Arc The Lad: End of Darkness

"End of Darkness is mindless and repetitive, and the online multiplayer does nothing to mitigate the weak single-player campaign, lifeless characters, and dull presentation of the game."

"Currently scheduled for release in North America next month, Arc the Lad: End of Darkness is the latest in a series of role-playing games that first appeared on the PlayStation almost 10 years ago. The game will see you assuming the role of a young man named Edda, who has inherited the ability to exorcise "malademons" from his parents and, if the first several hours of the game are any indication, has an unusual talent for getting shipwrecked in strange lands."

"...while the Arc the Lad series is far from having been driven into the ground, it's also far from the genre stalwart it should be."

"In the real world, a unique upgrade system, online competitive modes, and semi-linear mission structure can't shine the way they're supposed to if they're supplemented by poor AI, repetitive progression, and a storyline that's nowhere near as powerful as its predecessor. Hardcore RPG fans might want to check this out just to see what it's made of, but if you're looking for a more complete Arc the Lad experience, all four previous games are much better alternatives."