When I think of Sega, the first thing that pops into my mind is Sonic. As it continues to wander, I move on to the Dreamcast and other oddities that changed the gaming landscape forever, albeit with a significant degree of mixed success. But when I really close my eyes and ponder the best RPG Sega ever made, only one game comes to mind: Skies of Arcadia.
I had the good fortune of experiencing this masterpiece back in 2000, and if it were released today, it would make an even bigger impact than it did 25 years ago. This game was ahead of its time, marrying many modern RPG mechanics together with a bright and exciting story, complete with relatable heroes that are ripe for cosplaying. Sadly, like many Sega IPs, it’s currently languishing on legacy platforms.
Skies Of Arcadia Is A Masterpiece
One Of The Best RPGs Ever Made
One key thing to understand about Skies of Arcadia is that it had an endearing, bright, and cartoonish art style. Not only did it stand out among the competition at the time, but that brightness was central to the game’s themes. As Vyse, a classic plucky shonen character, you’ll meet a ragtag group of noble pirates, who are all attempting to take down the overextending Valuan Empire.
The big stakes typically found in JRPGs are there, but there’s also a lot of personality to nearly every aspect of the game’s cast. The playable party chiefly stands out, but the antagonists and crew members are given a lot of time to marinate, too. Even by modern JRPG standards, Skies of Arcadia endears itself to its audience more so than most of the other games in the genre.
Although its turn-based battles are still divisive even today, the game moved at a brisk pace and allowed you to explore the overworld with a flying pirate ship pretty much from the get-go. Airship travel was monopolized mainly by the Final Fantasy series at the time, but the “floating sky island” setting of Skies of Arcadia predates the same motifs in James Cameron’s Avatar film series and scratches many of the same itches.
Sega contemplated PC and PS2 ports for Skies of Arcadia (which would have helped its longevity), but they were canceled.
Having to actually chart the world map yourself was a massive driver for anyone who loves exploration in games, and was just one of the mechanics that leaned into the “crew/all for one” theme. With 22 characters to recruit for your ship, it felt like there could be a new friend at every turn.
Although the game was released on GameCube several years after the Dreamcast original, it has never been ported to any other platform or re-released in any way. It feels like every year, there’s some fan campaign or movement to bring back Skies of Arcadia. In 2020, one of the game’s developers even chimed in.
Skies Of Arcadia Now Only Exists In Mascot Form
Kind Of Like Jet Set Radio
At present, Skies of Arcadia firmly sits in the Jet Set Radio camp. You’ll see a cameo here and there, and maybe some merchandise, and that’s pretty much it. Sega’s gaming library is so vast at this point that it’s nearly impossible to manage, and releasing new entries (or even re-releases) of all their legacy titles would be an insurmountable task. But that hasn’t stopped people from asking.
Over the years, Sega has thrown Skies of Arcadia fans a bone now and then, but has never adapted the setting for a fully-fledged sequel. We got the aforementioned GameCube re-release, but other than that, Vyse, Fina, and Aika have appeared in several other Sega games. All of them have cameos in the Valkyria Chronicles series, albeit in minor capacities.
Vyse is playable in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, which is arguably one of the best kart racers ever made. That game even featured a Skies of Arcadia-themed track, which remains a mind-blowing homage to this day, and a reminder of how memorable the series’ aesthetic is.