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Wild Arms Alter Code F reviewed by RPGLand

May16

Member
Review - http://www.rpgland.com/games/waacf/review.html
With the fully 3D environments and new camera tricks, new dungeon layouts were required, and Media Vision rose to the occasion. Wild ARMs games have a bit of a reputation for having dungeons that feature puzzle after puzzle--much more than a series of straight paths and throw switches. The dungeons in Alter Code F will not disappoint, as they stay in familiar Wild ARMs territory. Initially, this reviewer was turned off by their simplicity, but in the long run, that turned out to just be part of Wild ARMs Alter Code: F's perfect learning curve. The dungeonplay starts out very straightforward and easy. Gradually, more tools and techniques are introduced that make them slightly more and more challenging every time, all the while becoming more fun to play.
 
The text of the review doesn't seem to match up with a 7.5 score (which is Very Good, what?). A 7.5 is the exact score I'd give the game, but for different reasons.
 
Ah, that was the last question I had .. purchase + 1 now
 
SailorDaravon said:
The text of the review doesn't seem to match up with a 7.5 score (which is Very Good, what?). A 7.5 is the exact score I'd give the game, but for different reasons.
Well the criteria is linked right from the reviews.
The Site's critiera said:
5 - Average. This is mathematically the center of the 1-10 scale, and therefore, the sum of games for a given system balance out to about this level of quality. Keep that part in mind: the game's primary competition in our scoring is on the same system, not other systems. A 5 is not a "bad" score.

6 - Quite a good game. Has one large or a few small flaws, but provides a definitely above-average RPG experience.

7 - Like a 6, but significantly stronger in key areas.

8 - Great. Not without flaws, but a very well-done and memorable game. A bragging point for developers.
Why throw half the scale away, eh?
Every place has their own system. I've never seen a perfect one, though I like some better than others.
RPGamer's system is about the same:
RPGamer's critiera said:
3/5
Any game that receives an overall score of '3' is - by and large - harmlessly average; these games should make up the majority of all games. Any individual item score presented as a '3' defines an aspect of the game that serves its function and is neither extremely bad, nor extremely good; individual item scores of '3' can also be used to define an area in a game that is particularly unmemorable or bland but is of - otherwise - good design.
Heck, even 1Up calls a 7.5 "Engaging" and an 8.0 "Dynamite." I'd say the text and score of the above linked Alter Code F review match pretty closely here. Perhaps an 8 could have been expected, I can agree, but on the scale, a 7.5 doesn't seem out of place after that text.
-shrug-
 
-sniff- Oh man, talk about a fun game with good memories. Finished all 3 prologues and BAM, busts into the old school intro theme along with an updated anime opening. Damn I loved this game and the remake is pretty fun so far, no more big-head battles will take a bit to get used to though :lol
 
Okay, I just noticed that RPGLand gave SMT Nocturne a 5, but they gave MMX Command Mission a 7.5, what the FUCK? But then they gave Romancing SaGa a 8.5 which I would probably agree with and most people wouldn't. I don't know what to think now.
 
SailorDaravon said:
Okay, I just noticed that RPGLand gave SMT Nocturne a 5, but they gave MMX Command Mission a 7.5, what the FUCK? But then they gave Romancing SaGa a 8.5 which I would probably agree with and most people wouldn't. I don't know what to think now.

They also gave Unlimited Saga a 6.5. I don't think they have much credibility.
 
It's weird, some of their reviews totally go against the grain and I AGREE with them (like RS), but it's bizarre to find a place where they love off the wall stuff like that, but then didn't like Nocturne. All the reviews seem to be TOTAL hit or miss. To each his own though.
 
God dammit Agetec, if you bothered to announce HDD support for the game, could you fucking bother to leave it in? And the game is dual layer, too, which means HDL support is going to require...somewhat irritating measures. At best.

Back to Dragon Quest VIII.
 
I really love the original so I feel like I should get this, but I also have to admit that it's more tempting to play brand new games... :\
 
SailorDaravon said:
Okay, I just noticed that RPGLand gave SMT Nocturne a 5, but they gave MMX Command Mission a 7.5, what the FUCK? But then they gave Romancing SaGa a 8.5 which I would probably agree with and most people wouldn't. I don't know what to think now.
One might think that there is an entire staff of different reviewers, whose opinions may vary. Holy crap, turns out, just like any other website, it's true! The guy that reviewed SMT apparently didn't like it as much as most people who played it. These things happen, I suppose :lol
Greenpanda said:
I really love the original so I feel like I should get this, but I also have to admit that it's more tempting to play brand new games... :\
Isn't this pretty much a new game? >_>
 
Wow, has this finally come out? With all the delays, I had all but forgotten how much I wanted to play this. A friend of mine got a copy of Wild arms for me when I got sick a few years. It really took me by suprise. I'll have to go grab a copy soon.
 
So I'm playing Alter Code F and I decide to make the funeral my stopping point. I get to the funeral and.... THEY NEUTERED THE FUNERAL DIRGE.

GODDAMN IT!

















*it was my favorite piece too mumble mumble*
 
I've played a bit of this recently (Japanese version, for reading practice), but I pretty much jumped right back into WA4 (which is 1000000x better). It's not bad, but it really does feel dated. The battle system is extremely dull and random battles occur far too often (though you CAN avoid them).

WA4, however, is just so damn fun! I don't understand the original complaints aimed at this one at all.
 
Yeah, the Wild Arms series does have a tendency to cut out the vocals when brought over to the Staters, but this is just all kinds of wrong. Well at least Lady Harken's still in the game.
 
You mean they cut the vocals out on that part in the US version? That is seriously fucked up. I hate Agetec so much it's unfuckingbelievable. We get it a year late, and they cut stuff? I mean, what the fuck were they doing?
 
RPG Land SMT's Review said:
Looking at this game, one would expect it to be a later game from the PS1. In comparison to releases that the PS2 has shot our way like Final Fantay X, it makes one wonder if Atlus has been staring off into space during developments in graphics.
wtf is this guy smoking? SMT:N is one of the best looking RPGs in PS2 because the art direction is off the roof.

RPG Land SMT's Review said:
The optional bosses in this game are cool, but once you get so far with them, they never really leave you alone and eventually get annoying.
lol wtf? then why did you tackle the optional dungeon moron.
 
Should have kept the original music, or gave a option to use the original :(
Other then that its a decent game
 
DJ Brannon said:
Yeah, the Wild Arms series does have a tendency to cut out the vocals when brought over to the Staters, but this is just all kinds of wrong. Well at least Lady Harken's still in the game.
Wha? There were vocals cut?

From where? I haven't played much yet, but I can't recall ANY voice acting in the game at this point.

WA4 has SOME voice acting, but only in major cutscenes or during "battle cutscenes" (scenes that you often encounter right before a boss).

ACF has NO VA, that I'm aware of...unless, by "vocals", you meant singing...

Should have kept the original music, or gave a option to use the original
No way. That's the one thing ACF does REALLY well. It has, far and away, the best music in the series. The soundtrack is really really good stuff (and is probably another reason why I gave the game a shot). It's much better than the original game IMO...and much better than the rest of the WA games as well.
 
I'm compelled to own this game for no better reason than nostalgic curiosity. Sounds like it's the only justifiable reason reading over this thread. :/
 
It's better than the first Wild Arms, and is a great nostalgia fit. The biggest shortcoming is the absence of equippable weapons/armor, ala Wild Arms 3. The biggest plus is the revamped graphics and soundtrack.

All told, it's a slightly above-average RPG.
 
I was referring to the singing vocals. If they didn't want to give us the vocals, they could've AT LEAST replaced them with appropriate instruments; even the PS1 instumentals would've sufficed. But no, they cut out the foreground and leave us with the background of the music.

Not Cool.

I'm going to bitch like a sandy vagina about this. A lot.
 
Hey, i just saw I won a copy of this game from RPGland. Now I can't say mean things about this website.

RPGLand is GAF CERTIFIED now.
 
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