Enchanted Arms
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: FromSoftware
Genre: RPG
Release: April 3, 2007
Platforms: Playstation 3, Xbox 360
Reviewer: Eric
My first Playstation game I bought at a store was Enchanted Arms.
I rented this game before for the X-Box 360 and enjoyed it, played
it for the short time I had and enjoyed the different battle system
a lot. The story seemed a little lame and trendy, but I thought
it was real cool how you could fight your groups online, I forgot
this game had this feature just like Golden Sun for the GBA did. Well
when I bought the PS3 version I was happy to see that even more characters
were in the game, but it was missing the online feature. What?!?!?!?!
The online thing wasn't too upsetting, just seemed pretty weird for
them to take this feature out, but oh well, it isn't the end of the
world. Enchanted Arms offers forty or so hours of game play. The story
deals with revolting golems attacking people. We also learn about what
is so special about the main character, Atsuma's, arm. Been there done
that, but what I think is the best part of this game is the battle
system.
Turn based is the normal battle system in role playing games. Enchanted
Arms is turned based in ways, but in a new twist. Each side, good and bad,
get a 4x3 grid to move around. You only get so many spots to move, it all
depends on the characters movement. When you pick the spot you want to
stay on you then choose which attack you'd like to use, which only works
on certain sections of the grid. If Shinning Force and Final Fantasy were to
make a baby it would be this, but only Enchanted Arms battle system, since
the story is lacking.
Other than the main characters you get to join you in this game you
get to make golems. The majority of your team is made up of these
golems you create. Whenever you get their plans you just need the
right items and BAM you have a new person in your group. Some of the
human characters that join you are quite interesting, the most unique one
is the extra happy school student that uses a flute as a weapon. His lisp
is pretty bad at times, but you will most likely laugh at points, it's just
so crazy. Other characters voices are pretty weak, the voice acting isn't the
best. Enchanted Arms might be better played with some music in the background
or with the volume turned down, these voice actors just don't have that
"it" factor.
One of the biggest problems with this game is the menu screen. The
combination of the colors and the little animation in the background of
the menu screen, so bad. Half the time I am straining my eyes just to see
if I am picking the item or equipment section. Any time I put this game on
I am messing with the options, trying to see if playing with the brightness/darkness
makes a difference. It doesn't help, but I always mess with these options it
never fails. You will be reading the bottom description tags on the options
you are on for picking any of the selections, which shouldn't be the case
in any game. This also is pretty much the problem in the shop too, which
is a lot worse since you spend hard to earn money on skills or products.
The extra characters isn't the only special thing in the Playstation 3
version of Enchanted Arms. This game utilizes the Sixaxis...at points. The
pizza eating contest in the beginning lets you shake the controller back
and fourth to eat your pizzas, but I bought it more difficult doing it this
way. Special attacks are filled up by shaking the controller too, but this
is with the main character only. These ways might not be the best way to
use the Sixaxis, but they at least get some points for trying to make it
work.
Final Verdict
After reading all that do you want to know another neat thing about this game?
Did you see that picture towards the top? You so get to fight that pizza guy,
how cool is that? Beating up pizzas is pretty sweet, but the lack of story,
bad color choices for the options/shop screens, and horrible voice acting make
this game only mediocre. With the huge price on this game though, from $59.99 to
$19.99 it is a nice buy for RPG fans.
Rating
5 out of 10
