Brave Story: New Traveler proves that old adage about not being able to judge a book by its cover. A quick glance reveals -- at the very least -- a totally perfunctory role-playing game earmarked by all the standard hallmarks of the genre. Nearly mute main character poised to save the day (and the girl)? Check. Random battles? Check. 3-on-3, Final Fantasy-style turn-based battles? Check-a-reck-check. Everything the jaded roleplayer would expect is present and accounted for, from the previously mentioned clichés to the 3D world map to the somewhat stoic townspeople from whom you siphon supplementary information (meaning: It ain't no Knights of the Old Republic) to the jars and chests you open for items and money. At its core, Brave Story is a game that stays on the straight-and-narrow path paved by countless other "safe" RPGs like Wild Arms (pick one), Breath of Fire, and Dragon Quest. But extended time with Brave Story unearths something unexpectedly special: an RPG filled with poise, charm, and character.

Based loosely on Miyuki Miyabe's burgeoning manga/anime franchise, Brave Story is the 7-Up (the uncola) of RPGs. It's familiar enough for anyone to pick up and play without ever reading the instruction manual, but it offers enough to differentiate itself from the rest of the pack. Visually speaking, the game is splendid. Developer Game Republic (they of Genji, EveryParty, and the upcoming Folklore) has created a consistently detailed and vibrant world on the PSP (no small feat) that's conspicuously lacking in graphical shortcuts. Each character has real-time shadows (in lieu of the typical gray ovals seen in many RPGS), the backgrounds are littered with high-quality textures and details, the special effects are grand, and the camera angles are dynamic. Most surprisingly, Brave Story is fast-loading -- a tremendous boon, given the game's random battles. Everything loads quickly: From overhead map to battle, and from in-town exploration to walking in and out of shops and houses, the experience is unobtrusive and stress-free.

Unlike the manga, which focuses on the character Wataru (found in-game as a supplementary character), New Traveler centers around the new traveler Tatsuya (who can be renamed at the outset of the game) and his quest to save his friend Miki, who has fallen into a coma under mysterious circumstances. This simple premise shapes the quest that will easily take you a few dozen hours to finish, as the adventure expands and the world map grows. Each character -- every one of them loaded with quirky traits and idiosyncrasies -- is a treat to behold, whether you're examining lizardman Sogreth's detailed green-scale textures or smiling at catgirl Yuno's feline ear twitches, or simply keeping track of each character's sympathetic facial expressions and body language.

But what really makes Brave Story sing is the pacing. While the loading times certainly help, it should be noted that battles are fast, the menu options aren't overburdened with unnecessary choices, and the combat system's got enough special attacks (Bravura) and cooperative attacks (Unity) to make the game both visually appealing and strategically pliable. The more you level up, and as additional characters enter your party (and subsequently, the fray), new skills are learned and acquired at a reasonable pace, keeping things interesting without long stretches of undue repetition. Quest objectives are usually clear enough to spare you hours of aimless wandering, while the maps are pockmarked with adequate distinguishing marks to keep you from getting lost. Spicing up the downtime: the occasional "Bird Brawls," which function as light minigames, and an item-synthesis system that's easy enough for anyone to get the hang of, using materials that aren't a mighty MMO-style chore to track down. It should also be noted that Brave Story lets you switch between English and Japanese voiceovers, which is good -- although the English dub is fine (if Saturday-morning-cartoon quality), the Japanese just sounds cooler.

The short of it is that 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. It's gorgeous to look at, and you'll want to see it through to the very end. On a platform smothered with ports of games you've already played many times over (see: Final Fantasy), it doesn't take much for something original to stand out. But Brave Story doesn't merely excel when compared to its "been there, done that" competition -- it survives wholly on its own superlative, high-quality merits.