Wild Arms 5

Last updated

Wild Arms 5
Wild Arms 5 US.jpg
North American cover art
Developer(s) Media.Vision [a]
Publisher(s)
Director(s) Nobukazu Satō
Producer(s) Akifumi Kaneko
Eitaro Nagano
Kentaro Motomura
Designer(s) Koichi Shirasaka
Artist(s) Takayuki Yabubayashi
Tomomi Sasaki
Writer(s) Kaoru Kurosaki
Hirokazu Taki
Composer(s) Masato Kouda
Noriyasu Agematsu
Series Wild Arms
Platform(s) PlayStation 2
Release
  • JP: December 14, 2006
  • NA: August 28, 2007
  • EU: February 22, 2008
  • AU: April 17, 2008
Genre(s) Role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player

Wild Arms 5, released in Japan as Wild Arms: The Fifth Vanguard [b] , is a role-playing video game developed by Media.Vision and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. It is the fifth and most recent main installment of the Wild Arms series. It was released in December 2006 in Japan, August 2007 in North America by Xseed Games, February 2008 in Europe by 505 Games and April 2008 in Australia by Xseed Games. The game celebrates the series' 10th anniversary by featuring cameo appearances of characters from the previous games.

Contents

Gameplay

Combat system

During combat, the field is split into seven hexagonal sections, some of which may have special properties. The player and enemies can move to different hexagons during their turn. This time around, the party count is three instead of four. Dean's party members and enemies can act instantly when they move onto the next hexagonal platform.

The Force meter returns from Wild Arms 4 . This meter increases as Dean's party members make physical attacks or are attacked. This can be used for Original attacks, Team Combos or summoning Guardian beasts to attack enemies. The more powerful the attack is, the more the Force meter will be drained. The characters can summon guardian beasts to the field to attack enemies. They can also use combination attacks that utilize most or all of the party. A new feature in Wild Arms 5 is the ability to chain attacks together. This lets one of Dean's party members attack two to five times provided they have the Violator Badge equipped and enough bullets to make the attack.

Wild ARMs

Each playable character is equipped with an ARM, a specialized kind of gun that deals physical damage in a range that varies for each character, from one-hex away to any hex. The ARMs must be reloaded after a number of shots by having the character defend for one round. While each character has a specific ARM, there are cartridges that can be added to increase its firepower. The ARMs also have their own stats that can be boosted by using "dragon fossil" items acquired during play. Like in other Wild Arms games, ARM is an acronym, though its actual meaning is obscure. There are two versions given in the game.

By the time the player is able to control three characters at once early in the game, the tools known as mediums are introduced. In this version, they are portable computer devices with mystical qualities. Each character can only equip one medium at a time and there are six available mediums throughout the game. Each medium specializes in affecting specific parameters and granting the character unique Original and Force abilities.

Exploration

Wild Arms 5 is a third-person video game. The world map is not scaled down, and towns and dungeons can be seen in their real size. The player traverses the world by walking, or employing various vehicles, including a train and monowheel. The field avatar cannot be changed; Dean is always the leader.

Dungeon exploration has two modes. In Action mode, the player can jump, slide, and interact with objects. In Shooting mode, Dean draws both of his ARMs and can fire them freely. By employing various cartridges, the player can interact with the environment in a number of ways. Some examples include activating distant switches, breaking down obstacles, and lighting torches.

Plot

Story

Like every game in the Wild Arms series, Wild Arms 5 takes place on the world of Filgaia. Humans are currently being ruled over by the Veruni, an alien race that landed on Filgaia 100 years ago. Dean Stark, the protagonist of the story, lives in a secluded village away from all the turmoil. He dreams of one day leaving the village to pursue his dream of becoming a Golem Hunter, someone who excavates ancient robots, like his idol Nightburn. While in the mountains, Dean and his childhood friend Rebecca spot a Golem's arm fall from the sky and land in a cave just in front of them. Upon entering the cave, they find a girl curled up within the Golem's hand. The girl only remembers two things, her name (Avril), and the words Johnny Appleseed. After receiving the pair of ARMs (special guns) she was holding, Dean, along with Avril and Rebecca, decides to embark on an adventure to find out what the words "Johnny Appleseed" really mean.

Meanwhile, a revolt has begun within the Veruni government. A man named Volsung has overthrown the leader of the Radical faction, sworn enemies of the more peaceful Moderater faction, claiming that his violent actions are necessary for the survival of the Veruni.

Characters

Playable characters

All playable characters are equipped with ARM weapons:

  • Dean Stark - a teenage boy who wishes to be a Golem Hunter. Dean often obsesses over Golems, to the point where he, if he can, finds any piece of any Golem. He is naive, but his idealism influences the other characters. He idolizes Nighburn. Dean fights with a pair of ARMs. Special Ability: Double Critical: Doubles the damage of all critical attacks.
  • Rebecca Streisand - Dean's childhood friend, who is smarter than he is. She has feelings for him, but does not dare reveal them. Rebecca fights with a revolver-style ARM. Special Ability: Continuous Shot: Can randomly shoot/attack two to five times.
  • Avril Vent Fleur - a mysterious girl with amnesia. Avril fights with a sword ARM that can change into a whip. Special Ability: Double DP: Can randomly double the DP of all physical attacks including critical attacks.
  • Greg Russellberg - a 'Golem Crusher' who destroys golems, looking to find the man who killed his family. Greg fights with a combination sword/shotgun. Special Ability: Shoot and Guard' Randomly guards after attacking.
  • Chuck Preston - a young, boastful Golem Hunter with self-confidence issues. He fights with a piledriver-like weapon. Special Ability: Increases his attack power proportional to his loss of HP.
  • Carol Anderson - the young assistant of a mysterious professor. She is extremely intelligent, but very shy and clumsy. She is equipped with a backpack-mounted missile launcher. Special Ability: Can attack any enemy from any position.
  • Asgard - the golem that dropped Avril. It acts as a transportation device and an ally in battle. Asgard is not under direct player control, but its combat actions can be preprogrammed.

Other characters

  • The group's enemies include Volsung, leader of the radical movement, and the four sentinels under his command, Fereydoon, Persephone, Kartikeya, and Elvis. Their goal is to ensure the survival of the Veruni race at any cost. Note that all these characters (except Elvis) are named for figures from various mythologies, although this is not mentioned in the game. Volsung comes from Norse myth, Fereydoon from Persian myth, Persephone from Greek myth and Kartikeya from Hindu beliefs.
  • Other characters include Nightburn Acklund, a famous golem hunter who is Dean's hero, and Captain Bartholomew, the captain of the Moderate ship Mayflower.
  • Cameos from other games include all the playable characters (excluding Lucied from 2nd Ignition) from Wild Arms and its remake, Wild Arms Alter Code: F , Wild Arms 2 , Wild Arms 3 , and Wild Arms 4. Some may or may not be the characters they resemble, but most are likely just cameos. These characters are not playable, though many of them are part of the game's sidequests. The anime series, Wild Arms: Twilight Venom , is also given a nod in the form of a boss by the name of "Twilight Venom".

Development

The game makes use of CGI to create a 3D effect, including a slow camera pan drift. The player can zoom in and out from different angles during gameplay. There are also several computer generated cut scenes. The art style for the characters is a typical anime look, as opposed to a realistic or super deformed one. In addition, the game features a wide selection of alternate costumes for all the playable characters, including several originally used by characters from the previous Wild Arms games, that can be obtained during gameplay.

The game features voiceovers in several of its cutscenes and battles. The music for Wild Arms 5, the only video game title where the original series composer Michiko Naruke did not contribute, was provided by Masato Kouda along with series newcomer Noriyasu Agematsu. Unlike past Wild Arms, Nana Mizuki sung the opening "Justice to Believe" and ending "Crystal Letter" theme rather than Kaori Asoh.

Release

Sony announced the game through a special website commemorating the series' upcoming 10th anniversary website. [2]

In the United States, the first print run of Wild Arms 5 came in a commemorative "Series 10th Anniversary" box and included an art book featuring character art from all five Wild Arms games. This limited edition was later replaced by a standard edition with different cover art and no extras. The European version was released in two different versions: a limited edition, including an 80-page art book, and a standard edition, without the art book. Both featured the "Series 10th Anniversary" cover from the US release.

The game was released for the PlayStation Network in Japan on October 15, 2014. [3]

Reception

Wild Arms 5 received above-average reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [4] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 34 out of 40. [6]

Notes

  1. ↑ Additional work by Japan Studio. [1]
  2. ↑ Japanese: ワイルドアームズ ザ フィフスヴァンガード, Hepburn: Wairudo Āmuzu Za Fifusu Vangādo

Related Research Articles

<i>Wild Arms</i> Japanese media franchise

Wild Arms, stylized as Wild ARMs, is a media franchise developed by Media.Vision and owned by Sony Computer Entertainment. The franchise consists of several role-playing video games and related media. Since the launch of the original Wild Arms title in 1996, the series has gone on to encompass several media, including toys, manga, mobile phone applications, and a 22-episode anime.

<i>Twinkle Star Sprites</i> 1996 video game

Twinkle Star Sprites is a competitive vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game created by ADK and published by SNK in 1996. It was ADK's last production for the Neo Geo. Two players are each in separate, side-by-side, vertically scrolling levels. Combinations of shots and timed power-ups damage the other player. These attacks also serve as counters to the opponent's attack.

<i>Dynasty Warriors 3</i> 2001 video game

Dynasty Warriors 3 is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force (ω-force) and published by Koei. It is third in the Dynasty Warriors series in North America and the second in the Shin Sangokumusou series in Japan. It is a spin-off from the video game Romance of the Three Kingdoms and based around a series of books by the same name, written by Luo Guanzhong. It contains a number of fictional and non-fictional elements from the same era in Chinese history that Romance of the Three Kingdoms is set but follows the main events of part of the story which is to unify China under the single rule of a kingdom.

<i>Wild Arms 2</i> 1999 video game

Wild Arms 2, known in Japan as Wild Arms: 2nd Ignition, is a 1999 role-playing video game developed by Media.Vision and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is the second installment in the Wild Arms series.

<i>Wild Arms 3</i> 2002 video game

Wild Arms 3, known in Japan as Wild Arms Advanced 3rd, is a role-playing video game developed by Media.Vision and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. It is a sequel to Wild Arms and Wild Arms 2. It was released in Japan and North America in 2002 and Europe in 2003 by Ubi Soft. In May 2016 the game was released for PlayStation 4 through PlayStation Network.

<i>Wild Arms 4</i> 2005 video game

Wild Arms 4, known in Japan as Wild Arms the 4th Detonator, is a role-playing video game developed by Media.Vision and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. It is the fourth installment in the Wild Arms video game series. It was released in March 2005 in Japan, January 2006 in North America by Xseed Games and PAL territories in 2006 by 505 Game Street.

<i>Enchanted Arms</i> 2006 video game

Enchanted Arms is a 2006 role-playing video game developed by FromSoftware and published by Ubisoft. It was released for the Xbox 360 in 2006 and for the PlayStation 3 in 2007.

<i>Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters</i> 1996 video game

Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters is a fighting game in the Mega Man series released as an arcade video game in Japan in 1996. It is the direct sequel to Mega Man: The Power Battle released the previous year. Both games were ported to home consoles in North America in 2004 as part of the Mega Man Anniversary Collection for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube and in Japan during the same year as part of two game compilation titled Rockman: Power Battle Fighters, also for the PlayStation 2. An adaptation of both games for the Neo Geo Pocket Color, titled Rockman Battle & Fighters, was also made. Both games were later re-released as part of the Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium compilation in 2022.

<i>The Outfoxies</i> 1995 arcade game

The Outfoxies is a 1995 weapon-based fighting arcade game developed and published in Japan by Namco. Controlling one of seven assassins, players are tasked with defeating opponents with different types of weapons, while also avoiding different obstacles brought on by various stage gimmicks. Weapons range from firearms such as pistols, machine guns and rocket launchers, to more outlandish items such as pie and bowls of hot soup. It runs on the Namco NB-2 arcade system.

<i>Wild Arms XF</i> 2007 video game

Wild Arms XF is a game in the Wild Arms series, the first for the PlayStation Portable. The game was unveiled at a Media.Vision fan event on September 2, 2006, and was released in Japan in 2007, and in North America and Europe in 2008.

<i>Pirate Ship Higemaru</i> 1984 video game

Pirate Ship Higemaru is a maze video game by Capcom originally released in 1984 as a coin-operated arcade game. The gameplay is similar to that of the 1982 Sega arcade game Pengo, but with the arctic theme replaced with that of a pirate ship.

<i>Breakers</i> (1996 video game) 1996 video game

Breakers is a fighting game developed by Visco Corporation, which was released for the Neo Geo. It was followed up by Breakers Revenge in 1998 and Breakers Revenge Chicago developed by exA-Arcadia and released in July 2024.

<i>Queens Blade</i> Japanese manga and anime series

Queen's Blade is a Japanese series of visual combat books published by Hobby Japan inspired by the licensed works from Firelight Game Company's Lost Worlds. The overall plot of the game revolves around a tournament called the Queen's Blade, which is held once every four years to determine a Queen.

Kamen Rider: Climax is a Bandai Namco and Eighting video game series featuring the protagonists in the Kamen Rider Series.

<i>Devil May Cry 5</i> 2019 video game

Devil May Cry 5 is a 2019 action-adventure game developed and published by Capcom. The game is the sixth installment overall and the fifth mainline installment in the Devil May Cry series. The plot follows returning protagonists Nero and Dante as they are hired by a mysterious stranger named V to stop the Demon King Urizen. Players control Nero, Dante and V, who each feature a different playstyle.

<i>Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs.</i> 2010 video game

Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. is a 3D arcade fighting game and the second latest in the series of Gundam VS video game series developed and published by Namco Bandai Games prior to Gundam Versus which is on PS4. Extreme Vs. is the sequel to Capcom's Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam NEXT. The game was first unveiled at the AOU 2010 and released on September 28, 2010. The game was later released on the PlayStation 3 on December 1, 2011, featuring balance tweaks.

<i>Wild Arms</i> (video game) 1996 role-playing video game

Wild Arms is a role-playing video game developed by Media.Vision and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. The game was released in Japan in 1996, in North America in 1997, and in Europe in 1998. It uses 2D computer graphics for navigating the world and setting, while battle sequences are rendered in 3D.

<i>The Ninja Warriors</i> (1994 video game) 1994 SNES game

The Ninja Warriors is a beat 'em up video game developed by Natsume for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and published by Taito in Japan and North America in 1994 and by Titus in Europe in 1995. It is a follow-up to Taito's 1987 arcade game of the same title, and shares similar gameplay. The player can choose between playing as one of three ninja androids, each with different attributes and a unique set of moves including jumps, dashes, throws, and other attacks. The game was developed by the same team at Natsume that later developed Wild Guns (1994).

<i>Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia</i> 2017 video game for the Nintendo 3DS

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a tactical role-playing video game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS in 2017. It is the fifteenth installment in the Fire Emblem series and a remake of the 1992 Famicom game Fire Emblem Gaiden, the second entry in the series. It follows dual protagonists Alm and Celica as they aim to bring an end to the war through opposite methods, with Alm fighting to resolve the war through battle, while Celica attempts to find a peaceful end through guidance from the Goddess Mila. Fire Emblem Echoes carries over the core gameplay mechanics of the Fire Emblem series while incorporating mechanics from Gaiden, like dungeon crawling.

<i>Crime Crackers</i> 1994 video game

Crime Crackers is a 1994 action role-playing first-person shooter video game developed by Media.Vision and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. Based on a science fiction manga set after an intergalactic war, the story follows of group of bounty hunters aboard the spacecraft Pink Dolphin as they take on jobs requested by the Galactic Federation police. Gameplay resembles dungeon crawlers, largely consisting of exploring complex 3D corridors, collecting items, and shooting enemies. The player is able to freely rotate between three unique characters within missions, while points earned afterwards can be used to purchase consumable items and upgraded equipment.

References

  1. ↑ "JAPANスタジオ作品一覧 2007年～2006年" [List of Japan Studio works 2007–2006] (in Japanese). Sony Interactive Entertainment. 2021. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  2. ↑ Niizumi, Hirohiko (January 6, 2006). "Sony taking up new Wild Arms". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  3. ↑ Staff, Siliconera (October 15, 2014). "Wild ARMs 5 Never Gave Up On Becoming A PS2 Classic, Live On PSN In Japan". Siliconera. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Wild ARMs 5 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic . Red Ventures. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  5. ↑ EGM staff (October 2007). "Wild Arms 5". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 220. Ziff Davis. p. 100.
  6. 1 2 "ワイルドアームズ ザ フィフスヴァンガード". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  7. ↑ Vore, Bryan (October 2007). "Wild Arms 5". Game Informer . No. 174. GameStop. Archived from the original on January 25, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  8. ↑ Papa Frog (August 28, 2007). "Review: Wild ARMs 5". GamePro . IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 3, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  9. ↑ Dodson, Joe (August 31, 2007). "Wild ARMs 5 Review". GameSpot . Red Ventures. Archived from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  10. ↑ Joynt-Borger, Sarah (September 6, 2007). "GameSpy: Wild Arms 5". GameSpy . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Wild Arms 5 Review". GameTrailers . Viacom. September 13, 2007. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  12. ↑ Grabowski, Dakota (September 7, 2007). "WILD ARMS 5 - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 4, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  13. ↑ Moriarty, Colin (August 29, 2007). "Wild ARMs 5 Review". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Review: Wild Arms 5". PSM . Future US. November 2007. p. 88.
  15. ↑ Boulette, Bryan (September 17, 2007). "Wild ARMs 5 - Staff Review". RPGamer. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  16. ↑ Rubinshteyn, Dennis (August 28, 2007). "Wild Arms 5". RPGFan. Emerald Shield Media LLC. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.