A definitive JPRG on the Wii…

Let’s get an undeniable truth out of the way first; Japanese role-playing games are big on today’s gaming market. They continue to have an enduring, almost scarily rabid fan base. Because a lot of Japanese culture has now become widely embraced internationally, anime-style games come in ridiculously massive quantities and games with an anime art style are no strangers to us gamers these days. The Xbox 360 and the PS3 in particular have a huge range of JPRGS to choose from, but the Wii’s collection is quite scarce in comparison. However, one title in particular seems set to be the long-awaited definitive JPRG that the console has needed.

Arc Rise Fantasia is making its initial Western release debut this year after a positive reception from the gaming crowd in Japan. Whether that is important to you or not depends entirely on your own perceptions. But unlike so many games in the genre, Arc Rise Fantasia surprisingly seems to have gotten a glimmer of my attention already.

Scenario

The Meridian Empire, the protagonist’s colorful, vast homeland is under threat by viscous Containment Dragons that are arriving in large flocks. The Empire has received word that the dragons are going to strike the capital of Diamant, another city linking towards Meridian. Armies of Meridian citizens and mercenaries have been sent to fight. L’Arc, a mercenary who is working to raise money for his sick mother is one of them. Others are Alf, the second prince in line to the Meridian Empire throne, and Ryfia, a girl who saves L’Arc’s life whilst being severely injured in battle.

For those largely familiar with the usual storyline fare in Japanese Role-Playing games, Arc Rise Fantasia uses the typical, if not predictable themes expected of games in the genre. You know the formula; large kingdom in danger of ruin and a large group of characters go out to fight for their victory. However, that is not to say I don’t find the core of this plot interesting; as a matter of fact, I feel quite the opposite. The opening cut scene in particular, as usually expected in JPRGS, is presented in dizzyingly high-quality CG-rendering and already seems to firmly land the player in the midst of a battle with a fierce dragon. Arc Rise Fantasia does have an admittedly familiar mix of themes from the usual Japanese Role-Playing games, but it does have a real story, and has genuinely created the feel of an epic saga taking place.

What about the role-playing?

For those of you who were lucky enough to experience arguably the very best titles of the Japanese role-playing genre like Code Geass, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VIII, Tales of Symphonia and Skies of Arcadia, Arc Rise Fantasia’s game play will bear a considerably noticeable resemblance to those. One of the first fights that L’Arc will encounter is with several transformed plants.