Arc of Alchemist

Arc of Alchemist Game Cover
Idea Factory’s attempt at creating a hack and slash leaves Arc of Alchemist as a middle of the road RPG with some charm and plenty of untapped potential.
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The desert-themed RPG is set in a ruined world with a sci-fi atmosphere, and features artwork from world renowned illustrator Yoshitaka Amano, as well as a scenario written by Yukinori Kitajima of 428: Shibuya Scramble and Senran Kagura fame.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

0%
Audience ScoreBased on 0 reviews
gameplay4 positive mentions
story5 negative mentions
  • New improvements to combat and character selection exclusive to NA release.
  • Character skits provide more insight into the story and characters.
  • Base-building mechanics offer players customization opportunities.
  • Repetitive combat and grinding make up the bulk of the gameplay.
  • Very linear story progression with uninspired characters and plot.
  • Poor technical performance, including major frame rate issues on the Switch.
  • story10 mentions

    The story in Arc of Alchemist is widely criticized for being linear, bland, and poorly executed, with many reviewers noting its lack of engaging characters and repetitive themes. Players find the narrative uninspired and often overshadowed by grinding gameplay, resulting in a lack of meaningful impact from plot developments. Overall, the storytelling is described as shallow and unremarkable, contributing to a disappointing gaming experience.

    • “Interesting story.”
    • “Good moral/message in the story.”
    • “Unimaginative, but well employed music with two decent J-pop songs featured.”
    • “Arc of Alchemist features repetitive combat, tired tropes, an empty world, and a poorly thought out and written story.”
    • “Bland, unmoving storytelling and static characters, repetitive combat, clumsy controls and game mechanics, fairly big emphasis on grinding for resources and levels, a large world to explore, but nothing to see in it.”
    • “The story is barely serviceable, the gameplay is middling and uninspired at its very best, and the graphics often look like they could’ve been pulled from an early 3DS game.”
  • gameplay10 mentions

    The gameplay of "Arc of Alchemist" is generally criticized for being bland and repetitive, with clumsy controls and a lack of engaging storytelling. While some players may find enjoyment in the base-building mechanics and the game's art style, many reviews highlight the gameplay as shallow and tiresome, ultimately leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, it offers a straightforward action RPG experience but fails to deliver depth or polish.

    • “Anyone interested in a straightforward action RPG experience with a handful of extra mechanics will find something to enjoy in Arc of Alchemist.”
    • “Straightforward role-playing action, unique character designs and style, base-building mechanics give players customization opportunities, quirky combination of cute characters and a serious narrative.”
    • “Home base mechanics are fun for a while.”
    • “Bland, unmoving storytelling and static characters, repetitive combat, clumsy controls and game mechanics, a fairly big emphasis on grinding for resources and levels, a large world to explore, but nothing to see in it.”
    • “The story is barely serviceable, the gameplay is middling and uninspired at its very best, and the graphics often look like they could’ve been pulled from an early 3DS game.”
    • “Plot is uninspired, gameplay is a chore after very little time playing, the game runs poorly to the point of inducing headaches.”
  • graphics5 mentions

    The graphics in the game have been widely criticized for their poor quality, often likened to outdated PS2-era visuals and early 3DS graphics. Reviewers noted appalling frame rates and a bland presentation, which detracted from the overall experience. While some appreciated the decent art style, the general consensus is that the graphics are lackluster and fail to impress.

    • “The graphics often look like they could’ve been pulled from an early 3DS game.”
    • “Graphics are poor.”
    • “Appalling frame rates, bland presentation, and graphics.”
    • “Some pretty poor PS2-era graphics.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with reviewers highlighting significant performance issues, including major technical hitches on the Nintendo Switch. Additionally, the gameplay is described as shallow and repetitive, with a lack of engaging story elements and uninspired character development, contributing to an overall unsatisfactory experience.

    • “Nintendo Switch release has major performance hitches.”
    • “Terrible technical performance.”
    • “Poor performance.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as decent but somewhat unimaginative, featuring two notable J-pop songs. While it may lack creativity, it is effectively integrated into the fast-paced action and strategic elements of the gameplay, complementing the overall experience.

    • “The music is decent and well employed, featuring two enjoyable J-Pop songs that enhance the fast-paced action and strategic elements of the game.”
    • “The soundtrack, while not particularly imaginative, effectively complements the gameplay and includes two decent J-Pop tracks that fit well with the overall experience.”
    • “The music adds a good moral/message to the story, with fast-paced action supported by well-chosen tracks.”
    • “Unimaginative, but well-employed music with two decent J-pop songs featured.”
    • “The music is decent but lacks creativity.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, with players noting that it often feels tedious due to repetitive combat and a lack of engaging storytelling. The need to grind for enemy drops and resources dominates the gameplay experience, contributing to a linear and unsatisfying progression. Overall, the grinding mechanics detract from the enjoyment of exploring the game's world.

    • “Grinding for enemy drops or additional levels makes up the bulk of the 10-hour runtime.”
    • “Fairly big emphasis on grinding for resources and levels, a large world to explore, but nothing to see in it.”
    • “Repetitive combat, clumsy controls and game mechanics, with a bland emphasis on grinding.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by unique character designs that blend a quirky aesthetic with a serious narrative, enhancing the overall experience. Players also enjoy customization opportunities through base-building mechanics, allowing for a more personalized connection to the characters. Overall, the combination of straightforward role-playing action and distinctive character styles contributes to a memorable character development experience.

    • “While the audiovisual elements are primarily functional in nature, the character designs nonetheless have a unique flair.”
    • “Straightforward role-playing action, unique character designs and style, and base-building mechanics give players customization opportunities, creating a quirky combination of cute characters and a serious narrative.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

39% average critic score

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