Gameplay:
Always gotta start with the gameplay.
So as some may know, Wild Arms 5 brings back the Hex System from Wild Arms 4. I haven’t personally played Wild Arms 4 (watched my brother play it) so I can’t comment on how much improved it is between the two games. I can say that it’s used fantastically in WA5. The system manages both to be quick and strategic at the same time, a pretty tough feat for a turn-based system IMO. The game is fairly challenging as well and it makes fantastic use of the Hex battle system.
While the battle system itself is really good, the customization and skill system is kind of bland. You use Mediums again in this game; however, there are only a handful of them and they come as predefined roles. The characters only have one passive Personal skill as well so the difference between them basically is stats. It’s kind of disappointing because Wild Arms games up through WA3 had some great customization systems for a JRPG (some of the best IMO).
On the other hand, the world map for Wild Arms 5 is by far the best in the series. It’s very well designed. It’s really twisty and tons of secrets and items to find using the standard WA search system (although thankfully you don’t have to do that for towns anymore). It’s a standard overworld but the way it’s designed makes it feel pretty different.
The dungeon designs in the game are great although there are a few too many passageway dungeons that use the same general design. The dungeons are filled with really good puzzles too; I think the best in the series so far.
There’s also a TON of things to do in this game. Multiple secret dungeons, a ton of Puzzle Crystals (i.e. Millennium Puzzles but I don’t recall what they refer to them as in WA5), and a plethora of side quests. The game is really packed to the brim.
Graphics:
The graphics are really nice for this game. I was really surprised with it. The character models in the game are very nice looking, very detailed (for anime character designs, and very expressive. It helps give the characters a boost of personality that is kind of lacking in anime-styled RPGs.
The dungeon graphics are really nice, it’s a smooth 60 FPS (whereas the overworld is 30 FPS and with an odd sheen over it makes it look funky). The look of the dungeons is really nice as well but there isn’t a huge variety of environments.
Sound:
Very nice voice acting in the game and good music. Not much else to say.
Story & Characters:
Ah, the potatoes to the gameplay’s meat. I’m a big fan of WA games but the stories are generally really disappointing because they fall apart in the second half. However, WA5 bucks the trend and provides a really good story from start to finish. It’s a little corny at times but it manages to mix Sci-fi and the Wild West theme well, something only the Wild Arms TV series has done prior to this. It also has a few really cute storytelling methods to it that I really liked and I would definitely like to see in future games.
The story could be a little more developed in some areas though and I kinda felt like there could’ve been more before the finale of the game. For example, I was kind of hoping for more in the character development and development of the world because it’s a pretty interesting situation the game is in.
WA5 sticks with the trend of having a great overall cast. All the characters have pretty good personalities and don’t stick out too much like a sore thumb. I particularly liked Rebecca who’s a character that isn’t really seen in prior WA games. I definitely liked the rest of the cast as well but Rebecca kind of stood out for me.
On the flipside, I kinda felt like the character development could’ve been better. Most of the characters have their own stories in the game but some of them don’t feel developed as far as they should be. The characters themselves are great so it makes it a bit more disappointing.
Random Musings:
This game also has a lot of things for WA fans. Many of the characters from previous games show up in this as NPCs and it’s really neat to seem them all. For anyone that’s going to play the game, keep your eyes peeled for them.
As I’ve said to a few people that have asked me about my avatar,
this game is basically Skies of Arcadia without the suck.
The similarities are almost ridiculous. I’m not talking like story though. I’m mostly referring to the feel of the game and the little touches to it. For example, when you’re reading the dialogue, you’ll occasionally get a sound bite like the ones you hear in SoA. It’s either a confirmation or a character quirk or a grunt. Then there are the three main characters, Dean, Rebecca, and Avril who mirror Vyse, Aika, and Feena. There are a lot of similarities in their personalities. The secondary lines of characters (Greg, Chuck, and Carol) are also a bit reminiscent of the support characters in SOA.
Then there’s the emphasis exploration. While WA5 doesn’t have the landmarks and things to find like in SOA, the game is built so there’s an urge to explore the land and find various things. There’s a lot of treasure in the game so you’re well-rewarded for looking around.
At any rate, if you have any questions, just ask. I didn't know what to write about without going into explaining everything about the game. >_>
I highly recommend this game though to fans and new people as well.
Cambio titolo
è uscita troppa roba
Cloud_88
), ma vista la mostruosa mole di jrpg da giocare questo mese (Persona 3 da finire, Growlanser 5 da adorare) credo che WA5 lo terrò in riserva per ora ^^
