The series has a charm all its own, combining a playful, light-hearted sense of humor with topnotch action and violence. FMA:CotCE covers the basics of the series, capturing the sense of humor and the story of the two brothers, and fans can interact with all the major characters from the show.
So far, the game's combat system is pretty decent -- players have a range of melee attacks and can string together impressive combos to dispose of any enemy on screen. While they are a bit basic and on the slow side, these attacks do more than get the job done.
Using Ed's talents, players can transmute almost anything into weapons: trashcans become projectiles; lampposts become cannons or a chainguns; a metal fence becomes a giant ball that you can use to bowl over adversaries. Cool stuff, indeed. And the inclusion of alchemy certainly picks up the pace.
As Ed's level progresses, he learns new skills, such as creating spears or swords for combat. You can equip these weapons and use them for powerful combo attacks. In addition to weapons, you can direct Al to attack various foes, equip weapons, and man turrets for more powerful two-man attacks. Interspersed throughout the game are animated movie clips -- some old, some new -- that introduce new allies, adversaries, and story elements. It's nothing too dramatic, but it is an extra treat for the diehard fans.
If developer Racjin tightens up the combat system and adds a targeting interface, FMA:CotCE could make fans of the Elric brothers proud.
