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Brave Story: New Traveler

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8.6 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 30 critic reviews
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Based on 10 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: XSEED Games

Developer: Game Republic

Genre(s): Role-Playing Game

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)

Release Date: July 31, 2007

Summary

On a day that starts out like any other, an 11-year-old boy's life is changed forever. As the main character and his friend Miki pass a leisurely afternoon, Miki suddenly collapses from an unknown illness. When the girl shows no sign of waking, the main character grows distraught over not being a better friend and not having the means to save her. Suddenly, a strange voice offers him a second chance: "Beyond the door you can change your destiny!" He soon leaves the real world and journeys to the world of Vision, where, as a novice "Traveler," he will surmount myriad ordeals in hopes of ultimately meeting with the Goddess of Fortune to have a single wish granted. The would-be hero quickly makes friends both strange and fascinating as he finds himself blossoming into a successful Traveler. His courage and resolve are tested time and again as he and his newfound companions travel the mysterious lands of Vision. The challenges he faces are daunting, but his growing sense of self and responsibility propel him ever forward. Valuable friendships, unbounded courage, and his own personal growth will all prove indispensable as he seeks out his destiny: a life-changing adventure and the discovery of a hero inside an ordinary kid. [XSEED]

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameFAQs

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

1UP

Brave Story is a comfortingly familiar type of RPG that still feels fresh, thanks to the strength of its characterization, the attention to detail, the swift pace of battles and quests, and the technological proficiency of its load times.

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Game Almighty

Brave Story stands tall not so much as a brand new experience with innovative gameplay, but a solid homage to the genre that manages to get every aspect just perfect.

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Deeko

In the end, Brave Story comes as something of a surprise and quite a pleasant one at that.

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AceGamez

The best RPG so far on the PSP.

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Gamers' Temple

Brave Story New Traveler is a simple old-school RPG for all ages and is one of the best handheld RPGs ever released.

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netjak

Make no mistake, this is a dyed-in-the-wool mid-generation PS1 RPG with no aspirations to being anything more. But it does what it does astonishingly well, so much so that it becomes much greater than the sum of its parts.

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RPG Fan

While it may be a little easy and a little childish, Brave Story: New Traveler is an RPG that will appeal to an incredibly wide audience and is one of the first titles to truly take advantage of the handheld hardware Sony has provided.

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Extreme Gamer

Brave Story: New Traveler is a must own for all role-playing fans.

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My Gamer

For those of us that find ourselves longing for an RPG that we can enjoy for awhile, without ever feeling rushed or overly caught in minor details, Brave Story can fit that bill on the PSP.

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GameZone

A must for players who have longed for a 3D Final Fantasy to be made for Sony’s handheld.

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Play Magazine

Saying this game is visually stunning is an understatement. [Aug 2007, p.72]

GamePro

With a lighthearted story, stellar graphics and an all-around solid presentation, New Traveler has a lot going for it.

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Modojo

It's a great game to be sure. Extremely playable and thankfully portable, it can have you going for hours on end. But seriously, I wouldn't mind if they tried to break out of the JRPG mold a little more.

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Worth Playing

Brave Story: New Traveler isn't innovative; it doesn't bring anything new to the RPG genre, break graphical bounds, create a revolutionary new combat system, or last 80 hours. What it is, however, is fun. Battles are swift and enjoyable, the characters are charming and likable, the side-quests are interesting and rewarding enough to keep you searching every nook and cranny of the world, and the graphics are among the best on the PSP.

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Games Radar (in-house)

With a fun battle system, great graphics and character design, no loading times, and plenty of charm and wit to boot, Brave Story is an easy recommendation for any RPG fan. This is one of the best RPGs (if not the best) for the PSP yet.

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GameCritics

It may sound strange, but the developers of Brave Story: New Traveler have created an above-average experience by taking a perfectly average formula and making absolutely no errors in its execution.

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GameSpy

It literally takes a good two or three hours before things really get rolling. If you can make it that far, though, you'll get to bang away at a very solid game.

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Gaming Age

It’s one of those games that looked back and took notes from history’s best, simplified that, and sped up the pacing just a bit to keep players interested each time they turn it on.

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Hardcore Gamer Magazine

It's the perfect PSP purchase for RPG fans, and a great way for genre newcomers to get their feet wet. [Sept 2007, p.61]

TotalPlayStation

Though it can hold claim to the title of most advanced PSP tech showpiece, the actual gameplay part of Brave Story is left lacking -- if only a little. Go into it expecting naught but a cliched RPG experience and you won't be disappointed.

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PSM Magazine

Sadly, this could've been the best RPG on the PSP to date, but it's marred by an exhausting 2-3 hours of intros and reading (yup, no voices). [Sept 2007, p.82]

IGN

It's a solid RPG that's sure to appeal to fans who want a fun yet simple romp through the genre they love. However, Brave Story lacks the ingenuity to make it something I'd play for hours on end.

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Game Informer

The turn-based battles are stylish, and even feature team attacks and recharging magic points. There is also a collection sidequest involving goalfinch battles, which are basically cuter and less gruesome cockfights.

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Console Gameworld

Brave Story isn’t for everyone. The storyline drags along at a snails pace and the lack of customization options doesn’t benefit the replay value.

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Thunderbolt

It's hard not to admire this 2007 PSP game for what it's worth, but it simply doesn't develop its assets far enough.

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GameSpot

Brave Story follows the traditional role-playing-game formula to the letter and ultimately turns in a serviceable, though unremarkable experience.

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G4 TV

The random battles, simple controls, and linear storyline may put off those hoping for a newfangled experience; but the high production values, engaging characters, and vibrant world will keep this Story from being shelved.

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Cheat Code Central

There are a lot more engaging RPGs available for the PSP. Brave Story: New Traveler just treads the same old ground.

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Destructoid

If you’re bored of strategy RPGs and really want an opportunity to sit down with a traditional game, then I suggest this title. If not, stay away, especially at retail price.

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Video Game Talk

It is a very standard RPG and gets repetitive with a generic combat system. The dungeons are similar from dungeon to dungeon. There are no puzzles or complex tasks required.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Shockwave P. gave it a10:
This game ROCKED screw what critics said. If your into RPG's this is definetly the game for you. Great Story, graphics, this game has it al. This game reminds me of old school RPG's i can go on forever how good this game is but I rather not.

EldonTLH gave it a6:
After about 13 hours into the game, I'd say it has all the features needed for an enjoyable Japanese RPG but features alone don't an enjoyable adventure make. Certainly above average (of 5, if you're wondering about the rating) and somewhat entertaining but the official review average really is spot on with this one - seems like fun to play through but as for remembering it after a year, most unlikely. Yuno's still the cutest, most whimsical, and most harebrained catgirl ever to appear on an RPG but even from the perspective of a hopeless otaku, that's not enough to save the whole deal.

Matt S. gave it a9:
Yes, it's a very traditional JRPG full of random battles and a silent protagonist, but there is just something special about this game. Maybe it's the writing, or the cast of characters, or the world, but I just couldn't put this game down until I finished the main plotline. The difficulty level, while somewhat easy, is perfect for those who don't have 80 hours to spend on an RPG. One knock against the game -- While you do eventually enlist 6 characters into your party, I found absolutely no need to use any but the original 3 to win the game. The other reviewer is correct that BP regenerates in battle and is fairly easy to maintain, but seeing as there are no easily available BP boosting items you can buy, it seems like a fair trade off. Once you do win the game, you unlock all of the characters from the original Brave Story manga and are free to go back to the dozens of side missions you may have missed the first time through. While Jeanne D'Arc may be more advanced, it is a strategy game, NOT an RPG. For the time being, Brave Story is the best RPG experience on the PSP, hands down.

Peter Y. gave it a7:
First of all, lets start off with the good. This game is a truly beautiful game. The graphics are some of the best on the system so far, right up there with Tekken and Monster Hunter, and to think this game has been out in Japan for over a year. The turn based battles are fast paced and there are some gorgeous battle animations as well. Also, the lack of good new RPGs on the PSP makes this game that much more appealing. And, the game loads lighting fast! Now the bad stuff. The music is forgettable as are the characters. Also, the battle system is your typical, bland, turn based RPG, but with flashy graphics. The story is recycled from various anime/rpg plots. And what with the silent protagonist? It's 2007 dammit, give these guys some lines, then maybe I would feel more for him and the storyline. This game does have an interesting crafting system where you can make your own accessories and a bird catching minigame, which is like cutsy cockfighting, but these simply don't do it for me. The sometimes erratic random battles also become annoying at times. This game is also ridiculously easy, you regenerate your BP (Brave Points=Magic Points) when you attack someone, so you almost never have to worry about running out. There are also restore points at every save point. If you're an RPG novice, this is a pretty good choice to get your feet wet. Veterans may want to wait for a deeper game like Jeanne D'Arc or Final Fantasy Tactics.

[Anonymous] gave it a9:
A solid traditional RPG with turn-based combat, outstanding graphics, almost no loading times, a lengthy story, rich characters and high playability. Neither a remake nor a port, Brave Story offers fresh content that has not been seen on other systems before. Definitely one of the most enjoyable RPGs for the PSP.

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Brave Story: New Traveler

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What The Critics Said

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