Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles

Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles demonstrates the prodigious aptitude of Nippon Ichi’s early years. Across the two titles in this anthology, we follow characters at pivotal points in their lives. Despite the fairy tale-esque simplicity, expect your heart to be warmed by three generations of cheerful heroines.

Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles is a lovely window into a hilarious, melodramatic, and loveable series that many would have never got to see. While it may not be the greatest retro collection in the world, its greatness lies in its uniqueness. The fact we get to enjoy it is what makes it so special.

Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles is the best classic collection from NISA to date. They’ve pulled out all the stops to present these titles in their original forms to new audiences, with a localization that retained the humorous tone of the scenarios. These games are pixel art at its finest, and while we don’t see many titles like this anymore, I’m glad we have these modern releases to enjoy alongside new titles released today. While Rhapsody II is a more rounded adventure, this collection as a whole is a must-play for any JRPG enthusiast.

Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles lets players in the West finally explore the final two titles in the Rhapsody trilogy for the first time ever. Even if these two JRPGS are never going to be all time masterpieces, they are still great fun today, thanks to their unique charm.

Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles allowed me to check out and rectify a glaring hole in my PS1 JRPG history. The story of Kururu, her mom Cornet, and the other colorful characters from this kingdom is a charming, but highly simple one. Though the gameplay and combat is a bit too simple at times, there’s no denying the catchy Japanese songs and cheery environments kept me playing in both games.

Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles is a pair of games in an interesting situation. Both are crippled by the exact opposite problems. Rhapsody II is a game that is simplistic and way too easy, but Rhapsody III is a game that is too bloated and slowly paced. Rhapsody II I can at least recommend it as a chill, beginner RPG for kids, but Rhapsody III I cannot really recommend under any circumstance.

I adored Rhapsody and Rhapsody II, but Rhapsody III feels like an unnecessary addition to this fun series. The game feels like more of a cash grab, offering mediocre stories regarding the series’ wonderful cast of characters, and it’s accompanied by uninspired dungeons and question combat design. Rhapsody III was a rollercoaster I was begging to get off because the constant ups and downs felt like whiplash. Two out of six short stories are not enough for me to recommend Rhapsody III, even for series fans, but one could say its presence for a bundle helped finally give Rhapsody II its welcome western release.