This seems to be the year of the play-station RPG sequel, Legend of Mana, Alundra 2, Chrono Cross and now Wild Arms 2.

Wild Arms 2 is yet another RPG that starts out with a completely new story and new characters. You won't play Rudy or Jack here, instead you play the role of Ashley, a élite shoulder who is missioned to investigate a abandoned mine shaft and a kidnapping. Like the first game, you play three different characters in the beganing, each telling there own story and history, then they all meet up to form your "party". Although you acquire 3 more party members in the game, you are stuck with the first three most of the time.

Game play is mostly the same as the first game, in fact the font and the interface is exactly the same, the battle menus are the same! It will give the player a sense of de' javu. A feeling that they've played this game before. Game battles are turn based, similar to Breath of Fire 3, you select all the actions for all you characters and then watch them duke it out on the screen, and so on. Very similar to every other CRPG on the market. Nothing new here.

Unlike it's prequel, Wild Arms 2 is in a completely 3d world, form the cut-scenes to the overworld. The sprites are some of the best animated ones I've seen in a long time. Just rotate the camera around Ashley and you'll know what I mean. The 3d graphics that make up the world suffer form pixelitous, I wish they'd put more detail into the textures.

The story suffers from one of the most blan translations I've seen for a long time, it's awful. While there are no spelling errors in the text, grammatical errors abound. It makes me kinda sick that Sony can't hire some decent translators!

All in all hard-core old-school RPGer's will probably eat this game up but more contemporary players who are used to Final Fantasy-ish games will probly will shun this game for is old style feel.

Rent before you buy.

-Chip Scheppel

I can't save on the overworld when I want?!? Bloody hell!

Our heros pose for the camera after a well won victory!

Here is the "save game women". Send in the clones!

The Good

+Great inspriing sound track

+Hardcore Old school RPG feel.

+Well animated sprites

+Plenty of Side Quests

The Bad.

-Crapy Pixelated graphics (A playstation trademark)

-Feels out of date.

-Story is disapointing

Bottom Line: Old school RPGer's will dig it, but RPGer's that like a more modern feel to their RPGs might not like its style. Rent before you invest the cash.

Total 7.0 out of 10