Infin8's Full Review: Wild Arms 2 for PlayStation 1
Wild Arms 2 is a wonderfully enjoyable game, it's creativity, challenge, and style are fantastic examples of the RPG genre. As with any other RPG the game can be rated with the simple system of the three P's Puzzles, Powers, and Plot. First on the list is Puzzles; this category is sort of tricky because some very good games (Final Fantasy Tactics, Front Mission) rely on battles to build the story with out dungeons to walk through and also the puzzles differ from the adventure style (e.g. find the chest with the key to open the door) to the puzzle style (push the block over the switch to open the door). Wild Arms 2 uses both adventure and puzzle elements in it's game play. It has many fun puzzles that rely on the TOOL system. Tools are special tools (duh.) that only some of your players can use a pair of hard boots, a treasure radar (amusingly named "Booty Call") and later on even a magical microphone are just a few of the 18 available tools for the six main playable characters. These tools assist in flipping switches, crossing gaps, and (most importantly) breaking stuff to help beat puzzles of both kinds. The puzzles in this game are top notch and are possibly the best part of the game.
The powers category relates to the battle system for the game. This is where Wild Arms 2 lacks a bit. While the creatures and bosses are interesting even the toughest encountered during normal play is fairly easy and if level gain is kept consistent then most pose little to no problem. While the enemies are fairly easy this does not entirely ruin the battles. The different abilities of the characters; from the use of big guns called ARMS, to martial arts, to the three different styles of magic available are varied enough in style and growth (adjusting the ARMS as opposed to just finding new weapons). The Force Point system allows for almost unlimited use of spells without giving unlimited power. Since it relates to the number of times you have hit or have been hit by an enemy a magic user may be forced to make a physical attack to gain the points to do an impressive spell this adds more strategy to the use of special powers. Another thing that modifies the battles are the Guardians spirits that can be equipped to each character. When the ability "combine" is used a powerful spell is created with the help of the game's cute mascot Pooka (which is a rather difficult to describe combination of a mouse, a lion, and the color purple.) Once the battle is finished the characters can make haste to the nearest town where they can buy items, (except the ones that heal you...ARGHHH!!!)Improve their weapons or spells, and learn new Personal Skills. The Personal Skills system allows players to put one point per level in selected categories (most cost more than one point so careful planning of where the points will go is a good idea) these personal skills improve things like the critical hit rate or resistance to the games various status ailments. Overall the battle system is well thought out and if the enemies were a little tougher it would be superb.
Finally the Plot, this category is pretty self explanatory; Does the game have a good story? This is probably the most important category for a truly good RPG (after all if you wanted all action and no story there's some first person shooters and fighting games you should look into) I really enjoyed the story of WA2 the characters were interesting and the story was, while a touch confusing at times (due mostly, I think to translation problems), well written and entertaining. Will it win the Oscar for best original screenplay? No. would it make a pretty fair anime? You betcha! And speaking of anime the sequences at the beginning of the disks are...wow...I mean...WOW!! Some of the best looking stuff I've seen since the Mononoke Hime. (More on that in a different review ^_^) Even if for some reason you don't like the game you should finish the first disk just to see the disk two opening.
Right, so, this game's got a good plot, pretty good battles, and lots of fantastic puzzles. Definitely one of the best RPG's to come out in the past year. Way to go Sony!
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