Skies of Arcadia

In a genre that at the time so often bet on darkness and melancholy, Skies of Arcadia blew in like a gust of fresh wind beneath an airship's sails. This optimistic JRPG about sky pirates wagered on adventure, exploration and an indomitable zest for life — and won over the heart of everyone who gave it a chance.

The game from Overworks under Sega's wing takes you into a floating world divided into aerial continents, between which you travel aboard your own airship. Exploring uncharted territories, seeking hidden islands and uncovering treasures gives the game an air of pure exploration that many other JRPGs lacked. The world literally invites you to head over the horizon.

Battles take place on two levels. Classic turn-based fights with your characters are complemented by grand airship clashes, where entire flying vessels face off in a duel of cannons and maneuvers. This duality gives the combat system its edge and underlines the game's pirate theme.

Most of all, though, Skies of Arcadia lives through its characters and tone. A charismatic crew, adventurous humor and infectious optimism create an atmosphere rare in the genre. Instead of a brooding hero, you're pulling a story along with a crew you'll be delighted to spend dozens of hours with.

Critics prized the game highly, but due to the Dreamcast's commercial failure relatively few players got to try it. From that contradiction — high quality and small reach — grew its cult status as a game connoisseurs recommend as a hidden gem that deserves far more attention.

Why play it: For adventurous optimism, exploring a world in the clouds and airship battles — a JRPG that simply roots for the joy of the journey.