PlayStation 2

Wild Arms 4

Wild ARMs 4 is the rare RPG that puts as much of an emphasis on fun as plot and character development. While the storyline is unoriginal and the characters stereotypical Japanese RPG heroes, the style the story is told in is strong enough to make it an enjoyable ride overall. That being said, as a fan of the Wild ARMs series since the very beginning I really hope this game was an aberration and not the direction the series is headed in as a whole. As enjoyable as this game was, now that it's been done I doubt future installments in the same mold will hold my attention the way this one did.

If you're willing to put that much effort into the extra content, the game easily doubles in length, but it can be tedious at times. Overall, though, Wild Arms 4 is a fairly enjoyable RPG. It's going to slip under the radar for most people, but it is worth the effort. It's a lot of fun to play due to the battle system and dungeon mechanics and even though it wanders too far into the realm of role-playing stereotypes at times, the plot and characters are reasonably enjoyable.

With optional boss fights and side quests, there is tons to do within Wild Arms 4 to make you keep playing. I’d rather explore the world of Filgaia though if that gives you any hint on how I loved the added exploration and adventure side of Wild Arms 4.

The Wild Arms series occupies that "cult" niche inhabited by all those turn-based games that aren't Final Fantasy, setting itself apart with elements of the old West like its sweeping frontier landscapes. It's a bit surprising, therefore, that Wild Arms 4 only lightly touches on the traditional Western themes of its predecessors, and instead favors a more futuristic world that's been thoroughly exhausted by war. In fact, while elements of the Wild Arms universe are still very much in effect--action and puzzle-solving in dungeons, mysterious drifters for hire, and the ARMS themselves--this installment of the series is a bit more adventuresome. The latest iteration of Filgaia has a somber feel to it, and an all-new hex-based battle system and character skills are good twists that are neat to play with. Wild Arms 4 adheres pretty closely to RPG convention, but it is still definitely worth a look for fans both old and new.

Well this is something different. If you've played the Wild ARMs remake Alter: Code F (or any other game in the series, for that matter), then XSEED's first official release, Wild ARMs 4 may seem like it's part of an entirely different series. The art style, the gameplay mechanics, and most obviously, the battle system are all big departures from the mythos of previous titles. Luckily, it's not quite the jumbled collection of ideas that a lot of "drastically different sequels" usually are -- it's actually pretty pleasant. That's the good news. The bad news is that it doesn't exactly set the bar for RPG action or storytelling.

Triste destin que celui de Wild Arms 4 qui risque de passer complètement inaperçu sous nos latitudes. Si vous aimez un tant soit peu le genre, ne boudez pas la sortie de ce RPG qui risque de vous étonner par la qualité de son système de jeu. Beaucoup de changements par rapport aux derniers volets de la série, mais les fans n'auront sûrement pas besoin de plus de quelques heures pour l'adopter sans regret.

Whether you call them drifters, dream chasers, or treasure hunters, anyone who has played an RPG in the last 10 years is familiar with the notion of the wandering warrior-for-hire. The Wild Arms series has made excellent use of this motif in the past, and the fourth installment is no exception. However, even with this and other familiar themes in place, Wild Arms 4 cuts ties with many old traditions – and still ends up where it started.

We've heard it all before: well-meaning but naïve teenager saves the earth and discovers himself along the way. In fact, at first glance, Wild Arms 4 would seem to be another generic RPG featuring characters with saucer-wide eyes and pleasantly spiked hair, rescuing the world one random battle at a time. But this time, it doesn't feel as trite as usual, thanks to a progressively complex story with political, scientific, and religious overtones that shadow modern social struggles. Here is a game not afraid to explore the shades of gray between right and wrong, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

If you’re a real fan of the series, however, there are special bonuses like that for you. If you like, you can even import your Wild Arms: Alter Code F data for additional treasure chests and other various niceties. But ultimately, you’re probably the only people who should be playing Wild Arms 4 at all. For everyone else, the character’s irrational beliefs make the story impenetrable, and the rest of the game doesn’t hold up well in the face of the PS2’s RPG library.

Apesar de não provocar nenhuma revolução, "Wild Arms 4" se esforçou para mudar e com isso vislumbrou caminhos interessantes. O sistema de exploração e quebra-cabeça do game é simpático, assim como as batalhas, que por enquanto é mais uma possibilidade que uma realidade. É tão simples que mesmo que não está familiarizado com um esquema mais estratégico não sentirá dificuldades. Os fiéis fãs provavelmente estão satisfeitos com o desempenho da Media Vision, mas, apesar de um título correto, não há impacto suficiente para atender aos demais jogadores.

Wild Arms 4 is one of the most bizarre RPGs ever created, and that's really saying something. After all, Shadow Hearts Covenant let you team up with a gay, transforming, masked pro-wrestling vampire whose weapon of choice was a mailbox. But WA4 manages to top it with seemingly no effort at all.

Essentially Wild ARMs 4 is an average RPG that half-heartedly tries to add a couple of new ideas, but these additions aren't done well enough and don't change the RPG formula enough to warrant much attention. Fans of the series may find something to enjoy, but more likely they'll be slightly annoyed that there's little here to actually qualify this as a Wild ARMs game.