Arc The Lad Collection boasts well over 130 hours of gameplay that ought to keep you busy for quite some time. And don't forget about all the cool schwag thrown into this package. From a bonus game to standees to a behind the scenes featurette, they've thought of everything short of the kitchen sink.

In order to properly review this entire collection for you, I've decided to break it down into its four main parts (three games and extras). What follows bellow is a fairly extensive take on all three chapters of this epic experience along with a brief look at the goodies thrown into the mix.

Arc The Lad

The first game in the collection, Arc The Lad, is by far the shortest of the three adventures. You'll spend roughly 10-12 hours max working your way through the original Arc adventure. Arc The Lad basically sets the tone for the its second and third editions in the series. This is not to suggest that the original is bad, however. Despite the time and age of the original release overseas, Arc the Lad still manages to be deliver a fun, yet fairly short experience.

The graphics definitely have that that old 16-bit feel to it, which of course is understandable considering its age. However graphics is just one element that can define a game. If you're accustomed to an RPG simply for its visuals as opposed to an epic story and solid gameplay mechanics, then perhaps Arc The Lad isn't for you. Though if you can look past its simple 2D super-deformed look you out to enjoy it a great deal.

The story adopts the traditional RPG fair. Nothing to really write home about, but Working Designs does do a great job in the translation. So while the simple story may be weak, the dialogue that drives it along is anything but. The story starts when the last protector of the Cion flame, Kukuru, is tricked into extinguishing the flame. This sets into action a series of catastrophic events that begins to ravage the land. Meanwhile, Arc's mother recalls a warning that her late husband told her years before predicting of this tragic day and with the instructions to send their son Arc on a journey to save the world. Talk about pressure. Of course Arc ends up accepting this burden and sets out on his quest. (Yes, it's been done before, but so has nearly plot in Hollywood. You still watch and enjoy movies though, don't you?)

Arc The Lad mostly resembles strategy RPG titles such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Ogre Battle it regards to control and gameplay. You move the party members along on a 2D battle grid and choose from a selection of options as to the location and actions that you wish to take place. Note that strategy is key here. Even in some of the more simple battles, you'll find that positioning and well-thought out attacks will be essential to your survival.

Of all the features available, I consider the music to be a personal favorite. Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the music draws you in to every sequence throughout the game. RPG soundtracks seem to be improving with every new release and to discover a game this old with such a high quality soundtrack is a welcome surprise. There's also the cute little voice clips sprinkled throughout the game, giving Arc the Lad some added definition. Overall, I found the sound effect to be well executed and mildly surreal.

Arc The Lad II

The second adventure in the series may be my favorite of the three. Arc The Lad II takes all the best ideas from the original and adds a number of new features and refined elements. The most notable features include a deeper storyline, thus making the the sequel much longer to complete. Moreover, the sequel features a highly improved customization system (one area in which the original was greatly lacking).

The story itself takes place where the first Arc edition leaves off, but from an entirely new perspective. Elc, a new character not in the original, will be your main focus this time. Elc is a Hunter, which is to sum it up simply a type of bounty hunter. Through Elc's job, along with some happenings in his past, he is eventually brought into contact with Arc and most of the characters from the original game. At first Elc and Arc find each other a nuisance and are at odds, however after time they come to realize that their combined talents are what is needed to regain peace to the land. This all lends to unite the two games beautifully together, giving you the opportunity to regain your characters from your original quest along with the new cast of characters introduced in the sequel.

An amazing feature, which I actually hope to see more often in the future, is the fact that you can transport your saved files from Arc The Lad into Arc The Lad II. In doing this you retain all your previous characters stats and items and in turn also lets you access items and areas that may not have been available if you had started from scratch. I would have hated to have been a Japanese gamer with this option though. They had to hold on to that data for years before actually being able to utilize it for Arc's sequel.

The new customization in Arc The Lad II is insanely in depth. Weapons, armor, and items can be modified, combined, and even gain levels. This gives you an almost infinite range of degree for tailoring all of your equipment. You will also need to take into consideration which items you use. While certain swords per say may be maxed out with an attack power of 30 other may be only at 15 or 20 with a potential of maxing out at 40. Do you use the one with the higher stat or work on that sword that could potentially have a much higher degree of damage?

Arc The Lad II also offers a slew of side quests that come by way of Elc's job as a Hunter. Tasks such as collecting items and slaying certain monsters are what can be expected here. You could easily dedicate many days alone just trying to work through the almost endless amount of tasks available for you to avert from the main story if so desired, but if that's not even enough there's always the nifty ability of capturing monsters, which I'll get into a bit more when I talk about Arc The Lad Monster Arena below.

The graphics and music of are typically of the same level as its the original Arc title; which actually works fine in my book. I enjoy the fact that many of the same themes are repeated throughout the two games. It gives you a greater sense that these games are truly just one large experience. You'll also find the addition of a world map that was absent in the original to be a nice new feature. Plus, it gives you a greater sense of exploration that was previously missing.

Arc The Lad III:

The final chapter in the Arc The Lad Collection differs the most of all the games. Arc The Lad III introduces the first 3D elements into the fray. All of the environments in the game are rendered in 3D, while the characters retain their 2D style. Compared to the previous editions, the cast looks farily realistic. They're not as super deformed as they were in the previous two games; which is fine, but I became somewhat accustomed to the whole 2D atmosphere. It's very likely that many gamers will love the new 3D additions, however I would have possibly preferred that it stuck to its 2D design.

Another major change is in the way the game is execute. The tone of the series has shifted from its strategy RPG roots to that of a traditional RPG model. The battlefields are greatly limited, the attack options are simplified, and the total number of members your party has been reduced from five members to four. It's a nice little change of pace for the series, particularly if you weren't much of a strategy fan to begin with.

The incredible amount of customization found in Arc The Lad II has more or less all been removed. In its place features a item creation system which in its own right can be considered to be both complex and inventive. In addition, the hunter side quests featured in Arc The Lad II has been adopted as the main focus which in the third edition. Players will basically be subjected to a stream of errands that must completed in order to advance throughout the entire adventure.

Speaking of which, the third edition shifts from its previous lead character to yet another unknown. Players are introduced to Alec, a hunter similar to Elc, who represents the hero of the story this time around. Unlike Arc The Lad II in which many of the previous cast were gradually introduced throughout the game as playable characters, you'll discover that reuniting with old allies will be scarce at best. Towards the end of game, you'll encounter a few interesting reunions, but overall, cameos are very far and wide apart. It would have been nice to have seen more familiar faces returning.

To its credit, Arc the Lad II retains the conversion option has carried over from the previous installment, despite teh fact the fact it will hardly be used based on the points expressed above. The soundtrack of the game is just as solid and familiar as in the previous editions. Some of the music selection consists of variations derived from previous Arc installments which I found to be both welcome and enjoyable.

The Rest

Aside from the extensive degree of time you'll be spend playing this compilation package, you've got all the other goodies that Working Designs has packed inside. For starters, there's the supplemental mini-game (Arc the Lad Monster Arena) used in conjuction with the second installment. In Monster Arena, you can take the monsters you captured in Arc The Lad II and pit them against each other or against your friends monsters in a two-player battle. This is an interesting little game in the collection that should keep a few of you out there busy for awhile. I didn't personally care for it much, but I suppose Pok&ecute;mon will embrace it due to the similarities. The remaining contents includes an fully color making of disc, a 150+ page, leatherette hardbound instruction manual, over 20 cardboard mini-standees, a memory card holder, four analog thumb button covers, and a documentary disc which examined the development of the entire Arc the Lad franchise.

Bottom Line: Overall, Arc The Lad Collection is something Working Designs should be very proud of. It is an engrossing and enjoyable experience that all RPG fans should really be able to get hooked into. The flowing storyline of the series is possibly its greatest highlight and the pay off at the end of Arc The Lad III proves that. This really isn't a game that can be rented to enjoy (along with the fact that you'll have a hard time finding it to rent anyway) and while the MSRP of $74.99 may deter some people it really shouldn't be much of a factor considering the sheer amount game and goodies Working Designs has provided for you in this collection.

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