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Hurray for Pirates!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: May 14, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Skies of Arcadia is the best RPG to be released for the Dreamcast in America. I have no doubt about it. Grandia II takes a close second, but it just cannot overpower the greatness which is SoA. I absolutely loved it. The odd thing, however, is that Skies of Arcadia doesn't really have one thing in specific which really blows away the competition, in my opinion (it does have some very good high points, of course). It is simply solid, in every aspect. How much I enjoyed it transcended just the sum of its parts.

One of the two things which really stands out is probably the characters, especially in context of the plot. The main character, Vyse, is a young, brash air-pirate who wants to explore, go beyond the known boundaries of the world, and become legendary. That is a perfect set-up for a game. Fina is a girl who has fallen from the stars on a mysterious mission. There is Cap'n Drachma who is a tortured ship captain who is hunting a giant arcwhale. Gilder is an air pirate, who is smooth, and cool, and has pistols. There are a whole lot more, but I think I've made my point. I cared about all the characters. They were awesome, and cool. I liked everyone even more because they partially abandon the Japanese Anime personas. It is original in that aspect.

The set-up of the world of Arcadia is one of the best parts. A world with no bottom, just floating islands, where people travel with ships and use weapons powered by magic stones which fall from the various moons. It is a world with air pirates and a large variety of different people and cultures. You are an air pirate. From there, the storyline pens out. A lot of the game is just random adventuring, but a good proportion is involved with actual events related to the plot. The evil guys intend on stopping all war and problems, and in the process, take over all of Arcadia. They plan on accomplishing this by finding massive moon stones which can invoke and control incredibly powerful creatures known as Gigas. You've got to stop them, by getting to each temple first.

The story isn't all too original (though like I've said before, everything adds its own special elements), but it sort of does that on purpose, and seems to almost be paying homage to a large number of old RPG classics and cliches. Others have already pointed out the correlations to FF7. Those are real, but there are relations to many other games as well. The general feeling through SoA is one of cheeriness, though it isn't too joyful and happy (less happy than Grandia, for one).

In Skies of Arcadia, the combat is good. At first, it seems to be just the basic turn-based, you on one side, enemies on the other, press attack system. That is what it is, mostly, but there is something more to it. For one thing, there is some movement. It is important where you are standing for special moves and spells, but you can't directly control your position. Second, you have normal magic points which are used for spells, but there is a shared Spirit bar, as well, which everyone draws from, used for special moves and spells. Everyone can generate spirit to add to the pool, or take spirit from it. It slowly regenerates and creates a nice combat dynamic. Third, there is the resistence/element system. You can change each person's weapon color individually during combat, to be able to do as much damage as possible. It is necessary to switch weapon color for maximum effectiveness. The ship combat is another good point. It was more entertaining than normal battles, mostly because you have very few of them. It is a turn-based and more tactical type of combat. Which the turn is actually happening, it does put too much time between actions, which draws it out, but other than that it is fun.

Whichever color you are using at the end of combat gives you that color of experience. Once you have enough experience of a color, you get the next spell in that group. This has been done a lot before, in other games, but it is still fun. It makes it necessary to use a variety of colors and to change often. It also helps you guide the magic development of each individual party member, which is helpful. The normal experience system is used otherwise, which is okay by me.

The exploration aspect is also a lot of fun. Exploring the beautifully detailed world is a huge part of the game. There are special discoveries throughout the game which can get you some extra case (and some other special stuff, like a crew member). You also have to scour cities for new members to join your crew. There is a whole variety of small side quest to accomplish as well. The only thing which is slightly discouraging from exploration is the random encounters. I admit, there are quite a few of them, and if you read all the reviews you will hear that a lot. I don't like random encounters, but they are bearable, and there aren't as many on land as in the ship, or as in a lot of old school games. I didn't find myself as unbelievably furious as some of the other reviewers. After awhile, you get to fly above and below the clouds, where there are no monsters, less than half-way through the game. I've played a lot of RPG's, so I didn't really care.

I'm surprised I haven't mentioned the graphics yet, but they weren't as important to my Skies of Arcadia experience. Don't get me wrong, they are very nice, especially the characters, but that isn't really the focus. Looking at things is fun, but never too much more in RPG's (or any game, really). The music is nice, and works well to set the mood, but it isn't great.

Everything considered, Skies of Arcadia is one of my favorite RPG's. It took about 60 hours to beat, but I didn't find everything (I did find a lot). In general, it was somewhat challenging, but never too hard. It is a lot of fun. If you like RPG's at all, you should definitely pick Skies of Arcadia up. It is worth it, without a doubt. It is awesome.

the best rpg on DC and one to contend with FF

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: December 08, 2001
Author: Amazon User

The storyline is familiar and conventional. An evil dictator is looking for a weapon of mass destruction and our would-be hero is out to save the world. Players take to the skies above and the dungeons below in search of mystical items and rare treasures. They battle strange looking monsters and evil henchmen in turn-based combat, becoming more powerful fighters/spellcasters in the process. Eventually, they gain enough power to stop the bad guys and save the world. Theoretically.
Even with this basic premise, Skies of Arcadia manages to develop an interesting plot with lots of twists and turns to keep things interesting. This is one tale that RPG fans will thoroughly enjoy.
Now if Skies of Arcadia was an average game, I could just throw in a few words about graphics and the review would be done. But alas, the Skies hold much more treasures for role-playing fans. Shall we commence with the goodies?
In order to boost the typical RPG combat to a higher level, Skies of Arcadia includes element-based weapons. Upon obtaining a Moon Stone, characters will be able to imbue their weapons with elemental properties based on color. Think of it like Magic: The Gathering (the card game) or even Pokemon. For example, yellow (lightning) weapons have an advantage over green (earth) creatures. Usage of each weapon type also boosts that character's equivalent magic powers. Use your blue weapons a lot and you'll boost your blue magic skills that much faster.
The world in which Skies of Arcadia takes place is large, with plenty of places to explore. As a sort of side quest, players can freely explore the world in their airship and discover hidden lands and landmarks. Hunting for these secret locations can be fun on their own and info regarding the discoveries you make can be sold to the local sailor's guild for a nice chunk of change.
Adventures in the sky lead to another take on the turn-based combat system. Sky battles can happen with ships instead of swords. Players enter a string of commands and then watch as the crew carries them out. Occasionally, players will also have to decide the ship's strategy, such as closing in on the enemy or keeping a safe distance away. While these ship to ship battles are a bit more interesting than the hand to hand combat, they tend to be drawn out way too long.
Eventually, when Vyse gets a ship of his own, you'll also need to find a suitable crew. Gaining specialized crew members, such as a gunner or engineer, will boost different parts of the ship. So you won't just be hunting for treasure and new lands, you'll also have to be on the lookout for new crew. There's just so much to do within the world, you'll never be stuck in any one place doing just one thing.
Within the dungeons you'll also come across a few puzzles to solve. While none of these are particularly challenging, they offer some nice variety.
The graphics are top notch. Skies of Arcadia shows off smooth and detailed environments as well as very solid anime-styled characters. Even the cool looking spells and super moves put on a dazzling display of color and light.
Surprisingly, bits of audible speech are thrown in every once in a while. The voices are cheesy at best, but it was nice of them to give it a shot.
The most enjoyable aspect of Skies of Arcadia is the way the game flows. RPGs that follow the typical dungeon/town/dungeon pattern get really dry and boring. In Skies, the story, as well as the ability to freely explore the map, move the game along at a brisk pace. Even the dungeon expeditions move along nicely. You won't have to endure level after level of similar looking environments, desperately looking for the next save point. With this type of gameplay, you'll never feel like you're stuck in one place for a long time.
So whether you're a classic RPG gamer or a newbie to the genre, you're bound to have some fun with Skies of Arcadia. With a great presentation and a well-developed story, this is definitely not a game to miss
9.6 / 10

You must get this RPG!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: January 26, 2002
Author: Amazon User

When I began to play this game, my brother and I had many arguments of the "Could batman beat superman?" variety. I claimed that this game was better than Final Fantasy VII, while he (being a very loyal fan, and having beaten it twice) insisted that FF7 was better. When he began to play, we no longer had this argument: he admitted that I was right.

This game has the storyline that every RPG player has been waiting for. The characters are lovable, even some of the bad guys (a few are merely misguided, and you genuinely hope that they'll join your side) and the adventure itself is very deep, engaging, and ... well, nice. I found myself trusting the game, knowing that it would not frustrate me or kill off any of the characters that I had grown to love. (This was one of the reasons that my brother finally admitted that Skies of Arcadia was better than FF7.)

The graphics are stunning, and the music fits each situation very well. There is awesome characterization, and each twist in the plot, while unpredictable, makes logical sense and you can tell looking back where they built the foundation for it. The game took me over 50 hours to beat, and I found myself wishing that it would last 50 more. If you are an RPG fan, you NEED this game. It excels in everything and sets the bar for happy fantasies.

SKIES OF ARCADIA!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 24, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I am a 10 year old girl and I love this game! My older sister played it and completed the whole game! She LOVED it too! That is why I decided to try it and so far it is AWSOME! I still don't know why they rated it T for teen. I mean when you fight something, it just disappears, no blood. I would recomend this for a girl or boy who is 10 and up or in Middle School. If you are, say, 18, I think you would still have lots of fun! It is not a kiddie game because it is very hard. Now, if you are not a very experenced gamer, then I don't recomend this game to you unless you are actually a teen.
Ok, just a little heads up, ask people questions in the game. They can help you get around. When you drive your ship, before you get on, ask someone nearby because they can tell you which direction to go in. I love this game!

An awesome Japanese-style RPG - marred only by random combat

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I have enjoyed Skies of Arcadia more than practically any other RPG I've played - yet curiously, the place the game is most lacking is at its core. The combat system (and in particular, the random nature of the combat system) is rather lacklustre, and not as good as (say) Grandia II.

In many ways, Grandia II and Skies of Arcadia are the perfect RPG split into two. Take the combat from the former and wed it to practically every other aspect of Skies of Arcadia and you have an awesome game.

Skies somehow manages to work despite its lacklustre combat (and irritating random combats - which thankfully you eventually earn the right to avoid). I think much of this is due to the amazing world that you get to explore - and I really do mean explore, as flying your ship around Arcadia is one of the best exploration experiences I have ever had in an RPG. New and wondrous sights are always just around the corner, and the desire to see more of the world just kept me going.

Not only did I love exploring the world - but later, when you get to recruit your own crew - you can go back and interact with people you've already met and ask them to join your crew. This was also hugely satisfying - finally, a game with NPCs who aren't just cardboard.

If the combat has to be just right for you to play a game, or if you find random combats very annoying (and I have to say, I wouldn't play a sequel unless they fix the random combats), you'd do best to avoid it. But otherwise, every RPG fan needs to play Skies. Everything but the combat is pratically perfect.

Great Graphics + Great Presentation = Skies of Arcadia!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 03, 2000
Author: Amazon User

To keep this review short and sweet, I'll rate each sections individually. Presentations - This game is just pure solid. The presentation was just stunning and each battle was designed beautifully, but the epilepsy warnings should be taking seriously here (You'll find out why!) Graphics - Just beautiful and sweet. Nothing else. Sound - The character grunts are annoying, but the music soundtrack is beautifully implemented. Gameplay - Aside from the extremely annoying frequency of random battles, the gameplay is excellent. Appeal - 100 hours. Is that enough?

Skies of Arcadia.... The best RPG of all time! Not Joking!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 25, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Skies of Arcadia is truely an amazing game. There are some frustrating parts such as monsters always popping out of no where to battle. But, this game is awsome. It is especially good when you get a very powerful ship and your own base. Sorry if this info spoils some of the game for you but it is great. You feel very proud when you get a base and a crew. The ship-to-ship battles can sometimes take long but I think they are better than the person-to-monster battles. They are especially good when you get your own ship and you fell like you are invincible. Trust me, you get a very good ship! A little tip, after you have your own ship and crew, fill your spirit meter during a person-to-person battle to get some special options. Don't worry if you have no idea what I am talking about, because once you get the game you will. This game is 50+ hours of play, but if you play only a few hours a day, it can last for months. I loved the game and am already craving more. I just finished yesterday. I can't wait for the sequel.

Skies of Arcadia Vs. Grandia II

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: April 28, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Trying to decide between Skies of Arcadia and Grandia II? While neither has a clear advantage over the other, it's Arcadia that comes out slightly on top. While Grandia boasts a vastly superior battle engine, Arcadia's depth of play is what distinguishes it from the competition. There are several side quests to complete, and the ability to fight ship-to-ship battles make for a very enjoyable experience. So...Pick up Arcadia, but save some money for Grandia II ;-)

The 'purest' adventure since Grandia 1

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: January 20, 2002
Author: Amazon User

RPGs have evolved vastly in terms of plot and character development over the years. What this has tended to result in is very dark, complex stories often with protagonists who have no desire for adventure. SOA is the best example since the first Grandia of an RPG that returns to the pure joy of adventuring for its own sake. But this is not to say that plot and development have been skimped on, they certainly haven't.

Admittedly the opening of the story is very deja-Star Wars, but it quickly carves out an identity of it's own. Though the game starts slowly and guides you along 'on rails' for a while it does pick up pace and become highly engaging. The most fun to be had is about halfway through the game when you get your own ship which opens up all kinds of opportunities for discovering treasure, recruiting crewmembers and building a base.

The graphics are excellent. Though the charater models are not especially high in polygon count they are all well designed and have superbly expressive animation and facial features. Special mention must go to the lovingly detailed ships throughout the game, there are many of these and you will almost never run into the same model twice. The musical score is also a major plus in building the atmosphere for the world of Arcadia. From haunting pianos solos to vigorous brass and strings pieces it covers the full range needed for a work of this magnitude.

If there are any bad points they would be that the random encounters are too frequent on the world map and that the battle system is less fun than Grandia 2's (though ALL other rpg battle systems fall into that category).

In summary, if you've got a Dreamcast you NEED this. If you don't have a DC, you need to buy one to play this.

GREATEST GAME EVER

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: November 18, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Skies of arcadia is the best role playing game for Dreamcast It has awsome graphics, a great battle system, including pirite ship battles. This game has AWSOME music and has 15 carecters to battle with. The bottom line is that this game RULES so go out and buy it NOW!!!

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