Skies of Arcadia Dreamcast Game
PRODUCT DETAILS
UPC:010086510522
Condition:Used
Genre:Role-Playing
Platform:Sega Dreamcast
Region:NTSC (N. America)
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Skies of Arcadia – Dreamcast Game
$343.97
-67%In stock
Condition:Used
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Never having been a big fan of the Phantasy Star series and knowing that the same team responsible for them was also responsible for Skies of Arcadia, I wasn’t expecting much. But, boy, was I surprised!Arcadia features great and, at times, stunning graphics; a soundtrack that fits the environments and moods of the game; some silly and, perhaps, obnoxious voices similar to those heard in Grandia; and a story that, though simple in plot, has some great twists. For instance: early on, your adventures are interrupted by the sudden kidnapping of your father and friends, and you have to go into enemy territory and make a daring rescue.There was no shortage of time spent on the battle system either. Battles in Arcadia are fun and challenging; no longer can you just wait to heal your party after the battle — you may actually have to use some strategy and find the right time to heal your party in between attacks. Arcadia’s battles are similar to Chrono Cross’ in that they, too, use a color system. A player can change his weapon to a different color (green, red, purple, blue, yellow, or silver) that may be more powerful against certain enemies. For instance: say you’re fighting against an ice-based monster; if you change your weapon’s color to red, you will inflict more damage since red represents fire.All magic cast in Skies of Arcadia costs only a single magic point, but each spell expends several “Spirit Points.” The statistics of each character in your party include a “Spirit” value and a “Max Spirit” value. The combined “Spirit” of the characters is the amount of “Spirit Points” that your party will start each battle with and is also the amount they will gain every turn, while the combined “Max Spirit” of the characters is the maximum amount of “Spirit Points” that they are allowed to accumulate in a battle. Here’s an example: say you have two characters, one with a “Spirit” of 2 and a “Max Spirit” of 5, and the other with a “Spirit” of 1 and a “Max Spirit” of 4. This means you’ll start each battle with 3 “Spirit Points” and will gain 3 every turn, but you will only be able to get a maximum of 9. So if you wish to use a magic spell that costs 4 “Spirit Points,” you will have to wait until you have accumulated enough. You are, however, allowed to have a character “Focus” for his turn, which will add that character’s “Spirit” to the collected “Spirit Points,” speeding up the process. I think that this “Spirit Point” system adds a little bit more strategy to battles; you might have just enough “Spirit Points” to cast one spell and would have to decide whether to use it to heal your party or to inflict heavy damage upon your enemies. Magic is put into the six classes of colors previously mentioned, and you learn new magic by gaining “Magic Experience” at the end of battles. If you want a particular character to learn green magic, you’ll have to end a battle with that character’s weapon colored green. A character will gain double the amount of “Magic Experience” gained at the end of a battle for the color of his weapon, and only a single helping of “Magic Experience” for the colors of his comrades’ weapons. For example: at the end of a battle a character’s weapon is yellow, his comrade’s weapon is green, and the “Magic Experience” gained is 2. Thus, the character will gain 4 experience in yellow and 2 in green, while his comrade will gain 4 in green and 2 in yellow.In addition to magic, there are certain abilities specific to each character that can be executed during battle. These “Super Moves,” unlike magic, which costs one magic point, only cost “Spirit Points,” though often a lot. Also, the only way to learn more “Super Moves” is by finding and eating a certain amount of Moonberries. But you’ll have to be careful in choosing who learns the next “Super Move,” as Moonberries are hard to come by.The world of Skies of Arcadia takes place in the sky where there are several small islands to travel to, and the only way to travel is in an air ship. Also, in the skies you will oftentimes see other ships; they may be merchant ships, from whom you may obtain information and wares, or they may be enemy ships…which brings me now to ship battles. These battles are different than the common hand-to-hand battles in that your ship is attacking another ship; they can last for quite some time and require a greater degree of tactical thinking. In ship battles you give orders to each of your characters; these commands can include firing the cannons, steering the ship to evade an attack, or repairing any damage inflicted by the enemy ship. Firing cannons will use “Spirit Points,” so you can’t just fire nilly willy; you’ll have to use strategy and know when to fire and when to evade.Skies of Arcadia is a fun, solid, lengthy, and challenging RPG. My only real gripe is that at times there seem to be too many hand-to-hand battle encounters as you’re exploring the world in your air ship. But Arcadia makes up for that in other areas, and that’s why it is one of my favorite RPG’s.
15 people found this helpful
Skies of Arcadia is a nice game but it resembles the N64 game Zelda Ocarina of Time with the little amounts of speach that are pretty [bad] and they are used over and over people who have played both will know what i mean but besides that the game rules and the Harpoon Cannon IS THE MAN! i have only 10 hours into this game but i love it probly the best rpg for Dreamcast.
If I were to write a review of this game for any other system (except perhaps the Playstation 2), I would be forced to give it four stars. However, given the total draught of RPGs for the DC, it seems only fair to give this role-player its due as the first solid and true entry into the genre for the system.You’re not going to find the innovation in graphics, music, storyline, or battle system that Chrono Cross or Final Fantasy VII delivered. This particular RPG is better suited for the role-player who has been around the block and enjoys the more basic elements, with an emphasis on adventuring and not incredible plot twists, orchestral score, or eye-popping CG.That’s not to say that Skies of Arcadia looks or feels totally old-school. Obviously, this is not a re-hash of FF2 or the like. With fully polygonal graphics that are gorgeous at times (check out the desert temple), and a few changes to the tried-and-true “fight,magic,item,run” battle system, this game will definitely hold your attention while bringing a few solid new elements to the table.Despite its few faults, I would give this game a 9 out of 10 in most categories, and I think that its place as the first true RPG on the Dreamcast safely bumps its overall rating to 5 stars. Basically, if you played and enjoyed RPGs before the powerhouses like FF7 arrived, I can safely say that you’ll enjoy this one as well.
10 people found this helpful
RPGs have evolved vastly in terms of plot and character development over the years. What this has tended to result in is very dark, complex stories often with protagonists who have no desire for adventure. SOA is the best example since the first Grandia of an RPG that returns to the pure joy of adventuring for its own sake. But this is not to say that plot and development have been skimped on, they certainly haven’t.Admittedly the opening of the story is very deja-Star Wars, but it quickly carves out an identity of it’s own. Though the game starts slowly and guides you along ‘on rails’ for a while it does pick up pace and become highly engaging. The most fun to be had is about halfway through the game when you get your own ship which opens up all kinds of opportunities for discovering treasure, recruiting crewmembers and building a base.The graphics are excellent. Though the charater models are not especially high in polygon count they are all well designed and have superbly expressive animation and facial features. Special mention must go to the lovingly detailed ships throughout the game, there are many of these and you will almost never run into the same model twice. The musical score is also a major plus in building the atmosphere for the world of Arcadia. From haunting pianos solos to vigorous brass and strings pieces it covers the full range needed for a work of this magnitude.If there are any bad points they would be that the random encounters are too frequent on the world map and that the battle system is less fun than Grandia 2’s (though ALL other rpg battle systems fall into that category).In summary, if you’ve got a Dreamcast you NEED this. If you don’t have a DC, you need to buy one to play this.
2 people found this helpful
The storyline is familiar and conventional. An evil dictator is looking for a weapon of mass destruction and our would-be hero is out to save the world. Players take to the skies above and the dungeons below in search of mystical items and rare treasures. They battle strange looking monsters and evil henchmen in turn-based combat, becoming more powerful fighters/spellcasters in the process. Eventually, they gain enough power to stop the bad guys and save the world. Theoretically.Even with this basic premise, Skies of Arcadia manages to develop an interesting plot with lots of twists and turns to keep things interesting. This is one tale that RPG fans will thoroughly enjoy.Now if Skies of Arcadia was an average game, I could just throw in a few words about graphics and the review would be done. But alas, the Skies hold much more treasures for role-playing fans. Shall we commence with the goodies?In order to boost the typical RPG combat to a higher level, Skies of Arcadia includes element-based weapons. Upon obtaining a Moon Stone, characters will be able to imbue their weapons with elemental properties based on color. Think of it like Magic: The Gathering (the card game) or even Pokemon. For example, yellow (lightning) weapons have an advantage over green (earth) creatures. Usage of each weapon type also boosts that character’s equivalent magic powers. Use your blue weapons a lot and you’ll boost your blue magic skills that much faster.The world in which Skies of Arcadia takes place is large, with plenty of places to explore. As a sort of side quest, players can freely explore the world in their airship and discover hidden lands and landmarks. Hunting for these secret locations can be fun on their own and info regarding the discoveries you make can be sold to the local sailor’s guild for a nice chunk of change.Adventures in the sky lead to another take on the turn-based combat system. Sky battles can happen with ships instead of swords. Players enter a string of commands and then watch as the crew carries them out. Occasionally, players will also have to decide the ship’s strategy, such as closing in on the enemy or keeping a safe distance away. While these ship to ship battles are a bit more interesting than the hand to hand combat, they tend to be drawn out way too long.Eventually, when Vyse gets a ship of his own, you’ll also need to find a suitable crew. Gaining specialized crew members, such as a gunner or engineer, will boost different parts of the ship. So you won’t just be hunting for treasure and new lands, you’ll also have to be on the lookout for new crew. There’s just so much to do within the world, you’ll never be stuck in any one place doing just one thing.Within the dungeons you’ll also come across a few puzzles to solve. While none of these are particularly challenging, they offer some nice variety.The graphics are top notch. Skies of Arcadia shows off smooth and detailed environments as well as very solid anime-styled characters. Even the cool looking spells and super moves put on a dazzling display of color and light.Surprisingly, bits of audible speech are thrown in every once in a while. The voices are cheesy at best, but it was nice of them to give it a shot.The most enjoyable aspect of Skies of Arcadia is the way the game flows. RPGs that follow the typical dungeon/town/dungeon pattern get really dry and boring. In Skies, the story, as well as the ability to freely explore the map, move the game along at a brisk pace. Even the dungeon expeditions move along nicely. You won’t have to endure level after level of similar looking environments, desperately looking for the next save point. With this type of gameplay, you’ll never feel like you’re stuck in one place for a long time.So whether you’re a classic RPG gamer or a newbie to the genre, you’re bound to have some fun with Skies of Arcadia. With a great presentation and a well-developed story, this is definitely not a game to miss9.6 / 10
3 people found this helpful
Skies of Arcadia is, in my opinion, the best game on Dreamcast. I like the characters. Vyse, is a young air pirate. He owns a ship called the Delphinis. He has two friends called Aika and Fina. Aika has red hair with pigtails. Fina has blonde. The Valuan Armada is trying to stop all wars by ruling the world as one huge nation. They are going to collect the six moon crystals and summon the legendary Gigas. Vyse will collect the six crystals first. Overall, the game is worth a five star rating. It’s graphics are five star, it’s characters are five star. Everything is five star. When you get the game, you think that the doubledisk is going to be hard. But once you get into it and get used to the characters, it seems like the shortest game ever. That’s why I rated it four stars, bucause it wasen’t long enough PLAY THIS GAME, YOU’LL LOVE IT!!(note: If you liked this game, try Grandia 2.)
first of all let me tell u that i’ve played a lot of RPG’s and the Skies of Arcadia seris is the best.Join a boy named Vyse and his friends aika and fina as they battle monsters,find treasures,discover new continents, explore mystical ruins and even recruite 22 members for their own ship, even fight piratesIf you’re a RPG fan you’ll luv this game.There is a full 3D world with a highly imaginative storyline,great graphics and immersive gameplay.There’s even hand to hand combat and ship to ship combat with special effects and special attacks.An RPG like no other awaits u!.U won’t be sry if u buy it!
One person found this helpful
Skies of Arcadia is a fun, addicting game that will steal away your nights and weekends until you beat it. The colors, the fights, the story, all will be imprinted on your brain for some time to come. But if you are a person of little patience and less tolerance, maybe you should consider a raincheck because this game may drive you to the BRINK!Allow me to explain if you will. Skies of Arcadia follows loosely the guidelines set by the Final Fantasy series. You will have a group of three to four warriors and you will find and defeat a series of enemies. Weapons and combat skills will abound while magic will grow and engulf the world around you. To this tried and true style, several major and important advancements were made.1) Ship battles. You will love this the first second you play it. Not unlike some of the monster battle games of the world, you will order your ship to make 4 “moves” for a given turn. This can be magic, repair, attack, or defend. Then you will okay it and sit back. the four turns will be played out in front of you not unlike a movie, with your ship and your enemy swirling about and attacking. Then the 4 turns will end and you will be given a chance to make 4 move moves. Battle goes on until either you or your enemy plunges from the skies in flames. However this sounds to you, I promise this will be one of the better aspects of the game to you.2)Move to move combat. Not unlike the ship battles above, personal combat follows a turn basis. Instead of having time bars that fill until it is your turn, each side will decide what their warriors will do, and then they will do it. When a person goes in determined by what their speed is. Strategy evolves around your ability to guess what you enemy will do and counter it. Boss battles are some of the most inspiring and fun things you will partake in.But not all is flowers in the Skies of Arcadia. Much like FF, you will often be ambushed by random enemies. The difference here is how often it happens. Throughout the game you are expected to find or discover your next area of importance. Well this is rather hard when ever fifth step of tenth seconds you have to fend off hordes of enemies. I personally tired every way possible to avoid those all-to-common attacks but to no avail. There is a actual dis-insentive to explore because you don’t want to spend hours fighting your way in, possibly finding some weapon or goody, and then spending more time getting back out so you can continue on your way. And there is no relief from this tedium. Only towns are safe for you to explore freely. Now I understand why this is in the game but COME ON! I don’t want to have to fight an army everytime I go into some cave. This feature needed to be spread out a little.Also of annoyance is the lack of dialouge. Everything is writte with the exception of a few simple and comically dsiplaced sound-bytes. In the end, I think I should have been happy for just those but a bit more actual taliking and a bit less eye-wearying reading would have been nice.So in conclusion, this is a must have for your average DC owner (although we are a dying breed). But if you have a short fuse, might want to look elsewhere because I am a patient and mellow tempered person and I nearly gouged my eyes out from the almost constant combat.
One person found this helpful
If you have a Dreamcast or are thinking of getting one, then this game is a must for your collection.Not only does it have awesome graphics, but the story line is one of the best I’ve seen.
One person found this helpful
One of the best RPG stories ever made, Skies of Arcadia supplies fantastic music, colorful graphics, an interesting combat system, and emotionally moving characters to make it a great additon to the Dreamcast library. It should be noted that the Gamecube port of this game downsampled the music, which makes the Dreamcast version sound much better. An interesting dimention to the game is the ship to ship battles, where flying pirate ships engage each other using a variety of strategies and crew member special abilities to win. Throughout the game, you will be picking up new crew members that will help you in these situations, but not in the regular combat scenes.I highly recommend buying a Dreamcast, if only to be able to play this game.