Wild Arms Alter Code: F

"Wild arms Alter Code F: More like a C-"

When I first played the original wild arms, I remember thinking it was an okay game. The graphics were nothing to write home about even in those days and the music was quite catchy. Alter Code F, now many years later, a next gen system later and a lot of advancements in the RPG genre later. . Still manages to deliver about the same thing.

Since this is a port of the original PS1 game, it's pretty much impossible to go into this without comparing it to the original. However if you're like me, and haven't played the first one in a long time, you probably don't remember the original very well. Still if you are a fan of the series, this game will seem instantly familiar because it borrows a great deal from Advanced 3rd.

Graphics:
Like the original when it came out on the ps1, it was graphically pleasing while nothing to write home about. This game isn't a direct port, so the graphics are updated and even a completely new style. How you feel about the style will be a matter of taste, but any screen shot will more or less give you a feeling for that. The graphics are not great by the standards we might rate current games being released for the ps2, but they do the job. There are more cut scenes in this game (which isn't hard considering the first had all of one), but comparing it to the third, I would say it hardly takes any steps forward at all. It looks so much like the third that on more than one occasion I couldn't shake the feeling that it was the third I was playing. Even with the anime intro sequences; though I haven't seen any exit sequences which made the third seem like a television show. It would seem to me that this game, as a port is more or less a compilation of the achievements all the others before it, without breaking any new ground. Like I said, nothing to write home about.

Sound:
Alright, the music is the same from the first, only re-done with newer technology. Thank god for that. However the original did have excellent music for its time - and could arguably be one of its best features - this is not going to be the case this time around. The old songs received some polish and some new songs are likely added here or there, though I don't remember every track from the original – so it's going to be basically the same experience. That satisfies the port side, but from the side of someone walking into this for the first time, the music is going to probably disappoint. Let's face it, the melodies are still good, but the technology is only just good enough in this addition to the series. It is synth sound in an age where a lot of games are coming out with orchestrated - or well enough faked sound that you can't tell the difference. The music in this game feels just a little old.

Moving onto sound effects, once again they get the job done, but they don't add anything to the game. At least it can be said they don't detract, however when we move onto the voice acting. . . Oh wait, there isn't any. Well at least there isn't bad voice acting, but none at all, that's pushing things a little considering very few rpgs these days go way of the silent movie anymore. Perhaps that's because silent films suck. Gamers have a right to expect more.

Game play:
Right, well by now we're to the foundation of the RPG. From the field system to the dungeon system it's advanced 3rd all over again. If you don't know what that means I'll explain. Oh the field you have the ability to 'search' which reveals hidden things within a certain area whenever you press a button. I had mixed feelings about this in the first place and continue to now, this is because positioning yourself in the right place to search for the next location you need to go to can be very frustrating and get old fast. There is no way to avoid random encounters on the world map and they are fairly common, this is kind of annoying too. The dungeon aspect of the game includes a lot of interesting things that carry over from previous games. You can run, sneak or walk, all of which have their time and place, you can use a variety of tools for puzzles, you can pick up and throw objects and sometimes you even have to use objects from your inventory. This makes the dungeon environment a lot more interactive than your typical RPG even by today's standards. I would say that coupled with the ability to avoid random encounters with the click of a button makes for a fresh dungeon crawl experience. Yes this was present in wild arms 3, but not too many other companies have picked up on ideas like this yet. If it isn't broken don't fix it.

Now onto combat. Here we see the same system as in the first wild arms, people move around as if it were real time, but it is actually turn based. They might as well be lined up as in final fantasy games, though this is more interesting to watch. You can choose to attack, defend, use items or use skills. There is really nothing ground breaking here and in most cases for random battles that means doing nothing but clicking attack. Very tedious. Luckily they added an auto battle feature which will do that for you. It's nice and has been around since the first game, however if you know your battle system is a little too simple and feel the need to put in that feature, you should consider making a new battle system. No real steps forward or backward. A lot of companies are experimenting with combat systems and a lot are coming up with unplayable games as a result. At least this one works.

Now story, the foundation of every RPG. You will find the same story as in the first wild arms. However if like me you forgotten most of it, or you simply never played it then you might ask, well what does that mean to me? Well actually, it's good news. The original wild arms story is a good one and this time around they added more playable characters and a lot more small interactions. Where as before a character might have had a simple one liner, now we have more back and fourth dialogue and facial expressions. This means more character development and more of the slice of life moments. IMO this aspect is the biggest step forward this game has made. Smaller interactions make the story more interesting, which for an RPG means a better game.

Conclusion:
If you are a fan of the series, this game is probably worth your time, if you are unfamiliar with the series, this game might be a little too dated in graphics and sound for you, however it might still be worth your time to at least consider. There is always the rental store if you are not sure.

P.S.
The version I bought came with an episode of the Wild Arms Anime. This is not incentive to buy the game, as the wild arms anime has virtually nothing to do with the series in addition to being an awful anime not worth watching. Why couldn't they of just packaged this game with a soundtrack instead?

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 11/21/05