01 Apr 2008 12:10
Lost Odyssey
Lost Odyssey is the story of Kaim, an immortal character who has lived more than 1,000 years. He doesn't remember his past, and he doesn't know where his future lies. Throughout Kaim's journey, a handful of characters join him on an odyssey to discover their intricate past and destiny, leading players through a dramatic story of massive scale. Massively multiplayer online role-playing game elements are blended into the game's traditional role-playing game system, enabling players to make strategic decisions for a more immersive and deep gameplay experience. With story sequences penned by award-winning Japanese novelist Kiyoshi Shigematsu in cooperation with producer Hironobu Sakaguchi, Lost Odyssey sets a new benchmark for the RPG genre with a combination of true-to-life cinematics and an intriguing story of an immortal man. Players will witness Kaim's life as he lives through many generations, becomes part of numerous families, falls in and out of love, and confronts all of the conflicts that arise. Kaim's struggles are set in a world that is on the verge of a "mystical industrial revolution," where mankind has attained dark powers. The massively scoped worlds, memorable characters and epic storyline play as an intense and unsettling blockbuster action film. Heading up the artistic demands of the title is famed Japanese comic artist Takehiko Inoue. Renowned composer Nobuo Uematsu has been recruited to create a contemporary soundtrack.
- 95% Gameplay
- 100% Graphics
- 100% Sound
- 85% Innovation
- 100% Mojo
Extreme Gamer's Review
Mistwalker should be proud that they created an ambitious traditional role-playing game at the level of Lost Odyssey. Lost Odyssey touches the gamer on many different levels with its caring storyline, explosive battles and metamorphosing plot developments. The presentation in the graphics and audio help put the whole game together creating a beautiful amalgamation showcase some best talent seen in both areas.
If you’re a fan of traditional role-playing games, or love games with an endearing story then you will likely fall in love with the dynamic intimacy Lost Odyssey provides. Despite being challenged because of its traditional roots, Lost Odyssey embraces them and turns on a memorable gaming experience that will be remembered for years to come.
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- 80% Design
- 96% Story
- 83% Gameplay
- 95% Presentation
GameTrailers's Review
Amid its many peaks and valleys, Lost Odyssey is the first exciting realization of a compelling, next-gen Japanese RPG. While its gameplay may not even come close to the depth or complexity of a title like Mass Effect, Lost Odyssey’s story and visuals stand toe to toe with some of the best the genre has seen. If it’s an epic voyage into the realm of fantasy you’re after, you’ve found it: Lost Odyssey is a role-playing adventure that shouldn’t be missed.
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- 83% Gameplay
- 80% Graphics
- 70% Audio
- 78% Longevity
- 78% Innovation
Team Xbox's Review
Aside from the same framerate issues that plague the cut-scenes, the battle sequences in Lost Odyssey are great. While there is some repetitiveness in enemy type, the creatures faced are at least intriguing, and the attacks against them varied. The Ring and Formation systems do their part in making turn-based battle more interesting, to the point that you’ll instantly be turned into that in-game micromanager that everybody hates at the office.
The hours spent managing rings, items, your crew and their positioning really begin to add up as Lost Odyssey progresses, but the time flies by. A gameplay hour that seems more like a gameplay minute is the sign of a clever, turn-based RPG combat system; this is where Lost Odyssey shows us Mistwalker’s unflappable roots, and why this title was so hotly anticipated on its home soil.
We were really hoping that Lost Odyssey shipped to us with a bit more polish, as it has all of the elements and mass of a truly epic role playing adventure. First time turn-based RPG players can learn a lot about the genre from Lost Odyssey, and should definitely give each of the four discs a go-around in the tray. Turn-based stalwarts will surely see what Mistwalker’s intention was with Lost Odyssey, and that they came up only a step or two short of Sakaguchi’s benchmark Final Fantasy games of the 1990’s.
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- 65% Presentation
- 80% Graphics
- 75% Sound
- 85% Gameplay
- 80% Lasting Appeal
IGN's Review
Lost Odyssey uses Unreal Engine 3 to both its benefit and detriment. There are parts of Lost Odyssey that are simply gorgeous. Some of the locations are rendered with amazing detail as are all of the playable characters. These stand out in stark contrast to a few locations that look, by comparison, unfinished. The enemies are beautiful and at times intentionally grotesque and the spell effects are spectacular. But there are some serious performance issues. I haven't seen this many loading screens since I played the first Resident Evil. And I'm not trying to be funny. The framerate also has a bad habit of falling off during some of the picture-in-picture cut-scenes. And, for whatever reason, the framerate is always at its worst during combat intros.
Lost Odyssey proves that a turn-based RPG still has merit in modern gaming. While there is nothing in Lost Odyssey that will convert action-RPG fans, there is plenty to please those already singing in the choir. Lost Odyssey creates several memorable characters and a somber setting that should please those sick of JRPGs that seem made for 10-year-olds. There are quite a few things that go wrong -- from the bad stealth portion to performance issues -- but none of it kept me from enjoying the overall adventure. It may not be in the same class as Mass Effect, but for a system in desperate need for more quality RPGs, Lost Odyssey fits nicely into the 360 library.
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