The Last Great Western.
*Warning Spoiler Alert*
Wild Arms 3 is a western style turn based RPG set in Filgaia, an alternate world that, due to a war between the demons and the demi-humans, has been reduced to a barren wasteland. People who wish to find thier fortune amongst the dunes (referred to as Drifters), venture out and make money where and when they can, be it eradicating monsters or plundering the local ruins. The game focuses on four such drifters as thier adventure takes them down a long road of bitter truths regarding thier pasts and eventually pits them against a demon that plans on reducing the planet to a memoryless state.
Graphics
The graphics in this game are a massive step up from the first two and the artwork very nicely accommodates the feel of the game. That being said, some of the monsters are beautifully crafted and colorful to boot. This makes up for the slightly static environment in most areas (although some are VERY detailed). The cutscenes in the game flow very smoothly and although aren't vocalized, usually don't contain THAT much reading (as RPGs go). Another things that stands out in the game are the Guardian Summon attacks which are the closest thing that comes to HD. The color and lighting effects go beyond the boundaries of the franchise and are a nice addition to the massive damage inflicted.
Sound
My favourite part of this entire series is the music. No fancy pants orchestra required, just acoustic guitar and a flute or trumpet thrown in here and there to spice things up. As mentioned above, there aren't any character voices in the game but I feel that they would just get in the way of enjoying the melody of tunes (besides, if you don't like reading cutscenes the RPGs probably aren't for you anyways right?). Again, a big step up from the previous titles, the music is not to be missed.
Gameplay
I wouldn't change a thing about this game in terms of playability. It handles great while running around the map, allowing you to run and slide around corners pretty precisely, but the in-battle section is where this one really shines. The pace and execution of the battles are impeccable, being quick enough that you won't be bored while the turns play out, but slow enough so that you can take your time and realize what has to happen next to assure victory. The in-battle menu is easy to follow, with a help bar across the top of the screen in case you get confused. The puzzles in the game range from fairly obvious to very challenging, some of which may confuse and frustrate those new to the genre. The tool system (items used by each character to solve said puzzles) makes the game fun while just wandering through dungeons and adds a new level of creativity to how certain things can be attained.
Re-playability
I take it back. This is my favourite part of this game, because if you love it as much as I do, this lets you show that. In the game are very special (and hard to acquire) items called EX-File Keys. There are 15 total and by earning a mere 2 of them, you can start a new game with your existing level and money after the end. This allows you to get stronger and stronger in order to face the extremely tough hidden bosses which would be near impossible to beat on the first playthrough. Take it from me, it takes a while to get old. I've beaten the game close to 12 times on one progress and have attained level 100 with all four people (you'll need to be 75+ to stand a chance against some of the special bosses). On top of all that, you probably won't understand the story 100% the first go anyway so this gives you a chance to see it from the beginning knowing what you would from beating it.
Fun Factor
Needless to say, this game is a lot of fun once you get into it. It's a little slow within the first few hours, but really picks up once the story starts to unfold. It's a must play for any RPG fan.
Final Score
Graphics 7/10
Sound 9/10
Gameplay 9.5/10
Re-playability 5/5
Fun Factor 5/5
Overall 35.5/40