The Xbox 360’s target audience is hardcore gamers who like to blow things up in games like Halo and BioShock, which is why RPG games never really get to shine on the console. This is also another reason why the Xbox 360 can’t catch a break with sales in Japan, where RPG’s reign supreme. Developer Mistwalker Studios, led by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the master behind Final Fantasy, has taken the challenge to create a game that will cater to both Japanese and American gamers with Lost Odyssey.
gameplay
The first thing you’re going to notice about Lost Odyssey is how heavy the game’s case is, weighing double than the average game. The reason for this is this, even though it’s not labeled on the case, is because there are four discs inside. Lost Odyssey is going for an epic gaming experience; so one disc wasn’t enough to contain it. The four discs are oddly packaged, with three of them stacked on the case’s disc holder and the other just stuck in a standard white sleeve that sits on the side (makes you wonder if this game could have been fit on one Blu-ray disc). A previous game by Mistwalker for the Xbox 360, Blue Dragon, required three discs, so these guys must love having a lot of room.
Lost Odyssey’s storyline centers around immortality, where you play as Kaim Argonar, a thousand year old warrior who in the opening sequence fights in a spectacular battle that ends when a meteor crashes down onto the war zone killing everyone, but Kaim. He has lost his memory, but eventually learns that a spell has been casted on him by a dark figure named Gonora, and Kaim must set out on a quest to find him and try to unravel the secrets he possesses. Along the way Kaim teams up with other characters such as Seth, a woman who is also an immortal, and Jansen, a wizard who is basically the comic sidekick.
One unique feature in the game is A Thousand Years of Dreams, which are a collection of short tales that are triggered if Kaim or any other immortal sees something while on the quest that ignites a memory. These dreams are displayed via colorful art pages with music and onscreen text explaining a philosophy of life. These memories also act as pieces of the puzzle, aimed at helping you solve the mystery that surrounds you.
Lost Odyssey is a turn-based RPG, so those of you who cringe at that style of gameplay should stop now and apply your energy towards an FPS, but for all others who live for these games, there’s plenty to do here. The game sticks with the formula of other classic turn-based titles, allowing you to build up an arsenal of swords, potions, and spells to do battle with your enemies. The control scheme is set up in a simple manner, and because turn-based games don’t require complex button combos to perform actions, the strategy of initiating an attack is rewarded rather than the actual actions taken to defeat an enemy. As you get deeper into the game, it’s important to manage your arsenal through upgrades by combining acquired rings to deliver more powerful hits, and collecting skill points that can be used to master certain abilities.
When you perform attacks an Aim Ring appears, which is a circular icon positioned on your target. As you hold the R trigger a larger ring is displayed and you must position this ring inside of the first for a perfect lock-on. If this is done correctly, your attack will do much more damage, as indicated by the rating you receive - Bad, Good, or Perfect. Lining up these rings during an attack does take some getting used to, but once you master it, and build up rings, you’ll be blowing down enemies with ease.
The main reason this game had to be split up into four discs is because the visuals are absolutely amazing, with movie-styled cut scenes and background scenery that looks as if you’re interacting with an animated world rather than a game environment. Obviously, with a game designed by Final Fantasy’s creator you would expect nothing less than a visual masterpiece. Some may see this as a flaw with the Xbox 360’s limited DVD drive, but would you rather play a game on one disc that has been compressed making it more limited, or have room to breath, even if it involves getting up off of the couch to change a disc? Hey, most gamers need the exercise.
Lost Odyssey doesn’t break new ground in terms of RPG’s, but it offers solid and simple gameplay that even a non-RPG fan can find satisfying. At times the pacing does slow down, which can be annoying, especially when you find yourself in situations where you’re trying to figure out where the hell you are going. But when the battles break out, they are big and offer a lot of challenges, especially when you learn the full potential of the skills in your arsenal and micro manage them to your favor. Even though Lost Odyssey is ambitious, it still can’t hold a candle to what’s been done with the Final Fantasy games, and will always fall under that franchise’s shadow because of the people involved with its development.
graphics
These four discs offer a lot of eye candy, featuring a world that is grand and detailed treating your HDTV to a visual feast. Like the Final Fantasy games, the cut scenes are incredible, almost daring you to press the skip button. The only let down is that while the cinemas and the rendered backgrounds are top notch, the actual playable characters are not as impressive. They’re not bad in any way, but they look a little flat compared to everything around them. There are noticeable screen tears in places, and the framerate acts a little wobbly at times, but being that this is a game that requires more strategy than fast paced action, it’s a minor concern. But overall, the Unreal engine that powers the game is used well.
sound
Lost Odyssey has one of the best musical scores currently in a game, composed by RPG music master Nobuo Uematsu, which smoothly blends into the breathtaking cinemas, as well as the gameplay battles. The voice work is also well done, making the cut scenes even more impressive. During the turn-based scenes you may become annoyed hearing your character say the same thing repeatedly after he strikes an enemy, but this stays on the path of traditional RPG’s.
replay value
There a ton of cut scenes, which will actually chew up most of your gameplay time, but when the action goes down, and depending on your skills, each disc may take you about 8-10 hours each to knock out, totaling something in the zone of up to 40 hours to complete. There are also a variety of side missions to add to replay value. It must also be noted to look in every chest, barrel or other piece of décor placed in the word, because you never know what you may find, and it’s also a good way to rack up achievement points. And if you’re a heavy reader, there is text galore to keep your brain on overdrive.
bottom line
Lost Odyssey keeps it old school, but that’s not such a bad thing, and you will get your money’s worth with all that is offered. Maybe after blowing apart your 1000th Scarab in Halo 3, this is the type of game that will hold your attention in a different way. Not every Xbox 360 player is a trigger-happy maniac, so for anyone looking for a change of pace, Lost Odyssey, while not flawless, is a good game to kick back with on a lazy Sunday. Give Lost Odyssey a try.
Review by: Johnny McNair
Posted: 03/10/2008
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Gameplay:
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7.0 |
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Graphics:
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8.5 |
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Sound:
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8.0 |
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Replay Value:
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7.0 |
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Bottom Line:
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7.5 |
