Hello!
Time Arena is a game by F93 made in 2009 for an event (the Makerando minigame contest) using Rpgmaker2000, translated from italian to english by Sylenus (by the way the original one is here https://www.mediafire.com/file/mgtnmdkhwme/Time_Arena.zip/file , if you want to check it).

The game talls the story of Zack: when his girlfriend Jane transforms into a kamikaze (or, better a suicide) android (!!!) and explodes this guy is clearly shocked, but he realizes that he can still save her thanks to a time machine. Unfortunately there is a catch: this time machine will be tested only by someone that can escape the Time Arena, so while all this makes little sense, that's the reason why we're in the arena.

Now, the gameplay: Time Arena is basically a classic dungeon that also included a tournament and some challenges. Here Zack can clearly level up. upgrade his equipment, buy consumables and even find someone that can help him in his battles. And there will be a lot of battles!


Oh yes! But it was obvious, since we're inside this arena! (ok, Zack is dressed in black, that's why he looks like a floating head!)

Time Arena uses the classic rpgmaker2000 combat system with random encounters, experience to level up characters that learn new abilities, while money can be used to get consumables. It's possible to save the game at the save points that exists in two different versions: those that will also heal your characters, and the ones that just let you to save. The game obviously includes some boss battles, and like some other similar games if you are lucky the enemy won't use some of the most deadliest attacks (the first time I fought the soldier, a really minor enemy, he kept shooting with a bazooka eavery round, the second time he just used weak physical attacks), otherwise... I hope you have bought a good quantity of consumables (loot is scarce here).

The game unfortunately has some errors, like abilities that seems not to act as intended, untranslated text and some errors, like the potions that from the description seems to heal SP points (like the ether) while in reality it cures LP points (but there are other cases like the message "Zack fails" when he actually resists to some harmful effect).

Visually the game uses a mix of RTPs, edits, and monsters from various sources like the Persona games. Music is the same, the main theme is for example from Doom (but there is also "Endless Possibility" taken from Sonic Unleashed), anyway for the most parts all fits the theme of the game (grim bloody battles). The only original asset I've noticed is probably the hand-drawn background of the cinema that is seen in some cutscenes like the intro. Mapping is probably nothing worth of note, since this linear adventure is entirely set inside a small dungeon with an arena, that's it.


Monsters and demons awaits you inside the arena, but this is nothing compared at what you will find at the end...

Final Verdict
Time Arena could have been a better game with some fixes and additional features like more party members and more cutscenes, but I know this was made in a short time for an event. In any case, as a game it's a bit "rough", quite "basic", and in the end it's not exactly "fun" (grinding is a must) but at the time in 2009 (considered also the event nature of the making) it was an ok game!

So, in the end I cannot really suggest to play Arena of Time except if you're a fan of old rm2k games and can overlook many flaws.