Wild Arms 3, known in Japan as Wild Arms Advanced 3rd (Japanese:ワイルドアームズ アドヴァンスドサード)[1], is the third game in the Wild Arms series. It was released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2, the first game in the series for the console. The game was later added to the PlayStation Network.
Story[]
Wild Arms 3 (2003 Trailer)
(From the American manual) During desolate times on the "Sea of Sand", Drifters venture across the vast lands of Filgaia searching for fortune and adventure. Amidst the desert lie cities erected from rock and scavenged wood. Towns that a few call home provide rest and solitude for the many travelers of the barren wasteland.
Tales of mystic relics that harness unmatched powers spread across the land. While some view the items as treasure, others have deciphered a secret bringing unlimited power.
Meanwhile, one object of mythical stature attracts four Drifters to a common place. These four strangers discover the strength in working as a team. Shortly thereafter they learn of an ancient prophecy determining the future of their eroded homeland. Setting aside their differences, they roam the lands and unlock the knowledge and mystical forces making their adventure their destiny.
Prologue[]
The story opens with "it was a dark and stormy night..." as a steam locomotive is chugging its way along the train tracks when it comes to a screeching halt. A young woman is shaken from slumber and goes to investigate when she bumps into an attendant. He admonishes her to go back to her train car, and instead she runs to the rear of the train where some precious cargo is being kept. She and the attendant observe that the lock and chain have been taken off the car, and take a look inside. The attendant opens the chest to check on it's contents when someone breaks through the window and two other men enter, the three of them drawing their arms in a "Mexican standoff".
Virginia's Story[]
The name of the young woman on the train is Virginia Maxwell, and her tale begins when a group of Gobs invade her hometown of Boot Hill and ransack the villagers' food and belongings. She trails them to their hideout, experiencing battle for the first time as she shoots her way through the building. She eventually finds their storeroom where they kept all the pillaged goods, among them an old picture of her long-lost father Werner Maxwell, who taught her how to fire a gun. She is almost out of the hideout when the Boss Gob attacks her, and she fights to hard to defeat him that she is physically weakened as a hoard of Gobs surrounds her. The other villagers arrive just in time to come to her aid, chasing off the monsters and scolding her for going off on her own. The next day, Virginia confides to her aunt and uncle that she wants to become a Drifter so that she can help others. With her family's blessing, she visits her mother's grave and finds a Tiny Flower placed on it, wondering who else has been visiting before her.
Gallows' Story[]
Gallows Carradine, the individual who was hiding in the car, discovered a few days prior to the incident that an artifact known as the Ark Scepter was being transported on a train after reading about it in a newspaper in Little Twister, and found himself bemused as he was in possession of that very scepter at the moment. He had sought it out on the day he left his village, saying goodbye to his younger brother Shane Carradine and tipping off his grandmother Halle that he is headed to the Fallen Sanctuary. With the Water Medium equipped, he ventures into the temple and obtains the staff, but is blocked in by a magical ward as he tries to abscond with it. Shane soon arrives to help him and, as they are both priests-in-training of their tribe, they join their powers together and Gallows confides in his brother his decision to become a drifter and his desire for freedom, and his guilt about leaving his family behind. Shane resolves himself to become stronger so that his older brother does not have to worry, and their heart-to-heart brings down the barrier. After recalling this, Gallows decides to determine whether the scepter on the train or the one he has is the genuine article.
Jet's Story[]
The character who broke into the train through the window is Jet Enduro, a treasure hunter who came to the ruins Doomed To Obscurity in search of the Crystal Flower. While exploring the ruins, he meets the villagers of Little Rock, who are searching for one of their own who is somewhere within the ruins and in danger of being attacked by the monsters infesting it. Jet is apathetic to their case and only cares about the treasure. He eventually runs into the young man they are looking for, named Pike, who informs Jet that the Crystal Flower was taken just the other day by another Drifter while excavating for his own personal treasure. Jet bodyguards him while he disinters the box, defeating a monster that menaces them, and the ensuing fight causes the ruins to partially cave-in. The chest that Pike unearths is full of old toys and other such trinkets that he wants to take with him, as he is going far away for a new job and doesn't want to forget. As Pike used to play in the ruins as a child before it became infested with monsters, he reveals a secret passageway and helps Jet to escape. Pike talks to Jet about sentimental value and making memories, also giving Jet a tip about the train that he would end up infiltrating, and Pike is safely reunited with the other villagers.
Clive's Story[]
End of the Prologue[]
Virginia's aunt and uncle see her off at the station as she boards the train on which she is about to encounter the other Drifters; it is shown in sepia tones what each character was doing just moments before the emergency brake on the train was pulled, followed by the ceiling of the train car being blown away from above. The four heroes climb to the top and battle Janus Cascade and his men Romero Gigio and Dario Nicolodi, prompting the bandits to make their getaway by jumping onto a passing train. The next morning, Clive receives the package and intends to deliver it to Baskar Village, with Gallows offering to show him the way. The four then formally introduce themselves, and travel together.
Chapter 1[]
Chapter 2[]
Chapter 3[]
Chapter 4[]
Characters[]
- Virginia's Team (Main Characters)
- Janus' Team (Early Game Villains)
- The Prophets (Middle Game Villains)
- Maya's Team (Rival Adventuring Party)
Merchandise[]
Soundtrack[]

Soundtrack cover
The Wild Arms Advanced 3rd Original Soundtrack contains all the official background music used throughout the game, with all songs composed by Michiko Naruke.
Radioplay[]

Original Drama album cover
Released only in Japan, Wild Arms Advanced 3rd Original Drama is a radio play consisting of 10 tracks, with Japanese voice actors playing the roles of the four heroes, several major antagonists, and few supporting characters.
Game Guides[]

Kodansha Japanese Guide Book
Kodansha published a Japanese-language strategy guide book for Wild Arms Advanced 3rd on March 1st, 2002 with 153 pages.[2]
Versus Books printed an official English-language guide for Wild Arms 3 on October 21, 2002, 194 pages long, written by Steve Thomason. This guide originally came with a poster.
Books[]
Art book[]

Creation book
The Wild Arms Advanced 3rd Creation x Fanbook was published on September 1st, 2002 by Softbank Creative, containing profiles of most of the named characters in the game as well as environmental and prop designs.
Light novels[]
A three-part light novel series was published by Famitsu Bunko (Enterbrain), written by Hiromi Hosoe and illustrated by the game's character designer Wakako Ooba.
Manga[]
Openings[]
References[]
- ↑ ワイルドアームズ アドヴァンスドサード (Japanese)
- ↑ [1]
Main Games |
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Anime & manga |
Music - soundtracks |
Playable Characters |
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Locations Gob's Hideout - Doomed To Obscurity - Den of Miasma - Baskar Village - Fallen Sanctuary - Jolly Roger - Ruins of Memory - Midland Station - Westwood Station - Claiborne - Lunatic Garden - Little Rock - Fortune Gear - East Highlands Station - Leyline Observatory - Little Twister - The Unclean Mark - Ka Dingel - Ark of Destiny - Sand Canal - Nidhogg Pass - Boot Hill - Gemstone Cave - The World's Footprint - Humphrey's Peak - Fila del Fia - Yggdrasil - Ballack Rise - Laxisland - Nightmare Castle - Secret Garden - Gunner's Heaven |
Terms & gameplay elements ARM - Force Gauge - Ex. File |
Music |
Lists
Items - Accessories - Mediums - Enemies |