong fanbase. The game is sublimely equipped to deal with the two main sources of roleplaying goodness within: fighting monsters and mayhem along with being a successful student in the ultra-stressful world that is Japanese schooling.

Though many players might be put off by the idea of playing a Japanese high-school girl, a read-through of this game will make you question if there's any other kind of character worth playing. It's packed with useful information about the different parts of Tokyo, what high-school kids do for fun there, and the features of the Japanese educational system. Even someone who's never even thought about what a Japanese high school might be like can create a convincing RPG setting out of one utilizing this book.

But the information doesn't stop at "real life." Some of the players will be psychic, an ability cultivated in some troubled Japanese girls, and use of psychic power in turn fuels the power of the "demons"—the demons are any adversary, not necessarily supernatural, that are the primary antagonist of the story (perhaps over several sessions or maybe even a whole campaign). To fight these demons your create your character using five kinds of traits: Friends and Family, Hobbies, Blood Type, Godai (the five Japanese elements) and Zodiac.

What makes the game especially intriguing to me is the group dynamic. It's advised that not all of the players be psychic, so that in itself leads to interesting struggles between the characters not "gifted" and the characters dealing with their power that fuels evil every time it's used. Another cool aspect of the game is that each player chooses another player's character to be their Best Friend, and other to be their Rival. It comes into play in surprisingly subtle ways (not quite the "I shoot my teammate in the back of the head!" that sometimes characterizes Paranoia)—if an action is successful the Best Friend describes its outcome, and if unsuccessful, the Rival.

Don't be put off by the title. This is an excellent game for both the game master (the "Superintendent") and the players, and a great resource for anyone who's interested in running a game in modern-day Japan. Unique, a bit off-the-wall, innovative and esoteric: your first indie game of the week!

For more information about Panty Explosion, places to buy and download it, and for a free demo, head over to the Atarashi Games website! (And also check out their other popular RPG, the Battle Royale-esque Classroom Deathmatch.)