Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits Review

Developer	Cattle Call
Publisher	Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre	RPG

The Arc the Lad series has a storied history, which dates back to the mid-nineties. Being an extremely popular series in Japan, the games never received their proper introduction to the States until the wonder craftsmen at Working Designs slowly but masterfully brought them in deluxe form to our shores. The full Arc boxed set for the PSone was a remarkable opportunity for American RPG fanatics to delve into the fantastical world of Arc the Lad. Featuring six discs, a plethora of collector’s items, and four complete games, Arc the Lad Collection hooked a nation of adventure hungry gamers.

Moving on to the next generation, Sony has taken publishing duties for the first Arc the Lad game not to look as though it came from the 16-bit days. Offering a fully 3D Arc world for the first time, Twilight of the Spirits barely hints at the existence of its predecessors. However, the experience that the strangely named developer Cattle Call serves up is more than deserving of the game’s namesake.

Gameplay - The most compelling aspect of the game, and the one that is likely to stick with you longest after completing your quest, is the somewhat profound, and appropriately timed storyline. The world in which the characters exist has been divided into two separate states. The first occupied by the human race, and the second by the demon-looking Deimos. The two factions are constantly at odds with one another, causing a constant power struggle. The subject of their racial hatred lies in years of dispute over the coveted Spirit Stones. These stones provide much needed energy and resources for both civilizations, and ownership of the stones is a constant source of conflict.

Players take on the roles of both the human Kharg, and the Deimos Darc. In a compelling twist, the two are revealed to be twin brothers, born of a Deimos warrior and a legendary female human hero named Nafia. The story that unfolds tells of the trials of racism, love, and understanding, and plays out like a great staged production.

Battles in RPGs are always a point of contention. Some appreciate random battles and thoughtful sequences, while others prefer the direct-controlled and more action-packed style. Twilight provides an interesting twist on the turn-based battles by infusing a bit of strategy-style gameplay. Depending on a character’s rating, they are allowed to move within a certain range of the battlefield and choose their action accordingly. This is especially handy when a character with a somewhat wide range of movement is injured and can be moved to the sidelines temporarily to allow him/herself to be healed without fear of being attacked. Admittedly, this battle style begins a bit slowly and can be somewhat cumbersome, but after a few rounds its style can be much more greatly appreciated.

While most RPGs use some sort of Magic Meter to gauge the magic attacks, Twilight uses the aforementioned Spirit Stones, which can be found during battle or purchased in item shops. It’s a cool feature that not only discourages overuse of magic, but also ties in nicely with the storyline.

Where Twilight Spirits may turn off a few gamers is the linear aspect of the game. Its purpose is to tell a story and guide the gamer down a rather narrow path, only branching out from time to time with small, rather shallow side quests. If you’re expecting a complex job class system or multiple and thorough side quests that branch off of the main storyline, you may be best suited looking elsewhere.

Another factor diminishing Twilight’s value is its lack of difficulty. The game, while definitely a meaty adventure, may not be quite the challenge or life-sucking experience that RPG fanatics are accustomed to. Of course, for the gamer that actually has a life, this factor may work to the game’s advantage.

Graphics - Ranging from impressive subtlety to downright mediocre, Twilight does a more than adequate job of visualizing the engaging story. An odd, but somewhat understandable feature is the way the characters are constantly articulating their text-based conversations with their hands and body movements. On one hand it allows the character to be more alive and animated. On the other, it reminds me of my uncle who couldn’t say, “Pass the salt” without using ten different hand and arm gyrations. A conversation in Twilight Spirits can at times have the appearance of two individuals taking turns at some ancient tribal dance. That or a full body dry heave. The point is, the overly animated gestures really get over done at times.

However, for the most part, the landscapes and environments these gyrating individual occupy are fantastic. Even the first town of Yewbell, while a tad on the small side, is grand in its appearance. You’ll find that the further you explore this particular fantasy realm, the more fascinated you’ll become with the world that has been designed. Subtle animations will almost go unnoticed and therefore unappreciated. However, this is just a testament to the feat that has been accomplished. Hats off to Cattle Call for creating a lush, believable environment to compliment the equally absorbing story.

Sound - With a story as penetrating as Twilight’s, it’s important to have a score which accents and compliments that story. Luckily, composer Takashi Harada has accomplished this with a soundtrack that helps glue the entire experience together. Casual whimsy and hard-edged drama are all suggested in the game’s soundtrack and it all works perfectly with gameplay and storyline.

The voice acting, while not necessarily as gripping or convincing as the soundtrack, are also not anywhere near the travesties found in a great deal of today’s RPG experiences. The only minor complaint to be made is the annoying catch phrases chanted over and over again during battle. This is a problem that occurs far too often in the RPG genre, and one that I wish would be eliminated.

Overall Value - It’s good to see an underrated series with a grand and storied history receive some much due respect. And while Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits doesn’t necessarily break the mold in the RPG genre, it contains one of the most impressive and gripping storylines in recent memory, which can be easily related to today’s headlines without beating you over the head with its metaphor.

Gamers looking for a deep, multi-layered, and complex gaming experience may be disappointed with Twilight. But those looking for a compelling story, perfect for lazy summer evenings need look no further than Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits.

Review by John Luedtke