Sony has, it seems, remembered to add some fresh software to PS Plus Premium’s glacially updated Classics Catalogue.
Today’s PS Plus Extra and Premium update confirms that Wild Arms 4, the 2005 PS2 JRPG from Media.Vision, will be emulated on both the PS5 and PS4 and available starting 21st April.
The previous three Wild Arms games are already available in some form on the PS Store, and this potentially paves the way for the fifth, which is a popular entry among fans (and a very late PS2 release).
In truth, Wild Arms 4 doesn’t have the best reputation. While its hexagonal grid-based battle system is largely well-liked, its story has often been criticised.
Infamously, the North American version launched with two monsters removed, but this wasn’t reflected by the game, making it impossible to achieve 100%. Worse still, the European version shipped with a number of progress hindering bugs, at a time when it wasn’t possible for these issues to be easily patched and rectified.
As far as JRPGs go, though, Wild Arms 4 is on the shorter side, running anywhere from 25 to 30 hours to finish, so it’s not a huge commitment. That’s oddly refreshing for the genre, isn’t it?
We know this version of the game, like other emulated PS2 titles, will come with modern conveniences like save states, rewind, and more. As a first-party game – it was published by Sony in Japan and licensed to XSEED in North America – it’ll probably include Trophies too.
Obviously if you’re a PS Plus Premium member then you’ll get this game as part of your subscription, but Sony tends to sell these retro titles separately as well, so you’ll almost certainly be able to buy it a la carte if you prefer.
Are you planning a first play of Wild Arms 4? Is this a game you’ve played on the PS2 before? Let’s show Sony there’s still a market for retro re-releases in the comments section below.