New Thoughts, Tips, and Tricks for Wild Arms 4.

Wild Arms 4 was released for the PlayStation 2 in the states in early 2006. I didn’t play it until 2011. Known as 4th Detonator in Japan, Wild Arms 4 took the series in a new direction. There was action-game level platforming. The turn-based combat system utilized hexagons (known in the game as Hexes) which divided the battlefield. The world map of Filgaia had a point-and-click interface. Now, here we are in 2026 and the game was released on the PlayStation Network for PlayStation 4/5 owners. Since it’s been so long, and since I had a great time enjoying the quest for the platinum trophy, I decided to shake things up a bit for this month’s Game of the Month. My overall view on the game hasn’t changed (review with the original score is linked below) but I do want to note one thing before getting into things:

The story feels much more prevalent than ever due to our current political climate. The overall message of “adults are bad but kids are good” has some cringe dialogue, but it really rings true nowadays. Adults mucked up the world of Filgaia. Adults are mucking up our world now in real time. Truly, it’s up to the kids to stop it and hope it’s not too late after the damage is done by the old as dirt adults. (Seriously, men who can’t wipe themselves are using the bathroom shouldn’t be running the world. Let them die.)

Tangent aside, I wanted to use this space as a mini-guide/roadmap for Wild Arms 4. Those that played Wild Arms through Wild Arms 3 might be a bit put off by the game’s changes. I know I initially was. Replaying it really made me appreciate all the new ideas that the series offered. Note that the information below is primarily used for folks that want to get the platinum trophy. Also note that some of these steps rely on RNG. But, even with poor luck, the time to reach the platinum trophy is about 30 to 40 hours.

1. There are 177 treasure chests scattered around the game. If you can, look for an online checklist of them. Personally, I used Prima’s Strategy Guide (shout out to Prima) to makes sure I got all of them. That’s because…
2. Eleven of the chests are missable. Five are in the Sunlit Path, six are in the Ravaged Forest. Both areas are during the game’s beginning. That’s the bad news. The contents in the missable chests aren’t important. That’s the good news. However…
3. One of the trophies requires you to defeat an optional boss called The Black Box located in the Desolate Railway. To do so, you need to open every chest in the game. So, if you miss a chest I mentioned from Step 2, then you miss the boss/trophy. The game doesn’t keep track of which chests are opened/unopened. This is the only trophy that requires diligence.
4. With that out of the way, it’s comforting to know that the rest of the game is more laid back. Keeping the idea of the treasures in mind, I recommend doing the following to get the most out of the journey.
5. Use Jude’s Mystic ability with Lucky Cards and Gella Cards during a boss battle.
6. Use the Investigate command to see what items are available for stealing. Doing so costs nothing.
7. Steal as many Badges as you can. Jude’s a good thief, but he doesn’t always get the desired item. Luckily, this version of the game has save states and a rewind feature for you to try as many times as you need.
   • Why should I steal so many Badges? The answer is twofold. Obviously, having more Badges to equip is good for building your party. Secondly, you’ll want them for the item creation shop in Halim to create a Sheriff’s Star. More on that later.
8. Go through the game as normal until you reach the final dungeon. Once you’re done with the fight against Lambda, use the Exodus Orb you previously acquired from a chest in the same dungeon to return to the world map.
9. Return to the town of Guara Bobelo and open the Black Market. Here, you don’t spend Gella for items. Instead, you “buy” items with character’s levels. Buy the Monopoly Gourd using only Racquel’s levels.
10. Use Racquel’s remaining levels to buy any of the raw ingredients for the Sheriff’s Star.
11. Give Arnaud the Speed Skates Badge (stolen from the Bruisers in the Valley of Oblivion), give Racquel the Monopoly Gourd, and head to a three-area dungeon like Dragon Fossil Ruins or Blue Amity Beach. It’s time to hunt for Grow Apples or Super Grow Apples.
12. It’ll take some time and some luck, but when you find one, do the following:
    • Have Arnaud use Shut Out
    • Raise Jude’s RFX with Yulie’s Quicken
    • Alternatively, you can use Jude’s Ley Boost in a Wind Hex to raise his RFX
    • Lower the apple’s RFX
    • Use Jude’s Assault Buster to kill it.
    • Racquel will reap the rewards and gain many, many levels all at once.
13. With Racquel back in fighting shape it’s time to take on three optional bosses: Blaze Toad, Bibier Zehr, and Omen Fish. You’ll be rewarded with a Frog Badge, Hen Badge, and a Fish Badge, respectively. Having these will save on grinding/farming time in the next step.
14. Repeat the process of using Racquel’s levels to buy the final ingredients for the Sheriff Star and re-leveling up with Apples. Ultimately, you’ll need two of each Badge:
    • Frog, Fish, Chick, Punching Glove, Lucky Bird, Rabbit
    • With these materials, make the Sheriff Star in Halim
15. While the Sheriff Star isn’t necessary, it makes the rest of the quest for platinum easier. I gave the SS to Jude.
    • One thing to point out about Halim is that you can also make items, armor, and weapons. Don’t worry about not being able to make good armor or weapons because natural progression will provide you with what you need.
16. Finish the rest of the optional bosses. This includes the Black Box from opening all the treasures.
17. Finish the battle arena.
18. Finish the game.

Wild Arms 4 getting added to the PSN was a nice surprise. It makes me excited for the possibility of other games getting in the series getting a release. Wild Arms: Alter Code f and Wild Arms 5, anyone? This series is a special one; seeing it get some new time in the sun is great. And for those that already played it before, yes: the ending is still a real gut punch for all the right reasons.

Original review for Wild Arms 4: http://kashelltriumph.com/wild-arms-4/