FullMetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel

Just RPG

Although there is a button that lets you adjust the camera angle, it tended not to cooperate.

netjak

If this game had managed to seriously advance the overarching plot of Fullmetal Alchemist, this would have been a great romp that would engage newcomers in addition to pleasing fans of the show. As is, this game certainly has the engine to be fun, but didn’t quite live up to its potential.

Weekly Famitsu

8 / 7 / 7 / 8 - 30 silver [Vol 785]

Play Magazine

What Full Metal Alchemist lacks in visual punch, visa vie simplistic geometry and slightly stiff animation, it more than makes up for in level design, story, and especially technique. [Jan 2005, p.69]

Warcry

The RPG elements of the title are barely noticeable, and although it controls well and has an interesting gameplay mechanic in the transmutation, the actual gameplay ends up being rather generic.

GameZone

Its anime cut scenes are superlative, in-game graphics alright, and gameplay a little dull.

Worth Playing

While this game lives up to Square-Enix's well-deserved reputation for quality gameplay, it lacks the depth of their best and most famous titles.

Yahoo! Games

It ends up below the quality of "Dark Cloud 2," and right around the level of Sega's "Blood Will Tell." Whether that's enough to get you to hop on this train is up to you.

Siliconera

One of the most salient problems with Full Metal Alchemist is the amount of repetition. After you get bored of the alchemy the game boils down to eliminate the enemies and move into the next room and repeat for the duration of gameplay.

Gaming Target

Nothing but a crummy RPG. There's no other way to look at it.

IGN

Given its short play time, easy challenge, and straightforward nature, The Broken Angel could definitely occupy you for a weekend or so, but I'm not so sure that you'd ever go back to it.

GameSpot

While the temperamental Edward and his patient, tragically transmuted brother Alphonse bring some of the series' personality to the game, some awkward controls and the lack of any real challenge or longevity relegate this title to rental status at best.

Gaming Nexus

The length of the game means you’ll beat it in a week if you really sit down with it and commit a few hours a day, but you’ll be feeling deja-vu the entire time you play. Isn’t this enemy near the end of the game just like one I fought way back at the beginning only a different color? Why yes, yes he is.

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

It's by no means a spectacular game, but then again, it did make me want to watch the show, so it's done its job. [Feb 2005, p.80]

GamerFeed

The gameplay is fairly lackluster when compared to non-licensed games in the genre. The ability to transmute objects is a nice addition, but it simply doesn't add enough to keep non-fans interested.

GMR Magazine

The nice thing about Fullmetal Alchemist that you don't always get in a licensed game... is that the gameplay actually seems inspired by and drawn from the source material, rather than simply being generic with some recognizable characters plugged in. [Feb 2005, p.106]

Gaming Horizon

You’re probably going to be more hardcore and surprised at the light-heartedness offered in Broken Angel, but that by no means makes it a bad title.

DarkStation

A pretty mediocre game. Unless you're a huge fan of the TV series, you can probably just either shy away from this one or keep as a back up choice for a rental.

Game Chronicles

This game does a good job at one thing though, it makes me want to go watch the real series, so I’d say save your money and go by those on DVD rather than this, but there are worse ways to waste money.

Inside Gamer Online

With complicated controls, the lack of variety, too many annoyances, and the disappointingly short amount of gameplay time (roughly 20 hours at most; that’s practically two sittings) Full Metal Alchemist and the Broken Angel just isn’t anything better than a rental.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

What helps it overcome mediocrity is the alchemy bit (you can transmute common objects into weapons) which makes for some mildly creative puzzles and combat sequences. [Feb 2005, p.107]

eToychest

There is very little fun to be had here, and for the price this game simply cannot be recommended to anyone. Surprisingly the sequel, "Full Metal Alchemist 2: Akaki Elixir no Akuma," which is out in Japan, is a much more fleshed out game that towers over its predecessor in most every way.

GameSpy

As excellent as the Square-sponsored source material is, the game is about as generic and bland as you can get.

Cheat Code Central

Slightly flawed and not altogether enjoyable is the prognosis on Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel. Watch the cartoon. It's free and a lot less frustrating.

GameShark

But I think watching the original anime is much more entertaining. So to those who haven’t seen it and to those who have, stick with the show.

Detroit Free Press

My biggest problem is the game doesn't feel finished. Smarter AI, better controls, more game-play variety and more voice acting would have made this a three-star game.

PSM Magazine

Rather short, but it feels like an eternity when you have to plod through bland levels to fetch items and you'd literally rather be watching the cutscenes instead. [Apr 2005, p.74]

Game Informer

The execution of this entry is almost unplayable because it's just so darn dull and clunky, bu tthe ideas are there to make something interesting. [Feb 2005, p.115]

GameCritics

The characters are there—now someone just needs to figure out how to create some gameplay that makes the experience fun and not a chore.

1UP

In its weird little way, it's fun, but not quite $50 worth of fun.

G4 TV

As a pure action game, it’s too slow (it often feels like Ed is moving against a strong wind) to satisfy those used to such titles as Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, or Prince of Persia. As a role-playing game, it’s too shallow and short to satisfy those expecting the next Final Fantasy.

Gamenikki

Originality is what Full Metal Alchemist and the Broken Angel, in the end, is lacking. The transmutation is mildly creative, but it's not going to sustain a been-there-done-that story or utterly mindless, thoughtless brawling.

PSX Nation

From its patchwork gameplay and its broken control scheme to its first-generation PlayStation 2 graphics and third-tier sound effects, nothing about this game is even worthy of a mention.

Gaming Age

Mind-numbing, rambling dialogue. Add to that the simple fact that one would have to go pretty far out of their way to make the game challenging in any way, and the whole package is destined for the fullmetal scrap heap.

Game Revolution

Just a bad video game. Very young, very stupid fans of the series will likely enjoy running around in circles whacking at things, but we at GR do not.