While most gamers intelligently purchase games that fit their genre of preference, there’s just those few games that go unnoticed. Well, no more. This multi-part feature will highlight some personal favorites that went largely overlooked this generation. First up, Mistwalker’s Lost Odyssey, released in North America on February 12, 2008 as an exclusive title.
Lost Odyssey’s story revolves around main character Kaim, an immortal with a lifespan of 1000 years. He’s lost his memory and you spend a vast amount of the game finding bits and pieces of it. While discovering the past, Kaim runs across other immortals (still a rarity) and begins to connect his dotted memories.
The game utilizes a unique turn-based battle system that has an interactive element to it. Often during attack sequences, players must time a trigger press to a decreasing ring. If the player hits the trigger with accurate timing, more damage or status effects affect your enemy. This feature is one that Square is lauding about in Final Fantasy XIII-2 .
Final Fantasy is all over this game. The creative director of the first Final Fantasy games, Hironobu Sakaguichi, created Lost Odyssey. Also, Nobuo Uematsu, the composer on all Final Fantasy games, directs the orchestral score. Lost Odyssey has a brilliant pedigree and it shows in every area, especially in the skill-learning area.
In order to learn a variety of skills, the immortals in your party must link skills to mortal characters and learn over time. Once the immortals acquire the skills, you can then equip them. I have never seen this skill-learning system implemented in any games this generation other than right here.
Graphically, Lost Odyssey was the best-looking RPG of 2008. Spread over four (4) discs, the cut scenes are lengthy and beautiful. Mistwalker did a fantastic job progressing the story through cinematic sequences. Short stories scattered throughout the world with amazing animations and excellent music also help tell Lost Odyssey’s story.
I fail to do this game enough justice as there are so many characters, settings, events, and enemies, that will keep you coming back for more. With a unique battle system, finely-aged graphical presentation, epic music, and timeless characters, Lost Odyssey is this generation’s first gem you should not miss.
