Wild Arms is a basic Japanese RPG — a PS1 launch from when the console was on the top of its reputation. Sadly, at the very least right here within the West, Wild Arms was overshadowed by slightly recreation known as Ultimate Fantasy VII, and the property — which might go on to spawn 4 considerably divisive sequels and a few spinoffs — by no means actually took off in the way in which that Sq. Enix’s blockbuster franchise did.
The unique Wild Arms remains to be value enjoying at this time, although, even when components of it are tediously conventional. It tells the story of three essential characters, who find yourself travelling collectively throughout an nearly post-apocalyptic world. The sport has a distinctly 90s anime tone, and its setting combines fairly commonplace JRPG fantasy with some Wild West aesthetics. It is an intriguing mix of genres, even when the sport’s general story leans closely into the fantastical aspect of issues.
Certainly, the plot will not win any awards for originality — not even again in 1996 — nevertheless it’s advised with the sort of directness and allure that is so intrinsic to the identification of old-fashioned JRPGs. In comparison with trendy titles, there’s little or no dialogue, however characters categorical their personalities via gameplay particulars and their actions throughout essential story moments.
In basic JRPG trend, you roam from city to city, dungeon to dungeon, seeking the subsequent narrative beat. The construction is simple sufficient, however now and again, really understanding the place to go is usually a tiresome course of. You might need to talk to 1 very particular NPC, hidden away someplace in a city that feels far too massive. Or chances are you’ll want to go to a distinct location first, earlier than returning to the native pub and pursuing contemporary dialogue with the bartender. It’s going to attempt your endurance at occasions.
And naturally, you may be participating in a lot of random battles alongside the way in which. Fights are flip based mostly affairs, rendered fully in 3D — which was an enormous deal on the time. At first, fight is primary — maybe too primary. Initially, you might have entry to a traditional assault and simply a few particular talents, and it stays this manner for a great chunk of the sport’s 30-ish hour runtime.
Happily, fight lastly comes into its personal afterward, when your heroic trio have unlocked a wider vary of methods. Technique step by step turns into extra essential, as you utilise buffs, debuffs, and assaults that deal further injury to sure enemy sorts. Some boss battles could have you committing to significantly tactical play, though most simply require common therapeutic and frequent use of your strongest talents.
All advised, the fight system is about as unspectacularly strong as they arrive, however battles can positively drag. The pacing of those flip based mostly encounters is sluggish — particularly by at this time’s requirements — and whenever you’re working into random battles each 30 seconds or so throughout an already prolonged dungeon crawl, the expertise begins to grate. Fortunately, grinding is not an out-and-out necessity, though it may possibly definitely assist in direction of the latter half of the sport.
Presentation-wise, Wild Arms holds up fairly properly. The 2D overworld and sprite work nonetheless look engaging, and the music’s filled with understated earworms. Even the menus work properly — easy of their design and due to this fact straightforward to navigate all these years later.
Conclusion
Wild Arms is sort of a dusty outdated e book in online game kind. It is a bit crusty by at this time’s requirements and its fashion of storytelling appears outdated, however there’s an simple allure to the way it’s offered, and the artistic backbone of the expertise nonetheless holds up. Regardless of some tedious gameplay components and a battle system that does not really click on till hours into the journey, Wild Arms stays a basic PS1 title. It is a memorable journey throughout a uniquely desolate fantasy world.
