Odin Sphere

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 49 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 49
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 49
  3. Negative: 0 out of 49
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  1. Game Over Online
    74
    Odin Sphere ends up being an unforgettable game due to its graphics and unique gameplay, but ends up being riddled with some major problems and puzzling game design issues that greatly reduce the amount of fun that can be had with it.
  2. Cheat Code Central
    74
    Gorgeous hand-drawn artwork and animations.
  3. The New York Times
    72
    The elaborate graphics cause trouble when too many things are onscreen at once; some battles are so overpopulated with monsters that the game runs in slow motion; it’s like trying to fight underwater.
  5. PSX Extreme
    70
    What Odin Sphere does not do very well, however, is the control, as it is extraordinarily unresponsive at times, as well as poorly mapped on the Playstation 2 controller.
  6. Thunderbolt
    70
    A truly different experience in many respects, but the repetition is frustratingly similar to that of countless other games.
  7. games(TM)
    70
    Every time you’re about to put the controller down, there’s always something to keep you playing – even if it’s just to see another astoundingly gorgeous area or one more gargantuan enemy boss. [July 2007, p.106]
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  8. Eurogamer
    70
    Artistically Odin Sphere is one of the most marvellous videogames we've yet played. The inimitable character designs, varied and exquisite backgrounds, glorious soundtrack, considered voice acting and engaging storyline pull together in a consistent way few other games manage. However the game they clothe fails to engage in a similar way.
  9. Worth Playing
    68
    Rarely have games floored me with their animations and graphics as much as Odin Sphere did, but that is almost all that is worth recommending.
  10. Hardcore Gamer
    65
    For all of Odin Sphere's innovations, few manage to have a meaningful impact upon gameplay, and the experience fails to gel into a cohesive whole as a result. [July 2007, p.56]
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  11. Edge Magazine
    60
    That the game’s numerous niggles don’t ruin the experience sooner is testament to its unusual artistic coherence which creates a compelling world. But familiarity does eventually break the visual spell to reveal a mostly average and repetitive game underneath. [Sept 2007, p.91]
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  12. GameCritics
    60
    This slowdown often results in accidental death and having to start over, but not before sitting through the game’s load screen, which consists of the now-seared-into-my-brain image of the words “now loading” slowly revolving around an open book.
  13. Pelit (Finland)
    54
    A charmingly beautiful little adventure to watch but a horrendously awful game to play. The clumsy combat mechanics, generally unpleasant gameplay and violently unfair difficulty make this one of the most unpleasant gaming experiences of the year. It may look cute, but make no mistake: it's evil. [May 2008]
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Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Best PS2 Game of 2007
10
#10 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2007
11
#11 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2007

User Reviews

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User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 76 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 76
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 76
  3. Negative: 3 out of 76
  1. PneumaticHat
    Nov 8, 2012
    5
    I see what Vanilla Ware were going for, but the game just isn't that accessible or consistently enjoyable. You will die without grinding forI see what Vanilla Ware were going for, but the game just isn't that accessible or consistently enjoyable. You will die without grinding for the right items for the right rooms. You will die without grinding for the right amount of experience points. You will die for trying to avoid stockpiling healing items to cope with the tons of unavoidable hits. Odin Sphere is a farming-intensive game, plain and simple, and if not for the gorgeous production values it would have raked in mediocre scores from every reviewer around. Even the graphics manage to hurt it, as the PS2 version suffers from terrible, unforgivable slowdown and the worst load times since Shadowman. Frequently, restarting a level (which you will do, all the time, either because you died or you're grinding), means a 30-second load screen, skipping a cutscene, then another 30-second load screen. Between each stage's 7 or 8 areas are 10 to 15-seconds of loading, and each room then takes another 15 seconds to load enemies in. Coming into a battle ill-equipped, which also happens constantly and can make some battles literally impossible, means at least 5 minutes of sitting around staring at a spinning icon while you replay the entire level. This is far too frustrating to merit the slim chance of a smooth playthrough.

    At the end of the day, Odin Sphere is fun very rarely, and only once you've mixed enough potions and slogged through enough repeats of the same dungeons to setup a perfect battle. That really disappoints me, too, because freed of all the limiting nonsense and flat terrain, the core game would revolve around solid 2D platforming goodness. I love to see experiments in game style, but originality can't hold its novelty when weak design keeps taking center stage.    … Full Review »
  2. JayK.
    Jun 4, 2007
    9
    One of the absolute best games for the PS2. Probably #1 for visuals, and right near the top for innovation and fun. One of the only action One of the absolute best games for the PS2. Probably #1 for visuals, and right near the top for innovation and fun. One of the only action games that can hold my interest, even in the face of high difficulty. The mechanics are innovative and very satisfying; the story is better than most RPGs; the atmosphere is unique and rich. I can see how some might not like the difficulty, but there is an easy mode. The little corner map with the enemies is a bit too necessary (I often have to watch this while fighting rather than the main screen, due to its wider view). Buy this game; if you don't like it, it's probably be worth serious money in a few years.… Full Review »
  3. AndreT.
    Jun 4, 2007
    6
    Odin Sphere is a beautiful game. Nice arts populate the different levels. The sound is also amazing. The soundtrack, the voice over are one Odin Sphere is a beautiful game. Nice arts populate the different levels. The sound is also amazing. The soundtrack, the voice over are one of the best. I had quite some fun at the beginning with the gameplay. The mechanics is excellent, the recipes and items management are good ideas. But after a while, there was all that dying thing and the very steep difficulty. The bosses takes constantely advantage of the fact that you don't see them coming from left or right (The small indicator at the top doesn't help that much). They take advantage of the split second you eat food. They take advantage of the overflow of ennemies crossing the screen to attack you, to a point where you don't understand anything of what is going on. All that incessant dying left me frustrated to no end. Now it a dust keeper. If you have the patience to redo the same levels over and over 6 to 7 times, in order to level up and beat one boss, this is your game. For me, I find this kind of gameplay pretty bad in itself and it ruined the experience and the game. Overall, I don't see why poeples have a buzz about that game apart the fact that it's nice to look at.… Full Review »
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