Monster Kingdom Jewel Summoner

The PSP system has been crying out for a while for a solid RPG like Pokemon or Golden Sun to come along and suck the hours away. The question is whether Monster Kingdom Jewel Summoner (MKJS) is as epic a game as it's name. I can safely say that the game is good, a fun experience but it feels that it just lacks a bit of polish and care.

Graphics:
It can be said that MKJS is a pretty game in parts and it can also be said that it’s visually quite dull in parts. The sections where you move about dungeons and fight the battles (Typically turn based) are well drawn, detailed and pleasing to the eye. The town sections are well drawn but are simply a screen with a couple buildings you can click. There is no movement around the town, just a 2D drawing. The characters when in dialogue pop up as pictures and are nicely constructed. You can’t help but feel that the creators just got lazy and couldn’t be bothered to create 3D Towns.

Gameplay:
This is where I have a mixed view for the game. First things first that there is nothing really new on offer in the game. It is your generic RPG, where you fight monsters with your monsters and level up, collect items and explore dungeons. As well as that the story line is the usual fantasy story and believe me you’ll know the story. It takes a good few hours to really get fighting as you’re led through a lot of dialogue, and I mean a lot. It’s all voice acted, admirably so, but it is still frustrating when you want to dive in playing. When you get into combat its fast, intuitive and flows well, it’s just getting into combat. Finally, loading times are quick and do not fragment the game.

Sound:
As I noted above, there is full voice acting for main characters and it is well acted out. The games sound effects and music score is typical and what you expect from a game like this, but there is nothing wrong with it. It doesn’t distract or annoy.

Multiplayer:
Not many options here, if you find someone with the game, which I say good luck to, then you can battle each other in combat. No co-op or any modes other that what you’d expect.

Conclusion:
So should you buy MKJS? If you’re looking for a stable and well thought out RPG, then there is no reason not to. It’s a good game and won’t disappoint. If you’re not a fan of the genre then it just might be a bit too slow starting and not as enjoyable to someone who was a fan.