Sometimes I get the feeling that the Japanese are toying with us. They're more than happy to send over wacky games like Incredible Crisis or Mr. Mosquito, but keep the real treasures like Radiant Silvergun to themselves. It does seem that they've been trying to make up for hoarding all the loot, though, not only by bringing over legendary RPG series Dragon Quest earlier this year, but also by introducing PoPoLoCrois to the States as well. Though not as epic or polished as Dragon Quest, PoPoLoCrois is a charming example of old-school gaming, and gives the PSP a much-needed kick in the RPG pants.

Talk about your overachievers
When I was ten, the biggest decision I made in a day was which Encyclopedia Brown book to read next. Pietro, crown prince of PoPoLoCrois, on the other hand, has somewhat loftier ambitions. After discovering that the mother he believed died giving birth to him is, in fact, in a coma, he sets out on a quest to find some way to wake her up. Sure, his dad already has the local witches working on it, but Pietro is a hands-on kinda kid, so he grabs the Dragon Sword, shoves some healing items in his pocket and heads for Byronia, a floating island where he believes he'll find the remedy for his mom's malaise. Along the way, he gathers up the usual suspects by way of companions and has the usual encounters with monsters of all makes and models.

PoPoLoCrois is a perfect example of traditional, old-school RPGing. Pietro and his friends wander from town to town in an isometric environment, unlocking treasure chests and having random encounters with enemies as they go. The turn-based combat consists of characters trading physical and magical attacks as they stalk each other on a grid. Fans of classic RPGs like Final Fantasy or Lunar will be able to jump right in without the barest hint of instruction, as the gameplay in PoPoLoCrois is as familiar as a worn and comfy pair of slippers. (+3 slippers of speed, of course.) The story unfolds slowly, with each new character adding a few more threads to the plot's simple yet satisfying tapestry.

Hero needed, height not required
The people that populate PoPoLoCrois are the whimsical little midgets we've come to know and love in our traditional RPGs. Everything in the game, from the stubby little trees to the itsy bitsy weapons is just plain adorable. Heck, even the monsters are cute, but it never comes off as cloying or sickening, but rather as simple and sweet. It's a refreshing reminder that we don't need super-realistic character models or blood physics to make a game pleasurable. The music is also simplistically old-fashioned and works perfectly with the graphics to create a completely nostalgic, but not outdated, experience.

Although there's much to like about PoPoLoCrois, there are a few oddities that keep it from being a truly heavenly experience. Pietro appears to have freebased Red Bull before taking off on his adventure, because his default setting is to run. And when I say run, I mean a full-tilt, Road Runner-esque, so fast it makes Michael Johnson look like my grandma kinda run. The screen gets blurry, people. Now, while that makes getting from point A to point B lickety-split, it also makes it nearly impossible to move with any kind of precision, so be prepared to miss ladders, doors, and treasure chests on a pretty consistent basis. Holding down X slows Pietro and friends to a more reasonable walk, but since the X button also serves to initiate conversation and open treasure chests, you're likely to replay a lot of dialogue with townsfolk when you were really just trying to get past them on the lane. It's a minor annoyance, but it's a constant one and you never really do get used to it.

It's déjà vu all over again
Players who are not fans of endless random encounters should definitely give PoPoLoCrois a pass, because they are omnipresent and unavoidable. Despite its turn-based nature, the combat is super-quick, so you don't feel like the game is bogging down because you're waiting for enemies to attack, but string enough super-quick fights together, and that's still a big chunk of time. Also, each area tends to only play host to a small roster of enemies, so you'll end up fighting the same combination of two or three beasties over and over and over again as you make your way across a field or cavern. It's the very definition of repetitious, and fans of more complex battle strategies may find it a bit on the dull side.

PoPoLoCrois is what it is: a traditional-style RPG, which means cute characters, lots of talking to townsfolk, and a slew of random encounters with enemies. It does what it does very, very well, but RPG fans that don't appreciate its simplicity will more than likely be bored stiff by the repetitious battles and relatively low difficulty level. There's nothing quite like it on the PSP, though, so hopefully some of the doubters will be tempted to give it a try.

-Maj1013