Publisher: Developer: ESRB Rating: Console: Genre: SCEA Contrail/SCEA Everyone PSone RPG - Overall: 8.5 Graphics: 7.5 Sound: 8.5 Gameplay: 9.5 Durability: 10

Another great role-playing game from Sony CEA is Wild Arms 2.  It is a game with many intricate puzzles and stories.  It a great sequel to it's sibling, Wild Arms.  Many improvements have been made, and the game deserves a great rating.

We'll start by explaining the gameplay.  Wild Arms 2 has gameplay unique to most role-playing games.  The battle system has a genuine unique quality as well.  There can only be three people in your party in a battle; but gamers can always switch their characters when they battle.  This can help manage the party better when they are in need of assistance.  The environments in battles are also unique, as they portray the environment which the party was originally walking in.

Many abilities are available in Wild Arms 2.  The best part about the battle system is that MP, or magic power, is not needed.  All the stamina is represented in FP, or fighting power.  As the party attacks the foe, the fighting power increases.  When magic or ARMS weapons are used, the FP does not decrease.  ARMS weapons are the most unique abilities of the game.  The main character, Ashley, and one of his sidekicks, Brad, are the ones who can use ARMS weapons.  ARMS weapons are the equipment placed on the two party members, used to attack the foes.  The ARMS come as soon as the game is started, but abilities for use with ARMS are found throughout the game.  The nicest battle designs are shown when level techniques are used.  As characters proceed through the game, they get new level techniques.  Some get an ability called "Combine," the move with the high graphics.  This moves allows multiple characters in battle to use a combined move to create a massive obliteration.

Abilities aren't only used in battle in Wild Arms 2.  To solve the subtle puzzles around, special abilities can be used.  These abilities can be learned by finding them in treasure chests.  Each character can learn several abilities to be used out of battle, so there are many ways to solve puzzles.  Some abilities used out of battle help you find new items, get things out of the way, or even getting through them.

Since Wild Arms 2 incorporated abilities of battle in their game design, they could make more adequate puzzles.  Usually, the puzzles in Wild Arms 2 have one hidden characteristic.  They always have cryptic messages roaming around the area; giving hints to the party, or discouraging them.  Sometimes the hints are so convoluted, it takes hours to figure them out.  The puzzles found in Wild Arms 2 may not favor everyone's style, but they are favorable to those who are obsessed with puzzles or are partially.

The graphics in Wild Arms 2 have advanced greatly from its prequel.  However, they didn't meet the highest requirements of Playstation graphics.  We can understand that games with so much gameplay cannot afford to keep everything in perfect detail, so we didn't play too unfairly in deciding Wild Arms 2's graphics score.  We would have surely expected better if it was a Playstation 2 game, however.  Wild Arms 2 saved their best graphics for the battle system, where extreme attacks and magic would be displayed.  This was wise for them, since the battle system is similar almost throughout the game.

The music found in Wild Arms 2 concentrates well on the environment.  Since much of the game has to do with "wild west" or loner styles, cowboy-type music is found.  Some songs are almost related to anime, just like the cowboy songs.  Since most of the game tries to picture the characters as animated, the anime themes provide a great environment.  Also, they creators of Wild Arms 2 didn't work on sound effects too much.  They must have decided that background music would have kept gamers content while playing; which was a great presumption.

I commend Wild Arms 2 the most because of its durability.  It is a game longer than any ordinary gamer would assume.  Comparing to other mass-marketed role-playing games, each disc in Wild Arms 2 has about three times as much content than the other mass-marketed role-playing game.  None of the story will be spoiled if the gamer explores the world, since certain places in the world are visible only if the obstacles before it were beaten.  It would take quite a bit to get stuck in the game also, since there is rarely any place to be in such a condition.  If a gamer is stuck in a puzzle, that person can always think about many other strategies to complete the dilemma.  To solve problems in battle, the party can simply solve problems by battling mobsters; since experience points are unlimited.  The only thing that can get in the way of not beating Wild Arms 2 is lack of aspiration.  If the gamer tries his hardest with using his full mind, he can beat it.

Wild Arms 2 is a game suitable for all ages; by involving perplexity and riddles.  It has made its prequel look like a disaster.  Wild Arms 2 has deserved its rating after its  innovative accomplishments well.

Review by SD Austere Aurora