Lost Odyssey (Microsoft)

Wednesday, 13th of February, 2008

The game features beautiful creatures and environments, the unlockable vignettes are well done and character development is definitely a strong point, there is a good variety to the skills that you can learn and the items that you can create

The combat is shallow and repetitive; the game features poor pacing, a problem that is compounded by long load times; the main quest is not terribly compelling

Enjoying this epic takes actual work, and that's bound to turn many otherwise devoted fans of the genre off. If you find yourself bristling any time a game casts you in the role of passive observer for extended periods of time, and yearn for an adventure that gives you rich freedom and control, you'll be sorely disappointed by the broad but shallow possibilities in Lost Odyssey. On the other hand, if you're willing to throw yourself into Kaim's world, sponging up every last detail of his past, present, and future, you'll come away with some haunting memories as well as the sensation that you just experienced something that was as satisfying as it was frustrating.