Do you remember the Wild ARMs series? It’s been awhile since we’ve seen the last Wild ARMs out on the PS2. It’s been… been… how long since the last one? I can’t remember when we’ve last seen a Wild ARMs game but now we got a brand new game out, so this is as good a time to jump into the series if you haven’t played it yet!

I can’t remember if the gameplay was different before, but as of this game Wild ARMs is pure RPG turn based strategy gaming. This game introduces a new combat system called the “hex” system. The system is simple to learn… you are deposited onto a seven hex field (one center, six in circular about the center hex). You and your allies simply have to move and fight across this short field against the monsters deployed against you. Because of this small field (and the many ways you can deal out punishment) you’ll find that combat is quick to learn, easy to master, and immediate which means you can get into the combat system with little muss and fuss which is a good thing.

The field is further advanced with three of the hexes representing elemental influence. Earth, Wind, Water and Fire. Standing on each influences your magic and special powers, which means your powers changes depending on which elemental hex you stand on. This, by the way, is important with your mega powers. Also there is a combo power system (where if two characters are standing on the same hex they can team up for a combo attack against enemies) but that, and the rest, is easy to learn.
This, by the way, is one of the best combat systems I’ve seen to date. With the hex system, magic, upgradeable skills and abilities and more you have abit of strategy and yet it’s easy to learn and master (and battles are quick to resolve unless it’s a major boss battle, but even that is easy to work out).

Character evolution is also easy to grasp. Leveling up your characters abilities is a snap, and getting the hang of all the nuances of the game set is way easy. You’ll find it easy to master and easy

to run with, and nothing about this game should give you the slightest bit of difficulty.
Modification of character weapons and armor is easy enough, just buy new stuff (though customization of gear is majorly light with only weapon/armor and badge add-ons (which increases as you grow more powerful)… but what about the ARM? The ARM, your main character’s weapon (Jude Maverick) is abit harder, requiring the locating of Alter Gears and Dragon Bones to alter and upgrade the ARM, but that is also easy to workout.

So what’s the story of Wild ARMs 4?
Jude is becoming a man, but his thrust into adulthood will become a painful thing when a mysterious ship crashes through the sky of his peaceful world and deposits soldiers which set events into motion that ruin Jude’s world. His world turns out to be a Paradigm City mega dome flying in the sky, and the real world turns out to be a sad ruined place. Ten years after the end of a war that probably took place in Wild ARMs 3 or so, the world is in anarchy and a sad sad thing. Into it has come Jude Maverick, a “drifter” named Armund, a mysterious girl who seems to be high on the wish list of the bad guys named Yulie Athraide (remember that name?) and finally a swordwoman in search of beauty named Raquel.
Somehow they all become involved in protecting the girl (Yulie) from her pursuers, who seem to need her to revive an ancient godlike weapon from beneath the planet… and they have Jude’s mom and the rest of his village captive to boot. Jude, obviously, is out to protect Yulie (and find his mom and the rest of his village), and nobody is going to stand in his way from doing just that.

One thing though… depending on who you are this might be a plus or a minus.
The game has a strong (and I do mean strong) anti-war message. Throughout the game the theme of the war of ten years ago is a constant, with anti-war messages and messages of how the world is grey (no black or white absolutes) coming up over and over again. Now, while this doesn’t drag the story

down into the nightmarish realm of endless cutscenes ala Xenosaga Episode II it does last abit at times. In fact sometimes it interrupts at weird times. You’re traveling through an area and sometimes the game just… stops… so that everyone can have a talk about whatever they’re thinking about, mostly the war, and while it’s not as bad as Xenosaga Episode II… it’s just a little off to have to stop for these while your in the middle of a journey.
Anyway yes we have this strong anti-war message in the game but that doesn’t mean the story suffers because of it. The story is good despite the fact it seems to fixate on it’s anti-war message abit, even to the point of interrupting the gameplay to have talk sessions about it or something related to it. After all it is a major plotpoint since the world is still recovering from the last devastating war so it makes sense, unlike the story of Xenosaga Episode II which didn’t have as much impact as this story.

Pick this up and you’ll find an easy to grasp, easy to learn game. But you’ll also find a nice challenge that’ll keep you playing for hours on end, with a story that’ll keep you going from area to area and battle to battle for hours. Nuff said, let’s break it down.

Wild ARMs Breakdown the 4th
What’s Hot?
It’s a rarity to find a good RPG that’ll keep you playing for quite awhile. Dragon Quest VIII, Digital Devil Saga, and now Wild ARMs 4. If you can get ahold of this game do it. From the easy to master Hex battle system, nice story, lovable characters and nice little twists of the storytelling knife here and there? Recommended.

What’s Not?
It might be abit short. Probably last at least a little over 20 hours from what I’ve played of so far but no more than 40 or so hours… but then again since I’ve seen RPGs under 20 hours this is a fair length game if I do say so myself (if it does last as long as it does from what I‘ve played from my week of reviewing it).
Also there are these points to consider…
- There is no room

for exploration. The game set a clear path for you to travel, one that you can’t divert from or stray away from, locked in firmly and solidly with no divergences.
- Replay value is a little light since there’s no chance for exploration, which means the story plays out over and over again the same way.

Moments to Remember?
The story, believe it or not. Though not so much the cutscenes of the enemies doing their plotting and such but of Jude and company. That and the mega powers including Yulie’s kickin’ “Material” ability, which summons up a powerful elemental creature (depending on what elemental hex she’s standing on) which can turn the tide of battle when you use it… so use it, especially during boss battles. Get Yulie to a elemental hex and quickly build up the meter to start unleashing ASAP!
Also the large amount of magic, combo powers, abilities to learn and use and so forth give you quite abit to mete out in battle which makes the game that much more deep and worth playing.

What to Ignore?
Let’s see… sometimes you’ll get a twist in the story that’ll throw you for a loop, and give you a plot you didn’t see coming… actually that’s good. Otherwise I kind of don’t like having to watch so much footage of what the bad guys are doing behind the scenes… did I need that much? But still it’s not a bad thing, at least the cut scenes (some with motion and voice acting and some as static screens with text) don’t drag on forever like the scenes from Xenosaga Episode II.

Overall?
Recommended. There isn’t a great deal of RPGs out now worth your time and effort to check out, but this is one of those gems that you simply must have on your collection ASAP. Check it, play it, own it.
Coming up, by the way, is the big three. The heavily anticipated trio of RPGs that we’ve been waiting forever for. The games that should have been out last year, but wasn’t.
For the PS2 it’s Final Fantasy XII and Kingdom Hearts 2.
For the GameCube… cross your fingers and pray… Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess.
More once they come on out and play… stay tuned.