Enchanted Arms is an old-school Japanese, turn-based, role-playing video game designed from the ground up for a next-generation console. That means you've got beautiful HD graphics laid out on a framework of a console-style RPG.

You play as Atsuma, an enchanter-in-training who has to save the world from evil golems (manufactured creatures that almost destroyed humanity a millennia ago, duh). The game's story unfolds as you play through with well-written, often witty dialogue, although the English voice acting is pretty painful. Luckily you can switch over to Japanese voiceovers and read the English subtitles--a nice touch.

The video game is more linear than open ended, but still feels like there are plenty of places for you to go and things to do. It's a well rendered game, with tons of animations and interesting characters, so it's fun just to watch it.

The turn-based battles are different than you will find in most RPGs. Combat takes place on a grid and you have to position all of your characters and prep their spells or attacks for each round. It can take quite a bit of time, but the strategy elements are an interesting contrast to the hack-and-slash you often find on console RPGs.

Your characters automatically get back all their health and spell (or ether) points after each combat, but there are vitality points that you have to keep an eye on. If these expire, you can't regenerate health and ether, so it does keep you in check.

There are plenty of characters you can find to join your party as you play through the video game, and there are also over 100 different golems that you can add to your party, each with their own unique attacks and the ability to be leveled up. You can also venture online with Enchanted Arms, engaging in enjoyable golem-a-golem combat.

As is traditional with RPGs, this video game gives you a healthy 50+ hours of single-player gameplay, so you'll definitely feel like you got your money's worth.

Enchanted Arms isn't the best role-playing video game out there, but it's a very playable one. With nice-looking graphics, a well-written storyline, and enjoyable gameplay, it's a welcome addition to the Xbox 360 library.


Pros: Well written, fun to play the golems
Cons: Annoying English voiceovers