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Getting Lost in an Odyssey

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 64 / 72
Date: February 19, 2008
Author: Amazon User

One prominent feature of JRPGs is the emo male protagonist. Only a handful of games break this mold. One such game would be Lunar: Silver Star Story and Eternal Blue. While Lunar held to the same themes as most JRPGs by discussing the importance of friendship, the battle of Good versus Evil, it maintained a general sense of joviality. Even when things inevitably went dark, the characters kept their happy-go-lucky attitude.

Lost Odyssey is the antithesis of Lunar.

Kaim is your typical tortured soul protagonist, except that, unlike most others who write bad poetry while metaphorically slitting their wrists and bemoaning their wretched life, he actually has a reason to be. He's an immortal, apparently cursed to live forever and has already lived 1,000 years. So, when the game begins with a climactic battle involving a meteor, he's had many lifetimes of sorrow, guilt, death and tragedy that would obviously make anyone's existence incredibly dour. If you're a sucker for sad stories, Kaim's tale will undoubtably tug at your heart strings.

Basically, two stories are going on at once in Lost Odyssey. There's the current story that I'll get to in a bit. There's also the back story that comes flitting through in written form every once in awhile. You see, Kaim suffers from another JRPG staple: the amnesiac hero. He, and other immortals like him, don't remember much about their past for some reason. And so, as Kaim continues his quest, events will trigger memories and you have the option of reading them. These little vignettes are written by Kiyoshi Shigematsu, an award-winning Japanese novelist, and it shows.

These 34 stories, in fact, often overshadow the main story line. The main quest involves discovering why Kaim and the other immortals are amnesiac and they quickly become embroiled in a political landscape more polarizing than the current times we live in. A few different countries eye each other ominously and one of the main points of contention comes down to technology and magic. Add in some political backstabbing and enough emotional baggage to sink the Titanic and you basically have the very interesting and mature story in a nutshell.

The combat is typical JRPG; turn-based and random. Eschewing their previous game's encounter system (Blue Dragon), Lost Odyssey has plenty of random encounters. Fortunately, with the exception of a few areas, the encounters aren't as frequent as they have been in some games. A couple additions to the combat and leveling system add to the thrill. For instance, taking a cue from Shadow Hearts, you can equip various "Rings" on characters which will add various abilities to their attacks. The twist is that you have to trigger these additions by holding the right trigger and releasing it as a big circle perfectly shrinks to match a smaller circle. This little homage to Shadow Hearts should be expected since Feel Plus, a studio working with Mistwalker on this title, is comprised of some ex-Sacnoth employees who had created the Shadow Hearts series.

The leveling system is also pretty interesting as you have Immortals who don't learn skills when they level and Mortals who do. Consequently, you can "skill link" an Immortal to a specific Mortal Skill and learn it eventually. This creates an interesting dynamic where you want to have Mortals and Immortals in your party to gain their knowledge and also to have them level up. The one complaint I have is that members not in your party don't automatically gain experience. And due to the fact that you'll want your mortals to level so you can learn more skills, you'll constantly be flipping your formation around (you can have five members in your party at a time).

From a sound perspective, Lost Odyssey surprised me. The score from Final Fantasy mainstay Nobuo Uematsu is familiar and different, bringing to mind some of his excellent compositions from Final Fantasy. Meanwhile, this is one of the few JRPGs to offer a Japanese vocal track if you'd like to listen to that...and it's one of the only games where I don't want it. The English vocal staff is excellent for the most part. I really, really like it and the dialogue is (mostly) written well.

So there's obviously a big elephant in the room. Lost Odyssey is very reminiscient of Final Fantasy which is to be expected since you have Hironobu Sakaguchi, the father of the entire Final Fantasy series, and his cohort in musical crime onboard. Then you add in the fact that Feel Plus is made of ex-Sacnoth employees who were, in turn, former Square employees...and you have the recipe for a game that's pretty close to Square's long-winded series.

Along with the aforementioned party-swapping to level, a few other complaints bring the score down. For one, there's a lot of load times. And load times during cut scenes which is a huge no-no in my book. The frame rate does take a few dips every so often and while it's not a deal-breaker, it is noticeable. And the beautiful graphics are often marred with aliasing issues, resulting in what's called "jaggies." Combat also takes awhile to load into, as the game shows you various images, then the main characters are introduced before finally showing the enemies and the battle starts. All of this is to hide the load times, I'm sure, but it slows combat down a lot.

Ultimately, though, the complaints are minor nuisances in what is a great addition to the JRPG line. It's fun, mature, dark and sad, sometimes all at once. Unfortunately, Lost Odyssey seems to be taking a beating in the mainstream gaming press who have said it's "soooo old fashioned," a claim that probably wouldn't be made if you switch the words "Lost" and "Odyssey" with "Final" and "Fantasy" with some roman numeral...maybe with a dash and a number.

Surprise!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 34 / 39
Date: February 15, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I got my copy of the game and I have to say I am shocked. The game consists of four discs. I'm on the fourth disc of the game at the moment, and the story is amazing. The graphics are a lot better than what I would expect from a JRPG and the cinematic scenes are even better (I am not playing the game in HD, so its hard to give a comparison, but I would say the graphics are on par with Gears of War) . It looks like the character designers spent a WHOLE lot of time doing each and every character ( I also like how every character has his/her own name, like Quest 64 lol) The battle system is a normal turn based battle system with some "press the buttons with good timing" feature that makes it not as boring as most turn based battle systems, the battles in the game are like candy for your eyes (the kind of candy that will give you a mind orgasm every once and a while). The farther I get into the game the deeper and more complex the story gets. I didn't know about this game until a few days before it released. I am so happy that I pre-ordered it. If you own an Xbox 360 and like RPGs, then I highly recommend purchasing this game. It feels a lot like a Final Fantasy game, but the story is unique and complex. The memories and the story combined will have you riding on an emotional roller-coaster. I have already been sucked into the game and I don't think I will be able to play many other video games until I finish this one. The sound and music in the game is also excellent; it adds more suspense to the battles and cinematic action scenes in the game and makes the whole game feel like a good "epic" movie. Some of the boss battles that I've experienced are pretty challenging, and you really have to strategize to beat them (A lot like Final Fantasy). Its not too hard either though, it feels just about right and overcoming some of the more challenging parts of the game feel very rewarding. Also, the voice acting is very good for a JRPG and some of the dialogue will make you laugh out loud. I am not going to give any spoilers about the story, so if this review has you interested in the game then I recommend that you ATLEAST rent it. Purchasing it will probably be worth it though (Each disc is around fifteen hours long, maybe longer if you take your time leveling up.) A basic reading ability is needed to fully enjoy this game (The memories are in a storybook style and very enjoyable to read).

One of the best RPGs in years.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 20 / 21
Date: February 21, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Based on the reviews of others, I was expecting Lost Odyssey to be a pretty typical RPG. I've been a JRPG fan for almost a decade now, and I think I've got some ground to say that this is one of the best RPGs I've played in years, as far as story & characters go.

There's only a few RPGs that have managed to "move" me as much as Lost Odyssey. They are: Final Fantasy VII & VIII, Xenogears, Xenosaga I & III, Grandia II, and Chrono Trigger.

This one is a winner. Maybe I'm just getting old and soft, who knows. I'm a sucker for a damn good story. I can overlook the lack of innovation as far as the battle system & random encounters go, because the story makes it more than worth it. Pick it up if you own a 360 and you have the capacity to read & appreciate a "pearl" of a story. This one isn't for the swine.

Brilliant Game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 11
Date: February 20, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is such a wonderful game. Yes, it really does nothing to improve upon the genre, but this is part of its strength, in my opinion. Lost Odyssey has returned the RPG's focus to the most important aspect of role-playing: a compelling story. It doesn't hurt that the visuals are nothing short of stunning. As others have said, if you loved FF VII and FF X, you'll like this game.

Great game that reviewers just didn't get

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 15
Date: February 26, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I won't go into the detailed review of the game as others have done a much better job. However, I would like to discuss the nature of game reviewers, difficulties in games, and Lost Odyssey.

I remember when Ninja Gaiden came out for the Xbox and half the reviewers hated it for its difficulty. Unfortunately, as the nature of reviewers are, they like to speed through a game as fast as possible so they can finish their review and move on to the next. Most games today require not much more than button mashing to beat. In the same vein, certain RPGs, such as Final Fantasy only require the simple attack, attack, heal, heal strategy to beat. These reviewers EXPECT this kind of game play. But when they don't see that, rather than use strategy, they reverted to grinding levels. Which is why they got angry at the game, giving it 7.5 - 8.5 ratings.

What people need to know is that this game DISCOURAGES grinding, hence the 1 exp per battle once you hit your optimal level. Boss fights require tactics and strategy, which is refreshing for an RPG. One of the biggest problem with Mass Effect was that the game was too easy once your character levels up. The biggest problem with Bioshock is that there is virtually no fear of dying. The payoff and satisfaction most gamers get is when they overcome an obstacle that appears difficult and impossible at first. This is the same satisfaction you get when you beat Ninja Gaiden.

Reviewers are a jaded bunch. They no longer play games for the fun of it but rather to meet a deadline to post a review. Do yourself a favor and play this game for yourself and see why it's one of the best RPG released for the Xbox 360 or any system.

Best RPG In Years

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: February 20, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Finally, a next gen RPG that has all of the best parts of the classics of old (great story, intuitive contols, amazing character development, intriguing battle system - aka not just spamming buttons) combined with stunning next gen graphics, great voice acting and more of an adult feel to it.

This game is not trying to break new ground on gameplay or unique features, but if you are a fan of older Japanese RPG games (Final Fantasy series etc.) and looking for a great next gen title, this is the best of the bunch to this point.

Instant classic, and likely to make the list of all time favorites for many RPG fans.

THE OPPOSITE OF FINAL FANTASY 12

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: April 27, 2008
Author: Amazon User

When I reviewed FINAL FANTASY 12, I praised its refreshing battle system and frowned on its poor characters, music and storyline. LOST ODYSSEY as we will see, is the complete opposite--but does that mean that one is better than the other?

BATTLE SYSTEM: 4/5 -- Unlike FF12, this game uses the turn-based combat system found on many an RPG. However, extra damage can be dealt by timing the overlapping of two "Rings". Very repetitive, but much more sensible than the mindless button-mashing of FINAL FANTASY 8. Immortal characters can only learn new skills by "Linking" with mortal characters, which I thought was a good idea as it forces you to rotate your formation and try new strategies. Finally, there are "Walls" based on the strength of your front row of characters, that help defend your weaker characters.

TRANSPORTATION: 4/5 -- Anyone who has played the earlier FINAL FANTASY games knows that the AIRSHIP was the ultimate, most fun way to get around the world and it often featured the best "theme music". Sadly, from FINAL FANTASY 10 on, the airship failed to make an appearance as a controllable vehicle. THANKFULLY, in this game, you get to control a Speed Boat, a huge Cruise Ship, and a Ship that can operate on the water, under the seas, and flying in the air! Not as fun as the previous airships, but still very enjoyable. The "theme" song is not too bad, either.

STORYLINE: 4/5 -- Playing LO makes me realize how much they skimped on the storyline in FF12. Any good RPG should feel like you're interacting with a 1,000 page fantasy/SF novel and LO does this extremely well. The storyline is very easy to follow while still being very complex and leaving lots that can be explored in future installments in this series (hopefully). The dream narratives range from cheesy to powerful, but for the most part are very well written.

CHARACTERS: 4/5 -- The characters in LO are really unique, each with their own personalities and back-stories. Some, like Jansen, are a bit odd, but at least he's consistently so. There were countless times I cracked up at Jansen's remarks--something that I never experienced with any of the characters in FF12.

SOUND: 4/5 -- Sound effects are pretty much average, but the voice acting is really good as the characters match up with their given voices. Nobuo Uematsu once again does an outstanding soundtrack that captures "The Emotion of the Moment", as I like to call it.

GRAPHICS: 4/5 -- The least important to me, but very well done. If the ice looks slippery, well, that's because it IS and you can fall off it.

OVERALL 4/5 -- In the end, I believe that great combat alone cannot make a great RPG, which is why I rate LO slightly higher than FF12. If storyline, characters and music are important to you, then you need to play this game. I honestly haven't had this much fun since MASS EFFECT, or for a fantasy genre reference, FINAL FANTASY 9.

A surprising Masterpiece!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 11
Date: February 17, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I'm sort of a ps3 fan that owns a 360. I grew up playing on playstation because of all the RPG's. Well, I didn't want to like this game, but I do. In fact, I love it. It is the BEST game on the 360 to date...the best game on ANY next-gen console IMO. Blue Dragon pales in comparison to Lost Odyssey...now enough praise, here's why.

1. Beautiful storyline--Starts out slow, but definitely picks up.
2. Loading tmes are NOT 30 seconds--more like 5-10 seconds
3. Great Graphics
4. I love the "Dreams"
5. Great battle system...I love it.
6. Great art direction--creature & world design is excellent
7. Tear shedder--the game can make you cry (in a good way)...seriously.

Anyhow, I'm 100% surprised by this game. I still don't like the 360 much and think the hardware is crap...but this game is top notch and a reason to overlook the RRoD...it's a must own title. If it comes to pc, buy it then...if not, you might want to borrow/rent (maybe even buy) a 360--it's that good. This will easily be the best RPG until FFXIII comes out. Easily.

Best Next Generation RPG to Date

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 13
Date: February 19, 2008
Author: Amazon User

It's been a while since we got a true RPG on the next generation era something old days gamers who grew on Square Soft RPGS on the NES, Snes and PS1 days not action games with RPG elements. Something that Square Enix got out of tangent with its new games, FFXII was good game but not as good as FFVII-FFX, all greatest RPGs through the History of games were turn-based style rather than real time action type.

Graphics: 9
For graphics I'll give it 9, it's a beauty for an RPG, moving from cut scene to battle scenario in real time is impressive.

Sound: 9

Excellent med evil music and keep the Japanese voice it top don't switch to the English you will ruin the game, they should have dubbed it in British Accent rather than American cow boy style it just don't fit in the game theme.

Gamepaly : 9.5

What can I say finally turn-based :)

Story: 8.5

Not Bad but if they put more darkness on it, it will be better.

Conclusion:
Excellent game all over, the negative thing is the loading and the 4 Disc thing, this suite more the PS3, I'm not a Fan Boy but Microsoft went wrong with Normal DVD and not HD/Blueray format, I own all next generation and PS3 is the Best in terms of Quality built and future proof of all consoles.

Final Fantasy XIV

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 14
Date: February 15, 2008
Author: Amazon User

this game is absolutely amazing. first of all, this is basically a final fantasy game. it was made by the guy who made final fantasy what it is today, the music is done by Nobuo Uematsu, the legendary composer behind final fantasy and the Black Mages, it plays like final fantasy, and the story line is just like something I would expect to come from the makers of the FF series.
This is the only game i have ever played that has actually reduced me to tears. I am an 18 year old male, and this game has made me cry once and tear up 3-4 times already, and i have only been playing for 4 hours. the memories are where the story really gets to me, but the regular game storyline is just as good.
if you have ever played an arpeegee or want to see what arpeegees are like, this is the first game you should try. on second thought, this is the last game you should try because it will make every other RPG pale in comparison.
the fighting is quick, and requires skill, not just lucky button mashing, but it is still easy to get used to quickly.
the cinematics are great. so great, in fact, that when the first cinematic ended and went into a battle, i didnt notice until new things stopped happening on the screen. when the battle was over, the cinematic just kept on going. seamlessly.
one of my pet peeves in games is the poor voice actors for otherwise great games. the few exceptions are the metal gear solid series, the latest final fantasy games (IX, XII), and Lost Odyssey. sometimes the facial expressions seem lacking, but then characters burst out with hilariouls accurate looks that you would expect to come from a motion actor. the dialog goes along with what people in real life might say, but the story still maintains its fantastical charm.
it has been a long time since i have played a 4 disc game (FF IX), so this is a nice nostalgic throwback to when games were like interactive books. it really is worth the 60 bucks I paid for it. don't worry about the case fitting all 4 discs, because i am sure people will try to bash that in later reviews. they all fit fine in the case, and as long as you dont throw it out of a moving car or play frisbee with it, your precious discs will be FINE.
now go buy Lost Odyssey. you won't regret it.

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