We had the chance to dive into the new series of Ys games being released on PSP, during this year's E3 show. It was really exciting to see a company committed to bringing great RPG content to the PSP. For my money, Sony was the undisputed leader for console RPGs, before the release schedule thinned out and the PSP lost its way. Games like Ys SEVEN represent more than revival fare; they are a reason for gamers to stay or come back to the PSP. Much in the same way we were in RPG heaven on PlayStation in the '90s, there's very little standing between Sony and an RPG renaissance. Falcom and others have enough back-catalog to keep virtual store shelves full for years to come. The entire Ys series has appeared on some esoteric (to North American audiences, at least) consoles, so their reappearance in the mainstream is extremely welcome. Within the last year, we've seen the original games in the series emerge on DS and now the PSP, but with some notable changes.

The beauty of Ys SEVEN is that it is an honest-to-goodness new product, free from any shackles of what was released for the Famicom or some such decades-old console. No, this is new, but it carries on the tradition nicely in an iterative fashion. The developers attempted to bring Adol Christin back in style, in a setting relatively true to tradition, but incorporating lessons learned from recent RPG releases. Tracing the look and feel of Ys SEVEN back, we'd compare it to the last original release in the series, Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim, which is going on five years old at this point. The focus on action and speed, combined with 3D graphics, makes Ys SEVEN good continuity in the series. Large, named boss enemies litter the landscape, popping up from time to time with grand entrances and some impressive battle animations. The detail in the landscape, combined with a simple and instructive display, means you won't have difficulty finding your way around the world of Ys SEVEN. Too bad there wasn't more attention paid to cut-scene animation or voice, but that isn't so much a focus of the series, anyway. In the end, you'll enjoy the colorful monsters and characters set against an equally colorful background, as you tag along with Adol and Dogi during their adventures in Altago.

When Adol and Dogi come to town, you can expect some mayhem to be unleashed. Where the first games we played on this side of the pond focused on item collection, Ys SEVEN comes down to a quest surrounding five ancient dragons. The nature of these quests can sound humdrum, so the magic is in how you feel progressing through the game. Fast-paced is the watchword for Ys SEVEN, with no lagging or waiting around to power-level and talk to one million people before riding off into the sunset. Sure, you can do all those things, but the game feels more results-oriented than many contemporary RPGs that seem intent on stretching gameplay indefinitely through hidden items and tricky dialogue. You'll start off by correcting a mix-up that puts Adol and his partner in jail, only to be drafted for numerous quests that sink you deeper into the thickening plot. As you explore, you'll gain new skills, meet new party members, and collect equipment to help you along.

The model for combat is real-time and frantic. We liked how monster types are paired against attack types, meaning that soft monsters are best attacked with slicing/sword attacks rather than blunt, crushing attacks. Attempting to hack at shielded enemies won't do much good, and you'll see a corresponding "Bad Attack" message letting you know you're not doing much damage. In these situations, switching from one party member to another is the way you'll command attention from monsters and achieve victory. This switching is done with a single button-press, a bit frantic in the heat of battle, but still better than having to navigate submenu after submenu... Attack types with a single character range from simple/light attacks to powerful, special combos. The latter have to be stocked up, by whaling on enemies or hitting them with light attacks that have been charged by holding down the attack button. Enemies (even bosses) can be stunned periodically, making it possible to harvest lots of power-up energy from them. The bosses have a seemingly inexhaustible supply of hit-points, but you can whittle them down by learning their attack patterns and running away when necessary. There's deep gameplay and a healthy amount of adventure in Ys SEVEN, making it a worthy addition to the series' legacy.

There isn't a steep learning curve for players accustomed to RPG tradition, and especially those familiar with previous Ys games. The action quotient is high, so you won't fall in love immediately or at all, if turn-by-turn happens to be your thing. We like the option to avoid monsters in combat, especially when entering levels you've played previously, where you don't want to get sucked into battling weak opponents. The only incentive to battle them again might be to collect items they drop, not only single items but materials you can use to fashion special items. The pacing of Ys SEVEN feels a bit slow, compared to other RPGs, but all is revealed in due time. We actually found the linear progression of the game refreshing, and it makes for a nice introduction to younger gamers not as familiar with RPG conventions. There is always a lot going on, especially when you explore areas throughout the world and find that monsters regenerate. HP is charged up when you pause to take a breath, not that it will do you much good in boss battles where you are constantly moving around frantically for survival. The only downside to the game's simple interface is that equipping weapons and items isn't at all intuitive. We carried around a new weapon for a while before we realized it was possible to equip it, and since you are collecting so many things, it isn't always apparent which ones can be used for craft purposes. The little secret learned over time is that you'll really just need to smash each and every enemy you come across, and harvest everything they've got in order to prepare yourself for the next town. The ability to save anywhere is a nice feature, and other little touches like HP recharge crystals scattered throughout the world help alleviate frustration.

Control schemes have come simpler, but this isn't a game where you have a lot of complicated party mechanics. The character you aren't playing follows you around, transporting magically if he gets stuck on an obstruction at any point. We laughed at how the A.I. will get in a fight somewhere off-screen and then return once you start battling. It's a smart enough feature, but your partner can seem a bit manic. During battles that matter, you'll appreciate having more in your party as well as the ability to be an army of one and not worry about controlling other players. When you find resources to gather throughout the world, your party will copy your actions or lead the way if you stay put long enough. Having characters running along behind you can be a bit disconcerting, like that Snake game we've played on computers, also knows as the Tron Light-Cycle game... The best feature was not having to maneuver around the other character or have them draining resources during battles. The tradeoff is that things are a bit simplified compared to other games, especially those on larger consoles. What Ys SEVEN has in spades that we haven't seen recently is a surplus of fun and exploration, plus a storyline that actually makes some sense.

Tracking down dragons, we can understand. When you're an intrepid adventurer, these things come up a lot. You roll with it. There is a lot to love about Ys SEVEN, not the least of which is the great foundation established during years and years of previous releases. This latest version shows it has learned the lessons of games that came before, and sets out to perform the difficult task of appealing both to seasoned retro gamers and novice players. The areas where we'd like to have seen more attention paid are the online features (there are none) and some kind of multiplayer ability. Right now, Ys SEVEN is a great reason for RPG fans to pick up their PSP again, with the release of the first two games in this series also appearing on this platform. We're not sure if PSP will become the RPG powerhouse the PSOne became, but we think PSP has all the potential in the world to do exactly that. You play Ys SEVEN and tell us you don't feel like a kid in the RPG candy store, all over again.