Multiple strikes against an opponent, for instance, condense into one series of blows rather than several hits spread throughout the round. Unused AP rolls over into the next round.Īctions used multiple times in a single round combine to form devastating combos.
You can spend all of your AP on a single person or distribute it evenly among your troops. The best part about this system is that you're not obligated to utilize your entire party. Each command costs AP, be it attacking, defending or casting a spell. At the beginning of each round, you receive a certain number of action points (AP). It's refreshing to command a character who, like us, doesn't always win and has to live with the drastic outcomes of his choices.Īrc Rise's strongest facet, though, is its turn-based combat system. Like L'Arc, we face life's challenges and falter, only to learn better in the future. In a way, Arc Rise takes a melodramatic, fantastical plot type and makes it applicable to everyday life. I empathized with him because I also recall making poor judgments based on my inexperience. It's easy to relate to L'Arc because many of us were that eager, naive teen once. They see L'Arc's greenness as an opportunity to help the young man mature into the future hero the world needs. His experienced allies continue to following him, regardless. He fails to consider his options or question all of the information presented to him before acting, further complicating his mission. L'Arc makes several bad calls throughout the campaign's early phases, earning him an ill reputation and driving wedges between him and his closest companions. For one thing, it doesn't portray its protagonist as a perfect leader.
Although it leans on tropes, Arc Rise arranges its material well enough to entertain. I've experienced all Arc Rise has to offer in countless other RPGs, and yet I managed to greet the game with enthusiasm every night I returned to it. Rastan speaks with a monotonous voice that undermines the badass presence he exudes. Other characters, like the veteran mercenary Rastan, plod lackadaisically through their portions of the script. It's as if the actor holds back at the last minute, ruining the intensity that Alf's lines should carry. Alf, for instance, starts his lines with proper gusto, only to flatten his vocal expression by the time he finishes.
To top it all off, Arc Rise sports English voice acting full of wonky readings and awkward intonation.
For good measure, Arc Rise also features: religious criticism, an aged swordsman, a dapper sorcerer with a pair of female bodyguards, prompted conversations between party members and pacts formed with summoned creatures called Rogress. About halfway through the campaign, you receive an airship and a deluge of side quests. They squash their foes with spells and special techniques called "excel acts" and occasionally level up. L'Arc and company travel the world, venture through numerous dungeons, visit a handful of towns and occasionally purchase new equipment. Meanwhile, our hero's childhood companions similarly seek to prevent calamity, although their mission happens to be at odds with L'Arc's. A ragtag crew of seasoned warriors join him, along with a seemingly alien love interest named Ryfia, who is comedically ignorant of the world's customs. A teenage swordsman named L'Arc embarks on a mission to save the world. That's what I expected going into Arc Rise, as it is your everyday JRPG released on a console.Īrc Rise showcases a story we've heard before. The thesaurus in my brain lists "standard" as a synonym for "mediocre" and "dull." As a result, I've come to see standard genre offerings as inherently boring, unoriginal, uninspired and incapable of offering a genuinely entertaining experience. Arc Rise Fantasia taught me that "standard" is not a dirty word.