Pirates?  In my RPG?  NO WAI!  Way.  Instead of sailing the seven seas however, you sail the skies in one of the most memorable RPGs of all time.  As a SEGA/Overworks game, this gem first appeared as an exclusive on the SEGA Dreamcast.  Later, it was ported to the Gamecube with some additions.  If you played it, you want a sequel.  If you want a sequel, you loved it (and hope that the sequel lives up to the expectations of the first).

You play as Vyse, a Blue Rogue with an awesome glass eye-patch and two cutlasses.  As your journey progresses, you encounter many memorable characters.  For an RPG to be successful, characters need to be developed properly.  Thankfully, many, if not all of the characters are memorable, which makes Skies of Arcadia a pleasure to play through.

While character development is nice, a game makes it or breaks it on the gameplay.  Thankfully, the battle system is quite enjoyable, even though it may seem all too familiar to RPG enthusiasts.  You have your “attack” command, “magic”, “defend”, etc.  However, you also have your “spirit gauge”.  It’s shared amongst your entire party.  As it fills, each character can use a unique special skill in exchange for some spirit points.  The spirit gauge opens the door for new strategies and a more compelling gaming experience.  And don’t get me started with the ship battles.  Blasting other ships into oblivion speaks for itself really.

All in all, Skies of Arcadia is somewhat of a breath of fresh air when it comes to RPGs.  Cliches do run rampant in RPGs, yet, playing Skies of Arcadia seemed different somehow.  If there was any con at all with this game, it would have to be the random battle system and how frequently you’re thrown into battle.  Thankfully, the encounter rates in the Gamecube version seem less frequent.  So basically, if you have a Dreamcast or a Gamecube, pick up Skies of Arcadia (if you can find it).  It’s one of the best RPGs of all time (yeah, I said it).