Lost Odyssey - new trailer and impressions

[EddieA]

It looks like the game is out in Japan now, and there are some impressions at GameFAQs.  There's also a new trailer, complete with a cheesy pop song whose singer kind of sounds like Barbra Streisand.

[depward]

I wasn't really looking forward to it... until I read over at Neogaf explaining that a LOT of the team that made the Shadow Hearts series worked on Lost Odyssey.  Then I became fairly interested.  Looks pretty good!

[Kevin Grey]

I'm a bit concerned about some of the comments about long load times.

[Misguided]

Gameplay footage at Gamersyde

I'm conflicted on this. While I've been looking forward to it for months,
Blue Dragon was a big disappointment for me. I really enjoyed Eternal
Sonata but haven't been compelled to finish. In the meantime, I adore
Mass Effect and almost find it hard to imagine playing a game like this.
But then, I loved Enchanted Arms (played 60+ hours).

I think ultimately it will come down to the combat, and that's where
I start to get concerned. Blue Dragon's combat didn't have the depth
of Enchanted Arms and tried to be too action-y for my tastes. While
I appreciate the attempts to innovate and blur the lines between the
turn-based and action games, I think that ultimately I want my turn-
based games to be just that, turn-based.

[Farscry]

If done right, turn-base RPG combat with action elements can work to make it even better (Super Mario RPG being one of the best examples I've played). But generally, I've found the attempts to "action-up" turn-based rpg's to be lacking and more annoying than fun.

I'm hoping Lost Odyssey is great, but have real concerns on how well the game is going to turn out.

[Kevin Grey]

If done right, turn-base RPG combat with action elements can work to make it even better (Super Mario RPG being one of the best examples I've played). But generally, I've found the attempts to "action-up" turn-based rpg's to be lacking and more annoying than fun.

Since this one has a huge amount of Shadow Hearts veterans, I'm hopeful.  Shadow Hearts is probably the best example yet of twitch mechanics inserted into a turn based RPG. 

[kronovan]

If done right, turn-base RPG combat with action elements can work to make it even better (Super Mario RPG being one of the best examples I've played). But generally, I've found the attempts to "action-up" turn-based rpg's to be lacking and more annoying than fun.

I'm hoping Lost Odyssey is great, but have real concerns on how well the game is going to turn out.

IIRC Tales of Symphonia was a Turn based-action RPG hybrid and it's fighting was great.

[Kevin Grey]

IIRC Tales of Symphonia was a Turn based-action RPG hybrid and it's fighting was great.

Hmm, I wouldn't really call the Tales combat system turn based at all. 

[Farscry]

IIRC Tales of Symphonia was a Turn based-action RPG hybrid and it's fighting was great.

Hmm, I wouldn't really call the Tales combat system turn based at all. 

Yeah, gotta agree there. There was nothing really turn-based about it that I could tell. The Tales combat system is fun, if a little overly hectic at times.

[edit]Oh, and yes, I agree Kevin: the inclusion of the Shadow Hearts people is encouraging at least!

[Azhag]

This is a different team than Blue Dragon, and meant to be a different style of play and maturity (modern vs older FF).

[Calvin]

I am really interested in this game. Still no US release date?

[KePoW]

This is a different team than Blue Dragon, and meant to be a different style of play and maturity (modern vs older FF).

Mistwalker themselves have said that Blue Dragon was supposed to be like Dragon Quest, and Lost Odyssey is supposed to be the Final Fantasy

[Kevin Grey]

I am really interested in this game. Still no US release date?

February. 

[Calvin]

I am really interested in this game. Still no US release date?

February. 

This one I am going to play Day1, I guarantee it!

[Canuck]

Nice looking game but the lip synching is terrible!  Will that be fixed?

[EddieA]

The lip synching was done using the English voices (which are included in the Japanese version, but without English text), so the Japanese voices don't match up.  There's an article here listing all of the ex-Nautilus people are now at FeelPlus.  I also learned that Nautilus was behind Legend of Dragoon for PSOne, and the team was made of up some ex-Square developers who worked on FF6.  FF6, Legend of Dragoon, and Shadow Hearts are my three all-time favorite RPG battle systems, and I never knew they were all done by the same team.

[EddieA]

Worthplaying has some nice new screenshots.

[EddieA]

Worthplaying has even more new screenshots.





Only a little over a month 

[Knightshade Dragon]

It does have some great voice talent in it, including one of my personal favorites - Michael Bell.  The stuff I saw at E3 was compelling enough to pull me in.  I'm sold on this one.

[Purge]

KD, this one will make up nicely for SoF: Payback.

I keed, I keed.

[Knightshade Dragon]

KD, this one will make up nicely for SoF: Payback.

I keed, I keed.

But it is in our 2007 GOTY list!  Oh...wait...not in a good way.   

[Gratch]

Worthplaying has even more new screenshots.





Only a little over a month 

Damn, those shots look good.  Totally didn't realize it was out next month, can't wait!

[Farscry]

It's certainly looked nice all along, and those screens continue the trend. This will still be a rental first for me, but with how great the third disc of Blue Dragon was (and solid portions of the first disc), as well as a lot of their ideas that I liked, I know Mistwalker certainly has a great game in them. Only remains to be seen if this is going to be that one.

[EddieA]

IGN and Gamespot both have some impressions of the first disc of the English version.

[jersoc]

holy christ, 4 discs, that's crazy. I hope this turns out good. Aching for a RPG void that ME barely satisfied.

[Canuck]

At times you will wait a good minute to load into a battle or one of Lost Odyssey's numerous cut-scenes

Huh??  That is just unacceptable!  I've never heard of anything like that in an an RPG before.  The FF series' battles and cutscenes have all be instantaneous as far as I can remember.

[EddieA]

In the videos, the battle load times seem to be about 15-20 seconds.  From impressions at GameFAQs, cutscene loads can be longer, but they say more like 20-40 seconds rather than a minute.  It's unfortunate, but I'm guessing it stems from the game's use of the Unreal 3 engine.  They probably could have had faster loads, but then there would likely have been texture pop-in like in Mass Effect.  The Unreal engine produces very beautiful games, but they really need to work the kinks out.

[Destructor]

At times you will wait a good minute to load into a battle or one of Lost Odyssey's numerous cut-scenes

Huh??  That is just unacceptable!  I've never heard of anything like that in an an RPG before.  The FF series' battles and cutscenes have all be instantaneous as far as I can remember.

If only the 360 had a HD as standard and could simply dump more data to it...

That said - load times were a thing of the past. Especially ones that long. WTF happened?

[Misguided]

I just can't get excited for this after playing Blue Dragon.
I've watched about an hour of footage at Gamersyde and the combat looks just as dull.
A shame too, because I'd been looking forward to this for so long.

[EddieA]

I just can't get excited for this after playing Blue Dragon.
I've watched about an hour of footage at Gamersyde and the combat looks just as dull.

Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon were made by two different companies, so even if you didn't like BD, LO might be a different story.  The battle system was designed some of the same people who did three of the best battle systems of all time - Final Fantasy 6, Legend of Dragoon, and Shadow Hearts, so it should be good.  It's also supposed to be pretty challenging at times, which should be a nice change of pace from the too-easy RPGs of late.

[Calvin]

Very, very excited about this one. Final Fantasy inspired? Hi2u!

[Gratch]

Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon were made by two different companies, so even if you didn't like BD, LO might be a different story.  The battle system was designed some of the same people who did three of the best battle systems of all time - Final Fantasy 6, Legend of Dragoon, and Shadow Hearts, so it should be good.  It's also supposed to be pretty challenging at times, which should be a nice change of pace from the too-easy RPGs of late.

Aren't they both Mistwalker games?

[denoginizer]

I just can't get excited for this after playing Blue Dragon.
I've watched about an hour of footage at Gamersyde and the combat looks just as dull.
A shame too, because I'd been looking forward to this for so long.

I got Blue Dragon for Christmas.  Not my kind of game but I figured since it was a gift I would give it a shot.  I just can't muster the will to try it.  Posts like yours aren't helping.   

[EddieA]

Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon were made by two different companies, so even if you didn't like BD, LO might be a different story.  The battle system was designed some of the same people who did three of the best battle systems of all time - Final Fantasy 6, Legend of Dragoon, and Shadow Hearts, so it should be good.  It's also supposed to be pretty challenging at times, which should be a nice change of pace from the too-easy RPGs of late.

Aren't they both Mistwalker games?

Yes, but Mistwalker isn't a full developer.  Like Enix, they contract out the majority of the work on their games to other companies.  It's not clear how much is done by Sakaguchi/Mistwalker as opposed to the hired companies, but I think that Mistwalker does much of the design, while the other companies do most of the programming, artwork, and testing.  Blue Dragon was developed by Artoon (of Blinx and Vampire Rain fame/infamy) while Lost Odyssey is from Feel Plus, which is made of developers who once worked for Square and Nautilus (of Legend of Dragoon and Shadow Hearts fame).

[Misguided]

Eddie, I've watched about an hour of Lost Odyssey gameplay.
While the game looks good, visually, and the story sounds good, the combat doesn't get me going in the least.
I think I'm just spoiled by Enchanted Arms, honestly.

I had a customer in the store today that enjoyed the combat in BD, but not the story/characters because
of the perceived kiddie factor. That guy will probably love Lost Odyssey. I think I need something more
from RPG combat. Even Eternal Sonata wore on me after a while, and it had some inventive combat features.

Yes, but Mistwalker isn't a full developer.  Like Enix, they contract out the majority of the work on their games to other companies.  It's not clear how much is done by Sakaguchi/Mistwalker as opposed to the hired companies, but I think that Mistwalker does much of the design, while the other companies do most of the programming, artwork, and testing.  Blue Dragon was developed by Artoon (of Blinx and Vampire Rain fame/infamy) while Lost Odyssey is from Feel Plus, which is made of developers who once worked for Square and Nautilus (of Legend of Dragoon and Shadow Hearts fame).

[Gratch]

Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon were made by two different companies, so even if you didn't like BD, LO might be a different story.  The battle system was designed some of the same people who did three of the best battle systems of all time - Final Fantasy 6, Legend of Dragoon, and Shadow Hearts, so it should be good.  It's also supposed to be pretty challenging at times, which should be a nice change of pace from the too-easy RPGs of late.

Aren't they both Mistwalker games?

Yes, but Mistwalker isn't a full developer.  Like Enix, they contract out the majority of the work on their games to other companies.  It's not clear how much is done by Sakaguchi/Mistwalker as opposed to the hired companies, but I think that Mistwalker does much of the design, while the other companies do most of the programming, artwork, and testing.  Blue Dragon was developed by Artoon (of Blinx and Vampire Rain fame/infamy) while Lost Odyssey is from Feel Plus, which is made of developers who once worked for Square and Nautilus (of Legend of Dragoon and Shadow Hearts fame).

That makes sense, thanks Eddie.   I actually like old-school, turn-based RPG combat, so I think Lost Odyssey will be perfect for me.  The last true JRPG I played was FF XII (played about 8 hours of Eternal Arms, but I really disliked it so it doesn't count), and I've been dying for something new.

[Ridah]

I had a customer in the store today that enjoyed the combat in BD, but not the story/characters because
of the perceived kiddie factor. That guy will probably love Lost Odyssey. I think I need something more
from RPG combat. Even Eternal Sonata wore on me after a while, and it had some inventive combat features.

I'm in the same boat as that customer of yours. I enjoyed BD and had no problem with the combat system but the kiddie factor was wearing on me after a while, so a more mature theme would be great even with similar combat.

I'm hoping that they put some major work into ironing out the technical issues, fuck man even pass on doing voice-overs and sub that bitch if you have to so more resources can be allocated to technical work. I really want to like this game.

OR: Put it on the PS3 with better load times at least.

[Kevin Grey]

I had a customer in the store today that enjoyed the combat in BD, but not the story/characters because
of the perceived kiddie factor. That guy will probably love Lost Odyssey. I think I need something more
from RPG combat. Even Eternal Sonata wore on me after a while, and it had some inventive combat features.

I'm in the same boat as that customer of yours. I enjoyed BD and had no problem with the combat system but the kiddie factor was wearing on me after a while, so a more mature theme would be great even with similar combat.

I'm hoping that they put some major work into ironing out the technical issues, fuck man even pass on doing voice-overs and sub that bitch if you have to so more resources can be allocated to technical work. I really want to like this game.

OR: Put it on the PS3 with better load times at least.

There is only about two months between Japanese and US release- there is very little chance the technical aspects will be improved (Blue Dragon's weren't and there was a much larger gap between release windows). 

As for the PS3---well, LO is MS published.  Plus it's Unreal Engine 3.0 and so far third parties, PS3, and UE3.0 do not a happy combination make. 

[olaf]

Does it have random fights like most JRPGs?  If so I dont see how 15-60s to get INTO the battles is acceptable by anyone's standards.

[The Grue]

Does it have random fights like most JRPGs?  If so I dont see how 15-60s to get INTO the battles is acceptable by anyone's standards.

I think it does have random fights.  What that means is when you want to get to some place and in the old days it was annoying because of random battles, it will become even more annoying because of crazy load times.