Wild Arms 2 (PlayStation)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 2.5 stars OK
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 5.4 (2.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Peter Bartholow
• Reviewed on: 05/04/2000
• Updated on: 05/08/2000
• Released on: 04/30/2000
• Originally published on GameSpot: Wild Arms 2 (PlayStation) Review

Released during the "Great RPG Drought of 1997," the original Wild Arms was an oasis of adventure in a world almost completely without alternatives. While it was a pretty generic RPG overall, players' standards were low and the title was welcomed. Wild Arms 2 is equal in caliber to the original title, and it suffers the burden of comparison in a market flooded with better alternatives.

Welcome back to the world of Filgaia... sort of. While the world retains the same name and other similarities, Wild Arms 2 is not really a sequel but rather a separate story set in the same universe. A new army recruit, Ashley, is transformed into a hideous demon in a dimensional experiment conducted by unknown foes. As the experiment's only survivor, Ashley joins the war-hero-turned-criminal Brad and the bumbling magician Lilka in the newly formed ARMs special forces. Determined to uncover the evil that twisted Ashley's body and soul and prevent further experimentation with the dark parallel universe, the group finds a far greater conspiracy, which, of course, threatens the entire world. Ashley, Brad, and Lilka will be joined by other adventurers on their journey, and each will have unique powers and perspectives on the coming disaster.

Like the original Wild Arms, Wild Arms 2 combines standard random-encounter-based RPG gameplay with Zelda-like dungeons and puzzle solving. Each character in the three-person party has a handful of tools and skills at his or her disposal for manipulating the environment and solving the plethora of simple puzzles. Dungeons are viewed from a 3D rotatable three-quarter view, and manipulation of the camera is required to find exits, chests, and puzzle elements alike.

Beginning with the most blaring and over-the-top fanfare to grace an RPG, Wild Arms 2's combat system is, ironically, slow and unexciting, not to mention strategically nontaxing. The characters have a variety of attacks at their disposal, such as magic and the use of ARMs weapons. Magic and ARMs attacks require the use of force points (FP), built up by giving and receiving damage. Throw in the concept of magic as a virtually unlimited resource, and you've got an easy game. In a nod to the Final Fantasy series, Wild Arms 2 features a variety of interesting character-customization options. "Guardians," similar to Final Fantasy VIII's Guardian Forces, can be equipped to modify your stats and grant additional powers, including the ability to summon great beasts into battle. As in the first game, magic spells are scribed onto crests found throughout the game, and they let you fully customize a relatively small spell library. New to Wild Arms 2 are personal skills, which are status-enhancing abilities that can be purchased with a pool of skill points accrued throughout the course of the game. Personal skills include resistance to status effects and decreased FP usage. While character customization is always welcome, Wild Arms 2 just isn't difficult enough to really warrant this level of tweaking, so the point is fairly moot.

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