Arc the Lad: End of Darkness.(Product/Service Evaluation)

Justin: A strategy series turned action role-playing game, this Arc starts off slow on a tranquil island where squirrel-milking locals never fight or tell lies. It takes hours to wade though the hokey introductory dialogue, visit a convenient critter-filled cave, and take you first baby steps into the game proper. Not a great start.

When the naive hero finally becomes a "hunter," you'll take on bounties and humanitarian requests that give you an excuse to kill things and advance the plot piece by piece--in true Arc tradition. Unfortunately, newbie hunters seem to live the exciting life of an 8-year-old; you're asked to move hay and end up throwing rocks and whacking …