Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy

Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy follows the 2003 anime's storyline, putting you in Edward Elric’s shoes (or, well, his automail leg) as he and Al chase after the Philosopher’s Stone. It’s a sidescrolling action game and while it’s not the deepest FMA game out there, it’s got its charms.  

The core gameplay is straightforward: you’ve got basic combos and alchemy based attacks. The physical combat is pretty barebones, but where things get interesting is the alchemy system. You can transmute objects into weapons, create defensive walls or even trigger environmental attacks depending on the stage. The touch screen comes into play with Flamel signs: collect white orbs, tap to convert them, then unleash a special move. 

Ed’s the only playable character in the main story but once you beat the game, it opens up with Character Mode, letting you replay stages as Al, Mustang, Armstrong, Izumi or even Scar. Each character has their own alchemy style, which keeps things fresh. 

It ain't gonna blow anyone away with its depth or innovation, but it’s a cool adaptation of the 2003 anime. The combat’s simple but satisfying, the character variety adds replay value and the alchemy mechanics while occasionally janky, make it feel distinct. If you ever watched this anime, it’s worth a playthrough for the novelty alone.

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