Chaos Wars

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9
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  1. My Gamer
    80
    This game simply serves as a letter to fans with enough of a stockpile of guilty pleasure moments stacked up throughout that any true fan must buy this game, sadly everything is lost on anyone that hasn't devoted serious time to at least several of the titles this game borrows characters from.
  2. IGN
    75
    A nice little take on a strategy RPG. In truth it's probably one of Idea Factory's best efforts released here in the States, melding staples of the genre with more open, zippy little ideas.
  3. TotalPlayStation
    75
    It's just that it's not going to be overwhelming, and with so many incredibly solid SRPGs on the PS2 at this point, Chaos Wars doesn't really have what it takes to stand out.
  5. RPG Fan
    73
    Chaos Wars is not a great game, but it is fun. I felt let down by O~3's low-budget localization, and the last few hours of gameplay really felt dragged out, but otherwise I enjoyed the experience.
  6. Cheat Code Central
    60
    It's really great when you get a game you feel is created specifically for your fan community, and I'm sure, to some extent, fans will appreciate this title. But I wish more effort was put into making Chaos Wars the quintessential JRPG fan game.
  7. Gaming Age
    58
    If you're a big fan of these niche style games, then it should be right up your alley. Nothing else about Chaos Wars really stands out, the graphics are 2D on a 3D plane, and look well enough, but the music isn't really exceptional stuff.
  8. Hardcore Gamer
    55
    The grid-less combat can be annoying to get used to—especially when learning how to properly position characters—but there’s enough small changes to put a good spin on otherwise stale tactical combat.
  9. GamingExcellence
    52
    The frustratingly slow pace makes things feel even more dull, and over all it just feels like the game doesn’t deliver as well as it should have.
  10. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    40
    Chaos Wars might draw in some--like fans of the obscure games it's based on, especially those who long for the days of hand-drawn characters and tiny battlefields--but its old-school aesthetic isn't enough to make up for the lackluster production values and uninspired game play. [Aug 2008, p.82]
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Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Best PS2 Game of 2008
28
#28 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2008
37
#37 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2008

User Reviews

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User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 12
  3. Negative: 3 out of 12
  1. Aldrich
    Dec 16, 2011
    9
    Like what most people are disappointed in this game is the voice acting of course, but when ignored you have yourself what enjoyable RPG, addLike what most people are disappointed in this game is the voice acting of course, but when ignored you have yourself what enjoyable RPG, add to the enjoyable spell/attack graphics, a better Japaness voice acting.
    You may find it hard to put down.    … Full Review »
  2. shootingstars99
    Sep 1, 2019
    5
    This is a neat game if you are a fan of more obscure franchises like I am, but really that might be all it has going for it. The tactics gameThis is a neat game if you are a fan of more obscure franchises like I am, but really that might be all it has going for it. The tactics game play is fun, but difficulty fluctuates constantly and can be extremely inconsistent with enemy stat values from one mission to the next.

    The voice acting, usually I don't nit pick on things like this, but my lord, they all sound bored out of their skulls. The game's battles can feel too long (in not in a way that is brought on by combat depth), even compared to some tactical RPG series like Ogre Battle. The overall package is one that is good for fans of obscure RPG series to see them in a crossover style game, but with the worst localization I've seen in years, the dragging of the story and cutscenes and the extreme inconsistency in difficulty. I ended up putting this one down after a while. It doesn't do Shadow Hearts or Growlanser justice. I'll probably never pick it back up. The best part of the game was the cute, chibi art of the characters.    … Full Review »
  3. AnonymousMC
    Sep 11, 2008
    5
    The best part for the game is certainly the battles. The attacks are fairly interesting, if generic. However, the load times are a bit on theThe best part for the game is certainly the battles. The attacks are fairly interesting, if generic. However, the load times are a bit on the extreme side for the quality of the graphics (servicable, but uninspired)

    The localization is absolutely terrible. The voice acting is literally the worst I have ever heard. It is SO bad, that the only thing that makes the game playable is the Japanese voice track. The dialogue is poorly written with many mistakes.

    The game isn't completely terrible, but there are far superior tactical RPGs out there. The one would would enjoy this game are fans of the games represented, likely Shadow Hearts or Growlanser for US fans.    … Full Review »
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