The digital delights of Sony’s scrumptious PlayStation Network service know no bounds. Aside from letting punters compete in online gaming, stream films, browse the Internet and more, its premier attraction rests in the copious supply of downloadable games ripe for the picking. From PSN exclusives to PSOne Classics, minis and plain old add-on content, Sony’s online space is chock full of goodies battling it out for your hard-earned digital dollars.
Welcome back to another installment of Inside PlayStation Network, where every Monday – Friday we’ll pluck a PSN release—be it new or old—and put it in the spotlight for a thorough dissection. Fancy getting a new PSN game but don’t know what one to plump for? Perhaps this feature will help. Didn’t realize that a game was available in your region until now? We’ve got you covered. Or, perhaps you were musing over what those lucky Japanese folk were tucking into over in the Land of the Rising Sun? You can be sure our coverage will extend to those rare regional exclusives as much as those firmly embedded on the public consciousness.
Today, we turn the spotlight on the classic tactical RPG effort, Arc the Lad.
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Developer: G-Craft
Region(s) available: North America, Japan
Players: 1
An often overlooked gem in the RPG genre’s illustrious catalogue, Arc the Lad plants gamers in the shoes of the pint-sized eponymous hero as he embarks on a quest to liberate the world from certain darkness. Final Fantasy Tactics aficionados’ will feel snug as a bug in a rug here, with Arc the Lad packing in all the necessary components for a compelling tactical RPG package. The game offers up a myriad of classic of locations to explore, and you’ll find yourself indulging in everything from creeping around castles to absconding from prison. There’s even a whopping 50-level dungeon to trawl through if you think you’ve got the stones for it.
Arc the Lad adheres firmly to the block-based shenanigans of its contemporaries, whereby you move your character across blue squares while scrapping with foes. Naturally, Arc isn’t left to battle the forces of evil on his lonesome. Along the way, the young chap will bump heads with a cast of memorable characters, such as Kukuru, Gogen, and Poco, each one boasting their own unique skills to master. Magic also plays its part, with red tiles giving you a clear indication of how much range the attack possesses. All the usual rudimentary RPG bits and bobs crop up, such as various equipment, armor and weapons that you’ll need to juggle to fit the right situation. As ever, the better equipped you are, the more chance you have of emerging victorious. Conversely, however, if you bugger things up on this front you’ll probably end up a bloody mess on the dungeon floor.
There’s ample strategy to be played out in battles besides how you distribute your equipment, however. For one, depending on how you approach your foe, you’ll either get the upper hand or leave yourself susceptible to attack. Square up to an enemy from the front, for example, and your opponent may get the chance to counter attack, which wouldn’t transpire had you opted for an assault on their blind side. Outside of duffing up the local baddies, players are given a world map allowing them to sample the locale attractions, such as castles, fields, and dungeons. Select it on your map and you’re whisked away to the location of your choice. Areas are conspicuously lacking in NPCs, however, with most of the game’s meaty narrative divulged via text boxes during various events. Exploration is also kept to a minimum, though the chances you do get to do a bit of footwork are usually well rewarded.
The PS3 version is a pretty barebones port, though as with the majority of gems originating from Sony’s grey box of tricks, the visuals have been coated with a splash of polish here and there. As was the case back in the mid-90s, Arc the Lad’s soundtrack remains one of its most prominent features, thanks in no small part to the talents of composer Masahiro Andoh and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Needless to say, the score remains a hot commodity among collector’s to this very day.
Tune in again same time tomorrow as we once again have another potter around Inside PlayStation Network.