Nippon Ichi gained critical success and a dedicated following with the late 2003 release of the tactical RPG Disgaea for the PS2, and since then the company has become a major player in localizing hardcore Japanese titles for American audiences. Their American debut, however, occurred three years before that, when their offbeat RPG Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure was released for the PlayStation in the summer of 2000. The game contained all the elements that Nippon Ichi would later be known for: whimsical scenario and characters, hand-drawn 2D artwork, and a script that was clever, funny, and very well written. Despite all this, the game met with an indifferent critical reception and widespread disinterest on store shelves (although it did amass a significant cult following). Now, given the company’s continued success, Nippon Ichi has redesigned Rhapsody for the Nintendo DS, giving a whole new generation of fans another chance to try this unique title.

Rhapsody puts players in the shoes of Cornet Espoire, a young girl who spends her days playing her trumpet and talking to puppets. Cornet’s got the rare ability to understand what puppets say, and her best friend/constant companion Kururu is small fairy-like puppet. Anyway, when she’s not conversing with dolls, Cornet passes the time daydreaming about Prince Ferdinand, heir to the Marl Kingdom, romantically saving her from certain death. When the real Prince shows up to do just that, Cornet begins an adventure that will pit her against a score of rivals — including snotty nobles and evil witches — to compete for the Prince’s affection. Some will find the story saccharine and overly cutesy, but it’s a refreshing change of pace from the standard “Evildoer threatens the planet, and angsty hero must stop him” RPG plot. The dialog is well-written, smart, and funny, and the characters are all pretty likable; even the villains have a light-hearted vibe to them, so the story stays upbeat and fun throughout. Just like the subtitle says, the game is a musical, so every few minutes the characters stop what they’re doing and burst into song. It’s a little goofy, but like the rest of the game, it’s pretty endearing. Fans of the original might be disappointed that the English vocals were left off the cartridge (all singing is done in Japanese now, while the English translation scrolls on the other screen), but the songs are catchy and fun, even if you can’t understand what they’re singing.

 
The whole story gives off a strong “comedy anime” vibe, which is a big part of the game’s charm.

In the original PS1 version of the game, combat played out on a grid, much like a mini-tactical RPG. This is probably the biggest change between the two versions, as the “Disgaea-lite” combat system has been replaced by the same standard RPG combat system that’s been around since the original Final Fantasy: your fighters line up on the right, the enemy stands to the left, and you take turns beating on each other until one side is destroyed. The combat feels a little more generic this way, but the game keeps things from getting too boring in a couple of different ways. First of all, battles are quick — you can be in and out of a fight within 10 seconds, so it never really drags out. The quirky attacks that fans loved in the original are back and as wacky as ever, so if you’ve ever wanted to kill your enemies by dropping assorted pastries on them, now’s your chance. You’re also given leeway to customize your party as you see fit — aside from Cornet, your party is comprised entirely of puppets, and as she’s meeting and recruiting new puppets throughout the quest, you’re never more than a few minutes away from a new party member.

 
You people act like you’ve never seen a girl use her trumpet to drop cakes on skeletons and birds before.

In many ways, Rhapsody seems like it was designed to draw new players to the RPG genre — specifically, pre-teen girls. Besides the obvious (the teen-age girl hero, trying to win the love of the handsome prince), there’s the fact that the game is very short by RPG standards (about 15 hours if you take your time, much less if you rush), not to mention that the game is really quite easy. Healing items are plentiful, experience points flow like water, and you’re never more than a fight or two from the next level-up, so the game won’t prove much of a challenge for anyone but the absolute beginner.

Rhapsody’s got a charming look, with beautiful environments that look like hand-painted watercolors and cute sprite characters. There’s not quite as much life and animation in the combat sequences as I would have liked, but overall the game’s visuals are a great match for the cheerful tone. For a game that bills itself as a musical the audio is pretty important, and here Rhapsody doesn’t disappoint. The music throughout the game is cute and bouncy, and the actual musical numbers are fun in an anime kind of way. But while the music is pretty good throughout, sound effects are touch-and-go; some battle actions (including many attacks) are strangely silent, which robs combat of some of its impact and excitement. Overall, though, there’s not much to complain about.

 
The game doesn’t really push the limits of the DS hardware,
but it does have an attractive hand-painted style.

Rhapsody is a very niche title, and as such, not everybody will enjoy it — I wouldn’t even necessarily recommend it to most RPG fans. Still, too many RPGs these days take themselves far too seriously, and Rhapsody is like a breath of fresh air in this regard. For any young DS owner wanting to know what this RPG thing is all about, this is a great place to start. For the rest of us, if you don’t mind your games a little on the silly side, Rhapsody is a short, sweet little game that might not have the pedigree of a Final Fantasy or a Dragon Quest, but it’s got it where it counts — heart.

Gameplay: 7.3
The actual gameplay isn’t anything you haven’t seen before — combat is surprisingly straightforward in an era where it seems that every new RPG has to have its own unique combat system. What some call “traditional” others call “outdated,” but enemy encounters are quick and fun, and the game keeps a lively pace, so fights do a good job of busting up the storyline with quick bursts of action.

Graphics: 7.1
The environments are pretty, and the characters are detailed and cute. It might not have the kind of graphical might of the DS RPG powerhouses, like Final Fantasy IV, but it’s a good-looking game and the visuals are a perfect match for the game’s plot and tone.

Sound: 7.8
All the game’s music is fun and catchy, although some tunes are kind of forgettable in a generic anime kind of way. The actual musical numbers are mostly well done, with memorable melodies and high-quality Japanese vocals. While some might not like anime musicals in general, Rhapsody pulls it off about as well as it could.

Difficulty: Easy
The game was designed with RPG beginners in mind, and it shows — there probably won’t be a point in the game where you really come close to dying. Combine this with the game’s quick playthrough time, and it’s more like an RPG snack than a full meal.

Concept: 7.9
RPG plots tend to be even more formulaic and predictable than most genres, but Rhapsody’s story is unique and interesting, with plenty of original, well-rounded characters.

Overall: 7.6
Many gamers are going to dismiss Rhapsody out of hand as too cutesy, too girly, and just plain too weird. Still, the likable characters, fun quest, and lighthearted vibe add up to a loveable game that is well deserving of its cult status, and any DS RPG fan would do well to lighten up a little and follow Cornet on her quest.