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How Metascores Are Calculated
68
1942: Joint Strike
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
(Known is Japan as "[eM] -eNCHANT arM-") In Enchanted Arms, players embark on an epic adventure filled with unique characters and more than 75 special controllable creatures that players can unlock as they progress. Players take on the role of Atsuma, an Enchanter-in-training who will transform from a naïve student to the most powerful savior in a war 1,000 years in the making. As the story develops, players face increasingly difficult challenges and learn to master Atsuma's special fighting and magical abilities. [Ubisoft]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 91
Gaming Age
With the Japanese dialog, the stunning visuals and the solid turn-based combat system it's the first game in a long time that sates my appetite for the old school RPG.
 90
Gamestyle
The game is unpretentious and makes no apologies for being exactly what it wants to be - and that is a game with a beautifully crafted storyline, intriguing characters, plenty of humour, and everything you want from an RPG. Forget the naysayers, this is really a class act.
88
Digital Entertainment News
It's not "Oblivion," and it's not trying to be. Enchanted Arms is to Tactics-style RPGs what Oblivion was to action-RPGs. A solid next-gen effort from an underdog developer.
86
XboxAddict
The apparently complex combat system and intriguing game world set up some solid groundwork for Enchanted Arms to continue to keep you entertained for a long time.
85
eToychest
It’s well-paced, fun to play, and has some chuckle-worthy dialogue at times.
85
Planet Xbox 360
Enchanted Arms is not perfect but it is very close and will keep JRPG lovers busy for quite some time (around 80 gameplay hours to be exact).
84
GamingTrend
The combat system is different and requires more strategy compared to other RPGs.
84
RPG Fan
From Software's older RPGs were barely playable, but this one was one of my favorite RPGs of the year. The eye candy is the game's defining feature, but it doesn't attempt to stand on that aspect alone.
80
Extreme Gamer
I see the Live portion of Enchanted Arms as a pure bonus which is a start, and a glimpse into the future of more turned based online features.
80
Play Magazine
[eM] is most impressive when placed in its proper context: From Software managed to craft a sprawling, 60-hour-long, traditional J-RPG on a next-generation platform in an incredibly short ammount of time....and it's actually pretty darn good. [Mar 2006, p.61]
80
Deeko
Meshing a well-told and captivating story with a strategic battle system, a bevy of collectable minions and a gorgeous world, Enchanted Arms is a great way to start of the JRPG tradition on the Xbox 360.
79
Game Chronicles
It’s not a landmark adventure, but it is a worthy adventure.
79
Gamers' Temple
I also found it strange that wherever Atsuma went there was always a cloud of dust at his feet. Not sure why this bothered me, but it did.
78
Xbox World Australia
Enchanted Arms could best be described as a Japanese-style RPG for Dummies: it introduces players to the sort of Eastern RPG philosophies that games like Oblivion tend to shy away from: soap-operatic stories, linear narratives, turn-based combat, and lots and lots of collecting things.
78
Team Xbox
It’s not even in the same stratosphere as Oblivion, but it does offer a futuristic, far Eastern flavor that Elder Scrolls lacks.
76
IGN
The good options for auto fighting, fast forwarding through battles and scores of golems to hunt are brought down by several unfortunate shortcomings. The battle system is generic and battles occur far too often for their own good, making for gameplay that can get boring at times.
76
Gamer 2.0
Enchanted Arms is a completely standard RPG with some charming gameplay and plot elements that make it slightly better than average.
75
MS Xbox World
Enchanted Arms offers a compelling yet comical story that will at times make you laugh out loud or at the least, bring a smile to your face.
75
Worth Playing
An excellent first foray into the next generation of RPGs for Microsoft. It's both beautiful to see and a lot of fun to play.
75
GameBrink
[EM]-eNCHANT aRM- has a predictable, yet entertaining, plot featuring a small cast of likeable characters, a moderate sized world that will take about 40 hours to explore, and a good battle system. Sure the graphics are a mixed bag, music is strangely absent, and the encounter rate is high, yet it's still a nice start for next-gen rpgs. [JPN Import]
75
Kombo
A solid Japanese RPG that fans of the genre will enjoy, but not quite superb enough to interest new players in the genre.
75
GamingExcellence
While the overall freedom in the world in very limiting, the great character interactions and storyline make up for the deficiency.
74
Games Master UK
Camp as Christmas and surprisingly fun, this quirky RPG is a decent enough romp. [Nov 2006, p.71]
72
DailyGame
Not a bad game by any means, but the slow initial pace combined with horrible voice work make for a game that most players won't want to make it past hour 5.
71
GameSpot
Enchanted Arms is a capable and often enjoyable role-playing game, but it's also one that you'll likely forget as soon as you finish it.
70
Gamezilla!
I wasn’t impressed much by the game’s visuals. They don’t seem to offer much beyond any other game, unless you like drab pre-rendered backgrounds and some remarkably not-stunning character designs.
70
Next Level Gaming
As long as you change the voice-overs to the original Japanese dialog, the game will be tolerable. If you have been looking for a traditional, turn-based RPG for the Xbox 360, then this one is a nice option.
70
Official Xbox Magazine UK
Perhaps the most likeable cult oddity on XBox 360. [Oct 2006, p.98]
70
DarkStation
Ubisoft brings the Japanese RPG experience to the 360, but sadly doesn't dazzle us with truly next-gen visuals and revolutionary gameplay.
70
EuroGamer
Fans of Japanese RPGs should bear in mind that behind the problems lies an extremely competent, if not terribly imaginative, RPG which will certainly fill a couple of dozen hours of your time in an entertaining and involving manner.
70
GameTrailers
The colorful adventure is generic in every way except for the graphics, but it should sill be a fun experience for hardcore RPG fans. The world that you explore in real time looks as good as some cut scenes on PS2 RPG’s.
70
GameSpy
Turns out to be a well-made game, but is so blatantly unoriginal that it may actually inspire resentment in players who are tired of the same old thing.
70
VideoGamer
The biggest disappoint is how pitiful the narrative is.
70
Jolt Online Gaming UK
With up to 50 hours of gameplay and the option of having rather straightfoward online battles, you’ll at least get your money’s worth; we’re just not sure that most Xbox 360 gamers have refined enough tastes to fully appreciate it.
70
AceGamez
If you're looking for a game with legs and lifespan, Enchanted Arms is for you.
65
GameCritics
If they had trimmed all the meaningless RPG fat and reworked Enchanted Arms into something more concentrated, the experience would have played to the game's strengths and been more successful for it.
65
1UP
The decidedly traditional approach that permeates every part of the game makes the decision to develop this as a "new-gen" game all the more odd, to say the very least.
65
PALGN
Enchanted Arms is something of a run-of-the-mill effort but it does enough differently and enough well to warrant a look.
65
Electronic Gaming Monthly
For a Japanese role-playing game on the decidely un-Japanese 360, this turned out to be surprisingly predictable experience. [Oct. 2006, p.109]
65
Official Xbox Magazine
But ultimately, it's hard to whole-heartedly recommend this game to anyone but the most diehard turn-based--RPG fanatics. [Oct. 2006, p.73]
62
Xbox360Achievements
The story never really takes off and the characters are a bit one-dimensional, plus the lack of anything other than the main quest to occupy your attention is a let down.
60
Xboxic
In true J-RPG fashion this game doesn’t have a lot of real gameplay and I accept that that’s one of the merits of the genre, however the battle system gets really old really fast.
60
RewiredMind
If you come into Enchanted Arms looking for something as epic as the Final Fantasy series then there’s a hefty chance you’ll leave disappointed. That’s not to say this is a bad game at all. Enchanted Arms plays like most would expect - an average RPG. Nothing more, nothing less.
60
Edge Magazine
It’s a unique offering for 360 owners – as it would have been for Xbox – certainly, but one who’s highlights can’t match those of the RPGs currently burning brightly on PS2. [Apr 2006, p.87]
60
Yahoo! Games
American role-playing veterans who aren't absolutely dying to do turn-based battles on their shiny new console are advised to wait for a true RPG killer app on 360 -- however long that's going to take.
60
games(TM)
As it stands, it’s only eye candy that distinguishes Enchanted Arms from the wealth of tactical RPGs on PS2. [Oct 2006, p.130]
60
Game Informer
While not broken in any fundamental ways, this souless and cliched title tries to be too many things to many people, and in the end does none of them well. [Oct. 2006, p.104]
58
Game Revolution
A decent, if forgettable, RPG romp through familiar lands, with familiar faces, for familiar goals. Its surprisingly thoughtful and intelligent battle system mostly makes up for its weak character customization, lackluster graphics and overly linear world.
50
Boomtown
If, like me, you’re vulnerable to anime/manga/JRPG cliché, then this game will be a guilty pleasure, but I’ll be surprised if you finish it.
50
Sydney Morning Herald
Xbox 360 gamers will be pleased to have a grand RPG, but sadly it's not nearly as enchanting as it could be.
50
360 Gamer Magazine UK
It’s average. It’s the sort of by-the-numbers fantastical nonsense you’ve played, completed and discarded a million times before and doesn’t offer anything new besides high resolution graphics and a slight reliance on the ‘A’ button.
50
Games Radar
If you absolutely must get your hands on a next-generation RPG now, give it a shot, but don't be surprised if these Arms feel weak.
48
netjak
I can't even recommend renting this one just for the amount of time you're going to have invest for so little payoff. This is a game that tried to do everything by the numbers, and it missed even being able to accomplish that.
40
X360 Magazine UK
A fundamentally flawed and boring RPG, Enchanted Arms might be steeped in Japanese charm but without any sense of fun or involvement, there's no reason to buy this. [Issue # 11, p.84]
Alex K. gave it a10: Qian X. gave it a9: Greg J. gave it a9: Carl B. gave it a5: anonymous awesomeness gave it a0: Rosie L. gave it a4: [Anonymous] gave it a9: |
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