PSP owners pining for a Final Fantasy fix will find Brave Story a worthy substitute; offering striking 3D graphics, energetic characters, and plenty of turn-based battles against cutesy critters. Based on a Japanese anime, Brave Story doesn't exactly reinvent the genre, as the play mechanics are nearly identical to most other successful Japanese role-playing games. Nevertheless, Brave Story is easily the best traditional RPG on the system to date.

Gaming's Health Risks

In an opening cinematic that hits all too close to home, a girl named Miki tries to get boyfriend Tatsuya to spend some time with her, but he's too focused on his PSP to listen. She then decides to take a walk by herself. Minutes later, she collapses and falls into an apparent coma. The moral of the story is obvious: the PSP is a harbinger of doom that will curse those around it. Is there really any other explanation?

As Tatsuya collapses to the ground with grief, a mysterious voice calls out to him and a massive gate suddenly appears. The voice says that if he enters the land of Vision, the Goddess of Destiny will grant him a wish: a new Nintendo DS. Okay, it's actually to save Miki's life, but he might want to consider using a different handheld. Before he can see the Goddess, Tetsuya needs to form a party of up to three adventurers and acquire five mystical gemstones to access the Tower of Destiny. These things are never easy…

Stagger, Stagger, Fight

Console RPG fans won't even need the instruction manual, as everything is familiar. Players move their character across a colorful over-world with towns, ports, and dungeons marked by different icons. As players cross the varied terrain, they will be subjected to random encounters with various monsters. These random encounters are frequent in Brave Story. Once you see your destination, all you want to do is make a beeline for it and hope to fight "only" two or three times. More often, it’s like five or six….

The 3D battles won't tax your brain, but they are visually interesting. The anime-style characters are constantly in motion, running across the screen, tugging at bowstrings, leaping in the air, and more to attack the enemy. The whimsical encounters have you squaring off against the likes of giant pink bunnies that nibble on carrots to replenish health and then use the veggies to whack party members. Each attack is punctuated with comic book-style words, from slikkt and whudd to blaam and kerslamm. Standard attacks are mixed with unity (team) and bravura (special) skills, each activated by "brave power" points earned by inflicting heavy damage or by stringing together combos.

Adventuring by the Book?

Outside of combat, there isn't much interactivity other than talking with townsfolk, looking into pots or chests for items, and purchasing equipment. Yet Brave Story is rarely boring; there are optional bounties to collect; a crafting system that involves finding recipes and collecting rare ingredients; and even a bird catching mini-game where you try to create the perfect "brawler" for amusing fights. The random battles, simple controls, and linear storyline may put off those hoping for a newfangled experience; but the high production values, engaging characters, and vibrant world will keep this Story from being shelved.

Article by: Scott Alan Marriott
Video Produced by: Michael Benson