- Publisher: Idea Factory
- Release Date: Jan 30, 2020
- Also On: Switch
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- Critic score
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Feb 2, 2020Because Arc of Alchemist is such a short JRPG, the more draining elements of it don't end up being exhausting. Because the game moves at such a snappy pace it's easy to focus on and enjoy its strengths - the narrative and characters. Over the last couple of years Idea Factory has really broadened its horizons. Where once it focused almost exclusively on pervy humour, stuff like Arc of Alchemist show a different side of the studio. It's creative, different, and interesting, and respects your time so don't feel like you've made some epic commitment just to play through it. I love it.
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Jan 28, 2020Action RPGs don't get much simpler than Arc of Alchemist but that's a part of its charm. So, if you're looking for a basic and surprisingly rewarding hack and slash adventure then give it a go. Just don't expect it to feel like a current gen experience.
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Apr 16, 2020At the end of the day, Arc of Alchemist delivers a decent gaming experience. The characters' personalities are fun, and their antics are worthy spectacles. The building mechanics are a fun respite from the otherwise ho-hum aspects of the game. Those who are interested in the genre may find this to be worth their time, but the music, art, and significant chunks of the gameplay are too blasé to talk up.
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Feb 12, 2020Anything good about the game is immediately overshadowed with the things that players need to look past, which is terrible because I really enjoyed the dark premise of this game. As unique as Arc of Alchemist tries to be, and as much as it stands out in the lineup of games that Compile Heart has produced, I believe this a huge step back for the developer. Still, if you are just trying to fight monsters and look at cute chibi characters save the world, then this is the game for you.
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Jan 31, 2020Quotation forthcoming.
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Feb 7, 2020Arc of Alchemist is an RPG that most people who play will forget about it shortly after finishing it. Given an average finish time of 6-8 hours (without new game plus), the journey is over before it really feels like it’s begun. What’s here isn’t really impressive to look at, either. The Lunagear concept is slightly interesting, but mixed with the blandness of the rest of the game it doesn’t make this a must-have release. If you really like building bases, you may have some fun with Arc of Alchemist. The rest of us can wait on a meatier RPG to take up our time with.
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Jul 29, 2020There's not much I can say about Arc of Alchemist given its short runtime; there's just not a lot for me to work with. It's a very mediocre game with few redeeming qualities. Compile Heart is toying with my feelings once again.
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Feb 3, 2020At only ten hours long, Arc of Alchemist won't waste much of your time. This wasteland has seen better days and couldn't come as recommended to any but the most ardent of Idea Factory fans.
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Feb 21, 2020Arc of Alchemist feels like a rushed, half-baked game that doesn't do justice to the past works and the pedigree of Compile Heart and Idea Factory.
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Feb 10, 2020I doubt any Great Power could save this game from being the soulless wasteland that it is.
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Feb 7, 2020With a running time of around ten hours, it speaks volumes that Arc of Alchemist still manages to outstay its welcome. Chances are you’ll be bored of it within two. Even its bosses aren’t noteworthy. If you do somehow manage to find yourself fond of the game, there’s New Game + so you can start again and maybe try a different party, but god knows why you’d want to. Arc of Alchemist isn’t the worst action RPG I’ve ever played, but it’s crushingly dire, and not worthy of your time or money.
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Jan 30, 2020Hardcore JRPG fans will likely enjoy customizing the base, upgrading the facilities, and perhaps even the simplicity of the combat. However, for anyone looking for a worthwhile RPG experience, Arc of Alchemist is not it.
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May 22, 2020It’s a huge misfire from a developer that, at the very least, tends to be pretty competent, and it means you shouldn’t feel any hesitation about skipping this one and going back and playing one of Compile Hearts many better RPGs.
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Feb 20, 2020Arc of Alchemist is a game I can't even recommend to fans of Compile Heart. It's a frustrating experience with an uninteresting combat and a boring story.
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Feb 6, 2020It’s very hard to find the positives from Arc of Alchemist. The music at least alleviates some of the monotony and players won’t need to spend too long with it to spark the ending credits, but the combat and systems contrive to make the gameplay far from enjoyable, and the story is almost not worth mentioning. One can only hope that it allows lessons to be quickly learned ahead of any future action RPG endeavours.
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Feb 5, 2020Arc of Alchemist is not technically broken, which is the best thing I can say about it. Combining the most basic combat, the most complicated menu system, the weirdest economy, some pretty poor PS2-era graphics, and the densest, most indecipherable tips section, Arc of Alchemist is indeed reminiscent of a work of alchemy – if said alchemist was attempting to turn your valuable time into dust. Avoid at all costs.
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Jan 31, 2020Arc of Alchemist features repetitive combat, tired tropes, an empty world, and a poorly thought out and written story. There is nothing interesting in this package, just skip it.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 2 out of 13
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Mixed: 2 out of 13
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Negative: 9 out of 13
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Jun 28, 2020
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Feb 22, 2020