'Eternal Sonata,' 'Folklore' dare to aim high

Meet the folk of 'Folklore'
While "Eternal Sonata" seems tapped into the more musical and poetic arts, "Folklore" seems inspired by the graphic arts — more specifically, the graphic novel. This eerie and fantastical new adventure/RPG for the PS3 feels very much like a dark comic book or perhaps a sinister fairy tale come to life.

As "Folklore" opens, two characters — a young woman searching for her mother and a reporter searching for a story — cross paths in the remote village of Doolin, a place where this world and the next also happen to cross paths.

Here the player alternately assumes the role of Ellen (the girl) and Keats (the reporter) as they try to unravel a murder mystery that haunts this gloomy burg. To do so, they must traverse two planes: the real world by day and the netherworld by night.

It's an intriguing tale delivered in a really intriguing way. That is, as you play through the game, the narrative is doled out to you in several different ways — through the usual cut scenes, through in-game conversation bubbles and, most uniquely, through segments done up like highly stylized comic book pages. This multifaceted method of storytelling can feel a bit disjointed at times but, for the most part, adds a distinctive and appropriately surreal flavor to the whole affair.

Sony The netherworld of "Folklore" is alive with more than 100 outlandish and fantastical creatures that must be "collected" and used as weapons.

While the majority of the game storytelling and mystery solving is done when Keats and Ellen wander the real world, the majority of the action takes place when our characters venture through the seven realms of the netherworld. Here, our heroes must "collect" the spirits of various monsters and sprites — known as "folk" — that inhabit these realms. To collect a spirit, you must best its owner in battle.

Quick facts Publisher: Sony Developer: Game Republic Price: $59.99 Platform: PlayStation 3 ESRB rating: Teen

I haven't been a big fan of the PS3's motion-sensitive SIXAXIS controller. But in "Folklore," it gets put to good use. When battling various folk, for example, you'll literally yank their spirits from their bodies by yanking the controller backwards. Though it sounds easy enough, there are times when you'll really have to work to pry a spirit free. All in all, it's a game element that feels good and adds a truly heart-pumping aspect to the game play.

Once you collect a specific folk's spirit you can then use that folk to defeat other folk. And the creature design here is absolutely wonderful. The netherworld is alive with more than 100 outlandish and fantastical monsters – the spiky Bargest, the fluttering Andraste, the fairy-like Pouke. (If "Folklore" is ever adapted into a film, Tim Burton should do the directing.) And once you've conscripted these creatures into your service, you'll not only be able to grow their power as weapons, but you must figure out which folk are best used to defeat other enemies.

Collecting these sprites and puzzling through when to use each one is a real pleasure as is exploring the worlds presented throughout "Folklore." Whether you're in Doolin or in one of the death realms, the visuals are magnificent. These are lush, moody environments that are only enhanced by the music and sound design details that are so thoughtfully sprinkled throughout.

It's only because I love exploring this world so much that I am most disappointed by how linear and limited the levels ultimately feel.  As with "Eternal Sonata," "Folklore" presents me with the kind of tempting scenery I want to run off and explore — only to find myself confined to some narrow spaces.  And since you alternately play this game from both Keats' and Ellen's perspectives, you quickly find yourself retracing very familiar ground.

Still, "Folklore" — like "Eternal Sonata" — absolutely should not be missed.  These two titles point toward both the artistic and entertainment heights that gaming has to offer us.

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