Sony Computer Entertainment Japan's Folklore mixes adventure, role-playing, action and even a touch of strategy to create a decent game, but the journey isn't always exciting.

This PS3 title takes place in Doolin Village, an isolated town in the heart of the mountains and cliffs of Sidhe. In this town it is rumored that those with the knowledge and the determination can speak to the dead under the right circumstances. Enter heroes one and two: one is a young woman named Ellen, who receives a mysterious letter from someone claiming to be her mother; the other is a reporter (we use that term loosely in this case) named Keets who writes for a paranormal magazine. Keets receives a strange call that promises a story beyond belief. Both seeking answers, they head off to this isolated village and begin to unravel a mystery, paths crisscrossing and story unfolding all along this bumpy journey.

In this village are clues to not only speak to the dead but cross-over -- under the right circumstances -- into worlds where fairies, monsters and spirits are as real as the bizarre inhabitants of the strange town these worlds seemed to be directly connected to. Keets seeks the fantastic, while Ellen seeks answers about the past. Both will find worlds within worlds - some beautiful and some horrifying.

The game divides play by day and night phases. During the day you play as either Keets or Ellen (after completing as one, you have the option to move forward or play out the chapter as the other), talking to the townsfolk, furthering the story, gathering clues and occasionally securing an object that will gain you entrance to the world of the dead. During the night you'll have to find your way into the rich fantasy land of the Netherworld, where you'll do all of your fighting and close out any loose ends in the story.

While the story being told here is pretty fascinating, the main characters prove to be the weakest links in the chain. Both are pretty one dimensional in personality and Ellen (whose vacant expression is almost unbearable to look at) in particular is about as emotional as a block of wood. This is due in part to the presentation, which is presented in a comic book pop-up style that doesn't do much to convey tone. Nonetheless the other characters in the game are very compelling and varied - from regular old vanilla townsfolk to the more fantastical beings and creatures that populate the Netherworld.

Folklore's story is pretty strong, though there are some hiccups along the way that will leave you scratching your head. For example, there's a point where Keet's guide tells him to ask someone a question, to which he replies "I am a reporter, I am trained to observe." What? There are a few moments like this where things don't make any sense due to strange dialogue.

I've mentioned adventure style gameplay but truthfully there is not a lot of it going on in Folklore. The adventure portion of the game consists of talking to people, securing a single object per chapter and delivering it to the right person or location to open up the Netherworld. That's basiacally all you do in Folklore during these segements. While this does drive the story forward as either Keets or Ellen, that's about all it really does in the grand scheme of things.