Rhapsody tells the tale of Cornet, a winsome young lass with a knack for talking to puppets while playing her namesake horn. In the real world these dubious talents would win her a one-way ticket to a padded cell, but in the storybook lands of Rhapsody she barely merits a bemused glance. Now, being fairytale heroine, Cornet has a serious crush on dreamy Prince Ferdinand, the boyish swashbuckler who stands next in line for the throne. As in any such tale, the path to true love is a crooked one, leading Cornet and her puppet pals into conflict with those ever-ubiquitous forces of evil. Though admittedly lacking in the originality stakes, Rhapsody's storyline gets by on a surfeit of charm, Cornet's lighthearted adventures remaining wholly endearing throughout.
A good deal of Rhapsody's appeal can be attributed to Atlus's expert translation skills, the sharply written dialogue giving the simplistic storyline a healthy dollop of personality. Unfortunately, on occasion Atlus goes a little too far, tainting the games storybook feel with an unwelcome dose of smugly ironic "hey, it's just a game" reflexivity. By undermining Rhapsody's sweetly naove tone, Atlus run the risk of alienating their audience - after all, no one enjoys being patronized.
Graphically, Rhapsody is one gigantic sugar frosted strawberry shortcake of a game, the lovably whimsical anime characters frolicking happily in a milange of warmly painted watercolor backdrops. Each area is alive with motion, from dancing pink flowers in the forest to the amusingly rotund inhabitants of picturesque Mothergreen city.
Yet, as appealing as the visuals are, another element of the game far outstrips them in the whimsy stakes - the soundtrack. Subtitled, "A Musical Adventure", Rhapsody is packed to the brim with elaborate production numbers, the characters bursting into song at the merest hint of an excuse. Though by no means Lloyd-Weber quality, the squeaky voiced balladry is appealingly composed and, as embarrassing as it is to admit, somewhat moving. Indeed, those who just can't get enough of Cornet's helium crooning will be pleased by Atlus' inclusion of not only the Japanese originals, but also a rather compelling soundtrack album.
Gameplay is pleasingly straightforward, emphasizing conversation and simple puzzle solving over the usual RPG monster bashing. Despite the refreshing de-emphasis of random beastie encounters, Rhapsody does feature a surprisingly robust combat system. A simplified riff on Vandal Hearts style turn-based combat, the game allows Cornet and her wacky wooden sidekicks to use magic, hand to hand and special attacks against their equally lovable opponents. The spell effects are particularly appealing, each effect obviously designed for maximum cuteness, from giant baddie squishing pancakes to a non-seasonal flood of scarf wearing snowmen. Though occasionally a mite repetitive, Rhapsody's cartoonish combat should bring a smile to the face of even the most cynical of gamers.
Even when overlooking its near-nauseating cuteness, Rhapsody remains one of the more unique RPG's available on PlayStation. Fun gameplay, appealing characters and an engaging storyline, not to mention the uniquely vocal soundtrack, result in a game that's at least worth a look from anyone but the most hardcore of fatality lovin' gorehounds.
The Bottom Line: All singing, all dancing role-playing fun.
