Enchant Arm is your typical Japanese style RPG but with a next gen twist. The first thing that you are going to notice about this game is its graphics. While Japanese RPGs of the current generation try to emulate Anime rather then use the full power of a hardware Enchant Arms utilizes full 3D graphics with no anime in sight just like Final Fantasy X.
Second you would notice the bad English and probably bad voice over (I am playing the Asian version with Japanese voice overs and English text). With description like "Gay as a Goose" in the manual I started the game with very low expectation. The bad dialog will bore and scare off most gamers and damage the overall story but the story itself is is not bad. You just have to get past the initial few hours of "tutorial" segment and the constant "Clean out your ears and listed well... press the A button near the object" dialog.
Apart from the graphics the battle system is the most prominent, positive, and strong aspect of the game. The battle system is combined with monster/golem collecting (ala Pokemon) and alchemy (collecting ingredients to enchant/create a predetermined golem or item from its core) type engine that seems to be slapped on and that you could be found in almost every current Japanese RPG on the PS2.
Golem places up to 4 selected party members against up to 4 random enemies randomly placed on a 4x8 grid. Each team gets half of the grid (4x4). Apposing teams cannot cross to the other teams side. Each attack and support action has an effect area, a pattern of squares. The typical elemental rock, paper scissors engine (wind vs earth, fire vs water) is also present here. The battle and the character looks beautiful with beautiful animation. If you love CCGs this game could be for you.
The golem battles could also be fought on-line using random golems or golems that you have collected and trained throughout the game.
This game is what I would expect to come out in the current generation of Japanese RPGs after seeing games like FFX and Digital Demon Saga instead of Japanese RPGs that are trying to become interactive anime instead.
Overall Enchant Arm would seem like a battle strategy game with an RPG slapped on but the story, the game play and the graphics will keep some games hooked to the game till the end. Enchant Arm is not for everyone.
Create an Account
Member Login
