Not only is Lost Odyssey one of the deeper JRPGs around, it is also the one that plays and feels absolutely superior.
Much has been said about Lost Odyssey since its release a couple of years ago. The game features unique graphics, classic turn-based game play, and a touching story that players will indeed remember long after they play this great role-playing game. You play as an immortal named Kaim Argonar, a man in search of his long lost memory of a thousand years. You will travel through cities, villages, forests, and many other locales in this dark tale. For fans specifically of Final Fantasy X that released years ago on the PS2, this game will feel familiar in more ways than one. That is not a negative by any means, though basically it is just me saying, this feels a little too familiar at times.
Game Play:
As mentioned, classic turn-based game play is present here. You go from character to character performing different actions, whether it be attacks, special abilities, or using a mage to revive a downed comrade. It is all familiar, but it all works as great as ever. Fans also of the Shadow Hearts series will notice a similarity in combat, with the different "rings" that you can use to dictate the amount of damage you can take on an enemy. They are a nice touch, and add a little flare to the (unfortunately) dying classic turn-based play.
Environments are all vast and wide, and feature a variety of shapes, sizes, and atmospheres. One area, you may be in a nice town with many villagers living their daily lives, and the next moment you find yourself in a creepy forest filled with blood and darkness. It is a contrasting game in every way, and it can make the inconsistent pace at times feel like it has a quirky-ness about it that feels right. The game itself, unfortunately, is burdened by some unusually long load times in some places, though to me, this seems like a minor gripe for a game that plays so smoothly.
Sound:
When you take a composer from the Final Fantasy series, your music will sound great, and that is no exception here. The voice acting is also very endearing, emotional, and will grip you immediately. Kaim will always sound extremely serious, never offering any emotion towards much, while a character like Jansen balances it all nicely, with his goofy-ness and greedy attitude. Even with how Jansen acts, especially early on, you will enjoy his presence, as he will become one of the more lovable characters in the game. There are a numerous amount of other characters, but I will leave them out as to avoid spoilers.
Story:
This story is amazing, fun, memorable, and most importantly, well written. While it may have such an obvious direction from the very beginning, it all still feels like a lot of fun once you get to the fourth and final disc. Yes, this game is a long one, and fills a massive four discs, all filled to the brim with story, game play, and a vast new world. There are also the text-like memories that you will experience throughout called the "Thousand Years of Dreams". These sequences are gripping, and can really make you depressed at the same time. You feel like you are in Kaim's mind as you experience the music and subtle sound effects in the background as you read the gripping tales of his darkest experiences.
(To avoid spoiling plot, that is all that will be said)
Graphics:
This game plays great, sounds great, and features a tremendous story. So, how does it look? Well, this is easily one of the more unique looking games in the RPG genre, and it all feels just right. This game looks fantastic, and features great detail within the environments, enemies, characters, etc. While it may not have the detail featured in such games like Dragon Age or Final Fantasy, this game will surely suffice.
Presentation:
Gladly, there are no main issues within this game that should hamper the experience. While the long load times are somewhat negative, simply install the game to your hard drive, and that should improve it, even if just a little bit. Lost Odyssey doesn't try anything new in the series, and that is precisely where it succeeds. Those RPG veterans out there will be happy as they experience memories of their own, whether they remember a similar game out there from the past, or suddenly are emotionally gripped by the game's great characters and their actions. This game is perfectly balanced, even though it feels "old".
Conclusion:
Lost Odyssey is great, and does all the things it should do, while avoiding the things that some developers don't. They make a solid game simply by not taking many risks, if any at all. You wonder sometimes times if there will be more RPGs similar to it in the future. One can only hope, because Mistwalker not only creates a unique world, they create a game that is worth playing by fans of multiple genres. Lost Odyssey doesn't recreate the RPG genre at all, and that is what makes it so fulfilling.
Game Play Score: 8.5/10
Sound Score: 9/10
Story Score: 8.5/10
Graphics Score: 8.5/10
Presentation Score: 9/10
Overall Score: 8.5/10
Replay Value: Moderate