The nostalgia is real. I remember playing Wild Arms 1 back in the day. The western style setting was a nice departure from the typical fantasy settings of the time. Loved this video David!
The first one is my favorite. The story impressed me as a teenager. A western with scifi elements was fresh and Mother eating Zeke was creepy. Zed is a hilarious character with a nice story arc. A classic!
I loved having the turn based battles on horseback in Wild Arms 3. Yeah it doesn't change the battle system in any way, but I thought it was the coolest thing. lol
I'm so sad this serie died with the PS2 and PSP !! It was a cool serie and I still wish to see it back one day ! If they were able to popularise a bit more Valkyria Chronicle, with VC4, they can do it too with the Wild Arms franchise !! Wild Arms 5 is one of my favorite PS2 game ! Nice video !
As a Wild Arms superfan, I love this vid. Wild Arms 3 is, for sentimental reasons, probably my favourite game, but I fully agree with your criticisms. I LOVE seeing Wild Arms 4 appreciation especially: it gets so much hate, but I love the brisk pace and the way it reinvented the series gameplay wise and visually.
I would love for them to revitalize this series. I didn't get into this series when I was growing up and I'm sad I didn't. I played WA3, but unfortunately couldn't get into that one since it was so tedious even for RPG standards. If they brought this series back I'd be sure to pick it back up and give it a try.
Wild Arms 2 was my first sojourn into the series, and still one that I revisit often. The search system was a double edged sword. It compelled you to explore every inch of Filgaia, but got redundant very quickly. What I never understood was if the entire series was linked? Were they alternative timelines? Did they all happen, but just different eras in Filgaia? I was never quite sure. Also, the Trigun reference in WA2 was amusing.
I'm playing Wild Arms II right now, and I think it's considerably better than Wild Arms I. Wild Arms I was all right, but Wild Arms II is quite good from what I've played so far. (I'm at the point where you have to do the four pillars dungeons right now.)
Yeah. I think Wild Arms 1 was a good start to the series, but Wild Arms 2 just offered more for me. While the trsnslation is not the best, I did find the story and characters moer engaging and I liked how it featured more complex puzzles.
As much as I love the first game, I second this. The cryptic bs in some areas really upset me. I love the third game as well although I still prefer the original. Virginia Maxwell is one of the best protagonists and the music by Michiko Naruke as always slaps.
Wild Arms 3 was easily the best in the series. The combat system was good enough to serve but what really made it was the setting. While Wild Arms has always had some wild west elements, it's been kinda a mismash of genres in the end. Wild Arms 3 really went nearly completely into the Wild West aesthetic in nearly everything it did. The tone it set in it's world and story created a cohesiveness that the rest of the Wild Arms games lack because they really only superficially go into the Wild West elements.
I totally agree with your choices...and Yes Wild arms 5 was the best of them all..and my favourite.. although Wild arms 1 still have a very special place in my heart.. I really wish someone can make a new wild arms game .. I miss this series
I’ve never played any Wild Arms game before and honestly I’ve never heard of the series until I started watching ypur channel, but they seem interesting and I’d love to play them one day.
The first game was my first JRPG ever. The battles with Boomerang and Lucied were great, but my all time favorite moment that I still think about to this day was the twist with Lady Harken. Love it.
I played the first one on a whim, not knowing much about it and expecting it to just be a nice little distraction. I was so surprised by how good it was, it became one my favorite jrpgs of all time
I really liked Wild Arms 3 (& had a slightly addictive story). The fact that it's placed as worst should tell a person how good these games are. I agree with the points of improvement you mentioned. Now I'm more interested in ever to try out the Wild Arms games I missed out on.
I really loved the first game. The wild west setting drew me in, and I think it has one of the best soundtracks of all time. Wild Arms 3 was the last one I played, though I own a copy of 5. Maybe I should see about getting some hardware to run it.
The first Wild Arms is one of my favorite RPGs of all time. I love the story and the arcs the characters go through. I think I need to try XF based on your description of Edna alone.
Man, the nostalgia feels. Wild arms was one fo the first PS1 RPGs I played and it made me a fan for life. And I looooove the hex battle system. 4 and 5 are my faves specifically for it.
I had a friend that used to play random RPGs at my apartment when I was younger. I'd see and play all these different games, and Wild Arms 2 was one of the many, but I remember 3 being the first I owned. There are things I love, I still revisit it, but have yet to finish it. It's not that it's a bad game, but I just tap out right after the scenario/the first quest. To me I can conclude for strangers meet on a train and be friends for life, the end. I do really like 1, I haven't played any after 3, but they actually sound fun! Thanks for the info.
I strongly disagree with 5 being on top. That one is on the bottom for me. Everyone being basically the same is a huge problem, but more than that I just couldn’t stand the writing. I don’t disagree with racism being bad, but every thing was handled so clumsily and everyone was just so SO incredibly stupid it made me want to scream. I know people rag on 4 as kids vs adults, but I found that interesting to see what was basically a look at the trauma caused by a war that went on for generations and how a group of people who arguably had been heroes could fall out of disillusionment and frustration. Far, far better than the constant annoyance of 5 at every single point.
Wild Arms 4's Raquel is the most powerful character she can move and attack at the same time and she also have the ability to get her into the first to attack even if she have the lowest ref.
Having replayed it a few years ago, Wild Arms 1 still had me feeling some type of way when I first saw greenery. It felt more earned than in 3, although I did like that entry as well. I totally get why new heads may not like the original, though.
I came here to make sure that wild arms 3 was at the top, and the results are diabolical. In my opinion, Wild arms 3 is one of the best classic rpgs ever made. Near perfection
Here is my ranking: #7 Wild Arms XF I didn't like this one because it didn't feel like it belonged in the series at all. I kind of liked the tactical gameplay, but there is barely any Wild West feel and the plot feels like something out if Suikoden, just totally out of place in Wild Arms in my opinion. #6 Wild Arms 5 Sorry,I didn't like this one either. It looked and sounded great but the characters completely ruined it for me. Dean, Rebecca, and Carol are all annoying and I never want to see them again. I honestly cared more about the cameo side stories than what was happening in theal main plot. #5 Wild Arms 2 Hard to say, I don't remember much about it (only played it once), but I think I liked it. #4 Wild Arms 4 The game play and the map weren't that great, but it had a nice atmosphere and Raquel and Arnaud, who are very likable, really saved the game for me. #3 Wild Arms Classic, but I like the remake better. #2 Wild Arms 3 I actually loved this one. I like it's engine and I love that they go all out with the Wild West theme here. And I always appreciate a female protagonist for how rare it is. #1 Wild Arms Alter Code F This is my favorite in the series by far. It looks, sounds, and play great and makes everything about the original so much better. And it has the best character in the series as a playable party member, what could be better.
I was surprised to see WA4 so far up, glad I'm not the only one liking it. It's very easy to get into and genuinely a blast to play with it's fast pacing and excellent combat, no wandering endlessly on world map either. Do you think it's necessary to play the original ps WA or is the Alter code version just better in every way for more modern tastes?
Played Wild Arms 2 a couple years ago and I liked it a lot. The graphics and dark parts of the story reminded me of my favorite jrpg ever: Xenogears. Wild Arms 5 I played way back during the PS2 era and it was great too. I was even planning to replay it. Didnt play any of the other games but I plan on trying out Wild Arms 3 one day.
Your playthrough of Wild Arms 4 was the first of your videos I ever watched. Still wish you'd go back and find the last chest so you can fight that black chest boss 😂
Alter Code F was a joke because it forced you to encounter better enemies in the side quests and the main enemies were just weak. I know that ancient evils are naturally meant to be deadly, but I don't want to go from a boss with 5,000 HP to 25,000 by accident.
I’ve only played 1-4... I’d have to put 1 at the top, the music, story and everything is fantastic. It was a truly unique rpg at its time. 2 I liked quite a lot, giving the main character a demon Alkaiser... lots of fun there, AND it had awesome extra party members, like Kanon. I enjoyed 3 but it truly feels like 2 games in 1. It is LONG... and no other party members to play with was a step back from 2.
I'm elated to see one of my favorite CZcamsrs cover my all-time favorite JRPG franchise. Personally, if this was my list, then I would have put WA3 at the top as opposed to the bottom. I ADORE WA3 but I can easily understand why some people would be put off by it. It does tend to drag in parts but I feel like the story, characters and battle system more than make up for it.
Wild Arms was one of my first PS1 games so I'm glad it ranked high in your opinion. I wish I got to keep up with the series as it continued but with every other JRP Games coming out and being a broke high school/college student, I just couldn't keep up. One day maybe?
I've only played 1 through 3. 3 I wanted to finish, but never did as around that time my brother moved taking it with him. For me, this series, I only love 1 from what I've played, but that hex battle system does look intriguing! From what I've played, worst to best, 3, 2, then 1. Lol.
I remember playing WA3 for the first time (it was the first WA game Europe got), and it took a while to adapt to it's unique gameplay but found it to be a lot of fun with decent storytelling. (Currently tempted to replay the re-release on PS4, maybe after Rogue Galaxy...). WA4 felt half-assed, lack of characters and limited customized just wasn't that fun. It was nice for WA5 to fix and improve on a lot of this stuff though, shame we haven't had any major entry in the series since then. Would probably say Alter Code F is my favourite, it's how you did a remake correctly back in the day.
As someone who has only played the first two, and definitely didn't like the second one as much as the first (precisely due to the search system), I really appreciate that you made this and would be seriously tempted to play WA4 if only I could download it off of the PS Store. Maybe someday.
Wild Arms XF will forever be a dark spot personally since it is the game where I got burned the worst by a game store, so much so I did a video calling them out. Not fair. Wild Arms 1 I played after FF7. My opinion of it at the time: I love this 2d town and dungeon overworld and HATE the appearance and chibi look of the 3D battles.....Music was stellar. Wild Arms 1 may be in my top 5 at this point but isnt nearby at all due to how ugly I thought the battles were. Even now I still dont like how they look and it is specific only to that game. WA2 I felt much better about at least visually. WA 5 I would be fresh fish to since Ive only ever seen someone play it from afar and I dont own a copy (as much as I would love to own one). Thanks David!
Heck yeah! More Wild ARMs content always puts a smile on my face! As I mentioned in am older comment, I've been playing Wild ARMs 5, am absolutely in love with it, and it's placement on the list made me very happy xD I definitely do plan on catching up on the other games in the series (I have every game except 4 and Alter Code F) and that brings me to my second point... though the first 3 games and XF are available digitally for dirt cheap, 4, 5 and Alter Code F have never been rereleased outside Japan at all, and secondhand market prices are so high they may as well qualify as robbery. I do recommend the games highly, but perhaps play them, as SNES Drunk would say... "Any way you can"
So far, I have only played the first Wild Arms, but it’s one of my favourite games on the PS1. I do wanna try the others, which is easier said than done, because of how pricey some of them are. The fifth instalment in particular is insanely expensive these days.
I played WA 3 through WA 5. I don't have any distinct impressions, pro or con, that would enable me to compare the titles, but, overall, I remember the series fondly. Thank you for reviving those pleasant memories.
Wild Arms 1 is great (and mostly quite easy), but the difficulty variance meant there were several moments where the required action to progress was very obscure. Looking up the solution sometimes had me going 'what? I never would have got that!'. Perhaps it's a translation issue, or a matter of luck.
I agree with your criticisms of Wild Arms 3 but it was the first game in the series I actually completed and the music is wonderful. I did play Wild Arms 1 back in the day but it was my first turn based JRPG ever and I got stuck not even realising I could grind levels to get past bosses. Then about a year later FF VIi happened and I was fully converted into a JRPG fan. Before that it was games like Soul Blazer and Illusion of Gaia for me.
I totally agree with you on Wild ARMS 4. It was my first Wild ARMS and loved it and its hex battle system so much that I got hooked on the series. Its a shame that 5 was the last main game.
David i really like to watch your videos i can totally feel the love that you have for the games you play, you sound so Excited😄,i unfortunately don't have a PS1 but i Will use a emulator to play wild arms 1
Always stick to your guns despite if your favorites are different than others. Like, Ys Monstrum Nox is my favorite despite everyone else’s is Lacrimossa of Dana.
Oof... That ranking for WA3... That hurts me to my core... But, we've had this discussion before. I can't say you didn't give it a fair shot. Some things just don't work for some peeps. But in all seriousness, I was lookin forward to this vid. Wild ARMs is definitely my #1 series. It may have its lows, but when it reaches its peaks, there's just nothing better! I never did get to play WA4. All the media I saw of it prior to its release just made it appear not-so-good. It kinda looked like a magitech setting, not the wild west, which was always the series' strongest selling point. "It's a jrpg set in a wild west fantasy world! It's awesome!" But 4?... Not so much. If I ever get an opportunity, I'll give it a shot. WA5 is great. While yes, it does still use that search system, it's really only for finding secret crap on the world map. You don't need to search for the next location to even appear on the map anymore, thank goodness... I just wish we had a better protagonist. Out prior heroes were: a boy who's trying to find his place in a world that would outright reject him if people knew his secrets, a man with a hero complex that has to realize "hey... that's kinda fucked up, bro" and that heroes are usually just sacrificial lambs, and a naive young woman setting out into a wasteland for the first time and has to really find what's important in her life or else lose her convictions. Dean ain't bad, but his story is just... super anime cliche "dumb kid with lofty ambitions to be #1 and make everyone friends and everythin will be super!". I'm just glad the story dumped on Rebecca so dang hard. I hate the tsundere archetype with a passion, and I was happy to see every single one of her dreams get crushed. Because honestly, why would someone with her attitude ever get the boy?... Am I evil? Meh. Moving on: But the king of the series has to be the original game. Something about it just made it work for me. Maybe it was the christmas break during my senior year in high school where I got to just sit down and play for hours on end while the outside was a blissful snowy wonderland. Maybe it was the combination of Lufia 2 dungeon puzzles with rpg progression. Maybe it was the unique methods of growing your characters (Rudy picking which aspect of which ARM he wanted to upgrade, Jack needing to practice a new skill before he masters it, then being able to reduce its mp cost with secret signs, and Cecilia's D&D-styled spell preparation). Maybe it was that friggin' amazing soundtrack that was leaps and bounds better than any SNES game. At least, in regards to using an orchestra in many of the songs as opposed to the computerized stuff... The quality will always be subjective, but even there, I love it. Michiko Naruke is, hands down, the best game composer, in my opinion. If any game were to get a remake, I'd hope it would be WA2. It did so much right, but then tripped over itself when it came time to deliver. Fix the translation. Fix the combat (it's soooooo damn slow and there are so many reused animations). Tweak the PS (personal skills) system. Kill the search system when it comes to finding locations (why does the mine not exist until someone tells me where it is?). Finding goodies on the map is fine, but make it more like WA5's where you don't break stride when you search. .... Did I miss anything? Sorry, but I can go on forever when it comes to Wild ARMs. I won't even hesitate to take the time to spell it out properly each and every instance. 'A', 'R', and 'M' are capitalized. The 's' is not. That is how much ass I will kiss for this series!
For me 1. WA 5 - the best the series ever produced nothing more to say 2. WA 3 - this was my favorite one for the longest until 5 came around I do with your about the environment and talking to certain NPC to progress the story a pain but I usually always came back to this one a never get bored 3. WA/WA: ACF - I remember my Dad bought me this and ff7 at the same time and actually played this one more it has a certain charm that I gravitated more. 4. WA XF - I was skeptical about this one because it was significant departure from the rest of the series plus strategy rpg are usually hit or miss with but I actually enjoy it 5. WA 2 A better story than one and Tim is best character but I dont came back to this one a lot 6. WA 4 it is the shortest of them all I usually forget about that and usually to the rest of the series to get my kick
The optional area puzzles were hard in Wild Arms Alter Code F were hard but man did I feel like a smarty pants solving it. It was a stack of blocks and you had to match the colors and get them in right order so you don't have any leftovers. Any leftovers and you have to do the whole process all over again.
Great fun to watch and hear your takes. I've never played anything after 3 but recently completed collecting the series so I am so excited to dig in. Especially 5! Thanks for the extra inspo.
yep Wild Arms 5 is awesome as heck I don't are what others say. Crystal Letter is a Godsend of a song from Nana Mizuki. That ending for a game is top notch imho
To me 3 is the best just based on vibes and characters alone. I really appreciated seeing Filgaia being a desert instead of just reading "Oh no, Filgaia is dying" in books, but to see it with my own eyes. And all the characters really fit in a wild west setting. I guess it's a sign that the series is pretty good when my favourite can be another person's worst. And letting loose those 100fp Gatlings is still my favourite thing to do. Also yes, the combat is slow with all the running around the characters do and the long and unnecesary animations all the characters do, but by god, I'm playing 5 right now and the animations are way too much. The combo attacks, the basic attacks, everything needs to be shortened. God, Rebecca getting a couple continous shots in a row turns something that should be effing awesome into a snooze fest. 5 would be way better if they thought of ways to better integrate shorter animations and not make them full on cutscenes. If they were quicker and without characters fading in and out of reality and maybe let you make your choices until an enemy turn and play it all at the same time to make it look more dynamic it would be truly great, but so far it's only solution is that it has an option to skip animations entirely.
Totally agree with this list, I'll would love a port/remaster/remake of WA 4, WA 5 and specially WA Alter CF for the ps4/ps5/switch, I have an unfinished business with WA Alter Code F, I don't know if my ps2, my copy of the game or my memory card had a problem, I played the game 2 times at least 110h each (I was kind of OCD completionist hahaha) and each time my game stopped working near the end, 15-10% left, so I would love to years later finally finish it.
The first game is great but it allows you to sell an essential item and thus soft-lock the game. Don't sell anything that you think might be needed later.
Loved the video! Going forward, would really appreciate more detail (without spoilers) as to why you ranked the games that way though. For instance, you didn't mention the music AT ALL from what I could tell, and maybe music may not be that important for you, but for me and many other gamers it's almost as important, if not equally important, as the story, battle systems, etc. Also, since Alter Code F is so expanded from the original WA1, I feel like you cheated a little by giving them the same ranking. If you had to seperate them, what would the respective rankings of ACF and WA1 be?
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Wild Arms 1... every 90s JRPG fan's appetizer of summer 1997 until FF7.
The nostalgia is real. I remember playing Wild Arms 1 back in the day. The western style setting was a nice departure from the typical fantasy settings of the time. Loved this video David!
Haha, I did not expect you to be so harsh on Wild Arms 3. I always considered it the best of the bunch :)
That's good to hear I just bought it and then he put it at the bottom. Glad to hear I didn't waste my money.
Same it was my favorite
The first one is my favorite. The story impressed me as a teenager. A western with scifi elements was fresh and Mother eating Zeke was creepy. Zed is a hilarious character with a nice story arc. A classic!
I miss Zed's theme song now 🥲
Me too, I think I just have a ton of nostalgia for it, although it is a fantastic game.
I loved having the turn based battles on horseback in Wild Arms 3. Yeah it doesn't change the battle system in any way, but I thought it was the coolest thing. lol
I loved it too. I think there are some differences. If you run out of ammo I don't think you can attacks anymore when on horse. I think.
Some things just add flavour.
WIld Arms 5 is the greatest of the series and criminally underrated/talked about.
@@Perkyguy Started from the first. Didnt play XF or the tactical game, though.
Agreed
No, it's pretty awful. sell your copy now for $200.
You’re taste really shouldn’t impact others...
Agree with this wild arms 5 is the best in the series. And has the coolest battle system.
I'm so sad this serie died with the PS2 and PSP !! It was a cool serie and I still wish to see it back one day ! If they were able to popularise a bit more Valkyria Chronicle, with VC4, they can do it too with the Wild Arms franchise !!
Wild Arms 5 is one of my favorite PS2 game !
Nice video !
As a Wild Arms superfan, I love this vid. Wild Arms 3 is, for sentimental reasons, probably my favourite game, but I fully agree with your criticisms. I LOVE seeing Wild Arms 4 appreciation especially: it gets so much hate, but I love the brisk pace and the way it reinvented the series gameplay wise and visually.
Dude, totally love Wild Arms 5, is one of the few games where I love to grind because the battle system is fast and fun.
Mmmm. Not a single 'bad' game in the series. Sony has to bring it back.
I would love for them to revitalize this series. I didn't get into this series when I was growing up and I'm sad I didn't. I played WA3, but unfortunately couldn't get into that one since it was so tedious even for RPG standards. If they brought this series back I'd be sure to pick it back up and give it a try.
Legend of Dragoon Bro💯
Wild Arms 2 is the most hate-love I've ever had with a JRPG though.
No video game is perfect but I do agree that Sony should bring it back by all means.
From the looks of it 4&5 are the worst. Hex system?
How can anyone like a stupid system like that?
It's as stupid as the search system for the map.
WA1 IS MY PERSONAL FAV, I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT PERFECT, BUT MAN THE MEMORIES IT BRINGS BACK. PURE GOOD TIMES.
Wild Arms 2 was my first sojourn into the series, and still one that I revisit often. The search system was a double edged sword. It compelled you to explore every inch of Filgaia, but got redundant very quickly. What I never understood was if the entire series was linked? Were they alternative timelines? Did they all happen, but just different eras in Filgaia? I was never quite sure. Also, the Trigun reference in WA2 was amusing.
That would be my guess, that they're all in different eras.
I'm playing Wild Arms II right now, and I think it's considerably better than Wild Arms I. Wild Arms I was all right, but Wild Arms II is quite good from what I've played so far. (I'm at the point where you have to do the four pillars dungeons right now.)
Yeah. I think Wild Arms 1 was a good start to the series, but Wild Arms 2 just offered more for me. While the trsnslation is not the best, I did find the story and characters moer engaging and I liked how it featured more complex puzzles.
Coincidentally, almost immediately after the four pillars dungeons, wild arms ii become much more aggravating than the first.
I like both a lot. Both are arguably the best..at worst either one is like .1 less, equal, or .1 more than the other.
No way wild arms 1 is the best
Wild arms 1 is the best because it is most like golden sun.
The 1st one is so cryptic sometimes, though. Ut's sometimes hard to move the story. The 3rd one is my favorite.
As much as I love the first game, I second this. The cryptic bs in some areas really upset me. I love the third game as well although I still prefer the original. Virginia Maxwell is one of the best protagonists and the music by Michiko Naruke as always slaps.
Wild Arms 3 was easily the best in the series. The combat system was good enough to serve but what really made it was the setting. While Wild Arms has always had some wild west elements, it's been kinda a mismash of genres in the end. Wild Arms 3 really went nearly completely into the Wild West aesthetic in nearly everything it did. The tone it set in it's world and story created a cohesiveness that the rest of the Wild Arms games lack because they really only superficially go into the Wild West elements.
I totally agree with your choices...and Yes Wild arms 5 was the best of them all..and my favourite.. although Wild arms 1 still have a very special place in my heart..
I really wish someone can make a new wild arms game .. I miss this series
I’ve never played any Wild Arms game before and honestly I’ve never heard of the series until I started watching ypur channel, but they seem interesting and I’d love to play them one day.
The first game was my first JRPG ever. The battles with Boomerang and Lucied were great, but my all time favorite moment that I still think about to this day was the twist with Lady Harken. Love it.
I played the first one on a whim, not knowing much about it and expecting it to just be a nice little distraction. I was so surprised by how good it was, it became one my favorite jrpgs of all time
I really liked Wild Arms 3 (& had a slightly addictive story). The fact that it's placed as worst should tell a person how good these games are. I agree with the points of improvement you mentioned. Now I'm more interested in ever to try out the Wild Arms games I missed out on.
I really loved the first game. The wild west setting drew me in, and I think it has one of the best soundtracks of all time.
Wild Arms 3 was the last one I played, though I own a copy of 5. Maybe I should see about getting some hardware to run it.
5 is nice when I played it around when it came out. I'd say it's my 2-3rd fav.
The first Wild Arms is one of my favorite RPGs of all time. I love the story and the arcs the characters go through.
I think I need to try XF based on your description of Edna alone.
Wild Arms 5 is still my second favorite PS2 jRPG
After I watched this video, I had to go and watch the opening sequences to the games to enjoy those sweet, sweet opening theme songs.
I have the first 3 games, but only played Wild Arms (1). I really got into it. I loved the gorgeous soundtrack and unique world/storyline. What a gem!
Same it’s the best one
Man, the nostalgia feels. Wild arms was one fo the first PS1 RPGs I played and it made me a fan for life. And I looooove the hex battle system. 4 and 5 are my faves specifically for it.
Loved the original Wild Arms. I thought using your tools on the maps was neat.
I had a friend that used to play random RPGs at my apartment when I was younger. I'd see and play all these different games, and Wild Arms 2 was one of the many, but I remember 3 being the first I owned. There are things I love, I still revisit it, but have yet to finish it. It's not that it's a bad game, but I just tap out right after the scenario/the first quest. To me I can conclude for strangers meet on a train and be friends for life, the end. I do really like 1, I haven't played any after 3, but they actually sound fun! Thanks for the info.
"Wild Arms 3 doesn't have any water or trees. "
Are you sure you played it? I don't think you have played it.
I strongly disagree with 5 being on top. That one is on the bottom for me. Everyone being basically the same is a huge problem, but more than that I just couldn’t stand the writing. I don’t disagree with racism being bad, but every thing was handled so clumsily and everyone was just so SO incredibly stupid it made me want to scream. I know people rag on 4 as kids vs adults, but I found that interesting to see what was basically a look at the trauma caused by a war that went on for generations and how a group of people who arguably had been heroes could fall out of disillusionment and frustration. Far, far better than the constant annoyance of 5 at every single point.
Wild Arms 4's Raquel is the most powerful character she can move and attack at the same time and she also have the ability to get her into the first to attack even if she have the lowest ref.
Having replayed it a few years ago, Wild Arms 1 still had me feeling some type of way when I first saw greenery. It felt more earned than in 3, although I did like that entry as well. I totally get why new heads may not like the original, though.
I came here to make sure that wild arms 3 was at the top, and the results are diabolical. In my opinion, Wild arms 3 is one of the best classic rpgs ever made. Near perfection
Lol
Wild Arms?! David, you treat us so fine.
Here is my ranking:
#7 Wild Arms XF
I didn't like this one because it didn't feel like it belonged in the series at all. I kind of liked the tactical gameplay, but there is barely any Wild West feel and the plot feels like something out if Suikoden, just totally out of place in Wild Arms in my opinion.
#6 Wild Arms 5
Sorry,I didn't like this one either. It looked and sounded great but the characters completely ruined it for me. Dean, Rebecca, and Carol are all annoying and I never want to see them again. I honestly cared more about the cameo side stories than what was happening in theal main plot.
#5 Wild Arms 2
Hard to say, I don't remember much about it (only played it once), but I think I liked it.
#4 Wild Arms 4
The game play and the map weren't that great, but it had a nice atmosphere and Raquel and Arnaud, who are very likable, really saved the game for me.
#3 Wild Arms
Classic, but I like the remake better.
#2 Wild Arms 3
I actually loved this one. I like it's engine and I love that they go all out with the Wild West theme here. And I always appreciate a female protagonist for how rare it is.
#1 Wild Arms Alter Code F
This is my favorite in the series by far. It looks, sounds, and play great and makes everything about the original so much better. And it has the best character in the series as a playable party member, what could be better.
I only played the first three, but part 2 is my favorite.
...except the Liz and Ard segments.
The original Wild Arms was my jam. Gotta check some of these others out
Hi David, keep up the awesome work!
Bro you made this a day after I remembered playing this. Thanks for making this bro
I own every wild arms and have only beaten 1....I need to rectify this.
I was surprised to see WA4 so far up, glad I'm not the only one liking it. It's very easy to get into and genuinely a blast to play with it's fast pacing and excellent combat, no wandering endlessly on world map either.
Do you think it's necessary to play the original ps WA or is the Alter code version just better in every way for more modern tastes?
I would personally say start with the original and then play altercode f :)
Wild Arms 1’s traditional & simple RPG Style as well as Great Story makes it the best in the series as well as one of the best of all time.
Can’t believe I missed a whole video on Wild Arms, let’s goooooo!
Played Wild Arms 2 a couple years ago and I liked it a lot. The graphics and dark parts of the story reminded me of my favorite jrpg ever: Xenogears.
Wild Arms 5 I played way back during the PS2 era and it was great too. I was even planning to replay it.
Didnt play any of the other games but I plan on trying out Wild Arms 3 one day.
Your playthrough of Wild Arms 4 was the first of your videos I ever watched. Still wish you'd go back and find the last chest so you can fight that black chest boss 😂
My ranking
1. WA3
2. WA AF
3. WA2
4. WA XF
5. WA5
6. WA4
I want Wild Arms 5! I've been collecting all the others for awhile now.
I just started Alter Code F and like it so far.
Alter Code F was a joke because it forced you to encounter better enemies in the side quests and the main enemies were just weak. I know that ancient evils are naturally meant to be deadly, but I don't want to go from a boss with 5,000 HP to 25,000 by accident.
I think 2 and Alter Code F were my favorites. I backed Armed Fantasia and have high hopes they can recapture some of that magic.
I’ve only played 1-4... I’d have to put 1 at the top, the music, story and everything is fantastic. It was a truly unique rpg at its time.
2 I liked quite a lot, giving the main character a demon Alkaiser... lots of fun there, AND it had awesome extra party members, like Kanon.
I enjoyed 3 but it truly feels like 2 games in 1. It is LONG... and no other party members to play with was a step back from 2.
I'm elated to see one of my favorite CZcamsrs cover my all-time favorite JRPG franchise.
Personally, if this was my list, then I would have put WA3 at the top as opposed to the bottom. I ADORE WA3 but I can easily understand why some people would be put off by it. It does tend to drag in parts but I feel like the story, characters and battle system more than make up for it.
I love the Original PS1 Wild Arms the most.
Wild Arms was one of my first PS1 games so I'm glad it ranked high in your opinion. I wish I got to keep up with the series as it continued but with every other JRP Games coming out and being a broke high school/college student, I just couldn't keep up. One day maybe?
❤️Virginia❤️Maxwell❤️
I've only played 1 through 3. 3 I wanted to finish, but never did as around that time my brother moved taking it with him. For me, this series, I only love 1 from what I've played, but that hex battle system does look intriguing! From what I've played, worst to best, 3, 2, then 1. Lol.
I remember playing WA3 for the first time (it was the first WA game Europe got), and it took a while to adapt to it's unique gameplay but found it to be a lot of fun with decent storytelling. (Currently tempted to replay the re-release on PS4, maybe after Rogue Galaxy...). WA4 felt half-assed, lack of characters and limited customized just wasn't that fun. It was nice for WA5 to fix and improve on a lot of this stuff though, shame we haven't had any major entry in the series since then. Would probably say Alter Code F is my favourite, it's how you did a remake correctly back in the day.
Rogue Galaxy is so underrated!
Actually we got wild arms 1 on the ps1 :) I have a pal copy but we didn't get 2 unfortunately but at least we got 3 4 and 5
As someone who has only played the first two, and definitely didn't like the second one as much as the first (precisely due to the search system), I really appreciate that you made this and would be seriously tempted to play WA4 if only I could download it off of the PS Store. Maybe someday.
I remember when I watched your wild arms xf series good times im glad to see you growing steadily keep it up man im here for the long haul
The search system is the reason I never re-played Wild ARMS 3 even though I liked the game overall.
Next ranking top 10 jrpg spells/summons.
wild arms 2 will be my childhood game
Wild Arms XF will forever be a dark spot personally since it is the game where I got burned the worst by a game store, so much so I did a video calling them out. Not fair.
Wild Arms 1 I played after FF7. My opinion of it at the time: I love this 2d town and dungeon overworld and HATE the appearance and chibi look of the 3D battles.....Music was stellar. Wild Arms 1 may be in my top 5 at this point but isnt nearby at all due to how ugly I thought the battles were. Even now I still dont like how they look and it is specific only to that game. WA2 I felt much better about at least visually. WA 5 I would be fresh fish to since Ive only ever seen someone play it from afar and I dont own a copy (as much as I would love to own one). Thanks David!
I've always wanted to get into this series. Great video!
Heck yeah! More Wild ARMs content always puts a smile on my face!
As I mentioned in am older comment, I've been playing Wild ARMs 5, am absolutely in love with it, and it's placement on the list made me very happy xD
I definitely do plan on catching up on the other games in the series (I have every game except 4 and Alter Code F) and that brings me to my second point... though the first 3 games and XF are available digitally for dirt cheap, 4, 5 and Alter Code F have never been rereleased outside Japan at all, and secondhand market prices are so high they may as well qualify as robbery.
I do recommend the games highly, but perhaps play them, as SNES Drunk would say... "Any way you can"
I just clicked on it and the first thing I thought it was yes yes David he'll fucking yes
So far, I have only played the first Wild Arms, but it’s one of my favourite games on the PS1. I do wanna try the others, which is easier said than done, because of how pricey some of them are. The fifth instalment in particular is insanely expensive these days.
I played WA 3 through WA 5. I don't have any distinct impressions, pro or con, that would enable me to compare the titles, but, overall, I remember the series fondly. Thank you for reviving those pleasant memories.
Wild Arms 1 is great (and mostly quite easy), but the difficulty variance meant there were several moments where the required action to progress was very obscure. Looking up the solution sometimes had me going 'what? I never would have got that!'. Perhaps it's a translation issue, or a matter of luck.
I agree with your criticisms of Wild Arms 3 but it was the first game in the series I actually completed and the music is wonderful. I did play Wild Arms 1 back in the day but it was my first turn based JRPG ever and I got stuck not even realising I could grind levels to get past bosses. Then about a year later FF VIi happened and I was fully converted into a JRPG fan. Before that it was games like Soul Blazer and Illusion of Gaia for me.
I totally agree with you on Wild ARMS 4. It was my first Wild ARMS and loved it and its hex battle system so much that I got hooked on the series. Its a shame that 5 was the last main game.
One of my favorite series , just started to replay them this month .
Was thinking about picking up 1 and 3 on Playstation. Thought I'd look to see if you did a vid first. Glad to find you did too.
David i really like to watch your videos i can totally feel the love that you have for the games you play, you sound so Excited😄,i unfortunately don't have a PS1 but i Will use a emulator to play wild arms 1
Always stick to your guns despite if your favorites are different than others. Like, Ys Monstrum Nox is my favorite despite everyone else’s is Lacrimossa of Dana.
I love wild arms! I have all the games I even have two copies of the first one!
Oof... That ranking for WA3... That hurts me to my core... But, we've had this discussion before. I can't say you didn't give it a fair shot. Some things just don't work for some peeps.
But in all seriousness, I was lookin forward to this vid. Wild ARMs is definitely my #1 series. It may have its lows, but when it reaches its peaks, there's just nothing better! I never did get to play WA4. All the media I saw of it prior to its release just made it appear not-so-good. It kinda looked like a magitech setting, not the wild west, which was always the series' strongest selling point. "It's a jrpg set in a wild west fantasy world! It's awesome!" But 4?... Not so much. If I ever get an opportunity, I'll give it a shot.
WA5 is great. While yes, it does still use that search system, it's really only for finding secret crap on the world map. You don't need to search for the next location to even appear on the map anymore, thank goodness... I just wish we had a better protagonist. Out prior heroes were: a boy who's trying to find his place in a world that would outright reject him if people knew his secrets, a man with a hero complex that has to realize "hey... that's kinda fucked up, bro" and that heroes are usually just sacrificial lambs, and a naive young woman setting out into a wasteland for the first time and has to really find what's important in her life or else lose her convictions. Dean ain't bad, but his story is just... super anime cliche "dumb kid with lofty ambitions to be #1 and make everyone friends and everythin will be super!". I'm just glad the story dumped on Rebecca so dang hard. I hate the tsundere archetype with a passion, and I was happy to see every single one of her dreams get crushed. Because honestly, why would someone with her attitude ever get the boy?... Am I evil? Meh. Moving on:
But the king of the series has to be the original game. Something about it just made it work for me. Maybe it was the christmas break during my senior year in high school where I got to just sit down and play for hours on end while the outside was a blissful snowy wonderland. Maybe it was the combination of Lufia 2 dungeon puzzles with rpg progression. Maybe it was the unique methods of growing your characters (Rudy picking which aspect of which ARM he wanted to upgrade, Jack needing to practice a new skill before he masters it, then being able to reduce its mp cost with secret signs, and Cecilia's D&D-styled spell preparation). Maybe it was that friggin' amazing soundtrack that was leaps and bounds better than any SNES game. At least, in regards to using an orchestra in many of the songs as opposed to the computerized stuff... The quality will always be subjective, but even there, I love it. Michiko Naruke is, hands down, the best game composer, in my opinion.
If any game were to get a remake, I'd hope it would be WA2. It did so much right, but then tripped over itself when it came time to deliver. Fix the translation. Fix the combat (it's soooooo damn slow and there are so many reused animations). Tweak the PS (personal skills) system. Kill the search system when it comes to finding locations (why does the mine not exist until someone tells me where it is?). Finding goodies on the map is fine, but make it more like WA5's where you don't break stride when you search.
.... Did I miss anything? Sorry, but I can go on forever when it comes to Wild ARMs. I won't even hesitate to take the time to spell it out properly each and every instance. 'A', 'R', and 'M' are capitalized. The 's' is not. That is how much ass I will kiss for this series!
Damn I thought they ended at 3. Well I got new games to play.
Wild arms 1, its remake, and 3 are tied for my favs because its a continuation of the story
For me
1. WA 5 - the best the series ever produced nothing more to say
2. WA 3 - this was my favorite one for the longest until 5 came around I do with your about the environment and talking to certain NPC to progress the story a pain but I usually always came back to this one a never get bored
3. WA/WA: ACF - I remember my Dad bought me this and ff7 at the same time and actually played this one more it has a certain charm that I gravitated more.
4. WA XF - I was skeptical about this one because it was significant departure from the rest of the series plus strategy rpg are usually hit or miss with but I actually enjoy it
5. WA 2 A better story than one and Tim is best character but I dont came back to this one a lot
6. WA 4 it is the shortest of them all I usually forget about that and usually to the rest of the series to get my kick
David i'm gonna go broke with all these rpgs you keep showing me that i've never heard of before. Keep up the good work, bud.
Wild arms 2 now has been made for ps5 and different
The optional area puzzles were hard in Wild Arms Alter Code F were hard but man did I feel like a smarty pants solving it. It was a stack of blocks and you had to match the colors and get them in right order so you don't have any leftovers. Any leftovers and you have to do the whole process all over again.
Rebecca helped me get through many long nights of Wild Arms 5, lol.
Nice list. Have the first two and only ever played them. Never knew they made more.
Wild Arms 5
Wild Arms 2
Wild Arms 4
Wild Arms 1
Wild Arms 3
This is my favourite RPG series, but gurl WA3 last? Choices. Haha
Everyone dumped on the PlayStation classic but I’m so glad I got it just for the original Wild Arms alone
Great fun to watch and hear your takes. I've never played anything after 3 but recently completed collecting the series so I am so excited to dig in. Especially 5! Thanks for the extra inspo.
Do not play 5 lmao. It sucks in every aspect outside of combat and is now running at over $150.
if there's one series Sony should remaster it's these games.
Always wanted to play Wild Arms. I have III somewhere and I think 1 and 2 are on PSN.
MY RANK
1. WA 1
2. WA 4
3. WA 2
4. WA 3
5. WA 5
6. WA XF
I remember wild arms being the underdog to ff7. Amazed it lasted 5 main games.
yep Wild Arms 5 is awesome as heck I don't are what others say. Crystal Letter is a Godsend of a song from Nana Mizuki. That ending for a game is top notch imho
All the reasons this guy listed for why WA3 is in last... are all the reasons it's #1 for me
I loved the music in Wild Arms 2!
To me 3 is the best just based on vibes and characters alone. I really appreciated seeing Filgaia being a desert instead of just reading "Oh no, Filgaia is dying" in books, but to see it with my own eyes. And all the characters really fit in a wild west setting. I guess it's a sign that the series is pretty good when my favourite can be another person's worst. And letting loose those 100fp Gatlings is still my favourite thing to do.
Also yes, the combat is slow with all the running around the characters do and the long and unnecesary animations all the characters do, but by god, I'm playing 5 right now and the animations are way too much. The combo attacks, the basic attacks, everything needs to be shortened. God, Rebecca getting a couple continous shots in a row turns something that should be effing awesome into a snooze fest. 5 would be way better if they thought of ways to better integrate shorter animations and not make them full on cutscenes. If they were quicker and without characters fading in and out of reality and maybe let you make your choices until an enemy turn and play it all at the same time to make it look more dynamic it would be truly great, but so far it's only solution is that it has an option to skip animations entirely.
Totally agree with this list, I'll would love a port/remaster/remake of WA 4, WA 5 and specially WA Alter CF for the ps4/ps5/switch, I have an unfinished business with WA Alter Code F, I don't know if my ps2, my copy of the game or my memory card had a problem, I played the game 2 times at least 110h each (I was kind of OCD completionist hahaha) and each time my game stopped working near the end, 15-10% left, so I would love to years later finally finish it.
The first game is great but it allows you to sell an essential item and thus soft-lock the game. Don't sell anything that you think might be needed later.
Loved the video! Going forward, would really appreciate more detail (without spoilers) as to why you ranked the games that way though. For instance, you didn't mention the music AT ALL from what I could tell, and maybe music may not be that important for you, but for me and many other gamers it's almost as important, if not equally important, as the story, battle systems, etc. Also, since Alter Code F is so expanded from the original WA1, I feel like you cheated a little by giving them the same ranking. If you had to seperate them, what would the respective rankings of ACF and WA1 be?