PlayStation 2 Critic Reviews

Comes close to achieving the goal of combining a great offline quest with a great online experience. The most obvious missing piece: a compelling story. Second would be a full-fledged quest (your journey is mission-based, therefore eliminating some of the freedom that comes with an RPG). Third, End of Darkness can be repetitive at times.

We say change is good. [July 2005, p.78]

Crippled by poor gameplay, redeemed at times by enjoyable dialogue and decent aesthetic qualities, Arc the Lad: End of Darkness ends up being a mediocre game.

End of Darkness needs the online mode to stay fresh, without which it will be left as nothing more then a boring and repetitive experience garnished with a few notable features.

The simple combat system works really well for the game and the storyline for me was really interesting. I would have liked more diversity in the single player mode, but the online mode really helped out its cause.

A serviceable and accessible action-RPG with a solid storyline, mad replay value and a number of clever and unique game mechanics that do outweigh the barebones combat system and the remarkably dated production values.

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.

The action-based battles are not well thought out and are almost rudimentary compared to other superior action-based RPG games like "Kingdom Hearts," a game that came out almost 3 years ago.

Repetitive button-mashing gameplay and recycled graphics and music keep Arc the Lad: End of Darkness from being on the A-list, but the online multiplayer modes are enough fun to give this game a try.

The slow single player mode along with unimpressive graphics, and a bad soundtrack really hurt this game. What helps it are the good online play, along with the easy controlls.