Wild Arms 4 Returns on PS Plus Premium, But Its PS2 Reviews Were Ruthless
Wild Arms 4, the 2005 entry in the long-running JRPG series, is launching on PS5 and PS4 through PS Plus Premium later this week. This marks a rare addition of a first-party title to Sony’s emulation offerings, as recent releases have focused primarily on games from external publishers like Bandai Namco and Disney.
The original 2005 release faced significant challenges in Western markets. Published by Xseed in North America and 505 in Europe, both regional versions shipped with numerous bugs and technical issues. Most critically, a bug prevented players from achieving 100% completion—a serious flaw for completionists seeking full progress.
Wild Arms 4 received notably harsh critical reception upon its original release. Game journalist Simon Parkin wrote a scathing 4/10 review for Eurogamer, describing the game as “consistently average” and “insipid.” His critique reflected broader critical consensus that the title failed to meet franchise expectations, making this re-release a chance for modern audiences to experience a historically maligned entry in the series.