 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Lost Odyssey
- Xbox 360
- Price: $59.99
- Genre: Role Playing
Common Sense Media says
A very good fantasy RPG with a few glitches.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this fighting game is rated "Teen" instead of "Mature" as there is no blood. The player will use a sword or magic to defeat enemies in a turn-based fight mechanic, meaning the combat move is selected and the action plays out without gamer involvement. Enemies -- which are human, creatures, or spirits -- can be stabbed in a dramatic fashion, but it isn't as graphic as other Xbox 360 role-playing games such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Some characters are shown as drunk.
What's it about?
Created by renowned Japanese designer Hironobu Sakaguchi of Final Fantasy fame and penned by award-winning Japanese novelist Kiyoshi Shigematsu, this lengthy single-player adventure follows an immortal warrior, Kaim Argonar, who has lived for more than 1,000 years but doesn't remember his past. War between dueling nations is about to reach a dangerous climax, where might and magic are being used to fight for supremacy. The turn-based combat will be familiar to seasoned RPG fans, but it's handled very well here. When it's their turn, players select an opponent to fight against, which battle command to use (such as Attack, Spell, Item, Defend or Flee), and then players watch as the action unfolds. An "Aim Ring" system adds extra power to those who wear special rings, causing more damage to human or non-human enemies.
Is it any good?
This story is decent, as the longhaired lieutenant struggles to unlock his memories and shape his future, but it's the character development, dialogue, and movie-like sequences that will keep players intrigued throughout the course of the tale. This game world is so big it ships on four DVDs, and takes place between many locations, though they're mainly clichéd RPG environments including towns, forests, and caves.
While LOST ODYSSEY showcases gorgeous graphics, complete with very unique "costumes" worn by characters, the frame rate – referring to how smooth the onscreen motion is – stutters quite a bit during busy scenes. Also troublesome is having to sit through many load screens and swap discs to continue the adventure. These technical shortcomings remind you you're playing a game and detract from the overall experience, but they are not enough to give the game two thumbs down. Lost Odyssey feels derivative but even so, it is a very good fantasy role-playing game that should satiate demanding fans of the genre.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether long load times distract from the gameplay. How do you feel about turn-based combat? Is it the combat or the role-playing that draws you to this title?
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AGE
Good RPG with some flaws
Even though the story itself is standard for the genre, the characters are interesting and the battle system is a nice solid turn-based battle system with a few fresh twists. There are some framerate issues and there are some loading times. The game is very good looking with some well done character models and some well-made cutscenes. If you can look past the minor flaws, you will be brought on an epic journey.
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AGE
is this one of those games with...
annoying soldiers blocking the way that you can't fight? I think I read it somewhere. hopefully that part isn't hard
enough to make a person delete their game like i did in a Tales of Legendia game for that very reason:soldiers!!!
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AGE
Nobody knows this game. WHY?!?
This is a very good game with a few glitches. Sadly because of these minor glitches, this game has gone unrecognised and unloved by the public, which I find annoying as this is a pretty good game.
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| Platforms: | Xbox 360 |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Role Playing |
| Developer: | Microsoft |
| Release date: | February 13, 2008 |
| Price: | $59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | T for Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence |
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