When one talks about some of the greatest anime series of all time, it goes without saying that the name Fullmetal Alchemist would be a part of the conversation at some point or the other. The story of the Elric brothers as they try their hardest to undo the consequences of a tragic attempt at resurrecting their mother is an engrossing tale with some of the best storytelling ever seen in a manga. Both anime adaptations did a stellar job of portraying this story, even though it's fairly well-known that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a more accurate adaptation.
Of course, anime adaptations weren't the only thing that Fullmetal Alchemist received numerous versions of. The franchise also spawned its fair share of video games, some of which were either never localized or never really reached a substantial height of popularity in the West. However, depending on the game in question, this might've either been a massive loss or a blessing in disguise.
To further illustrate this point, here are three games based on Fullmetal Alchemist that never got the recognition they deserved, coupled with three other titles that should've never existed.
6 BETTER OFF FORGOTTEN — Fullmetal Alchemist: Dream Carnival
The idea of a fighter that feels like Smash Bros. for Fullmetal Alchemist might seem downright absurd, and that's the perfect way to explain what Fullmetal Alchemist: Dream Carnival is all about.
The mechanics are broken, the movement is stiff, the AI is rudimentary, and the game itself is not really fun to play at all. There's pretty much no reason to check this game out, even if a person might be one of the biggest Fullmetal Alchemist fans around.
No wonder this game wasn't localized for the West.
5 SLEPT ON — Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy
Perhaps the most nostalgic game on this list, Dual Sympathy is a Fullmetal Alchemist game for the Nintendo DS that does pretty much everything that's required of it. That was enough for it to cement its legacy as one of the most popular and beloved games based on the Fullmetal Alchemist series.
It's a serviceable 2D side-scroller beat-em-up with interesting uses of alchemy and some fun boss fights to boot, making for an experience that is certainly memorable for anyone who played it as a child. Anyone who wishes to play a DS game that shows off its glory days should definitely Dual Sympathy out at some point.
4 BETTER OFF FORGOTTEN — Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
The video game adaptation of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has a ton of content that is certainly worth praising. Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that the core of the game itself is hopelessly broken.
While Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is supposed to be a fast-paced game with heart-pounding action, the combat and movement are so ridiculously slow that one simply cannot enjoy this title's gameplay. It doesn't help that the story mode is completely phoned in as well, destroying the potential of the game even further.
3 SLEPT ON — Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse Of The Crimson Elixir
Square Enix released a trilogy of Fullmetal Alchemist games for the PS2, but only the first two games were deemed worthy of being localized. Out of these two releases, the second game tends to be considered as the superior title, and with good reason.
All the problems in the first game have been fixed for the most part, and the combat is an absolute joy through and through. It certainly helps that the Alchemy mechanic is now way more enjoyable, with pretty much every object having different transmutations that are equally enjoyable to pull off.
2 BETTER OFF FORGOTTEN — Fullmetal Alchemist And The Broken Angel
While the second game in the series might've been excellent, people who actually wish to get into this trilogy and don't want to skip the first game will have to deal with an absolute disaster-class of a title that feels like a complete slog to sit through.
There's little to nothing that Fullmetal Alchemist And The Broken Angel gets right from the get-go. The combat is slow, the movement stilted, and the game feels like a massive chore to get through. Playing a decent trilogy isn't worth the annoying ordeals that the first game puts them through.
If a player really wants to get into this series, then they are better off just reading up on the story and skipping to the second part of this game.
1 SLEPT ON — Fullmetal Alchemist 3: The Girl Who Succeeds God
Unlike the first two games in this trilogy, the third game was the only one to not receive a localization. It's a shame since the third game is considered by many to be the ultimate refinement of the formula that was improved upon in the second game, making for an entertaining experience from start to end.
People who are willing to go the extra mile with fan translations and the lot will realize that The Girl Who Succeeds God is an excellent title that is an absolute must-play for anyone even remotely interested in Fullmetal Alchemist. One can only wonder how legendary this game would have been if the publishers invested in an English localization.