Lost Odyssey... a reflection

I bought Lost Odyssey on the day it was released in the United States, February 12, 2008. I played the game for about three weeks straight but took a break to play other games like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Army of Two. However, over the past couple of weeks I have been getting back into Lost Odyssey again. I am on the fourth (of four) discs. Lost Odyssey is a great game but it is not without flaws.

The game is incredibly linear, it’s almost as if your on rails being dragged from one location to the next. It is not until the fourth disc when you are finally free to take on side-quests that the game opens up. The story could also use some work. It’s not bad but it’s not compelling either. While playing, I have the feeling that I have seen this all before. But my biggest complaint with this game is the world map used to traverse to continent. There is no actual continent to explore when playing Lost Odyssey, rather you choose destinations on a map screen and are instantly transported there. There is very little actually linking the different environments together. However, your party eventually commandeers a ship so you are free to explore the ocean. While it is a nice addition, the world feels barren and devoid of life. I was hoping for a world map like the ones in Dragon Quest VIII and Final Fantasy XII that seamlessly blend the multitude of different environments into one cohesive world. Despite these flaws, Lost Odyssey is still an enjoyable game.

The fourth disc is both the shortest and longest disc, depending on you play it. You could rush through it under 8 hours and beat the game or take the time to complete the many side-quests this game has to offer. You can treasure hunt, search for royal seals, explore hidden dungeons, defeat hidden bosses, find powerful weapons, etc. There is so much to do that it can be overwhelming, but completionists will be in RPG heaven.