The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. Specific concerns may be found on the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions.

It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. (Discuss)

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved.

PoPoLoCrois (game)
Developer(s)	SCEI, G-Artists
Publisher(s)	Agetec Ignition Entertainment SCEI
Release date(s)	Popolocrois Story July 12, 1996 Poporogue November 26, 1998 Popolocrois Story II January 27, 2000 Popolocrois: Adventure of Beginnings June 20, 2002 Popolocrois: Adventure of the Law of the Moon March 18, 2004 PoPoLoCrois (PSP) February 10, 2005 May 19, 2005 December 6, 2005 June 16, 2006 June 30, 2006
Genre(s)	RPG
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	CERO: All Ages (A) ESRB: Everyone (E) PEGI: 3+
Platform(s)	PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PSP

PoPoLoCrois is a video game for the PSP, PlayStation, and PlayStation 2. Its previous PlayStation release was only released in Japan, along with its four sequels, The PSP release is the first release in the USA and Europe.

Gameplay

PoPoLoCrois (made out of 5 different games, 2 of these abridged into the PSP version) consists of a collection of quests and exploration of the game world.

The battles, however, are slightly more interesting. While random and turn-based, they take on a form very similar to the Final Fantasy Tactics ones, though not as deep. When a character's turn begins, they can move along a small grid and attack enemies from the front, sides, or back. An attack to the enemy's back will deal more damage, as will skipping a turn to focus on the next turn.

The gameplay has been criticised for having semi-tedious load times (especially on the Sony PSP). On the Sony PSP the sprites may lag for awhile in some areas. It has also been criticised for having very frequent random encounters and, with the battle system, can really slow down a simple walk from one town to another. However, it can be argued that these frequent encounters help prepare the characters for greater challenges further down the line.

Plot

The main character is the prince of the Popolocrois kingdom, Pietro. The first game, "Popolocrois Monogatari", starts at the night of Pietro's 10th birthday, when he learns that his mother, who he thought was long dead, was found in a coma. Pietro sets out into a journey along with the apprentice forest witch, Narcia, to save his mother's soul from the underworld.

That is only the beginning of the Popolocrois story, there are two more games continuing the tales of Pietro and Co. The second game, "PopoRogue"(Popolocrois + Epilogue), featured Pietro as a 12 year old boy that went off to save his father from the dream world that he was forced into. The third, "Popolocrois Monogatari II", featured Pietro and Narcia as a 15 year old with different costumes, who went off the defeat the mysterious force that was going to destroy the world. "Popolocrois Monogatari II" was the most famous game of the series, due to the darkened story, new party members, and many other features.

The PSP release is a reproduction of "Popolocrois Monogatari" (included into Book 1) and "PopoloCrois Monogatari II"(Included into Book 3), but Book 2 is a brand-new scenario.

Characters

Pietro

• Main Character

The game starts when Pietro just turns 10 years old. He first goes into a quest to save his mother, but as the game progresses, he gets into much deeper objectives. Pietro also grows older as the story goes on, so you are able to control Pietro when he is 10, 12 and 15 years old. Pietro the Crown Prince of Popolocrois, he wears a green dress like clothes with a pendant with the shape of royal family emblem, later when he becomes 15 years old, he wears a golden circlet, white cape, and armorlike clothes. He is very caring and values friendship, and he gets more courageous as the game progresses. Pietro has crush on Narcia ever since they had their first adventure together. Pietro finds out that he is part dragon because his mother, Queen Sania is a dragon.

Narcia

Narcia is an Apprentice forest witch who helps Pietro in the game. Narcia wears a pink dress with two pointed hat for specific purpose, when she is 15 years old, she starts wearing semi purple and pink dress. The instructions claim she is shy, but once she meets Prince Pietro she totally changes. She has a crush on Pietro. Narcia turns out not to be a forest witch but a fairy. Thats why she wears that two pointed hat. So it can cover up her anntena.

Kai

Kai is Narcia's shapeshifting alter ego. Guilda gave her the treasure of the forest witches: the Golden Key which allowed her to become a human so she wouldn't melt if she came in contact with seawater. At first she tricks Pietro and the White Knight into thinking that she's a friend of Narcia's, but she reveals her secret to Pietro by accident and later Kimendoji.

Don & Gon

Soldiers that are assigned by the king to join Pietro and protect him. They don't do very good job at it and run away at the most inconvenient times.Surprisingly they aren't brothers.

White Knight

Name unknown. He is first met by Pietro and Narcia at the same time Naguro is met. He joins the party and stays until the very end of book one, Ice Demon. He then rejoins the party when Pietro, Don and Gon go the mine in Pasela to find a dragon in there but then leaves after a baby dragon imprints on him and he stays behind in the land of Dragons to get the baby used to living there.

GamiGami Devil

(Evil King GamiGami) - Slightly unbalanced dwarf who, though unable to read or write above the level of a child, is a technical genius who creates robots and vast cities, and loves greasy food. Seems to have a grudge against Pietro's family (a large part seems to do with Pietro who always seems to attract cute girls in GamiGami's opinion) but he has an enormous crush on Narcia. In Popolocrois Monogatari II he kidnaps Jilva and makes her roleplay in Narcia (complete with the double pointed hat) and later learns that Kai is actually Narcia. Strangely, he isn't attracted to Kai, only Narcia. No one knows why.

Queen Sania

Queen Sania is the mother Peitro. She is a dragon in human form. Sania eventually dies when Maira takes over her body. Queen Sania's father is the Great Dragon.

Kimendoji

First Introduced in "Popolocrois Monogatari II", In the original, Kimendoji came out of no where and supported Pietro and Co. But in the PSP remake, He was added an introduction in the Book II. Kimendoji is a stereotypical Samurai (or Masked Samurai) who is first met on Sword Mountain when Pietro, Narcia, and GamiGami Devil are going to find where Pietro's father (who at the time is the Dark Lion king) is. He joins the party to assist in the battle, and then leaves for three years after the Dark Lion King was defeated and Pietro's father released from the evil spirit controlling him. He then rejoins Pietro and Narcia as they investigate children gone missing at the hands of a circus. Despite his appearance, he is afraid of puppies.

Jilva

First introduced in "Popolocrois Monogatari II", Jilva is a Princess living in Roma, the music country. She is very girly and out going, also she has a crush toward Pietro when she realizes that he is Popolocrois' hero.

Leona

First introduced in "Popolocrois Monogatari II", Leona was first found as the black tiger captured by the circus. She transformed back to her human form when Pietro and Co. defeated the Circus master, who was a follower of Maira. She is strong and well skilled in archery and she can communicate with animals because of her mother's ability. Also, it seems she has a crush on the White Knight that is mutual. Her mother died somehow.

Gabo

First introduced in "Popolocrois Monogatari II", Gabo was first shown when Pietro and the White Knight killed the Earth Dragon in the beginning of "Popolocrois Monogatari II" (or Book III in the PSP ver.), . Gabo sees the White Knight as his father, so it follows it around and even try to imitate him (combination attack, "Illusion", Gabo gets a blue cape like the White Knight and attacks the same way as the White Knight does). He is a underestimated character because he has the lowest HP and no skills, but he can learn summons of creatures later in the game by defeating certain side-bosses. He never knew that Peitro killed his mom not knowing that he was set up into killing the Earth Dragon, Gabo's mother.

Ice Demon

Once ruler of North Land and master of ice magic. In the past, he attacked Popolocrois but was stopped and defeated by a dragon. He is the final boss in "Popolocrois Monogatari" (or Book I in the PSP ver.) , he never talks in the game so we have little knowledge of what he's planning except to try to take over Popolocrois once again.

Maira

The Main Enemy in "Popolocrois Monotagari II". Once the goddess of beauty, but because of her jealousy and hatred over other things more beautiful than her, her father turned her into an hideous monster and sent her away from the heaven. Maira swore revenge toward her father and claim her beauty back, so she tried to unleash a demon of chaos that almost destroyed the world.

External links

• Official web site (Japan)
• Official web site (United States)
• Official Web site (Europe)
• Gamespot's PoPoLoCrois Review

Anime series and OVAs animated by studio Bee Train
Girls with guns	Noir  · Madlax  · El Cazador de la Bruja
Other original works	Avenger
.hack franchise	Liminality  · Sign  · Gift  · Legend of the Twilight  · Roots
Other video games	PoPoLoCrois  · Arc the Lad  · Medabots  · Wild Arms  · Meine Liebe
Manga and literature	Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle  · Spider Riders  · Murder Princess

Donate to Wikimedia