Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits

 PlayStation 2
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 48 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 48
  3. Negative: 1 out of 48
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  1. BrianK.
    Nov 7, 2005
    9
    Excellent RPG actually, what makes it excellent are the story and plot and character development, I don't mean stats but emotional, Arc the Lad:TOTS has living, breathing characters with conflict, emotion and goals that evolve as the game progresses, the story is also great and will keep you guessing and wondering what will develop next, I actually care what will happen to each Excellent RPG actually, what makes it excellent are the story and plot and character development, I don't mean stats but emotional, Arc the Lad:TOTS has living, breathing characters with conflict, emotion and goals that evolve as the game progresses, the story is also great and will keep you guessing and wondering what will develop next, I actually care what will happen to each character, and until it finally happened I wondered what would happen when Karg and Darc finally meet, the fact they begin the game having no idea the other exists, then slowly and subtley crossing each other tracks until they finally meet in an emotional conflict was great to witness as in unfolded, I also love the battle system, strategy plays pretty heavily sometimes, everyone player seems to have a role which I like you have your fighters, mages, archers, and healers. I love some of the battlegrounds later in the game, m only quip is the voice overs though they are good they are way too few far and between, more voice would of been great. Love it still though!… Expand
  2. vahn
    Oct 29, 2018
    8
    My version is the ps2 version and while I know there's a ps4 version, I decided to put it here instead because...well that's my version, and I'm not sure if there's any difference besides the slight graphical update and trophies.

    PROS: + Great story with two POV for a better immersion and good twists + A large and balanced roster of characters (10 + 2 secret characters) + Easy to    My version is the ps2 version and while I know there's a ps4 version, I decided to put it here instead because...well that's my version, and I'm not sure if there's any difference besides the slight graphical update and trophies.

    PROS:
    + Great story with two POV for a better immersion and good twists
    + A large and balanced roster of characters (10 + 2 secret characters)
    + Easy to learn tactical combat
    + Many skills to unlock
    + Customizable armor and weapons (instead of buying new ones)
    + Challenging side content (The arena) that grants amazing rewards.
    + Good music with some enjoyable tunes.
    + A relatively long game (I finished in about 60+ hours)

    CONS:
    - Incredibly slow pace and the impossibility to skip cutscenes.
    - Spirit Stones instead of Mana for skills makes it needlessly harder.
    - Mediocre voice acting
    - Lack of information during combat (no bars above heads or etc)
    - Annoying looting system (no automatic pick after fight)
    - Lack of sidecontent besides the arena.
    - Huge difficult spike at the end of the game.

    Overall the game is great but it suffers from being a relatively old-school tactical rpg that has a lot of difficulty spikes and very slow paced combat and story. Add the fact that the game can become incredibly frustrating during the last session of story - and a final boss that nearly defeated me DESPITE having unlimited spells and basically everyone overlevelled, this game is a diamond in the rough: you'll have to go through the flaws to fully enjoy. But if you do you'll have a really good time and the lots of grind you've done will be worth it.    … Expand
  3. JoaquinDaSilva
    Jul 19, 2003
    9
    Great story, good graphics, awesome combat system, deep RPG... you can´t go wrong with this one.
  4. JenniferP.
    Jun 16, 2005
    9
    I loved this game!!! The story, the battle system, the way we move around from place to place was all great and unique. Once I found myself playing the game 7 (yes 7) hours straight!
  5. PatrickO.
    Sep 17, 2003
    10
    I Really Enjoy this game!It's Fun,exciting and challenging!
  6. NoaS.
    Jul 8, 2003
    10
    Gameplay is top notch and Fun factor 10 for 10. A truly compelling a enthusistic addition to the Ark line up.
  7. CrimU.
    Jan 23, 2004
    10
    This game is awesome I love the plot and it has very realistic characters . You can choose to fight with Darc or Kharg its up to you.
  8. VidM.
    Feb 28, 2005
    9
    Great strategy RPGing. Digged the story. Digged the characters. Digged the battle system. Can't understand why this game was so overlooked by critics and TRPG fans.
  9. DelithNightblade
    Nov 24, 2003
    8
    An amazing game. Great dialogue and voice-overs. Every voice matches it's character. Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits is a game that any true RPer should have!
  10. AceOfCakez
    May 22, 2013
    9
    So I played this game in 2013 and I gotta say that it's really fun. RPG's these days take 40 hours or less to complete. (Either that or it's a 20 hour game with 80 hours of side questing) This game is a tactical RPG which features two distinct storylines that intersect with each other. The characters are highly interesting and the plot is fantastic. Yeah, the voice acting isn't all thatSo I played this game in 2013 and I gotta say that it's really fun. RPG's these days take 40 hours or less to complete. (Either that or it's a 20 hour game with 80 hours of side questing) This game is a tactical RPG which features two distinct storylines that intersect with each other. The characters are highly interesting and the plot is fantastic. Yeah, the voice acting isn't all that great and the game isn't too challenging but it's a great way to satisfy your SRPG urges.… Expand
  11. iKen
    Apr 14, 2020
    8
    Played on PlayStation 2.
    Gameplay: GREAT.
    Story: GOOD.
    Graphic: GOOD.
    Music/Sound: GREAT.
    Dialogue: GOOD.
  12. Rox22
    Sep 10, 2013
    8
    A really great, if unnoticed, RPG of it's time. Great animation. Ingenious combat system that was ahead of its time. Plus a strong and unique dual story arc that was done rather well. However, all the praise aside, it also suffer from being a tad too generic following patterns and designs of countless other JRPGs of its time.

    Overall: On it's own it is close to being flawless. But it's    A really great, if unnoticed, RPG of it's time. Great animation. Ingenious combat system that was ahead of its time. Plus a strong and unique dual story arc that was done rather well. However, all the praise aside, it also suffer from being a tad too generic following patterns and designs of countless other JRPGs of its time.

    Overall:
    On it's own it is close to being flawless. But it's overall generic design and execution make it enjoyable, but also rather forgettable.    … Expand
  13. FreeRPGer
    Oct 2, 2019
    9
    I just re-played this game in 2019 for the 1st time since it's release in 2003, and I'll say one thing: it rules just as much now as it did then. I love playing back & forth between Darc & Kharg -- the story/characters still drew me in. I also love the references to the earlier Arc games -- 1 thru 3.
    Even though I own this game physically for the PS2, I re-bought it on PSN for my PS4    I just re-played this game in 2019 for the 1st time since it's release in 2003, and I'll say one thing: it rules just as much now as it did then. I love playing back & forth between Darc & Kharg -- the story/characters still drew me in. I also love the references to the earlier Arc games -- 1 thru 3.
    Even though I own this game physically for the PS2, I re-bought it on PSN for my PS4 before I re-played it this year, and Sony did a good job smoothing it out (& with Trophies, too boot).
    Awesome game, though the next game, End of Darkness, is NOT so awesome (it's a shame).    … Expand
  14. Ninoline
    Oct 29, 2019
    10
    Very underrated game with a fantastic and exiciting storyline and a unique battlesystem. The characters have lots of depth and will find a place in your heart. A classic!
  15. Albertomhg
    Mar 14, 2023
    9
    Glad I can feel the experience of playing this amazing game once more, it's plot, characters and combat are amazing, no doubt it's one of the best rpgs of Playstation 2 era
  16. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    9
    I had tons of fun when i played it as a kid, and i think it still holds to this day.

Awards & Rankings

83
#83 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003
13
#13 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 39
  3. Negative: 1 out of 39
  1. TotalGames.net
    43
    It's a Japanese RPG in the truest sense and conforms to all the clichs of the genre. It has its misfits, its central (male) character with a mysterious past (and a strange birthmark on his shoulder) and a turn-based battle system with magic and hit points. It has its world map.
  2. Gamers' Temple
    81
    A better than average RPG. Woo-hoo…
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  3. PSX Nation
    60
    Technically competent but uninspired and ultimately unsatisfying, “Twilight of the Spirits” is this year’s sacrificial lamb to the altar of the next-generation RPG genre’s rising standards.
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