Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure

Title: Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure (~2000)
Author: Atlus USA and Nippon Ichi
Media: Video Game (PlayStation 1 and Nintendo DS)

A country girl on a mission to save a prince (yes, the actual prince of their kingdom) through the overwhelming power of...sweets!!! Candies and cakes and flan, oh my!

With the help of battle-puppets found throughout her adventures, Cornet and her best friend, Kururu (also a puppet) embark on a quest to rescue Prince Ferdinand from the clutches of Marjoly, the "most beautiful witch in the world".

This game is often dismissed as a "girl's game" due to the story and low-level difficulty, which is a quite a shame since it’s actually the overabundance of "cuteness" that makes it a unique gem amidst the standard videogames of its time. Beautiful 2D imagery, charming characters, and well, even the enemies are just so darn cute. I set the vocals to its original Japanese language to give the musical numbers a less campy feel.

The only low point for me are the “template” dungeons where all rooms look alike, most of which have standard entry/exit points - namely north, east, west, south - leading to a non-complex, but utterly tedious journey. Do you know the usual tip for when you enter the Hall of Mirrors at a carnival? Always go left and you’ll eventually reach the exit. This is a good game to test that theory.

If you’re looking for something genuinely amusing after a long week (or perhaps are seeking a break in the midst of a true-blue “hardcore” game), this is one opportunity you shouldn’t miss! Whatever else can be said about Rhapsody, there’s no denying its entertainment value. Go a step further and set the difficulty level to “easy” to finish the game in a day, tops, in order to get the feel of one of the few “musical RPGs” while avoiding the inevitable sugar shock.

They Were Eleven

Title: They Were Eleven (1975)
Author: Moto Hagio
Media: Anime/Manga

10 space cadets from an elite academy board a ship for their final test - only to find that there are 11 on the ship! Who is the eleventh and what is his/her agenda? To turn back before the expected number of days would mean that they fail their final exam. An unacceptable alternative when family honor and lifelong dreams are at stake for most of the cadets aboard the ship. And so they venture on. Unlikely alliances and friendships are formed as they face seemingly unsurmountable challenges. In the end, a difficult decision must be made. And through it all, a question lingers in the air - who is the eleventh?

This mini-series (4 comics) is a short and sweet sci-fi ride peppered with adventures, diverse alien cultures (where else can you find a race that allows you to choose whether you grow up to be a man or a woman?), and of course, that mysterious eleventh passenger.

I prefer the comics simply because the characters seem more humorous and light-hearted. I felt the camaraderie here more than in the anime.

Sugar Daddy

Title: Sugar Daddy (2007)

Author: Lisa Kleypas

Media: Book

In a typical romance novel, the male and female leads are introduced within the first two chapters of the book - and you just know they're meant to be! Lisa Kleypas breaks the mold with Sugar Daddy by ***SPOILER ALERT*** not introducing the key male figure until halfway through the book!

To be honest, when I first saw this book, the title turned me off and I barely spared it a second glance. This year, I finally settled for Lisa Kleypas' Blue Eyed Devil while waiting (rather impatiently) for the next book in her charming Hathaway series. The tumultous back stories of Haven and Hardy convinced me to dig deeper into the love triangle that was Liberty, Gage, and Hardy; and finally led me to pick up a copy of Sugar Daddy. I regret the realization that I would've enjoyed this book tenfold had I not spoiled the ending by reading Blue Eyed Devil first, but it's a great read nonetheless (and I finally know what an emu is!).

Sugar Daddy follows the rise of Liberty Jones from her life in a trailer park to an apprentice at an upscale beauty salon in Houston, and inevitably, as an assistant to a wealthy tycoon that would lead to one of the most important decisions in her life.

Throughout the hardships of Liberty's early life - the loss of a father, a mother with more boyfriends that she could count, the taxing role of a mother figure to her baby sister - Hardy Cates is a constant pillar of support. Driven by his ambition to drag himself out of his impoverished state, he eventually leaves Liberty behind. By the time she makes a new life for herself and her sister, Carrington, she is finally ready to open her heart to the possibility of a romance with Gage Travis - only for Hardy to step into her life once again and turn her world upside down.

*** I'm a big fan of Lisa Kleypas' wallflower series and have been following her Hathaway novels ever since. I didn't find a copy of Tempt Me At Twilight until a couple of months ago and I figure Married by Morning won't come my way until Christmas. The eagerness to finally learn about Catherine Mark's past almost convinced me to buy a Kindle. Well, almost. ;) ***

Maison Ikkoku

Title: Maison Ikkoku (1980s)
Author: Rumiko Takahashi
Media: Anime/Manga

Yusaku Godai is a wishy-washy college student (or, more accurately, he starts the series as a "flunkout") with no money, no special skills, no prospects, and no ambition. Enter Kyoko Otonashi, a beautiful widow who is still pining for her late husband. She is also the new manager of Maison Ikkoku, a run-down apartment where Yusaku resides. Toss in a dashing tennis coach with money,looks, confidence, and an obvious affection for Kyoko. Did I mention he can cook? Add a trio of crazy (there is really is no other term that better describes them) Maison Ikkoku residents whose sole purpose in life is to meddle in other people's affairs and you have the recipe for a truly great romance.

What?

Well, considering that this was made by the same creative genius that gave us Inuyasha, it's not that far of a stretch.

Maison Ikkoku is quite a lengthy ride, spanning 161 chapters (96 episodes if you would rather follow the anime) worth of tears, laughter, and romantic overtures. I rather liken it to running a long marathon. You can't rush it; you have to pace yourself and take in every moment of Yusaki's foibles and triumphs. The wide array of supporting characters and wacky adventures make for an interesting journey that you just have to see through to the end and once you do - it doesn't disappoint.

I could go on and on about these series; it being one of my all-time favorites! If I were to sum it all up in one sentence though, it would be to say that this is one story that will tug at your heartstrings and never let go.

"The woman I love burns with jealousy, leaps to conclusions, cries, and turns to ice, but when she laughs, the world is mine" - Yusaku Godai

*** Another popular series at the time was Kimagure Orange Road by Izumi Matsumoto. I've heard that if you like Maison Ikkoku or are looking for something similar, it would be worthwhile to check out KOR. I've yet to do so myself, though. Feel free to chime in if you have :) ***

Take a walk with me...

In a corner of the world, two friends wake up next to each other with the realization that their lives have irrevocably changed. In another time and place, best friends cry silently over their unrequited love. A man finds the girl of his dreams and promptly breaks ties with his high school sweetheart. A chance encounter at a train station leads to one of the greatest love stories ever told. In the realms of cyberspace, an unlikely pair finds themselves chatting until dawn.

I am often asked, “Why do you like romance novels? Aren’t they all the same?”

First love. True love. Heartbreak. The guy next door. The girl you can never have. All over the world, throughout the ages, these stories occur again and again. The same old stories, but not quite the same; no, never quite the same…

…much like a romance novel.

At the end of a stressful day, I like to wind down with the familiar. No big mystery, no heart pounding suspense, no detailed dissertation of roads less traveled. Just the assurance of a happy ending that may someday come knocking at my own front door...

…so if you have ever been (or still are!) a fan of the 3 J’s – Jude Deveraux, Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught; have watched (and read!) Fruits Basket and Kare Kano; know games such as Lunar Silver Star Story, Rhapsody, or FFVIII; or are simply a sucker for a good love story, then take a walk with me as I reminisce on past loves and discover new adventures through books, movies, manga, anime, and games.

Welcome to my world. :)