Konami made a very strange decision when it chose to release this game  in the U.S. While the selection of role-playing games for the PS2 is currently  limited, Konami could have selected from a number of strong RPGs it has  published in Japan. Instead, the company serves up a mediocre offering inEphemeral Fantasia, a game that's originality is negated by frustrating  and difficult gameplay, making it appealing only to hard-core RPG fans.Unlike most RPGs, you won't be controlling a warrior. Instead you follow the  adventures of a bard named Mouse. Some of Mouse's occupation-related tasks  include composing songs and playing rhythm games similar to Konami'sGuitar  Freaks. Most of the game has Mouse reliving the same day over and over  (thinkGroundhog Day). Although he's stuck in a time loop, he retains the  items and allies acquired each time he relives the day. It's an interesting  twist, but the plot eventually devolves into the usual saving-the-world drivel.The game's graphics aren't going to impress anyone--there are several PS One  games that look better. Further hampering playability are several lulls in the  game where you have to wait until a certain time before you can progress. This  wouldn't be so bad if there were engaging side quests for you to take, but there  aren't, so you're often stuck standing around town. When the action does pick  up, it's often brought to a halt by extremely long load times. These frustrating  aspects combined with the game's difficulty make it a poor choice for casual  gamers.--Raymond M. PadillaPros:Innovative combat systemSeveral attempts at originalityCool minigamesCons:Poor graphicsExcruciating load timesVery difficult