Lost Odyssey Impressions

[Virix]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

I listened to Major Nelson's podcast and they were just talking about how they don't really get into the JRPG's. Some people don't dig the storytelling and lots of cutscenes. I find that if the story is compelling, and the gameplay design isn't overly boring/repetitive then I'll get completely sucked in by a JRPG. However, if the story is crap, or the gameplay doesn't do anything to keep me interested, I'll stop playing pretty fast. I think it's "all or nothing" with these games.

I find that in action RPGs, I end up feeling like the fighting is a nusance. I was interested in the stories in Mass Effect and Oblivion, but I hated the enemy encounters in both. Im not big on stories, but in RPGs, thats basicly the majority of the game so I expect to deal with story telling and cutscenes.

When it comes down to it, Im not one of those people who think its necessary to innovate new ways to play every genre of game. JRPGs are what they are, if someone expects something different, then its quite possible that JRPGs arent for them, and thats fine. Im old school, and I know it. I just appreciate that some companies are still giving me RPGs that I can enjoy. No "dodge, dodge, buttonmash" gameplay of RPGs like Oblivion (although I did enjoy that game somewhat).

[poster]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

I think this game is amazing and cannot believe the low scores that it received.

[Spectre]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

I just read the first two 1000 year dream sequences

They are incredibly well written and very sad too. Man, I think I almost cried like Mr. Wednesday

[Cyros]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

I just like to view the scenery.

Fair enough

[Mr.Wednesday]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

I just read the first two 1000 year dream sequences

They are incredibly well written and very sad too. Man, I think I almost cried like Mr. Wednesday

LOL. The dream sequences get better. And I am officially protesting the rumor that water came out of my eyes.

My name is Mr. Wednesday and I approved this message.

[jfsolo]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

LOL. The dream sequences get better. And I am officially protesting the rumor that water came out of my eyes.

My name is Mr. Wednesday and I approved this message.

Not being a spring chicken anymore, It doesn't bruise my ego to admit that tears have streamed down my face several times playing this game, and I'm still on disk 2.

[Mr.Wednesday]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

Not being a spring chicken anymore, It doesn't bruise my ego to admit that tears have streamed down my face several times playing this game, and I'm still on disk 2.

I think I may go back through some of the older dreams and make a list of the sequences that I think evoked the biggest emotional response. I want to know what other people here think were the best dreams. I will wait a little longer so others can get further in the game. Plus I want to see if the rest are just as well written.

[Cyros]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

I think I may go back through some of the older dreams and make a list of the sequences that I think evoked the biggest emotional response. I want to know what other people here think were the best dreams. I will wait a little longer so others can get further in the game. Plus I want to see if the rest are just as well written.

But sir, what about the pictures that are making their way around the internet with you, red eyes, and a box of used tissues?

[DLaren]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

I whole heartedly disagree. I love this game for many reasons, the biggest of which is the fact that its an old school RPG. I want turn based combat. These are the games that got me into gaming in the first place. I think games like Oblivion and Mass Effect are good, but I enjoy turn based much, much more. If they were to change the formula of this game to an action RPG, I would be very disappointed. Turn based combat and random battles are where its at for me. Thinking about strategy rather than depending on quickly dodging attacks and mashing buttons. Thats what I want, and a huge part of me loving this game.

When I think of a company trying to change what they do to appease people who want this kind of combat, the first thing that comes to my mind is Bioware's Jade Empire. Even though the story was ok, after playing a couple of hours I was so tired of button mashing and never played it again.

You can make an RPG with real-time combat have just as much strategy as a turn-based game without turning it into an action RPG.

Play FF12 (which is not a button-masher at all) then play Dungeon Siege 2 (or any other basic, button-masher), both have real time combat but FF12 requires a lot more thought and strategy then the hack&slash gameplay of Dungeon Siege 2; I could put together a credible argument that FF12 requires just as much, if not more, strategy than any other JRPG made to date.

FF12 sold 5 million copies (2 million in the US), so Square-Enix has proven that the leap from turn-based combat to real-time combat can be done without sacrificing the integrity that people have become accostomed to from a JRPG; and at the same time you'd be advancing the genre while possibly drawing in a new audience to your series.

L.O. doesn't have to go that route (I'd buy the next iteration either way), but if Mistwalker continues to stick with the "Classic" formula they can't expect to recieve the same kind of praise (or sales) as other RPG's that are successfully breaking new ground.

[Mr.Wednesday]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

But sir, what about the pictures that are making their way around the internet with you, red eyes, and a box of used tissues?

I didn't know those got out.

[Virix]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

You can make an RPG with real-time combat have just as much strategy as a turn-based game without turning it into an action RPG.

Play FF12 (which is not a button-masher at all) then play Dungeon Siege 2 (or any other basic, button-masher), both have real time combat but FF12 requires a lot more thought and strategy then the hack&slash gameplay of Dungeon Siege 2; I could put together a credible argument that FF12 requires just as much, if not more, strategy than any other JRPG made to date.

FF12 sold 5 million copies (2 million in the US), so Square-Enix has proven that the leap from turn-based combat to real-time combat can be done without sacrificing the integrity that people have become accostomed to from a JRPG; and at the same time you'd be advancing the genre while possibly drawing in a new audience to your series.

L.O. doesn't have to go that route (I'd buy the next iteration either way), but if Mistwalker continues to stick with the "Classic" formula they can't expect to recieve the same kind of praise (or sales) as other RPG's that are successfully breaking new ground.

FFXII would have been much better to me if it was a true turn based RPG. It was time based, which allowed more strategy, but certainly was not real time combat. Real time combat leans too much toward twitch skills rather than strategy, hybrid combat systems like in FFXII cant really be considered real time. Its more like a MMORPG combat system. Its almost exactly like Everquest (the only MMORPG Ive ever played) so it cant really be considered breaking new ground can it?

Anything with the name FF will sell like hotcakes. You cant really compare ANYTHING to that franchise, and Im sure Mistwalker doesnt even dream of making those same sales numbers. Again, I know im in the minority, but im very happy that Mistwalker decided to stick to tried and true turn based gameplay. Im playing through FFII right now on the PSP just to get that old school rpg feel back, now I get the same feel with a new coat of paint. I love it.

[DLaren]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

FFXII would have been much better to me if it was a true turn based RPG. It was time based, which allowed more strategy, but certainly was not real time combat. Real time combat leans too much toward twitch skills rather than strategy, hybrid combat systems like in FFXII cant really be considered real time. Its more like a MMORPG combat system. Its almost exactly like Everquest (the only MMORPG Ive ever played) so it cant really be considered breaking new ground can it?

Anything with the name FF will sell like hotcakes. You cant really compare ANYTHING to that franchise, and Im sure Mistwalker doesnt even dream of making those same sales numbers. Again, I know im in the minority, but im very happy that Mistwalker decided to stick to tried and true turn based gameplay. Im playing through FFII right now on the PSP just to get that old school rpg feel back, now I get the same feel with a new coat of paint. I love it.

I hear where you're coming from and I agree with you for the most part; I just love the combat in MMORPG's and FF12 and would like to see more single player RPG's implement a similar system (real-time/time-based combat isn't essentially better than turn-based combat, it just comes down to preference).

But anyway, I don't want to derail the thread any further because Lost Odyssey is a great game and deserves to stand on it's own merits.

[mgoblue]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

I hear where you're coming from and I agree with you for the most part; I just love the combat in MMORPG's and FF12 and would like to see more single, player JRPG's implement a similar system (neither is essentially better than the other, it just comes down to preference).

But anyway, I don't want to derail the thread any further because Lost Odyssey is a great game and deserves to stand on it's own merits.

Have you played the Shadow Hearts series? I don't remember the combat exactly, but I do remember that it was pretty cool (not just normal turn based)...is that in between JRPG and more action, the adding of the timing based stuff?

How does that compare to LO? Sorry...i wish I remembered more, but it's been ages since I had a PS3

[Rainey]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

The "regular attack" combat on LO when equipped with rings is time based. All other actions are strictly mathmatical though.

[Cyros]

Re: Lost Odyssey Impressions

Have you played the Shadow Hearts series? I don't remember the combat exactly, but I do remember that it was pretty cool (not just normal turn based)...is that in between JRPG and more action, the adding of the timing based stuff?

How does that compare to LO? Sorry...i wish I remembered more, but it's been ages since I had a PS3

Shadow Hearts had the mighty Judgement Ring which featured an attack area and a smaller strike area. Different characters had a different amount of attack areas.