It’s happened before, we’ve all seen it.  A deal is cut, papers are signed and a publisher is given the rights to create a game based upon an upcoming anime.  Fullmetal Alchemist’s controls are simple, gameplay somewhat addicting, and anime cut scenes downright exquisite.  It’s almost unfortunate that so much more is demanded by today’s gamers.

Fullmetal Alchemist’s story is best described as a piece of art.  Fifteen-year old Edward Elric and his one-year younger brother Alphonse live in a world where virtually anything can happen and next to everything does.  Edward is an over zealous fifteen-year old boy with both authority and an extreme case of the Napoleonic complex. Always attempting to keep Edward’s zealousness in check is his younger brother Alphonse (Al for short).  Distraught due to their mother’s death, young Edward and his brother Al attempt the forbidden act of alchemy known as human transmutation. Unfortunately the results were catastrophic, as Edward lost his left leg and was forced to sacrifice his right arm to salvage Al’s soul by binding it to a nearby suit of armor.  Only in obtaining the legendary Philosopher’s Stone will it be possible to restore their bodies, and hence the journey begun.

By far the most interesting and involving aspect of Fullmetal Alchemist is the game’s battle features and real-time approach to alchemy. When charging the alchemy gauge, Edward is capable of two basic transmutations. The first of which is a passive aggressive stone block that can either block an enemies attack or be used to jump upon to reach greater heights.  The second is a powerful and often times critical attack known as “Stone Spikes”. In the event that a nearby object’s properties can be changed, the player is able to transmute the object into one of two derived items based upon the level of charge held within the alchemy gauge. Most often a weapon of sorts, these items may then be picked up by either Edward or Al in an effort to confront your foes in real-time much akin to Kingdom Hearts.

Fullmetal’s battle system entails several elements of combating.  Aside from the everyday game attack, Edward is able to cause critical attacks through the use of both his alchemy and accu-strike.  When in trouble, Edward is also able to call upon the help of brother Al. Unfortunately Fullmetal comes up with the short end of the stick in the Artificial Intelligence and collaborative attack departments. Many times when attempting to defeat a foe, Al will stand far enough aside that he must be called in to help. Regrettably few enemies have more than one attack and even fewer enemies have pathing figured to anything more than a straight line. As for the enemy’s recovery time, most can be cornered and juggled with little or nothing to fear.

As for the game’s graphics, there is little to note. The majority of the cut scenes are done through the execution of anime sequences, and those that aren’t are portrayed through character sketches and extensive dialogue. The characters themselves are done fairly well in game; however the environment and a good part of Edwards’ surroundings are nothing more than simple texture mapped geometry.

In its entirety, Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel is an alright game. If you’ve been enjoying the anime it’s definitely worth checking out, just don’t go in expecting to be swept off your feet. It’s a creditable supplement to the anime, though most likely classified as a “Rental”.   

Gameplay: 6.7
As for the game’s controls, they are highly reminiscent of Kingdom Hearts and will likely take no more than five minutes to get used to. And though Edward’s Alchemy is handy, waiting for the meter to charge is rarely worth the time when you could have instead bombarded the enemy with a number of normal strikes.

Graphics: 7.3
For those of you who have fell to the recent anime to game craze, Fullmetal is definitely worth checking out. Though the games environments may be simple, its character models and anime cut scenes are alright. In fact, the majority of the game’s cut scenes last for minutes on end and look nigh identical to the anime.

Sound: 6.5
Fullmetal’s soundtrack is solid enough, and offers a few decent/good songs. As for the game’s voice acting, most dialogues are either hit or miss in the occasion that Edward’s eagerness or Al’s apathetic and sometimes hesitant attitude become too dominating.

Difficulty: Easy
Simple and straightforward, Fullmetal Alchemist can be enjoyed by just about everyone. Frankly, the majority of the game’s enemies lack complex AI.  As for the few bosses that can be considered tough, elixirs are found around just about every corner.

Concept: 7.0
Perhaps the most difficult thought to incorporate into a game is a player’s creativity.  In a round about way, Fullmetal’s alchemy allows for the player to transmute objects scattered throughout the environment into a variety of items. And though it would be nice to take full advantage of the “equivalent exchange” concept, offering more than already is, would likely add a new level of complexity and deter the majority its current fan base.

Overall: 7.1
Its anime cut scenes are superlative, in-game graphics alright, and gameplay a little dull. You may be drawn in… It’s alright. It’s an enjoyable game, especially if you’ve been following the anime. Though no records will be broken in the gameplay department, it is a admirable supplement to the anime and worth a rent.