Wild Arms
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| Wild Arms | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Media.Vision |
| Publisher(s) | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Release date(s) |  December 20, 1996 April 30, 1997 October 6, 1998 |
| Genre(s) | Role Playing Game |
| Mode(s) | Single Player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Everyone |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation |
| Media | 1 CD-ROM |
| System requirements | Memory card, 1 block |
This article is about the first game in the Wild Arms series. For an entry on the series itself, see Wild Arms series.
Wild Arms (ワイルドアームズ Wairudoa Muzu?) was a 1996 PlayStation game released with little exposure, but became a classic RPG with four sequels and a remake, Wild Arms Alter Code: F, for PlayStation 2. It also spawned an anime series released by ADV Films in 1999, and several manga adaptations and Wild ARMs: Flower Thieves, by Kodansha. The reason for the significant lack of attention to the original game was that Squaresoft's Final Fantasy VII was released at the same time. Wild Arms combined 3D battle graphics with anime backgrounds and characters. The wild west type setting of the game and the memorable bosses helped make the game a cult classic. [citation needed]
Contents |
[edit] Story
The story takes place on Filgaia, a planet that resembles the American Wild West but with magic and technology added. The inhabitants of FIlgaia were the Humans, and the Elw, a humanoid race who were both technilogically advanced, and were in touch with nature. Centuries ago, the planet was attacked by aliens called the "Metal Demons" to invade it since their own world was mysteriously destroyed. The Demons were finally driven away when their leader, the "Great Mother" was captured and her body separated from its soul. But the war left much of the planet devastated, and the Elw mysteriously vanished.
During the course of the game, the Demons return, led by a group of villains calling themselves the "Quarter Knights", headed by the metal demon Zeikfried. Their plan is to regain the parts of Mother's being and revive her, so she can lead them into conquering Filgaia. The planet's Guardian spirits, too weakened to help directly, choose three adventurers and grant them special powers so they can explore Filgaia's ancient ruins and recover the technology needed to oppose the invaders. They are: Rudy, a young man who was banished from Surf Village for his innate ability to use the dangerous ARMS weapons; Princess Cecilia of the Kingdom of Adlehyde, who can commune with the Guardians; and Jack, a wandering treasure-seeker in search of the "Ultimate Power".
When the seals are broken on Mother Demon's heart, the demon is revived and tells the Quarter Knights of her plans. Instead of colonizing Filgaia since their homeworld Haides was destroyed as the Quarter Knights intended, she planned on instead devouring the Quarter Knights and destroying the world.
Zeikfried tricks the heroes into destroying Mother for him, and takes over as leader of the demons, to colonize Filgaia and not destroy it. After an incident at the Gate Generator, he is sent back into the Photoshpere, and is devoured by the remains of Mother. As this new being, Motherfried travelled to Malduke,which is a sattelite built by human and elw, and has the capability of destroying the "Rayline." If the Rayline were destroyed, it would also destroy Filgaia. In the same accident at the Gate Generator, Rudy loses his arm, and the party discovers that Rudy has the same body of a Metal Demon. The party goes to the secret Elw world and repairs Rudy. Rudy and the others go to Pandemonium, where Alhazad (a Quarter Knight) and Zeikfried have set up the Darkness Tear to locate Ka Dingel, the space elevator to Malduke. The party is unable to stop it on time, and the Quarter Knights head to Malduke. At the entrance of Ka Dingel, the party is confronted by the Metal Demon Boomerang, who after the battle sacrifices himself to save the group. When they reach the space elevator, they also defeat Alhazad. When they reach Zeikfried and defeat him, he transforms into Motherfried and activates Malduke, which then begins ripping apart the planet and destroying the Rayline. The party then defeats Motherfried, and cleanses the world with the power of the teardrop. While in the space between Malduke and Ka Dingel, the party is ambushed by Zeik Tuvai, who is Zeikfried merged with the demonic spear Glumzamber. The party defeats him for the last time, but the interference the battle causes while in space sends them completely off target, and destroys Ka Dingel. The golem Asgard protects them from the explosion, but destroys itself in the process. The 3 Dream Chasers reunite after the events of the game to continue to adventure and help Filgaia recover.(For a full explanation of the game's terms, see Wild Arms series.)
[edit] Gameplay
Wild Arms is a role-playing game about three completely different characters who meet up by either sheer coincidence or fate. Nonetheless, they all get tangled up in the same plot. The player must utilize each character's abilities in combat: Cecilia is the only mage, Rudy can attack more enemies at once, and Jack is the strongest, focusing on single enemies. Outside of battle, each character must use their "tools" to progress through the world, such as Bombs for Rudy, a lighter for Jack, and a wand for Cecilia.
[edit] Heroes
Wild Arms' main characters are Jack Van Burace (Warrior/Thief) and his pet windmouse Hanpan, Princess Cecilia Adlehyde (Healer/Spellcaster), and Rudy Roughnight (Outcast/Gunner). Together they call themselves the Dream Chasers. Each character has his or her own special ability in the game: Jack uses the fast-draw sword fighting technique, Rudy uses ARMs (Ancient Relic Machines) that are essentially very rare and mystical guns, that very few people in Filgaia know how to use, and Cecilia casts magic.
[edit] Musical score
The soundtrack for Wild Arms was composed by Michiko Naruke. The music was first commercially released on an original one-disc soundtrack in 1999 and a newer soundtrack with two-discs was later released in 2006 with nearly twice as many songs, entitled Wild ARMs Complete Tracks. The overworld theme is almost identical to The Ecstasy of Gold by Ennio Morricone, from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. [original research?]
[edit] Images
 US Game Cover |
 UK Game Cover |
 Official Soundtrack Cover |
 Screenshot of gameplay |
[edit] External links
- RPG Dreamer, Wild Arms page
- Wild Arms at IGN
- Wild Arms at MobyGames
- Filgaia.com - An unofficial Wild Arms site
- Wild Arms OST at MusicBrainz
