Developed by Media.Vision and published by Sony in 1996, Wild Arms is a popular role-playing tactics game that has since spawned seven sequels, including the most recent iteration, Wild Arms Million Memories, which was released in 2018. Set in the fictional realm of Filgaia, the shoot-em-up action involves a group of mischievous gunslingers called Dream Chasers who traverse the land in search of excitement and riches.
Along the way, players wield the powerful Ancient Relic Machines (ARMs), age-old firearms used to defeat a dangerous extraterrestrial threat hell-bent on global domination. For fans and beginners alike, here are the best games in the franchise to play in order.
Wild Arms XF (2008)
After running its course for nearly a decade, the Wild Arms franchise began to lose steam with the 2008 release of Wild Arms XF for the PSP. The moderate ratings for the game led Sony to rethink the entire series, resulting in a 10-year layoff until the 2018 mobile game was released.
Marking a departure from the first-person shooter series, XF is a 2D tactical role-playing game that follows Clarissa Arwin, captain of the Chevalet Blanc Knights, who becomes embroiled in the war-torn Kingdom of Elesius. With diminishing returns, the game was criticized for its faulty design and underwhelming presentation.
Wild Arms 2 (1999)
The Wild Arms gaming franchise suffered a slight sophomore slump with the release of Wild Arms 2 in 1999. The isometric 3D role-playing game partially wore out the novelty of the original game, leading critics to favor other contemporary action-packed RPGs.
Wild Arms 2 traces the exploits of Ashley Winchester, a hardened soldier tasked with bringing down the evil Odessa Corporation that is out to revive a demon known as Lord Blazer. Despite the mixed reviews, the game incorporated more sci-fi tropes, advanced technology, and steampunk themes than its predecessor.
Wild Arms Million Memories (2018)
Despite the inherent limitations of a mobile game compared to a standard console release, Wild Arms Million Memories garnered attention by being the first title to release in the series in the past decade. Released in Japan in 2018, the game was, unfortunately, shut down in 2020.
Wild Arms Million Memories plays like an All-Star Game that returns several characters from the franchise, who are collectively known as the Migrant Birds. Rudy Roughnight from the original Wild Arms turns on the others and forces them into a chaotic battle for supremacy. The game's highlights include advanced graphics and a fast pace of play.
Wild Arms 4 (2006)
Praised for its compelling storyline, inventive combat mode, and consistent level of fun, Wild Arms 4 made major changes to its western-themed predecessors. In addition to a gritty industrial setting, the gameplay added a new "Accelerator" mode and a HEX fighting system.
The Accelerator allows players to control time and obtain specific items to solve puzzles and conquer missions. The HEX system involves seven hexagons that serve as battlegrounds. The story tracks the exploits of Jude Maverick, a young soldier who must save a girl named Yulie from space pirates who invade Filgaia from the sky.
Wild Arms 5 (2007)
After a decade of refining the gameplay, ironing out the bugs, and improving the overall experience, Wild Arms 5 earned acclaim as one of the better entries in the franchise. The story follows Dean Stark, a teenager tasked with rescuing a little girl from the alien race known as Veruni and decoding a cryptic message.
The third-person game improves the HEX battle system and The Force meter from its predecessor, allowing players to increase or decrease their power based on how successful their battles are. Hailed for its compelling gameplay and improvement across the board, Wild Arms 5 is the last game in the series to be released on a home console.
Wild Arms Alter Code: F (2005)
Released in between Parts 3 and 4, Wild Arms Alter Code: F was billed as an upgraded remake of the original game. The revamped update drew tremendous praise for its gorgeous animation, excellent design, diverse adventures, enthralling environments to navigate, and bolstered character personalities.
Moreover, the game was applauded for its RPG party system, which necessitates players to develop each character in order to solve every puzzle and defeat every foe.
Wild Arms 3 (2002)
In making the leap from PlayStation to PS2 for the first time in franchise history, Wild Arms 3 is the best entry other than the original. The story follows a quartet of soldiers—Virginia, Jet, Clive, and Gallows—as they traverse a desert wasteland to stop a cataclysmic demonic prophecy from coming true.
The game drew plaudits for its superb cel-shaded graphics, rapid pacing, engaging story, and immersive gameplay. With an expansive world to explore, scores of enemies to battle, and compelling characters to invest in, Wild Arms proved that three times is a charm.
Wild Arms (1996)
Considering its trailblazing nature and its equal ratings to Wild Arms 3, the original game in the franchise must be recognized as the best. Despite the rudimentary graphics available in 1996, the Wild Arms franchise would be nowhere without the success of the OG.
The inaugural game was extolled at the time of its release for its 3D-rendered battle system, which differs from its normal 2D gameplay. Players control Rudy, Cecilia, or Jack as they enter medieval dungeons equipped with industrialized technology and fight foes to prevent an extraterrestrial takeover.