Arc the Lad : End of Darkness

Arc the Lad: End of Darkness's story takes off when Edda's peaceful existence leads him on a journey to become a powerful exorcist, which in turn leads players on a journey of trials that will test their skills in a variety of situations.  It turns out that that becoming an exorcist was Edda's destiny all along.  Exorcists are the only ones capable of destroying the Darmysts; that's his primary reason for wanting to become one.

The story develops from there, introducing new and secretive characters when necessary.  Dialog sequences can be skipped but idle chitchat must be read through.  This annoyance ends after the first 30 minutes or so.  By that time End of Darkness enters its battling phase, a phase that lasts the majority of the game. 

Edda, the star of the game. 

Arc the Lad: End of Darkness's combat is a cross between a traditional single-player action/RPG and multiplayer games like Phantasy Star Online.  Battles are in real-time, making this the fastest and most exciting battle system yet.  Battles are conducted wherever enemies appear.  You can always see them, attempt to avoid them, and never have to enter a different area to engage in combat (as you do in turn-based RPGs).

Now that combat is in real-time, hack-n-slash combos are accessible at just a few taps of the X button.  Edda has a special exorcism move where he spins his staff-type weapon, pulls it back and thrusts it forward, exterminating any weakened monster that stands before him.  With only two attack buttons End of Darkness is a simple but seductive game. 

Throwing items like rocks and stones may be equipped to the character via the menu screen before each mission.  These items are derived from cards, collectible items that the Arc the Lad series uses (like Final Fantasy uses Materia, but less potent).  Cardholders from cleared data on the previous game, Twilight of the Spirits, can copy it over to End of Darkness before starting the journey.

When materialized, character cards make Edda's solo adventure less lonely.  Up to three characters can aid you against the monstrous monstrosities found in the game's dungeons. 

I knew I shouldn’t have eaten that again.  It gave me heartburn. 

Arc the Lad: End of Darkness's focus is gameplay, and since the combat is in real-time, what better way to enhance that experience than to take it online.  After starting the game and proving that Edda is worthy of becoming a monster hunter, players can take their characters online and fight with three others in real-time.  Team up against computer-controlled monsters and finish the story, or fight against four real players in multiplayer deathmatch.  (Run in circles hacking and slashing each other.  No matter how fun it seems, you have to assume that everyone has a limit as to how long this will be entertaining.)

End of Darkness's graphics are very solid.  The battleground backgrounds are not as detailed as those featured in the towns, but they're detailed enough to keep players from questioning the game's age (after all, this is a fifth-generation PS2 title).  I was pleased to visit the different locals, especially those with unique interiors.  The industrial and farm-type levels aren't hugely exciting, but the mystical, watery caves have an appeal that fantasy fans will surely appreciate.  Their lack of interactivity is disappointing – it would've been great to be able to run through the watery areas and explore the depths of each cave, not just the pre-determined area.

That's something else the game could've done without: linearity.  The battles are mission-based.  You don't have enormous worlds to explore or a Zelda-sized quest to conquer.  The missions were designed to be short and sweet.  There's a path laid out for all to see.  There might be more than one road to take, but it's not a question of whether or not you get lost.  I never did. 

That's one big crystal ball. 

Arc the Lad: End of Darkness is not the RPG to end all RPGs, but it has its moments of reward and satisfaction.  The missions are repetitive.  Anyone who knew what kind of game this was before playing it could have predicted that.  Underneath the repetition, however, is something unusually entertaining.  End of Darkness tries to be the best of both worlds by giving online and offline players something to love.  The story isn't up to snuff, but the gameplay is truly enjoyable.  Neither should have had to have been sacrificed.  Nonetheless, I'll take what I can get.

Gameplay: 7.9
Arc the Lad goes online with a Phantasy Star Online-inspired quest.  Forget menus and point-and-click attacking -- this game's battles are in real-time.

Arc the Lad: End of Darkness is not a Zelda clone by any means, but its combat is not without Miyamoto's inspiration.  Enemies can be targeted for more precise attacks; the targets can be switched on-the-fly when more than one enemy is near.  Unlike Link, however, none of the characters in this game can attack with automatic precision.  In other words, you have to throw attack items in the right direction, guide magic spells and attack from the proper angle in order to make the moves connect.

Moderately fast, exciting and entertaining, End of Darkness is an addictive RPG that'll satisfy the needs of gamers looking for real-time entertainment.

Graphics: 8
Aside from the town backgrounds, which are quite detailed and remind of the architectural accomplishments reached in the first Devil May Cry, Arc the Lad: End of Darkness doesn't have any one particular eye-popping effect.  The graphics are at the level where players won't complain, but at the same time they won't be calling up their friends to brag about how cool the game looks on a high-def TV.

Sound: 8
Musically End of Darkness is not as dark as you might expect.  Some of the tracks are very upbeat, while others have the sound of peace in them.  Most are enjoyable, even those that you hear multiple times during battle.  The sounds suit the environments and should provide at least one lasting memory, if only for the duration of time you spend playing the game. 

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Determined to capture a larger audience, End of Darkness was designed for all gamers, not just the hardcore players.  It's somewhat easier than expected, and may turn off those who completed Alundra and the toughest games in the Secret of Mana series.

Concept: 7.5
Good idea, good execution, but where's the awe-inspiring story?  When the gameplay loses its flare, what reason do I have to return?  A good story holds a less-than-perfect RPG together at its toughest moments.  That's something this game doesn't have.

Multiplayer: 7
Take the single-player quest online and battle with three friends, or turn on your friends, team with strangers, and attack your neighbors in 4-on-4 deathmatch.

Overall: 7.9
Arc the Lad: End of Darkness comes close to achieving the goal of combining a great offline quest with a great online experience.  The most obvious missing piece: a compelling story.  Second would be a full-fledged quest (your journey is mission-based, therefore eliminating some of the freedom that comes with an RPG).  Third, End of Darkness can be repetitive at times.

These flaws are damaging but do not leave permanent scars.  The action-based gameplay is more fun, more diverse and has more variety than the standard console RPG.  Players will instantly pick up on the soundtrack and its number of immersive tracks (there a few annoying ones too, so don't say I didn't warn you).  Something I'll never forget is how a role-playing game with a typical, poorly told story managed to hold my interest even after I realized that the gameplay was repetitive.