Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel

by Square Enix

Product Features

• Explore the massive world of Central City and try to become a National Alchemist master
• Use your alchemy powers strategically to deal with enemies - Create a wall out of air, or a spike of rock from dirt - your imagination & skills are the only limits
• Build up your fighting skills and integrate them with alchemy powers -- turning a dining cart into a machine gun and shooting enemies, for example
• High-quality 3D animation brings the 2D anime characters to life

Product Details

• ASIN: B0006VXOA6
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,817 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Game Informer Review

I have hope for this series, more so for Fullmetal's cartoon version airing now in the States, but I have a cautious optimism about the games as well. I know that's weird, considering the score that Broken Angel is receiving, but it's more a testament to the franchise than this one entry's failed execution.

For gamers who don't know anything about the series, it revolves around two brothers who have trained in the mojo power/magic/scientific discipline of alchemy. As a gameplay device, you have two characters at all times (the brothers) one of which can transfigure environmental objects into weapons and other useful items.

Ed, the stronger alchemist, spends a lot of his time making weapons and telling Al (the younger brother whose soul is bound to a giant suit of armor – it's a long story) when to follow, charge, and defend. This sounds like an engaging combat mechanic that should be both laden in strategy and compellingly action-packed. It is neither of these things.

What this Fullmetal Alchemist game brings us is a long list of interesting ideas that are either not developed in any meaningful way or are faulted by another game design faux pas. The RPG elements, for example, fall into the first camp. You gain experience from each enemy slain that gives you bonus points to be allocated between the brothers in usual categories like attack and defense. Sadly, these upgrades have little to no discernable effect on gameplay. Essentially, RPG aspects are non-features.

Also, the list of small issues I have with the game stack and compound on each other to bring the entire experience down to something I'm most likely to describe as borderline misery. Targeting is bad, there's no crosshair for projectile weapons, the camera is a constant problem, the level designs are prohibitively linear, the enemies (while cool) are too often repeated and they spawn in waves of annoyance. The combat system offers little outside the realm of pressing square repeatedly, and there is way too much unspoken dialogue. There's a lot that I have issue with here, obviously.

All of these complaints aside, I couldn't help but be charmed by the characters (especially when Al gets actual spoken dialogue – his voice is hysterical) and I think that the overall story arc holds a lot of promise to make some cool games. The execution of this entry is almost unplayable because it's just so darn dull and clunky, but the ideas are there to make something interesting.

Concept:
Bring nebulous interpretations of science to an odd couple pair of brothers, insert anime hilarity

Graphics:
Nice character models, weird animations, and undeniably blocky environments make a mixed bag

Sound:
For some reason, the crazy music appealed to me in a very nostalgic way

Playability:
It's just so dull and unbelievably repetitive that I don't know why anyone would go for more than a single two-hour session

Entertainment:
Starts off well and dives down from there

Replay:
Low

Rated: 4.75 out of 10
Editor: Lisa Mason
Issue: February 2005

2nd Opinion:
I could regale you with descriptions of the frustrating, broken and dull aspects of Full Metal Alchemist. I could tell you how there's too much meaningless text, an unwieldy camera, and odious level designs. I could also tell you how the cool overall concept or even the inventive monster designs aren't enough to salvage the game from its own failures. But you don't need me to tell you all that. You just need to know not to play or spend your money on it, and move on to something else better deserving of your time and attention – like a Chia Pet.

Rated: 5.25 out of 10
Editor: Matt Miller


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Product Description

Full Metal Alchemist: The Broken Angel is based on the hit anime that's only recently arriving on American shores. Edwin and Alphonse are brothers with the unique power of 'alchemy' -- the power to transform one substance into another. When trying to save their dying parents with their powers, Edward lost two limbs and Alphonse lost his body. To keep Alphonse from dying, Edwin built him a suit of armor to hold his spirit. Edwin must master the ancient magic of the Philosopher's Stone to recover Alphonse's body.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars decent game, June 21, 2005

By 

Derrick Jenkins "love of Gaming/Movies/Anime/... (Hampton VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel (Video Game)

For people that arent aware this game goes hand in hand with the Fullmetal Alchemist anime series. So if you havent seen that and are planning to get this game then i'd hold off on that. With that being said for the amount time it took me to finish this game. I believe that it was time maybe not well spent but it wasnt a waste of time either. I only had a couple issues with the game one being the controls are a bit on the wacked out side and the other being the AI of your character partner. I dont know how many times. I was screaming at the TV for him to come to my aid and he keeps saying "okay" like a thousand times and wouldnt come over. Or he would and i'd be trying to get around him and he's blocking my path.

I mean dont get me wrong i did enjoy being able to change items into different ones and make new weapons to own the various enemies that you face. But for me to have a partner they should be actively contributing to the battle not watching me. Get swarmed by a horde of enemies not that they were hard. But what's the point. The story again follow the anime series so you kind of need to get into that beforehand, graphics are decent not really top notch but crappy. The levelling system didnt seem like it made any real difference in the game to me.

I rarely ever had problems getting past an enemy or a level. Only a rare occasion usually due to my own error. Was able to finish the game in a few sittings. I got sucked in by the story and when it was all said and done. I feel that it was an okay purchase, but i wouldn't pay 49.99 for it. I'd wait til it was cheaper or rent the game over a long weekend.

Hope the second one is a bit better than this one.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full Metal Action, January 23, 2005

A Kid's Review

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel (Video Game)

this game is awsome,if your a fan of the series you'll definately like the game, you can use alchemy to make all kinds of weapon and even give the weapons special abilities. The game follows the series well, even if you've never seen the show you'll find this game addicting.The only draw back I found is that Al can't jump very well and the characters run kind of slow, other than that this game is highly recommended.(it's a square enix game so you know it's goning to be good)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Alchemy!, September 28, 2005

By 

Jeena Frego (Holland, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel (Video Game)

I love the voice overs! I think it's great they kept the same voices from the Anime.
*cough*
Well anyway, this game is pretty fun. It's impressive how you can focus a park bench into like... a javelin or something. That's one of the main things that gives the game it's edge.

It's real time battling can be pretty intense. You could be surrounded by multiple enemies and beaten to a pulp in no time.
The story line is so-so from what I played (I haven't finished it yet). I wish they would make that more interesting. I mean, that's what give me the motivation to actually PLAY the game.

One thing I didn't like was it was too easy to get stuck. The dungeons were confusing; you could take a million turns and STILL not get there yet. Another was you simply don't know where to go next.

I'm going to have to read a walkthrough for this game... but I'll finish this game someday.