Right now, the DS finds itself
as the system to own for fans of the tactical RPG genre. Between remakes like
Hoshigami Remix, sequels like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2, and of course
Nintendo’s military-based gem, Advance Wars Dual Strike, there are grid-based
battlers to fit any fan’s desire. What the system hasn’t seen a lot of is
original strategy-RPGs. Now Atlus brings us Luminous Arc, their first DS entry
in the genre, and while it never manages to outshine some of its more well-known
brethren, it does manage to be a fun, engaging, if slightly underwhelming, title
for fans of the genre.
Luminous Arc centers around
Alph (pronounced just like the 80s puppet sitcom star), a teenage soldier from
the Ever Garden, a training school for the knights of the Luminous Church. Alph,
along with his brother Theo and his friends Leon and Heath, is trained to seek
out and “condemn” (kill) witches, who brought ruin to the land 1000 years ago
(and wouldn’t you know it, seem to be on the rise again). Things get more
complicated when Alph meets Lucia, a witch who claims that the god of the
Luminous Church is actually a ravenous monster preparing to return to the land
and devour all its inhabitants. The story is well told, although somewhat
clichéd at times. Also, the game has much more of a focus on theology than I
was expecting; there are numerous times when the story concerns topics as
religion’s purpose in society and the meaning of God.
Battles are handled with
standard isometric grid-based battlefields. Most of the essentials of the
game’s battle system will be exceedingly familiar to anyone who has played Final
Fantasy Tactics, Disgaea, or any number of other similar titles. The game does
feature a few innovations to the standard formula, though. For instance, your
characters possess Limit Break-style attacks called Flash Drives, allowing for
massive damage or healing in a single turn. There are also Chrono Trigger-style
team-up attacks called Synergy that allow multiple members to take their turns
simultaneously to deal ridiculous amounts of damage along with impressive
graphical displays. While both of these elements borrow from classics in the
RPG genre, they are still fairly fresh and add another layer of tactics to the
gameplay.
After battles, Alph can talk to
his teammates about what’s just happened during Intermission segments.
Depending on how Alph responds to various statements, his teammate’s opinion of
Alph may increase or decrease and characters with high opinions of Alph can give
him significant bonuses on the battlefield. Unlike some other titles of the
genre, there are no towns to explore, and shopping is handled via a simple menu
present before and after each battle. Character development is also simplified;
beyond buying them new equipment, the player has no control over the characters’
stats, classes, or skills. Hardcore genre fans will likely be disappointed by
this relative lack of control, but it reduces much of the (some would say
excessive) complexity the genre is known for, and therefore makes the title a
good choice for a genre newcomer to try.
The game looks good, in a
Japanese, 2D, anime kind of way. Environments are pretty sprite-based fantasy
affairs, and character portraits are impressively detailed and distinct. The
real standout feature of the game, however, is definitely the sound. Music by
Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, Shadow Hearts) is top-notch
orchestral soundtrack material, even when delivered through the DS’s speakers.
There is also a remarkable amount of voice acting in Luminous Arc, with
approximately one-fourth of all dialogue voiced. Voice work is clear and
understandable, and even relatively well acted.
Luminous Arc is the first DS
tactical RPG to feature multiplay over WiFi; after the 13th chapter
of single-player is beaten, players can choose eight of their best and send them
into battle, either with their friends or randomly online. Although some might
find fault with this multiplayer mode for a lack of game options (not to mention
the fact that, since there is so little character customization, your characters
are going to be identical to anyone else’s, except for levels and equipment), it
is still pretty fun to be able to strategize against an intelligent human
opponent.
The biggest flaw that
characterizes Luminous Arc is blandness. From its somewhat generic RPG story to
its core rules that operate just like a majority of strategy RPGs on the market,
Luminous Arc never really manages to develop its own voice. Despite this, the
game is a good addition to the DS’s library. Any fan of tactical RPGs will find
plenty here to keep them entertained, and it might even get newcomers interested
in the genre.
Review Scoring Details for Luminous Arc |
Gameplay: 7.5
Maneuver characters around a
grid-based battlefield, taking turns beating the snot out of witches and
monsters. While there’s not a ton of innovation here, there is enough solid
strategy RPG gameplay to keep anyone interested.
Graphics: 7.8
While there’s not much here
that couldn’t have been done on the GBA, the graphics are crisp, clean, 2D
sprites that animate well, and the art direction, while not necessarily
inspired, is interesting and will appeal to anime fans everywhere.
Sound: 8.6
Among the best on the system.
Great music, tons of quality voice over, good sound effects—what’s not to love?
Difficulty: Medium
Some tough battles at first
lead to a gradual increase in difficulty level, but it never becomes
overwhelming or frustrating. Actually, the game’s (relative) lack of complexity
makes the game significantly less overwhelming than most in the genre.
Concept: 7.9
The strategy RPG has been done
over and over, but the DS is the system for them at the moment, and this is a
quality entry in the genre.
Multiplayer: 7.5
While there aren’t many options
for players other than straight team-versus-team battles, it’s still fun to pit
your guys against some other player’s team.
Overall: 7.6
Sure, it’s pretty similar to a
bunch of games you’ve no doubt played before. Still, Luminous Arc provides fun,
simple tactical action, and really, who could ask for more?