We've heard it all before: well-meaning but na¿ve teenager saves the earth and discovers himself along the way. In fact, at first glance, Wild Arms 4 would seem to be another generic RPG featuring characters with saucer-wide eyes and pleasantly spiked hair, rescuing the world one random battle at a time. But this time, it doesn't feel as trite as usual, thanks to a progressively complex story with political, scientific, and religious overtones that shadow modern social struggles. Here is a game not afraid to explore the shades of gray between right and wrong, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

On the other hand, the four teens taking this journey are straightforward cutouts from the RPG character handbook: Jude, the young teen whose simple life is shattered in an instant; Arnaud, the cocky adolescent who wants to be treated like a man; Yulie, the innocent girl with great magical powers; Racquel, the kind-hearted drifter with a powerful sword. We're supposed to feel empathy towards the kids, but in reality, it isn't the characters that drive the narrative: it's the other way around. Filgaia is a broken world torn to shreds by sociopolitical war, and every step on the journey is more intriguing than the last. The lingering questions are as timely as ever, even if the morals get a little too heavy sometimes. Is it OK to play God? What are the real differences between evil and good? Do the bonds of family overcome the desire for power? Wild Arms 4 doesn't answer all of these questions, but it gives the player enough reason to progress from one skirmish to the next.


What would a Japanese RPG be without random battles, though? You'll certainly encounter your share, although a handy feature lets you turn them off in areas you've already visited. But they're not all that annoying here, thanks to the so-called Hyper Evolve X-fire (HEX) battle system. When combat begins, the battlefield divides into seven hexagons, and you and your enemies are randomly placed in them. Your party members can share a hex with each other, although enemies and party members cannot enter the same hex together. You can only perform some skills against adjoining hexes; others are effective in any hex; while others can affect the hex opposite of the party member.