Popolocrois

Teary-eyed RPGing of yesteryear hits the PSP...

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The Playstation is regarded in some circles as a launchpad for the re-awakening of the RPG genre, and the impact of the system was certainly phenomenal. In that era many of the existing series we know today were born; Breath of Fire, Final Fantasy, Suikoden, Dragon Quest, Grandia, Lunar, Star Ocean, Tales of, Wild Arms and Valkerie Profile. The list is endless. Many of these series went on to be just as successful - if not more so - on the Playstation 2 alongside new and original titles. However, the Playstation Portable seems to have been overlooked thus far, with Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade being one of the very few series developed for the handheld. There has been a serious lack of solid RPGs, with only direct ports such as Breath of Fire III and Tales of Eternia attempting to account for it.

However, when Sony and Agtech announced they were going to release Popolocrois - a port of a Playstation classic yes but not one seen on western shores - faith had been restored. Due to its Japanese exclusivity, there will be many who will not have heard of the series but it is a popular franchise that has had great success. Because of this, Popolocrois on PSP is a tribute compilation of both I and II meaning plenty of hours for gamers to enjoy the full experience of the series to-date.

There are more than 30 hours of gameplay if the game is not rushed and every dungeon and area explored fully. The new compilation format blends the two games together so it plays as a single game rather than being disjointed with the two games being put on the same UMD. This makes the storyline flow well over the five years it covers.

The hero of the story is Pietro, a 10 year old boy - prince, in fact. Although he is heir to the throne, he is a regular boy and the game eases you in with a light hearted start before the fate of the world is thrown upon your shoulders. On his 10th birthday, Pietro discovers that his mother - whom he thought to have died in child birth - is in fact still alive. The young prince then sets out to find a cure for his mother and along the way encounters new friends and reveals a plot for the destruction of the world. It is a generic plot but a good one for newcomers to the genre and one that is truly enchanting with many memorable moments.

Although it may not seem impressive to today's standards, its battle engine was of a unique design compared to other titles in its era. It is a cross between turn based attack systems like many Final Fantasy titles and tactical, grid-based movement as featured in the Shining Force series. It comes as a fresh experience even to veteran RPG gamers, allowing them to play through battles this way in classic, stylised 2D environments with animated characters. Travelling through the world is just how you would expect it though for a game of this ilk, with an isometric angled view, travelling from town to town, dungeon to dungeon. Each location is full of activity, creating atmosphere and depth. There are few NPC characters that will not talk to you and most will have some help or information for you if you get stuck or are looking for a specific item or location. Although most of the time everything will be familiar and recognisable to those familiar with the genre, you will be amused and humoured by the random content and eccentric characters Popolocrois has to offer.

In terms of graphics, Popolocrois invokes a nostalgic remembrance of the classic games of its time with colourful, anime visuals. It does not push the PSP's abilities to the full and could easily run on lower systems but the content and style of the game makes up for this fact. The soundtrack is also a collection of midi tunes that can occasionally irritate you if you are spending too much time in one area. However, looking at the visuals and listening to the soundtrack, it is not a negative that you are playing a game that was developed ten years ago, it only strengthens your nostalgia and reminiscence of the game further.

Popolocrois is a solid RPG, despite the simple elements of its story and battle system, and provides some gamers with the experience they have been waiting for since the launch of the PSP. Fans of classic RPGs will enjoy and revel in the experience just as much as those who are new to the genre. However, it does not offer much in the way of innovation and sadly, we will have to wait longer still until an original RPG of credit graces the PSP.

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By Tobias Rowe