Arc the Lad Collection (Sony PlayStation 1, 2002)

As an RPG fan since the early days of the SNES I have grown accostomed to games like Final Fantasy and Squaresoft constantly being the top company when dealing with RPGs. After many years with this impression I heard of a (to me) new set of games coming out soon for PS1. After getting the money I was able to buy myself a brand new copy at $80 at a local store. The first game is a bit slow running, but is essential if you want to use your save data to transfer over to the second game. This is an idea I have had for years by this point, to make a series of games where your save data could transfer from the first to the next and so on. I was extremely surprised to see someone actually take that into account and use it. Starting with the second game the story gets extremely exciting and, without revealing anything, I can tell you that if you play this game you are in for one hell of a good time. The battles are challenging, the characters are memorable, and the story line is unbeaten even by final fantasy standards. Then you get done with 2 and start playing 3. By the Gods I have never laughed so hard at any RPG character consistantly! Lutz is (true to his name) a serious clutz and really funny. And this third game does nothing but bring all of the events from the previous 2 to a close and ends with a very very good ending (for lack of a better word). All in all I have to strongly say that These three Arc The Lad games are by far the best RPGs ever released, even over Final Fantasy 7 (which to me isn't the best in that series, but that's for another review). Don't waste your time with the PS2 Arc The Lad games though, they are nowhere near as good.

Arc the Lad Collection is probably extremely rare and hard to find and since Working Designs is no more, it would really be difficult to find a classic RPG this good. The games are done very well and the fact that you can convert one save data file to another game for bonus events etc is really cool. The graphics have a snes type of feel to them and I really love the great music, sound efects, and the battle voices of the characters. Also, there is ALOT of gaming to be done here, and the bonus items that came with it rock hard. It is definitely worth buying and collecting for all the rpg hardcore fanatics. 60 bucks was money very well spent. I really do enjoy the time I have with the entire collection. There is much to do with a Collection this big and just when you think you've completed the game, you realize you still have to beat 2 and 3 of the series, lol. I bought this game because I am rpg starved and lately the rpgs that I have had have been boring or not really worth playing anymore so I decided to go back to my earlier roots of rpg gaming. Definitely worth adding to your collection of roleplaying games.

I would recommend to any videogame collector to have Arc The Lad Collection in their's. Not only do you get 4 games in one set, you get the top-notch presentation of a Working Designs Package, with a full color hardbound instruction manual, special collector's box, and 3 Bonus items! You get an Arc The Lad Memory Card holder, Analog button covers, and mini standees. Granted I will never use the button covers or standees, but are an added incentive and makes the package that much more collectible. Not to mention 4 high quality games with tweaked interfaces by Working Designs to make the games seamless and a more enjoyable experience. Now that Working Designs is no more, there is a good chance we will NEVER see another release of these games in the United States, which is another excellent reason to purchase this game now, before the price gets any higher!

This collection is of three games that helped make PSone the platform for RPGs. It includes many of the stragety elements you still see in SRPGs today. The graphics are a bit dated but are not that bad. The story is average but the gameplay excells. A must have for RPG fans just for the value of getting 3 good games together if nothing else.

When I saw this game on the selves I bought two sealed right away, cause I knew this was going to to be worth its' weight in gold some day and I was right. I recently bought a Used copy to play for myself, and it has everything an old classic RPG back for the PSX should have besides different weapons, armor, towns, money, ect.

The opition to convert Arc the Lad 1 game save into Arc the Lad 2 is sorta cool, seeing how short Arc 1 is, and only being allowed to go up to Level 60....

Working Design was a great company that knew what US gamers wanted and imported a few classic and huge hits.... Lunar Series, Arc the Colelction, Glowriders Generations, ect.Thet outdo themselves by adding extras to jack up the price, but worth the price.