Role playing games are a rare commodity in this crazy, mixed-up world of Grand Thefts and Maddens. Games of the turn-based variety have been sparse in the US since the heydays of the Super Nintendo, and the recent release of Arc the Lad is a welcome addition to the Playstation2 lineup. With a mythical storyline backed with a quality soundtrack, Arc proves that not all RPGs have to start with the word "Final."
Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits
Platform: Playstation 2
Developer: Cattle Call
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
The basics: The game's graphics pull their weight, with plenty of captivating lands and levels to traverse and detailed character models and animations. Sound effects and background music take center stage throughout the game and play off of its epic feel. You'll often hear your party members talking about their next quest or mumbling about random events, giving you a feel for your group that you don't quite get with text alone.
Now, to gameplay. I'm a big fan of turn-based fighting, allowing the player ample time to get their wits together about the next course of action. Many RPGs that attempt to do their battles in real time often mean less strategy and more frantic button mashing. I applaud the bevy of items, choices of attacks, and a movement system that did everything Quest 64 tried to accomplish. I also especially appreciate the time to consider all the options.
The "combo" style attacks take you back to the days of Chrono Trigger, with a little bit of the "overdrive" spice from the Final Fantasy series. So what does all this geek gibberish mean? Never fear: The game teaches you as you go. After your first few fights, it will seem like you've been taking out orcs for years. The difficulty level keeps things interesting without becoming impossible. Most battles are scripted events, keeping random fights and leveling to a minimum. This scripted battle system takes away a bit of your exploration privileges, but leaves you in the sweet spot of difficulty throughout the entire game.
The only flaw this game may possess is its reluctance to move away from the standard mythical plot. Though well-executed, the storyline rarely deviates from wizards, warlocks and the evil humans with their impeding and unnecessary technology.
Perhaps this title is merely "staying true" to an idea or a world, but I'd like to see Arc and many other RPGs of this ilk play with the formula a bit - get some new settings, change the party and weapons up a bit. This genre lacks the variety of others (shooters, adventures, sports, etc), and will require some inventive ideas in the next few big-name titles (Xenosaga, FFXII, both due sometime in 2004) to give this style of gaming the boost it needs.
Originality aside, if you like your RPGs straightforward and action-packed, you'd be wise to give this lad a shot.
