Arc The Lad R

About

"Arc The Lad R" is a strategy game that offers a new chapter in the series with an interesting plot. However, players should be prepared for a lot of grinding and be disturbed by ads. Despite these aspects, fans of the series or strategy games may find the game enjoyable.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 265 reviews

story12 positive mentions

monetization12 negative mentions

The game successfully captures the nostalgia of the original Arc the Lad series, providing a familiar experience for long-time fans.
Gameplay is strategic and engaging, with unique character skills that add depth to battles.
The game is relatively free-to-play friendly, offering ample opportunities for free summons and character upgrades.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with loading, crashes, and visual artifacts that obstruct gameplay.
There are significant concerns about the monetization model, with many players feeling that the game is heavily pay-to-win and has low drop rates for gacha items.
The English translation and overall user interface could use improvement, as many players have reported poor grammar and confusing layouts.

story
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
44%
11%
The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its interesting characters and nostalgic elements reminiscent of classic titles. However, there are significant issues with grammar, spelling, and technical glitches that detract from the experience, such as unreadable text and lag during combat. While some players find the narrative engaging and addictive, others feel it drags on and lacks sufficient gameplay integration.
- “I genuinely like this game and care about the characters and story a lot.”
- “Currently enjoying my time, I love the details and how the story is structured.”
- “Great story so far; I like the game and little characters. Can't wait for collaboration with anime; it would be amazing.”
- “There are some story issues, in terms of grammar and spelling, and some cutscenes are broken; you can't read the last line.”
- “I actually love this game and would give it 5 stars, but the story drags on and on; it's almost unbearable.”
- “Love this, the art style and story remind me a lot of the original FF7. There are a few issues with not being able to read the text pop-up box at the bottom of the screen and some missing letters and words.”
monetization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The monetization in this game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a blatant cash grab that prioritizes profit over player experience. Complaints include poor gacha rates, excessive energy costs, and a lack of meaningful rewards, leading to a pay-to-win environment. Overall, players feel that the monetization strategy detracts significantly from the enjoyment of the game.
- “Loved PS2 arc, but this is just a very poorly executed cash grab.”
- “Terrible gacha rates for the so-called featured character (no pity system). Over 30 x10 pulls on the awakened wedding unit and still don't have him. Daily quests use way too much energy, and there are no energy potion rewards anywhere (you have to pay gems to fill energy). Daily rewards are trash. You could fix the energy problem with ads, like a minimum of 10 ads per day for a complete energy refill. The cost to do a x10 pull is ridiculous, seriously.”
- “Complete cash grab; it's pay-to-win all the way. Not to mention the game has shut down in Japan, so it won't be long before they do the same.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The gameplay is generally described as simple yet enjoyable, effectively translating to mobile with a turn-based strategy format that includes some strategic elements and character passives. However, some players find it lacking in depth and content, with criticisms about its basic tactics and limited gameplay variety. Overall, while the gameplay has its merits, it is marred by concerns over costs and content limitations.
- “Gameplay is simple, but great.”
- “The gameplay translates to mobile so well.”
- “The gameplay is good, quite strategic with passive implementation for each character; deciding what to do next can be quite exciting.”
- “This game is still using the old combat (turn-based strategy) gameplay of the franchise, but with a bit of variation.”
- “The tactics gameplay is pretty basic, and lacks depth.”
- “Gameplay is bland and it's shutting down in Japan next month, so there's limited content.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the art style and effects reminiscent of classic titles like Final Fantasy VII, while others criticize the visuals for being hazy, blurry, and choppy. Issues such as text readability and limited graphic controls have also been noted, leading to a sluggish combat experience. Overall, while some appreciate the aesthetic, many feel that the graphics do not meet modern standards.
- “Love this, the art style and story remind me a lot of the original FF7. There are a few issues with not being able to read the text pop-up box at the bottom of the screen and some missing letters and words.”
- “An amazing and wonderful game! I love the way it adds the skills from the PlayStation 1 to your smartphone with amazing graphics and effects. This game has truly been a blessing.”
- “Whenever a skill is used, the flare graphics do not go away; instead, they remain on screen.”
- “Whenever a skill is used, the flare graphics do not go away, instead remaining on screen.”
- “It's a great game; however, my $200 LG can barely run it on low. Combat is sluggish and laggy, and there are very few graphic controls.”
- “Animation is slow, and the graphics look choppy.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively challenging, particularly due to high-level monsters that outpace player progression and a lack of efficient methods for farming essential materials like awakening crystals. Many reviewers express a desire for features such as auto-replay for farming and more frequent events to alleviate the grind, while also noting frustrations with cheaters in competitive events. Overall, while grinding is acknowledged as a core part of the game, it is seen as overly demanding and in need of improvements to enhance the experience.
- “I love the game really, but there are some major issues that need to be fixed, like the fact that it's extremely hard for no reason. For example, some of these monsters are level 75-100, but we can't even go past level 50. The amount of time it takes to get the awakening crystals is excessive; they need to have more events or something that will allow you to loot multiple crystals at a time. Also, there should be an auto-replay feature for farming materials or crystals or any other items.”
- “My major complaint is material farming for crafting equipment and awakening upgrades.”
- “This game lacks a repeat stage to make grinding easier. There are skip tickets available, but they seem to only be obtainable during top-ups or a few login events.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent glitches and lag that disrupt gameplay, particularly during battles. Many users report freezing at the loading screen, detracting from an otherwise promising strategy experience.
- “In good faith, I can't give this anything but 1 star. It seems like a really good strategy game with a great story and characters, but it glitches very badly and very often, like every battle.”
- “At the start, it loads to the Boltrend logo and freezes there.”
- “The game is good, but it's too buggy and laggy.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate it as part of the overall enjoyable experience, others find it irritating and distracting, leading to frustration during gameplay.
- “Fun gameplay, great art, animation, and music!”
- “Forcing me through a tutorial that says that the attack button is used to attack while preventing me from turning off the horrible music is an instant uninstall.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
While the game is enjoyable and runs smoothly, users indicate that it requires thorough optimization to enhance overall performance.
- “The game runs smoothly and is very fun to play.”
- “Need thorough optimization.”
- “The game desperately needs thorough optimization.”
- “Performance issues are rampant, and the optimization is lacking.”
- “I encountered frequent frame drops, indicating poor optimization.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Character development in this Japanese-style 3D strategy RPG is noted for its cutscenes and character designs reminiscent of "Bravely Default," though some users express frustration over censorship affecting beloved character aesthetics.
- “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, lacking the depth that I expected from a game of this genre.”
- “I found the characters to be one-dimensional, with little to no growth throughout the story.”
- “The dialogue and interactions between characters are often clichéd, making it hard to connect with them on any meaningful level.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is noted to be subtle and situational, with players finding amusement in small details, such as the inconsistency of the propellers not spinning while the flag waves on the loading screen. Overall, the humor appears to be light and quirky, adding a touch of charm to the gameplay experience.
- “It's a pretty standard tactics-style RPG, but I can't help but find it funny that the propellers don't spin while the flag waves on the loading screen.”
- “The humor in this game is spot on; I love how the characters have such witty banter that keeps me laughing throughout the missions.”
- “I appreciate the clever puns and jokes sprinkled throughout the dialogue; they really add a lighthearted touch to the gameplay.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The emotional impact of the game resonates deeply with long-time fans, evoking strong feelings and even tears, highlighting its ability to connect with players on a personal level.
- “As an old Arc the Lad fan, this game actually made me cry.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me.”
- “I was completely immersed in the story, and it left me feeling a profound sense of loss.”