Enchanted Arms
A 2006 RPG featuring turn-based combat and golem battles.
Enchanted Arms, a role-playing game from 2006, was created by FromSoftware and released by Ubisoft. It first appeared on the Xbox 360 in 2006, followed by a PlayStation 3 version in 2007. The game employs turn-based combat on grid-based battlefields, where players control a party of four characters using both ranged and melee attacks. As the story progresses, characters gain levels and unlock new abilities.
The protagonist, Atsuma, is a student whose right arm can draw ether and enchantment power from others to fight golems. He is joined by Karin, a London City native and resistance fighter who uses her legs in combat; her bodyguard Raigar, also a resistance member; and Yuki, a bounty hunter who wields two guns against golems.
The story begins in Yokohama City, where Atsuma studies to become an Enchanter at the university alongside friends Makoto and Toya. After skipping class for a festival, an earthquake triggers a golem rampage. Returning to campus, they discover a sealed ward has been opened and encounter the Queen of Ice, a powerful Devil Golem. She overpowers the group, captures Toya, and freezes Makoto. Atsuma’s right arm transforms into something capable of harming Devil Golems, but he fails to defeat her.
In London City, Atsuma learns the Queen has frozen Yokohama. He escapes dungeons with Karin and Raigar, who belong to the Arsenal resistance opposing King Caliban’s plan to revive the Emperor of Fire, another Devil Golem. Back at the university, they find that Professor Kou orchestrated the golem riot to awaken Atsuma’s arm for the Queen’s revival and the restoration of Magic. Toya becomes the Queen’s Magicore—her power source. The Queen then kills Kou.
Returning to London, Atsuma joins the Arsenal, and Yuki accompanies him. After an attack by the London Knights, suspicion falls on Raigar, a former knight and brother of the attacking leader Ooka. The resistance’s Leader and his companion betray the group, giving the Emperor of Fire’s Magicore to Ooka, who conspires with Baron Hartson to revive the Emperor. Karin reveals she must merge with the Emperor due to her ancient bloodline. The Emperor battles the Queen in the city before Atsuma’s right arm consumes and kills him to save Karin.
The group travels to Kyoto to learn a secret art. The Queen orders Lord Tokimune, the Shogun, to revive the Lord of Earth.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Enchanted Arms
- Developer
- FromSoftware
- Publisher
- UbisoftJP · FromSoftware
- Director
- Masato Miyazaki
- Platforms
- Xbox 360 · PlayStation 3
- Producer
- Masanori Takeuchi
- Programmer
- Takeshi Suzuki
- Designer
- Yoko Tsukamoto · Kazuhiro Hamatani · Rintaro Yamada
- Artist
- Keiichiro Ogawa · Daisuke Satake · Hiroaki Ueno
- Composer
- Yuki Ichiki
- Writer
- Kazuhiro Hamatani · Masanori Takeuchi · Kaito Seta
- Released
- Xbox 360JP · January 12, 2006 · NA · August 29, 2006 · EU · September 8, 2006 · AUS · September 2006PlayStation 3JP · January 27, 2007 · AUS · March 22, 2007 · EU · March 23, 2007 · NA · April 3, 2007
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game follows Atsuma, a student who can draw ether and enchantment power through his right arm to fight golems. He is joined by Karin, a resistance fighter who uses her legs in combat; Raigar, her bodyguard; and Yuki, a golem hunter who uses two guns. The story begins in Yokohama City, where Atsuma studies at Enchanter's University. After a festival earthquake causes golems to go berserk, the group discovers a sealed ward has been opened, leading to encounters with the Queen of Ice, a Devil Golem. The plot involves reviving other Devil Golems, including the Emperor of Fire and the Lord of Earth, and ultimately confronting the entity Infinity.
Reader's Guide
Enchanted Arms received mixed or average reviews on both platforms according to Metacritic. RPGFan reviewer Patrick Gann praised the Xbox 360 version's visuals and gameplay, calling it one of his favorite RPGs of the year. Famitsu gave the Xbox 360 version a score of 29 out of 40. The game was originally intended as a launch title for the Xbox 360 in Japan but was delayed. It was published by Ubisoft in North America in August 2006 and in the PAL region in September 2006. The PS3 version served as a launch title for the PAL market. The game uses a single DVD, contrary to earlier multi-disc reports. Initial American shipments included a 48-page prequel manga, while the Japanese release came with an art book and mini-calendar.
Did You Know?
- The game was originally intended as an Xbox 360 launch title for Japan but was delayed.
- The initial American product shipment included a 48-page prequel manga.
- The protagonist Atsuma can draw ether and enchantment power from others through his right arm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Enchanted Arms?
Enchanted Arms is a 2006 role-playing video game developed by FromSoftware and published by Ubisoft. It features turn-based, grid-based combat where you lead a party of four characters through battles against golems.
Who is Atsuma and what is his special ability?
Atsuma is the game's protagonist, a student whose right arm can siphon ether and enchantment energy from others. He channels that stolen power to fight the golems threatening his world.
How does combat work in Enchanted Arms?
Battles take place on grid-based battlefields in a turn-based format, with your four-character party alternating between ranged and melee attacks. As characters level up throughout the story, they unlock additional abilities to expand their tactical options.
What platforms can I play Enchanted Arms on?
The title launched on Xbox 360 in 2006 and received a PlayStation 3 port the following year in 2007. No other console or PC releases are part of the original canon.
Who are the key companions in Enchanted Arms?
Karin, a London City native and resistance fighter, is one of the main party members who joins Atsuma on his journey. Together with two other allies, she helps form the four-person squad you control in battle.
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