Description
Skies of Arcadia is a 2000 role-playing video game developed by Overworks and published by Sega. Players control Vyse, a young air pirate, and his friends as they attempt to stop the Valuan Empire from reviving ancient weapons with the potential to destroy the world. The game was released for the Dreamcast in late 2000 and was ported to the GameCube in 2003.
Skies of Arcadia uses traditional Japanese role-playing game systems such as turn-based battles and experience points, but puts greater focus on exploration, with the player flying an airship in 3D space. The development team included staff who had contributed to the Panzer Dragoon, Phantasy Star, Sonic the Hedgehog and Sakura Wars series.
Skies of Arcadia received critical acclaim upon release and is frequently regarded as one of the best games for the Dreamcast, but the game underperformed commercially. A port for the GameCube, Skies of Arcadia Legends,[b] was released in 2002.
Gameplay
Skies of Arcadia is a role-playing video game (RPG) with an emphasis on world exploration. Gameplay is similar to early 3D Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games; the player engages enemies in turn-based battles to earn experience points, making their characters stronger. The overworld is divided into six regions, traversed by flying airships in 3D space; “Discoveries”, hidden locations, reward the player with extra benefits. The world map starts out blank, and it is up to the player to chart the map through exploration. The player may also recruit characters they encounter in exploration, allowing them to be placed on the ship or base’s staff, adding extra benefits to exploration or battle.
When docked on landmasses or warships, exploration occurs on foot. There, gameplay alternates between exploring cities and progressing through the game’s dungeons. Cities are visited to buy equipment to make character’s stronger, and interact with non-playable characters to progress the story.The dungeons exist in the format of a maze, with the player navigating the characters through it to obtain beneficial items in treasure chests while taking on enemies in random battles. Getting through the end of the maze generally culminates in a last boss battle to be won prior to exiting. The battle system involves managing “Spirit Points”, “Magic Points” and a multi-colored “Moon Stone” system
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