Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles

This latest Rhapsody bundle release is not entirely new, but it brings with it two updated and upgraded JRPG adventures from the PS1 era that have never before been seen on Western shores. This includes both Rhapsody II, and Rhapsody III in their entirety. Each entry comes complete with the full experience plus bonus features, screen filters, and voice-overs for the English speaking audience.

Through magic, melody, and mischief you'll follow along as you play as a young princess seeking her prince, or as destined royalty facing off against rival kingdoms and an ancient evil. There's laughs aplenty, and enough song and dance to pull at your heartstrings. As serious as it can be at times these two games harbor a charm that is sometimes comedic by design. Something for nearly all ages looking for a lighthearted JRPG experience centered around turn-based strategy, creature combat, and party management.

Starting off with, "Rhapsody II: Ballad of the Little Princess" we find the love crazed daughter of Queen Cornet. The daughter of a queen whose beginnings were also centered around finding that perfect prince. Following closely in her mother's footsteps Princess Kururu takes her magical trumpet, and puppeteering powers on the road as she engages with the locals. All on her way to find that special someone. With the aide of accompanying characters, and puppets who act as an extension of her powers in battle Kururu and the gang soldier up for some hilarious hijinks as they set out together to find prince charming.

Partly linear, and somewhat on rails "Rhapsody II" will have you guiding and controlling Kururu as she interacts with key characters, NPCs, and puppets. Mostly for progress, and storytelling sake with some combat on the side. Some of which will help her face off against those that stand in her way. Combat, as such, comes in the guise of a mixed bag of tactical tricks to turn the tide including puppet use, special attacks, and the all powerful rewards spells. 

At Kururu and her party's disposal within the turn based combat scenarios of 'Rhapsody II' is the innate ability to attack, defend, use items, use specials, use puppets, and release a legendary food based attack dependent upon built up musical notes. Combat, as it is, is both risk and reward by design, dependent wholly upon choices made. The choices made will definitely impact battle survivability and victory, and given the variety of attack options this can test even the most seasoned JRPG players. Putting to use special attacks, for example, drains a party member's HP and must be used with precaution, because of this. Whilst with summoned puppets the basic attacks, and rewards penalty is negated, but limited by a currency/resource called Inotium. Another limitation that a player must mind if they hope to win.

Puppets, in particular, act like assisting monsters who also can be used to cast attack or support spells when partnered up with. As they level up in battle they'll learn and unlock new spells or special attacks. These puppets are each acquired by different means though. Sometimes you'll get them from NPCs, and other times through battle. Opposite of the puppet system are the character specific special attacks. The special attacks act as direct spells from the main cast of characters including Kururu, and will cost a certain amount of Inotium to cast. Something which is earned through randomly occurring battles, and can also be used to buy shop items. Lastly, the built up attacks that are rewards, are the ultimate attack option of the game that require leveling up the music scale note by note (attack by attack) through the other combat means. In return allowing Kururu to drop insanely large food items on enemies. Dealing big damage as a result that depends on the current numerical stage of the music scale. 

It is with the mixture of these three staple attack methods that you will deal enough damage to kill off all onscreen enemies or bosses. In turn leveling up your party members, and sometimes unlocking more enemy creatures or characters as puppets which can then be assigned to party members. Up to three per party member. Puppets therefore are the support options for the party, as previously mentioned, and can be improved upon further with added gems. Applied gems increase the puppets' performance and damage output, respectively. Buffing their RPG stats in kind. As they level up they'll also learn new spells. Spells which range from damage dealing to healing, and defense. Making them a crucial component of combat.

While turn based combat is a big part of 'Rhapsody II' you will encounter a lot of scripted, and voice acted content that fleshes out Kururu's search for a prince, and her many encounters with both friends and foes. Like her mother Kururu she will also face off against a witch, and her cronies as she seeks her life partner. Building upon relationships as she does so. You'll encounter plenty time consuming textual conversations, troubled traveling, and the occasional song and dance thrown into the mix. Creating one of the most uniquely rich JRPG experiences ever to grace the PlayStation consoles.

Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom ...

Not too different from the Rhapsody II, "Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom" keeps intact the puppets, monsters, and party member loadouts along with similar battle mechanics. It seems to feature a story retrospective that touches base on Princess Cornet's first adventure while introducing the origin story of Princess Kururu. Cornet returns to the picture in all her pixelated glory set in a polygonal semi-3D world that encompasses both the village of Orange, and the entire Marl Kingdom. Through Cornet, and puppet Kururu we set out with them to find the missing puppets, and to seek a resolution to the prince' stoned state. Along the way characters interact with Cornet and crew, joining them and directing them to places of interest.

With the familiar also comes a new Goddess Statue feature that adds to the monster aspect of party recruiting. Allowing for the summoning of monsters to your party, or the releasing of them for a miracle. It is at these statues that you can also pray to heal both HP & SP between battle laden segments of gameplay. A feature worthy of a soulsborne experience.

Gameplay, as it were, is the usual Rhapsody turn based formula wherein characters who can control puppets or monsters join in battle with supporting puppets and monsters. Adding to their pool of special attacks. The reward system also returns with the commands used gradually completing five stages of musical note inclusive music scales that can be spent to drop larger than life sweets on the enemy/s heads. Through the varied commands, be it through the puppeteers, puppets, monsters, or party members, the battle is fought. Victory comes only when all enemies are cleared, and failure when all controlling characters in your party lose all HP. 

As far as the story is concerned it plays out like Rhapsody II as well. Featuring automated animation sequences where voice-overs, and textual dialogue give way to plot points, and objectives. Occasionally segueing into dance and song skits with various characters and NPCs involved. All between the traversal and battle sections. The story maintains the signature lightheartedness of the second game, and retains some of the artistic flair though it is more Westernized than that of Rhapsody II. Often times adding cheeky moments to an otherwise serious set of circumstances. 

Visually, and audibly Rhapsody III can be tweaked to the players' liking as with Rhapsody II. Allowing for volume control, vibration toggles, language changes, and filters that effects the screen images as well as an overall optional overhaul of graphics with a modernized touch up to the original display. 

The Verdict ...

This Rhapsody mini-collection isn't truly 'top of the line' in quality despite some modern updates and options. The screen size for both games is scaled down with not art banners, and the visuals are only lightly altered through filters. It's not really what I expected, and the fact that game access looks as if it's through an emulation menu does little to reflect the usual high end quality of a NISA product.

That having been said gaining access to games like these that haven't ever been released in the West with English translations included is enough to forgive it's basic setup. The games still are greatly enjoyable, and the characters are the kind you'd hope to find and fall in love with from NISA's catalogue of game series. 

Having never played the series, myself, I found it oddly amusing and quite fun. Rhapsody II, in particular, caught my undivided attention. Seeing Kururu up to her shenanigans was comic relief I badly needed in life. To be honest Rhapsody II actually seems to be the better of the two ports, due to it's presentation, characters, and story. That is an opinion though. For those of you interested in either game I do believe you have choices to this end. If I'm not mistaken you will be able to buy the games separately or in a bundle. This can prove to be a plus for gamers who know what they are getting into, and which game they'd prefer to play. Personally, I hope you do support them both. Like so many gamers in the community have stated it's not often we get never released ports like this. The more we support these games, the more that we're likely to see ported over.