PS2

Wild Arms Alter Code: F

PuzzleRole-playing (RPG)

Time to beat: about 25 hours
Plays offline: Yes

Overview

Wild Arms is a role-playing video game developed by Media.Vision and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. The game was released in Japan in 1996, in North America in 1997, and in Europe in 1998. It utilizes 2D computer graphics for navigating the world and setting, while battle sequences are rendered in 3D.

Wild Arms takes place in the world of Filgaia, a setting which blends both fantasy and Western genres. In Filgaia, bands of miscreants and adventurers called Dream Chasers scour the world in search of excitement and fortune. The player assumes control of a party of three such adventurers. Rudy can operate powerful weapons called Ancient Relic Machines (ARMs), forbidden remnants of a lost age that resemble firearms; Jack is a wandering swordsman struggling with a past failure; and Cecilia is a princess with the power to communicate with Guardians, powerful spirits of Filgaia. The group must use their respective skills to navigate through the wastelands and dungeons of Filgaia, and prevent an otherworldly threat from reviving their lost leader and destroying the world.

Despite its release being somewhat overshadowed by the hype for the upcoming Final Fantasy VII, Wild Arms was a critical and commercial success. There were relatively few RPGs available for the PlayStation in the North American market at the time, giving Wild Arms a clear field. In November 2003, an enhanced remake titled Wild Arms Alter Code: F was released for the PlayStation 2 in Japan, with a North American version released in November 2005. Alter Code: F features a new graphical style, an expanded script, a remastered soundtrack, more playable characters, and additional gameplay scenarios.