Ah, 2005 has certainly turned out to be quite a great year for role-playing game fans for all consoles but most especially the PS2. Not only has it seen games like Dragon Quest VIII but it also sees the return of a PSOne favorite the Wild Arms series. Basically, a remake of the original PlayStation’s game, Wild Arms Alter Code: F brings us back to the world of Filgaia and its various interesting characters that made loyal followers of the series go back for more and more.

Before the game starts we are treated to an opening cinematic that lays down the game’s story but it also introduces the game’s slightly upgraded visuals. We witness the destruction of a castle long ago and its survivors as they fight against a demon to protect an artifact known as the Arch. The only person who survives is a knight named Garrett who swears upon the death of his girl that he will tell the world what had happened that day. Several years later we see that the world of Filgaia is now a desert wasteland that resembles the Old West of our world. It is in a little farm that we encounter a Wanderer known as Rudy Roughknight. Yet Rudy is about to find himself in a fight to save the world and thankfully he meets the companions who will aid him on the quest to keep the demons from ravaging the land once again.

Of course, saving the world won’t be easy but, aside from being a Wanderer, Rudy is skilled in the use of his revolver-like weapon known as an ARM as well as a tool (in his case a bomb that clears obstructions from his path). He soon meets his brave companions who also come with their own set of unique skills and helpful tool. Cecilia Adlehyde, for example, is the magic user of the group and can use her staff to start fires. Jack Van Burace uses a sword but is also a quick-draw gunfighter and while he has no tool he makes good use of his wisecracking bunny-like spirit animal named Hanpan. You’ll also meet a healer named Emma and a rich society girl named Jane and her butler Magdalen.

The world of Filgaia is a big one filled with monsters you’ll encounter with nearly every movement you make. Trust me when I say that you’ll be battling it out against monsters more often than exploring. The good news is that combat has evolved from the original version but when I mean evolved it uses the same battle system from past games like Wild Arms 3. You can adjust the formation right at the start of battle and Attack, Shoot, Guard or use a character’s Special Ability that comes in handy during battle. The problem is that battles can drag on at an excruciatingly slow pace that will make most gamers want to avoid them completely. If it weren’t for the money, items and the leveling up you’d leave a great majority of the battles that occur often or make use of the Migrant Seal that helps avoid unnecessary battles.

As I mentioned above, the game’s map is pretty huge and you’ll encounter a number of towns and dungeons to explore. The unique locales are one of the series most interesting aspects. You’ll explore the various rooms of a ghost ship in one part and travel into various temples and even a ruined castle. The game throws many side quests, some really unusual like the mini game that has you gardening while another one has you compiling a list composed of the names of various monsters. There are also puzzles aplenty, like the clock puzzle in the Guardian Temple as well as an bonus mini game that offers some good puzzles boxes to solve (I won’t get into them in detail but know they‘re pretty fun).

Graphically speaking, Alter Code: F is an improvement from the original version but then again the graphics don’t look like they were made for the PS2 either. The character models are rendered to resemble anime characters but the look a bit blocky and the detail of each location really makes the game feel more like a PSOne game. Even the cutscenes don’t feel right at home on the PS2 so we’re looking at a real disappointment here.

At least the beautiful score is still intact and that’s a good thing because it makes up for the lack of real dialogue. The music conveys more emotion than any visual cue in the game and it certainly does pick up at all the right moments in the game. The sound effects are your standard classic RPG effects only this time there is more gunfire than the sound of swords clanking against metal. 

In the end, Wild Arms Alter Code: F is not a step forward for this beloved RPG series but there’s a lot to love about a game rich with all the right RPG elements. The game looks dated and unlike the far more brilliant Dragon Quest VIII already available for the PS2 it also feels dated. Yet with an excellently told story, loads of great characters and much to see and do in the world of Filgaia you can’t go wrong with this game. If you’re a fan of the series you might just want to buy this but if you’re a casual RPG fan I highly suggest you give this one a good weekend rental.

I should add, though, that the game's lengthy missions and various secrets aren't easy to discover and believe me when I say that they're worth the trouble. I highly suggest you pick up Prima's Official Game Guide for the game not only because it's wonderfully comprehensive but the maps are well-detailed and the puzzle solutions easy to follow. It's a good guide to have if you're like me and want to find all the game's hidden goodies.

Gameplay: 7.5
Alter Code: F is an old-school RPG in every aspect but its most endearing moments come from its story that feels epic in scale thanks to the fact that the game’s characters are wonderfully likeable. The traditional Wild Arms combat is very dated but it works well enough here and the puzzles aren’t bad at all either.

Graphics: 6.0
The graphics are very PSOne and that’s a step back for the series in a bad way. The character models in the game are a bit on the blocky side and the environments lack detail. There some decent visual effects but they don’t dazzle. This game could have looked a lot better than this.

Sound: 7.0
No voice acting means the raw emotional scenes depend on the game’s score and it does the job brilliantly. Its sound effects are kept at a minimum but that’s okay because what is here sounds Ok.

Difficulty: Medium
The game flows nicely for the most part but there are puzzles, dungeons and monsters that will give you a tough time. There are some challenging boss battles and there are hidden bosses that will wipe you out if you’re not leveled up enough. Puzzle boxes are a nice challenging addition to the game.

Concept: 8.0
There’s a lot to love about an RPG that piles on the extras like extra characters you can unlock, mini-games and other assortment of hidden goodies worth discovering. The game is lengthy and the characters are memorable. The spaghetti-western-meets-Final Fantasy theme is still very cool. The game also comes packaged with a bonus disc featuring Episode 1 of the Wild Arms: Twilight Venom anime series.

Overall: 7.9
Wild Arms Alter Code: F might not be a grand departure for the series but the game is still well worth your time and money if you’re a long-time fan of the series. Old-school charm aside, the game’s story, characters and loads of goodies are enough to hook anyone interested in a role-playing game with a lot of heart.