Before Dark Souls, FromSoftware Made an Incredible RPG No One Has Heard About

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I remember the Xbox 360 and PS3 days for JRPGs as this really strange time. So many games were trying to do way too much, and honestly, most of them weren’t great. Titles like Eternal Sonata, Lost Odyssey, Resonance of Fate, The Last Remnant, and Blue Dragon come to mind – some became cult favorites, but a lot just ended up gathering dust in bargain bins, and eventually, nobody even remembered them. While I’m happy the genre has improved a lot since then, there was something kind of charming about that era, with all its wild ambition and quirky games.

There was a real eagerness to see a Japanese role-playing game, or JRPG, released, particularly as Xbox was trying – though not for long – to gain a foothold in Japan and challenge PlayStation. While that effort ultimately failed, it did result in something unusual: a JRPG made by FromSoftware, a studio better known for other types of games. This game, Enchanted Arms, released in 2006, is a delightfully strange and charming title that sadly remains largely unknown, even though it’s a unique part of FromSoftware’s history.

Enchanted Arms Is FromSoftware’s Lesser-Known JRPG

It’s wild looking back at FromSoftware’s history, honestly. It’s easy to think of them as this huge, influential studio now, especially with games like Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and Sekiro, but they weren’t always this popular. They actually started out with a bunch of games that nobody really remembers, and they were known for mech games for a long time! Before all the huge successes, there was this one game called Enchanted Arms. It was a JRPG published by Ubisoft, and the world was seriously strange – you play as a guy with, you guessed it, an enchanted arm. It’s just crazy to see how far they’ve come!

Enchanted Arms is a solid JRPG from the early 2000s, offering a straightforward experience with enough depth to appeal to dedicated fans. Its muted visuals fit the aesthetic of the PS3 and Xbox 360 era, showcasing FromSoftware’s ability to create beautiful, though fairly linear, environments and polished cutscenes. While not as vibrant as Final Fantasy X, the game has a unique charm, thanks to its unusual Japanese character designs and the strange, captivating world it builds in a post-apocalyptic setting.

The game features a strange and inconsistent soundtrack that shifts dramatically in mood. It accompanies a constant stream of random battles while you navigate straightforward levels. You’ll experience a well-written, though poorly acted, story with a grand scope. Despite the serious themes of self-doubt and intense action, there’s still plenty of humor, like the party members constantly teasing the main character for being distant and not very bright.

I won’t claim Enchanted Arms is a hidden masterpiece or that people just didn’t get it, because that wouldn’t be accurate. Like many games from that era, it was a really enjoyable experience when it first came out, and I have fond memories of playing it. However, it probably hasn’t aged well and might be hard for modern JRPG fans to get into. Despite its flaws, Enchanted Arms shows how versatile FromSoftware used to be – a quality that seems less common in their recent games.

FromSoftware Should Make More JRPGs

Before FromSoftware became famous for Dark Souls, they created a wide variety of games. Though many weren’t successful, their willingness to experiment and try new things was impressive. They consistently delivered fresh experiences, whether it was through Japanese role-playing games or action-adventure titles, and never seemed to fall into predictable patterns.

I don’t mean to suggest that FromSoftware’s recent Souls-like games are bad – even less popular titles like Elden Ring Nightreign demonstrated their ability to innovate. Still, it’s a bit disappointing to see them stick so closely to the Souls formula, considering they’ve proven with games like Enchanted Arms that they’re capable of creating diverse and interesting experiences.

FromSoftware recently released Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, which is quite different from their popular Dark Souls games. While it was a return to an older franchise they know well, I’m more excited by the idea of something truly new and experimental from the studio. Ultimately, FromSoftware will develop what inspires them, but I’m concerned that the success of games like Dark Souls might be overshadowing the creative possibilities of trying something completely different.

Look, Enchanted Arms isn’t a top-tier JRPG, let’s be real. But I appreciate that FromSoftware actually tried something different back then. It was a bit of a gamble, so it wasn’t flawless. Now, they’re way more experienced, have tons of money, and a huge fanbase that’ll buy anything they make. Honestly, it feels like the perfect time for them to revisit JRPGs – or any genre outside of the Soulslike formula, really. I’d just love to see them make some more unique and beautifully strange games like Enchanted Arms* again.

Would you like to see FromSoftware try making games in genres other than their usual style? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-08 01:11