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Pretty good, but lacks in some areas.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 7 / 10
Date: October 19, 2002
Author: Amazon User

The "Wild Arms" series has never been one of my favorites but it's also not too bad. It takes place in a refreshing "wild west" setting which is a healthy break from typical RPG scenery. The battle system hasn't changed much in this installment save having to reload your ARM(weapon) in battle. The story starts off just like the others in the series: You play as every main character by themselves and learn the story of how they teamed up before the real adventure begins. The music has some good tracks but a few of them can get really annoying. The constant whistling in some of the songs can drive you out of your mind sometimes. The intro movie also isn't as compelling as Wild Arms 2. The story line seems a little different. You assume the role of Virginia, a novice Drifter who sets out into the Wastelands to help the people that she encounters....Most enemies take about one or two hits before dieing. The boss encounters require one extra tactic that varies between each boss but is still relatively easy. The cel-shaded graphics look better than alot of other cel-shahded games which is a nice touch. The puzzles are well balanced. Some are easy while others are mind-numbingly hard. You have to use all of the different character's Tools, special items that aid you in some way, to solve different puzzles and to get past certain obstacles. Overall the game is good for novice RPG gamers or is you're looking for something a little different.

The third installment turns up a winner.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 11 / 12
Date: October 21, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Having waited for "Wild Arms 3" for quite some time, and considering the minimal promotion behind it (seen any screenshots online? I doubt it), I seriously didn't know what to expect. But I am happy to see that the attributes that made the first game great, and even gave some quality to part 2, are alive and well in part 3.

The first thing you'll notice is the cell-shading graphics, which you will either love or hate. I am not familiar with how cell-shading works, but it gives the game a cartoony, almost hyper-reality feel. I think the graphics are nicely done, with fluid animation and colorful characters and enemies alike. The settings are nicely detailed, and the camera is nice and easy to control. The cell-shading might turn a few people off, as it is already doing with the latest installment of Zelda for Gamecube, but as with all RPGs you need to look beyond the graphics. The music is also excellent, hailing from the composer of the first two games. Veteran "Wild Arms" players will notices quite a few familiar tunes, especially in battles. My one gripe in the sound department is the lack of voice acting, which would have greatly enhanced the gameplay, as it did in "Final Fantasy X". Otherwise, it is pleasing to the eyes and ears.

Storyline wise, it is very similar to the first "Wild Arms", with each character having a separate story that the player goes through before they all meet up. I like that because it nicely sets the stage for events that happen later in the game. The game is set in a fantasy version of the Wild West, but don't expect any "High Noon" moments. One thing that will attract the more seasoned RPGamers is the turn-based battle system, which is almost identical to the first "Wild Arms". In "Wild Arms 3", you have the ability to use a variety of magic and, as a nice twist, the ability to summon guardian powers. This is an idea that has been used countless times before, but somehow works on a whole new level here.

The control in "Wild Arms 3", again, is almost identical to the first game, with the ability to dash by holding down the X button, and the square button uses the tool command, so whatever tool you have equipped is that you can use. The camera is controlled quite easily by the L1 or R1 buttons, which does a smooth 360 when held down. One noticeable improvement in this installment is the menus, which are much easier to navigate, thus making it easier to find what you are looking for. My only complaint here is that your characters cannot jump, and jumping down from a ledge is a chore, because you have to push the directional button twice. Overall, the control needed little improvement in the first place, and is a simple learning curve on the first time playing.

"Wild Arms 3" fares quite in 128-bit, and is a fine addition to the fast-growing PS2 library of RPGs. Despite what others might tell you, the cell-shading graphics are very nice, and this is by no means a cartoon game. Fans of the first two games will feel at home here, but the challenge of dungeon-crawling and battling will please almost any gamer, regardless of taste.

I bought it based on the cover but there's SO MUCH MORE

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 15 / 19
Date: October 24, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Ahhh, nothing quite as exciting as when a new anime rpg hits the scene. But does Wild Arms 3 deserve your hard-earned money or could it be spent better elsewhere? IMHO passing up this game would be a HUGE mistake!

First of all, EGM reviewed Wild Arms 3 and gave it some lack-luster comments and rating. This didn't stop me from buying the game, but it raised questions as to the overall fun once the wicked cut scenes wear out.

When you first put in WA3, the cell-shaded graphics stand out. If you haven't played a game that utilizes this new approach to video game animation, you've got to see it.

The story line and progression is standard RPG fare with some innovation. No cheesy voice acting (a la FFX); in fact, the text based conversations are more advanced than anything I've seen. The "ASK" system lets you dynamically branch the conversation subject mid-conversation (by using different buttons to talk with).

The battle system isn't lacking at all. You have character-specific abilities, customizable weapons, etc. The turn-based progression plays out with MUCH more dynamic character movement. FFX you have monsters on one line and characters on another and everyone takes turns hitting each other (like a napolean style battle). WA3's battles are chaotic with monsters chasing characters and changing directions constantly.

The play control is superb. Running and sliding is easy to master, there are tons of ways to interact with your surroundings. You can "scan" the area for key items illuminating them for a second if they were line-of-sight.

Game saving is not as generous as some RPGs. You must EARN the right to save any-where any-time or contining by getting tokens. The only thing I can compare this to is Resident Evil where you are finding typewriter ribbons.

I could go on, but this review is already too big! BUY THE GAME, if you like either RPGs OR anime, you'll agree WILD ARMS 3 is the BEST!

Frustration thy name is Ragu O Ragla...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 8
Date: November 08, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Ok,so I had the honor of playing WA3 when I spent that night at my friend's house and he was in THE ABYSS, the hardest area in the game. The game's cartoony cel-shaded graphics are very well rendered, and there's a surprising amount of detail in the facial expressions when they attack, cast a spell, get hit, etc. The characters themselves are well constructed (Gallows and Jet being my two favorites), and although the spell effects are less than spectacular, the innovative "Reload" combat system more than made up for it. Also, the ability to switch out "Runes" in mid combat is VERY useful, especially when fighting tough bosses, like Ragu O Ragla (a name that should sound familiar to Wild Arms veterans) who seriously, SERIOUSLY takes about, oh say, 4 HOURS TO BEAT!!!! The main strategy would consist of giving Clive the Elemenatal Ward and Finest arts rune, and Gallows mainly Magic defense rune... Well, I'll let you people figure it out, but be warned that the 2nd Ragu O Ragla has, literally over 1,000,000 HP. Anyway, I thought the one of the COOLEST things in the game is the Horseback battles, where you are riding on horses and the enemies are running alongside you. Trust me, it looks great. The music also fits VERY well with the Old West setting. When presented with the choice of buying this or Suikoden 3, I'd have to pick this. Buy it. Now. You won't regret it.

My first Wild Arms game and its now one of my favorite RPGs!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 17 / 19
Date: November 21, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This is my first Wild Arms game, everybody told me it was a great series and ya know what they're right! This is a great game that shouldn't be overlooked, and that EVERY RPGer should consider trying out.

First of all, the game is a more traditional RPG. What I mean by that, is that you walk around on the world map and gain levels the old-fashioned way or in my opinion the way an RPG on the console should be. More exploration of the world than other RPGs out there (Grandia games come to mind) and you can explore the world at your own pace instead of having to be at the end of the game to do it (FFX comes to mind).

The games battle system presents something new to me. Again, its a more traditional turn based RPG battle system. Much like Lunar and Legend of Legaia and that sort. You select all your characters actions and then watch tbe battle progress. It make you be more strategic, but like most battle systems if you exploit this then the game becomes to easy. The battle animations and Camara angles are spectacular. You can even battle on horseback and in a giant sand craft making it more enjoyable.

Now for the juicy parts. The Cel-shaded graphics are beautiful! They're astounding even if it does give it a cartoon like look it makes it look more amazing. The cutscenes are also fantastic...just wish they had more of them. Now for the next bit of juice, the storyline. The story is absolutely brilliant. The only problem with it is that some parts of the storyline move really slowly, but the story does shed some originality.

The "field" system in this game is quite unique. You can use tools and you actually need to reveal the town/dungeon to actually go into it. Also you can pick up stuff as well and throw it. The puzzles are quite interesting and complex and you actually have to think on them. Also you have an encounter gauge that goes down if you want to avoid battles. Pretty cool.

Character developement is actually pretty well done. Each character has their own indiviual personality and are adventuring for their own personal reasons. Also, something new to me in an RPG (I understand for those who've played WA2 this isn't though) is that you play through each main characters prolouge to see just how they got there...to me thats pretty new.

Now my small gripes. As mentioned the story does move slow at times. Also, there's the fact that the world map screen doesn't exactly help you locate that many towns...you have to discover them first making the World Map utterly useless. Lastly is that the game just WAY to easy near the end.

OVERALL
The good stuff
+Brilliant storyline
+Great Characters
+Amazing Cel-shaded graphics
+Great camara angles
+Amazing Battle animations and cinematics
+Great Interface
+Nicely done "field" system
+Tons of side quest and hidden bosses

The bad stuff
-Not enough cinematics
-Story moves slow at times
-Near the end the game is just too easy

-In the beginning the world map is useless

Overall I give the game a five even with the little gripes (even FFVII and CT had cons). The game is a great game to own espcially if you're an RPGer, Zelda and Final Fantasy aren't the only two RPGs out there ya know.

horrible...just horrible

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 11
Date: November 24, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Well I am very disappointed...very.
Here are the bad things.
- Horrible graphics
- corny storyline
- no real voices
- same old battle system.

what else? Well for one the graphics repeat, the music is very annoying..it just keeps playing over and over the same part, and they don't even explain the complicated menus..you have to figure it out for yourself. The graphics are flat, and more like cartoon characters..obviously the creaters tried to make it look "cute" and save some time and $$. There is a reason it's cheaper than the other games..because it is cheap. it isn't worth the rent money either..

What were they thinking!?

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 7
Date: December 08, 2002
Author: Amazon User

First off,I want to say that I loved wild arms 1 and 2;as such I was expecting to love wild arms 3....WHAT A DISSAPOINTMENT!

One extremely annoying new "feature" was the random battle encounter gauge.Unlike 2 where you would get a "!" above your head so that you could run away from a random battle,WA3 only lets you do this 10 times,then you HAVE to fight.

Another bad feature was the fact that everyone uses guns;you can hit with your fists(when your out of ammo)but it does such lame damage that it's not even worth trying.Also the personal skills system was changed for the worse(having to equip an item,fight so many battles and then having the item dissapear after you've learned the skill)

The characters and the story were also short of my expectations for the series.While janus & co.(bad guys) were sometimes funny and sometimes despicable,they were nowhere near as great as say liz & ard from part 2.The game also felt like it was TRYING to make a story just to give you a point to do things,whereas the previous two installments had great stories to them which also just happened to be games.

The only good thing about this game is the graphics;not the ahh and ooo 3D type,but the fact that all of the characters looked like they were hand painted with water colors,and that was impressive.The only noticable music in the game was the traditonal wild arms opening that's heard during the train scene after you play all four character intros.The very start was sung in voices with a hymn-like effect;very nice.Everything afterward is just hum drum,average run-of-the-mill.

All in all Wild Arms 3 is just another video game sequal that bombed!

Well....

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: December 24, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I was realy excited to get this game, I thought it looked realy good and worth while to play. but theres just something missing. I dont know if its just me...but having no cinematics is a major downfall in my opinion. plus the story just isnt that gripping..i dont realy care what happens next. the battle system is pretty good but the camera and the fact that theyre constantly running in pointless circles gets annoying...stand still for christs sake! the summons are cool and the graphics are ok. it just seems so generic. theres nothing that makes it stand out as a good game. the story isnt realy that great...it would seem as though they whipped this game up in a hurry. much like every other rpg i have played on ps2...it seems theyve been dumbed down for some reason. the games just dont compare to games on the old ps like lunar 2 and ff7. i hope beyond hope that this streak of dumbed down rpgs will end and we'll see another rpg experience like lunar 2 only for a new generation. but this game certainly isnt it.

More than it seems

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: December 30, 2002
Author: Amazon User

You know, this game isn't as bad as some people make it seem. I thought it would be just another weird RPG game. I was attracted to the cell-shaded graphics (they look great, by the way). Its kind of weird at the beginning, but it gets better as you play. People get mad over having to do random battles after your "ecn" gauge goes to zero are dumb. You can 'easily' avoid most battles, and if you get tired of the same monsters attacking you can turn on auto-battle. WA3 is an above-average game, pretty fun and sometimes challenging.

.....

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 41
Date: January 14, 2003
Author: Amazon User

THis is one of the werst games i've ever played. the game play is horable. o man...(sry to the fans of this game this is just wat i think) i would not sug jest you buy this game it is a waist of money.

Thats all for me.

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