Skies of Arcadia : Legends

Skies of Arcadia (Legends) is one of the finest role-playing games ever made. The art style is phenomenal, & it seamlessly blends with the actual graphics 2 create a world that is truly believable.

The story, though not overly complex or saturated like many Final Fantasy titles is very engaging. It is almost a throwback 2 the standard cliche plots of yesteryear, with a little of today's political twists.

The gameplay is truly where Skies of Arcadia shines. Imagine a blend of Legend of Zelda, Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon, & Suikoden 2 with a little bit of Final Fantasy flair. Turn-based battles, team-based super moves, & the option of recruiting your own teams 2 work on your ship & your own floating island.

Skies of Arcadia ranks as one of the top RPGs of all time. It is a must-have 4 any collection, & a must-play 4 any fan of the genre.

this is a great game 4 the gamers that are looking 4 a game with a deep story, great battles & long gameplay.
I just loved it. 5 out of 5.

When first I played Skies of Arcadia on the Sega Dreamcast, I faced an utterly daunting challenge 2 beat the first boss. Failed at my attempt & hadn't played in a very long while. Recently, I came 2 purchase the title on the GameCube & I couldn't have been happier. The game itself is a fair challenge 2 gamers of all ages, & it has an innovative element system unused by any other RPG. Boss battles are a little tedious, rather drawn out by the sheer HP totals of the foes. In all, I do honestly recommend the game 2 any true RPG gamer, & it's worth the price if you can find it.

Skies of Arcadia is a game with a real sense of exploration. The game shuns most cliches of plot & character development by including memorable characters you actually care about rather than cartoon cliches. The gameplay & combat is simple & but addictive & memorable. The game continually expands, dishing up new types of gameplay & unique areas 2 explore in your airship. Ship combat & the crew system further enhances the variety.

Keep in mind that this GameCube remake tones down the battles significantly, fixing the main problem that some had with the original DreamCast remake. The visuals are very last-generation (maybe even before that), but you'll be caught up so much in the experience that you won't mind.

I purchased this game when it came out in 2003 & couldn't wait until I got home 2 play it. The first day I played it, I spent 6 hours playing & not knowing where the time went. After I beat the game, I, of course, moved on with my life playing games, going 2 school, etc.. Still, I haven't found a game more satisfying 2 play than this game. But enough reminiscing, let me tell you why I love this game.

First off, the story. I know several elements of the game's story are a bit cliche, such as having 2 defeat an evil empire, finding a certain number of ancient crystals 2 protect innocents from being subject 2 their power, a love triangle, & such. However, the CHARACTERS of this game really make the story evolve from a basic plot 2 an exciting adventure story. Main man Vyse is courageous, cool, & likable. Far from the moody, depressed heroes of many modern RPGs. Everyone that Vyse meets in the game has a personality, & when these characters act, it really feels like they are actual people in an actual world that could exist. What they say & do is the most influential aspect of this game, making the story into a far deeper element than "beat the bad guys, save the world, get the girl."

The next aspect is the design of the game. This is an enhanced port of a Dreamcast title, so if you played this before, you won't find too many new things here. However, seeing all the action of the game take place in the sky on floating islands & airships is a whimsical sight 2 behold, & it really creates some memorable scenes in the game when all you can see is ships fight & the sky. The music is epic, from pirate themes 2 sorrowful tunes, the orchestrated music is wonderful. Unfortunately, this Gamecube port has lower quality music that the original. If you want cleaner music, I suggest the Dreamcast original. Another downer is the graphics. They are not bad by any means, but the full extent of the Gamecube's graphical power is not used here. Yes, it has higher polygon counts than the original, but several characters appear 2 be somewhat blocky. But 2 seriously look down on the game 4 that reason is folly. However, if perfect graphics are your dig, move on.

Next, the combat. Just like in the original, there are quite a few random encounters in this game. Not as many, but still a lot. I know many people don't like this, but that's the way the game is made. The actual combat is turned based, like many RPGs, but the most unique aspect of the combat is the Spirit Point meter. You get a certain amount of "SP" each round, & they are shared by all members of the party. They are used 4 magic & special moves, adding strategy & planning 2 the combat. The other unique aspect are the ship battles. They are similar 2 normal combat, but they are ship-to-ship, & they require different strategy because of the different weapons your ship can use. You slot in the moves & watch the battle go. Some may find this slow & frustrating, others, like me, do not.

The last thing is the extra stuff. While sailing, you can find hidden locations & objects called "Discoveries." Finding these will earn you money at local towns. There are more Discoveries in this version that the Dreamcast title. There is optional Moonfishing side story that lets you play through a subplot involving a vengeful pirate hunter, a doctor, a little girl, & a bird. This quest is also new. Also, there is a small list of strong bounties 2 collect, new 2 this version. Aside from those things, there is a special weapon just 4 Vyse later in the game, & a special boss 2 fight. Doing all this stuff increases your rank, changing the way people talk 2 you & the way 2 find new things.

Indeed, this game is not perfect, but I believe once you get involved in the game's many great qualities, you will overlook its small flaws. The intriguing setting & characters will entice you & make you want 2 keep playing. This is one of the Gamecube's more overlooked titles, & I recommend this title 2 anyone with a Gamecube. You won't regret it. I didn't, & haven't been 4 5 years.

You must gather your own crew of air pirates & journey through uncharted skies 2 vanquish the empire from every corner of the map. Along the way, you'll wage battles against savage monsters & evil Pirates as you make a name 4 yourself on land & in the sky. For the first time you can experience the complete story of the critically acclaimed RPG, with hours of new gameplay containing additional background stories

Grab the wheel of your airship & prepare 2 embark on an adventure of legendary proportions. You are Vyse, a young member of the Blue Rogue pirates. Together with your childhood friend Aika & a mysterious girl named Fina, you are locked in an epic struggle with a powerful enemy nation 4 the fate of the world. You must gather your own crew of air pirates & journey through uncharted skies 2 obliterate the empire from every corner of the map. Along the way you'll wage battles against savage monsters & evil pirates as you make a name 4 yourself on land & in the sky. For the first time you can experience the complete story of this critically acclaimed RPG, with hours of new gameplay containing additional background stories 4 key characters. Interact with a brilliantly animated cast of characters, monsters, & villains, explore astounding environments, & unravel a dramatic & twisting story line. You can explore six enormous virtual lands with landscapes ranging from massive deserts & quaint villages 2 the cold reaches of outer space. Customize your own airship & gather up 2 22 crew members 2 help attack or protect against other ships. There is hand-to-hand & ship-to-ship combat featuring spectacular spell effects, amazing special attacks, & an improved battle engine.