WA4 sought change from the traditional structures of WA3, focusing almost entirely upon innovativeness.
Story:
The Story is good, but a bit overbearing, forcing the gameplay to a supporting role. Unfortunate as the gameplay is where WA4 Succeeds. The delivery of the story tends to cause the game to drag and crawl at an almost unbearable pace. Aside from the occasional fully voice acted video, dialogue is generally presented with static portraits of the characters splashed across the screen like a comic book. Nothing too new, but better suited for an adventure game than an RPG, where it just tends to get in the way. Really a simply dialogue box would've been preferred. Overall however the characterization is well done, and the overall ideas presented are, while nothing that will blow you away, rather well thought out and implemented. It can just become a chore to endure when it's shoved down your throat at the expense of valuable gameplay time.
Gameplay:
Now this is where WA4 excels, there are two large aspects to the game. Exploration and Battle, both are pulled off with grace and are sure to please. Outside of battle you'd think you were playing a Platformer. Jude leaps and slides around the screen off of springboards and cliffs. Pushing and pulling blocks around to solve puzzles and avoiding pitfalls all the way. Now I know a lot of RPG fans aren't accustomed to reflexive gameplay and many dread timers. The Acceleration function, that is Jude's ability to slow time, implemented through a meter at the top of the screen, can alleviate some of those issues. However it may still be a struggle for die hard RPG fans who lack experience with Platformers. The opposite can also be said, many Platform player will likely find the gameplay simple and possibly even boring.
On the other end WA4 was the first in the series to introduce the now trademark Hex system, in which players and enemies waltz about the screen on Hexagonal grid similar to, but on a smaller scale, SRPGs. Instead of choosing an enemy or ally as a target players choose to target a specific Hex. The effects apply to all that are in that Hex allowing you to attack or heal multiple targets at once. Additionally status effects no longer affect characters but Hexs meaning if you become poisoned all you have to do is move to a different Hex. As the game progresses new strategies are introduced such as Obstacles and Traps. The Hex system brings with it a new type of strategy that allows for a new gameplay experience for veteran RPGers. Wild Arms staples also still remain, things like ARMs and the FP gauge are still there, so while they it has evolved is hasn't entirely forgone its roots.
Graphics:
The game isn't particularly flashy, the art style is decidedly Anime and as such the game has a somewhat cartoony feel to it. As well most battle animations are fairly simply programed Light shows. With exceptions coming in the form of Material Drives (Summons) and special attacks. During conversation the characters are replaced on screen by static images and while well drawn they tend to get in the way and feel like more of a nuisance than anything else, though admittedly they tend to be more expressive than their animated counterparts. The game restricts your exploration as well opting to replace building and shop interiors with a still frame background and those irritating static character portraits.
Sound:
Nothing particularly noteworthy here it feels like an Elfman score, you won't even notice it in both a positive and negative way. It does it job well enough in aiding the atmosphere, but nothing is really going to catch your ear and certainly nothing will move you. Kind of bland kind of generic.
Nothing more than another entry in the Wild Arms series a rather under the radar yet just popular enough to keep afloat series. With the RPG market as flooded as it is you have better options, but if you want to pick it up or if you're a fan of the series it's a very solid game and certainly worth the investment of time. For the RPGers out their with an insatiable thirst, akin to yours truly, this game offers enough innovation and is relatively short enough that you might as well give it a shot.