Editing Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure (section)

==Gameplay==
When starting a new game, the player can select a game difficulty (easy, normal, or hard), which affects how long it will take to finish the game. The player selects different places on the world map and encounters [[random encounter]] battles, such as in the ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' series. Unlike most [[Console role-playing game|RPG]]s, the player can save at any time, except during battle.<ref name="rhapsody1">{{cite book | year=1999 | editor=Atlus staff | title=Rhapsoday: A Musical Adventure instruction manual | publisher=Atlus | id=SLUS-01073 | page=8}}</ref>

An oft-mentioned point of appreciation is its relatively unique plot premise and flow. ''Rhapsody'' is a theatrical [[Musical theatre|musical]] in regard to its presentation style, containing frequent cut scenes that are sung, rather than simply spoken and acted. Players are given the option of listening to the lyrics and voice-overs in Japanese, English, or muting them entirely.<ref name="rhapsody1"/> Hidden throughout the game are high-quality illustrations of characters, which can be viewed any time through the item menu.<ref name="Hardcore_Gaming_101" />

===Battles===
The battles are fought in a [[tactical role-playing game]] fashion. However, unlike other games in this genre, the battles tend to last less than a minute, with the exception of boss battles, and require little tactics. This makes the game stand out in its genre and may have also led to its limited mainstream success with more [[Hardcore gamer|hardcore players]] of the genre.<ref name="Hardcore_Gaming_101" />

[[File:Rhapsodybattle.png|thumb|left|Battle scene]]

Cornet is the main character, but mainly offers support in battle-puppets that are found throughout the game do most of the fighting for her. Kururu never actually fights in any battles in the original, though she does in the remake for the DS. Each character learns different skills as they level up, except Cornet (in the original only), who has attacks called Rewards. Cornet can blow her horn during battle to power up the puppets and gain appreciation points, which allow her to unleash these devastating techniques. Most Rewards are represented by foods, such as flan, cake, and candy.

Like in most tactical RPGs, each character has a certain move number and can attack at a certain distance. Most party members can only attack at close range, unless he or she has a long-range skill. Each character can also equip three accessories and use items. The game features some normal status problems (sleep, paralysis, etc.) like in most console RPGs, but has some original ones too, such as frog and philanthropy. Each enemy also has an element (thunder, wind, earth, fire, water, dark, holy) and a weakness to the opposite element.<ref name="rhapsody2">{{cite book | year=1999 | editor=Atlus staff | title=Rhapsoday: A Musical Adventure instruction manual | pages=16–19 | publisher=Atlus | id=SLUS-01073}}</ref> Each element has its own set of spells, which can be used to take advantage of such weaknesses. 

Unlike in most tactical RPGs, instead of gaining experience points each turn, all the characters get the same amount of points at the end of battle. After earning enough experience points, the character will level up and become stronger and possibly learn a spell.<ref name="rhapsody2"/> There are also skill points, gained when a character strikes the finishing blow. The more of these points a character has, the higher his or her critical rate becomes.<ref name="rhapsody2"/> Inotium, the in-game money, is also won after every battle. Occasionally monsters will join Cornet after they are defeated. These monsters can then be used in battle, like puppets, and can use special monster abilities.