Lost Odyssey

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 546 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 449 out of 546
  2. Mixed: 45 out of 546
  3. Negative: 52 out of 546
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  1. Snake
    Mar 11, 2008
    9
    This is a very solid JRPG. The characters are less whiny than recent FF installments, which really helps. Loading and Framerate are a bit poor, but better than the very well received Mass Effect. The technical issues don't ruin the experience and the game is actually quite beautiful. Forget all of the review sites, because this game really is a JRPG. If you like games like Final This is a very solid JRPG. The characters are less whiny than recent FF installments, which really helps. Loading and Framerate are a bit poor, but better than the very well received Mass Effect. The technical issues don't ruin the experience and the game is actually quite beautiful. Forget all of the review sites, because this game really is a JRPG. If you like games like Final Fantasy, you will like this game. You don't need a number score. It is the best JRPG on 360 and the best console JRPG since, well, Final Fantasy. I rather enjoy it because the characters, writing, and themes are more "mature" from the American perspective yet the game is still distinctly Japanese in style. It does fall short of a typical Final Fantasy game, but not by tremendously much. It just doesn't quite have the wonder and imagination of a Final Fantasy game. I quite enjoyed it.… Expand
  2. AndreasS.
    Mar 11, 2008
    9
    I feel this is a deeply underrated JRPG. The story is moving, and the characters are nicely fleshed out. The graphics are If gamertags are anything to go by, it seems many reviewers only finished the first disc. This doesn't really do the game justice, since the JRPG as a genre relies heavily on story. As far as gameplay mechanics go, the battle system is traditional, but very well I feel this is a deeply underrated JRPG. The story is moving, and the characters are nicely fleshed out. The graphics are If gamertags are anything to go by, it seems many reviewers only finished the first disc. This doesn't really do the game justice, since the JRPG as a genre relies heavily on story. As far as gameplay mechanics go, the battle system is traditional, but very well balanced, actually making you use most of what you have at your disposal (a rarity in JRPGS). With just enough twists and tweaks, it's nearly perfect for me. And not to mention the beautiful spellcasting and attack animations of your characters. I would basically say; if you're a casual JRPG fan who always enjoy Square Enix's final fantasy outings, this is a great game for you. If you're a hardcore Final Fantasy fan who disapprove of their latest outing, then Lost Odyssey is a must-buy for you. If you're a hardcore JRPG dungeon grinder/obscure SJRPG fan, this might not tickle your fancy, unless you posess the ability to enjoy a great story as well. If you're a semihardcore-gamer who really enjoyed Mass Effect, then approach with caution. These are two different genres, and you better do your research on Lost Odyssey before deciding to buy it.… Expand
  3. SimonH.
    Mar 11, 2008
    6
    What I would have liked to know before considering buying this game: It has very similar game mechanics to Blue Dragon. Similar turn-based combat, similar skills system, similar annoying kicking of inanimate objects to earn items, similar extensive use of cut-scenes, and even the same monsters. That said, the improvements over Blue Dragon for me are that it is less cartoony, characters What I would have liked to know before considering buying this game: It has very similar game mechanics to Blue Dragon. Similar turn-based combat, similar skills system, similar annoying kicking of inanimate objects to earn items, similar extensive use of cut-scenes, and even the same monsters. That said, the improvements over Blue Dragon for me are that it is less cartoony, characters are not annoying, story seems better.… Expand
  4. HamaadS.
    Mar 10, 2008
    9
    By far the best role playing game on xbox 360. The battle sequence is good but could've been better. That would have to be the only downfall.
  5. AndrewM.
    Mar 10, 2008
    8
    As a fan of the FF series, I obviously picked this up having seen its striking resemblance to the 8th in the aformentioned series. I can say that, so far, it's enjoyable and enveloping without being spectacular - the graphics are superb, the musical score of the always-high Uaemetsu (sp?) standard doesn't disappoint and the presentation is top-notch. However I'd mark it As a fan of the FF series, I obviously picked this up having seen its striking resemblance to the 8th in the aformentioned series. I can say that, so far, it's enjoyable and enveloping without being spectacular - the graphics are superb, the musical score of the always-high Uaemetsu (sp?) standard doesn't disappoint and the presentation is top-notch. However I'd mark it down simply due to the fact that the game mechanics are solid, reliable, predictable yet no more than that. The gameplay system hasn't moved on from a decade ago, and whilst this will appeal to JRPG fans (like myself) I can see how criticisms of 'playing safe' with the game mechanics can be levelled at the game. I suppose coming out of playing Mass Effect it's a different type of safer, more old school RPG. I'd still recommend it as an essential purchase for anyone who enjoyed the FF series or similar, but if you don't like traditional J-RPGs then this won't change your mind.… Expand
  6. MikeP.
    Mar 9, 2008
    10
    Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, this is one of the best games this generation and that wont be changing anytime soon. Any person that gives this game a negative review I very much doubt has actually played it. The game may have a traditional appearance, but it brings a number of subtle, yet drastic innovations to the table that combine to give Lost Odyssey one of the strongest Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, this is one of the best games this generation and that wont be changing anytime soon. Any person that gives this game a negative review I very much doubt has actually played it. The game may have a traditional appearance, but it brings a number of subtle, yet drastic innovations to the table that combine to give Lost Odyssey one of the strongest turn based battle systems ever. The game is a posterboy for quality in pretty much every respect. From impressive art direction, to incredible English voice acting ,animation quality and a strong writing this game is a winner on all counts. The story is to put it simply impressive and really does a great job of touching on real human relationships. You really connect with the game's various strong characters. I look at the game from the viewpoint that this has always been what Final Fantasy has been hoping to achieve from a story standpoint, but never did. There are moments in this game that will bring tears to your eyes and make you feel what it is like to experience loss. This is not a game to be missed. The options for which you are given to customize your various characters is one of the most addicting experiences experiences in my many years of playing jrpgs. It really does feel like World of Warcraft level customization in a Japanese Role Playing Game. Everyone needs to buy this game. Support the game because a sequel is on the way.… Expand
  7. TedE.
    Mar 8, 2008
    7
    A decent game that falls short of it's big brother, Final Fantasy. Complaints about frame rate issues, constant loading, and monotonous combat are all valid. I find the character designs/outfits a bit goofy, though I certainly appreciate the abundance of cleavage. The deal-breaker for me is the constant CRASHING. Save at every opportunity, because you never know when the next Disk A decent game that falls short of it's big brother, Final Fantasy. Complaints about frame rate issues, constant loading, and monotonous combat are all valid. I find the character designs/outfits a bit goofy, though I certainly appreciate the abundance of cleavage. The deal-breaker for me is the constant CRASHING. Save at every opportunity, because you never know when the next Disk Read Error will pop up. Ignoring that major flaw, it's a solid RPG that doesn't break any new ground. BTW, the GameDaily review should probably be ignored - It doesn't look like he even played the game beyond maybe the first couple hours. His puzzling complaints about the "point system" and "not having the right points in the right spots" suggests that he might not have even played the game at all.… Expand
  8. NicholasT.
    Mar 6, 2008
    6
    It may not be the killer app the 360 is looking for but it is the next best thing to a traditional Final Fantasy-like rpg... ON XBOX!
  9. WestRunner
    Mar 3, 2008
    10
    This will be the standard by which FFXIII is judged. Truly flawless from start to finish. I don't know if some 360s are just about to red ring, but this game's loading times are negligible at best. Mass Effect Elevators were like nineteen times as long. Great story, great characters, great art, great gameplay, random battles were actually really fun. Loved it. Only negative is This will be the standard by which FFXIII is judged. Truly flawless from start to finish. I don't know if some 360s are just about to red ring, but this game's loading times are negligible at best. Mass Effect Elevators were like nineteen times as long. Great story, great characters, great art, great gameplay, random battles were actually really fun. Loved it. Only negative is that treasure collecting achievement may be the most difficult 20 points ever.… Expand
  10. PaulI.
    Mar 3, 2008
    10
    FANTASTIC! I bought this game on the day of release and I am hooked !! I have to remind myself that I am not playing Final Fantasy 7. Apart from the new ring system, this is exactly like playing one of the FF games (7 onwards). The graphics are awesome. I have noticed a slight bit of slowdown BUT hardly noticeable really. I don't see why people have given it so much stick for that. FANTASTIC! I bought this game on the day of release and I am hooked !! I have to remind myself that I am not playing Final Fantasy 7. Apart from the new ring system, this is exactly like playing one of the FF games (7 onwards). The graphics are awesome. I have noticed a slight bit of slowdown BUT hardly noticeable really. I don't see why people have given it so much stick for that. There are lots of load screens but this is when the fights begin and between areas. Only a couple of seconds each. Imagine Final Fantasy 7with next gen graphics. The characters are great and funny. There is more of an adult theme than Blue Dragon (i.e. near the beginning, you come across one of your characters coming out of a building totally drunk with a girl on each arm asking you if he can have another 15 minutes alone with each of them!!). I cannot think of a bad word to say about this game. For any JRPG or FF fan, they will love it. Gotta go - gotta get back to the action!… Expand
  11. TomG.
    Mar 1, 2008
    9
    After the somewhat disappointing Blue Dragon, Mistwalker Studios have released a solid title in the form of Lost Odyssey. While the traditional turnbased combat system may put off a few people, the system is tweaked enough to make it interesting and enjoyable to play all the way to the games conclusion. The 'Thousand Years of Dreams' are a joy to read and provide a new and After the somewhat disappointing Blue Dragon, Mistwalker Studios have released a solid title in the form of Lost Odyssey. While the traditional turnbased combat system may put off a few people, the system is tweaked enough to make it interesting and enjoyable to play all the way to the games conclusion. The 'Thousand Years of Dreams' are a joy to read and provide a new and interesting way of presenting the backstory to the main protagonists. In my opinion the game only suffers in that a few of the playable characters are often frustrating to use and ultimately unnecessary in the long run. Still, this game is damned good fun and one of the best RPG's i've played in a long time.… Expand
  12. SamM.
    Mar 1, 2008
    10
    Amazing RPG, I believe the reviewers rated it unfairly certainly deserves more.
  13. NoelM.
    Feb 29, 2008
    4
    Mediocre game that does not live up to the hype at all. The characters are over-characterized and very cliche. The story is slow moving pretty bad, but not horrible. The dream sequences actually range from average to great, however, the developers were so lazy as to not provide any graphics for them. Thats right, the dream sequences are pure text with just a simple background image. NPCs Mediocre game that does not live up to the hype at all. The characters are over-characterized and very cliche. The story is slow moving pretty bad, but not horrible. The dream sequences actually range from average to great, however, the developers were so lazy as to not provide any graphics for them. Thats right, the dream sequences are pure text with just a simple background image. NPCs have no voice-overs, except in cut scenes. This is a step backwards from Mass Effect. On the gameplay/mechanics side everything is slow. The turn-based system is a relic and if it could work in any current-gen game, it didn't work here. The ring system makes it a little bit more fun, but not by much. Do you enjoy watching four enemies go through five second attack animations each while you sit there and do nothing? Everything takes forever to load. These are some of the worst loading times I have seen since PSX. On top of that, while you are trying to solve puzzles you will run into random battles. Yup, this game brings back the horror of random battles. And you don't even get rewarded for them because there is a level cap in each area of the game. Meaning after you hit the level cap, you will need to sit through twenty seconds of load screens to run away from a pointless battle. The graphics range from good to PS2. Graphics aren't the most important aspect, but this game looks nowhere near as good as Gears of War or Call of Duty 4. The art direction isn't all that great either. Too many screens with beige and brown and just generally dull colors. This game fails in almost every area. Don't buy into the hype. If you are looking for a current-gen traditional RPG go with Eternal Sonata.… Expand
  14. Nagz
    Feb 27, 2008
    9
    If anything is wrong with this game is that it's not long enough despite being longer than your avg 360 game. For any genre, the story and subplots are far superior to anything out there on the 360, such as Halo, Gears of War, Devil May Cry or Hello Kiddy Island or whatever. This game is divides people based if they appreciate the old school feel and the Ritalin pill popping youth If anything is wrong with this game is that it's not long enough despite being longer than your avg 360 game. For any genre, the story and subplots are far superior to anything out there on the 360, such as Halo, Gears of War, Devil May Cry or Hello Kiddy Island or whatever. This game is divides people based if they appreciate the old school feel and the Ritalin pill popping youth that don't take the time to read the text to get a greater understanding of a story. And I for one, have the [rare] ability to read and enjoy the story line in Lost Odyssey. Call me crazy.… Expand
  15. DavidG.
    Feb 26, 2008
    10
    I cannot understand the low scores on the reviews for this game..I think the reviewers totally missed the boat on these reviews. I really don't think some of these reviewers have there fingers on the pulse of the gaming world. This game is amazing..Just look around the internet in the forums .People are loving this game. You will find very few negative comments about this game. I I cannot understand the low scores on the reviews for this game..I think the reviewers totally missed the boat on these reviews. I really don't think some of these reviewers have there fingers on the pulse of the gaming world. This game is amazing..Just look around the internet in the forums .People are loving this game. You will find very few negative comments about this game. I think its one of the best JRPG style of games to ever be made. I would recommend this game wholeheartily to anyone that enjoys that type of game.… Expand
  16. OsemG.
    Feb 26, 2008
    10
    An excellent game no one should miss it.
  17. MarcD.
    Feb 26, 2008
    10
    First JRPG I've been able to get into in a long time. Loving it so far, with a great story. The Dreams are the best part.
  18. KarlK.
    Feb 24, 2008
    10
    Just finished disk 2/4 and i am 22 hours into the game. The story so far is epic with tons of background story in the form of (very well written text) dreams. I don't want to ruin the story...so i wont, those dreams are so well written ill admit I shed a tear of at least 2 of them. The Fights are set at just the right difficulty level so that random encounters are a challenge and Just finished disk 2/4 and i am 22 hours into the game. The story so far is epic with tons of background story in the form of (very well written text) dreams. I don't want to ruin the story...so i wont, those dreams are so well written ill admit I shed a tear of at least 2 of them. The Fights are set at just the right difficulty level so that random encounters are a challenge and Boss fights will probably take a few tries, especially the first few boss's (took me 7 tries to kill the first boss). The loading time for fights from the moment it starts to the time you can press any button takes me 16secs to load, witch sounds like a longtime but it doesn't feel that long, random encounters don't appear to often to bother me but there are those annoying times when I get 2 or 3 encounters seconds apart from each other. I recommend this game if you have patience and your looking for a good long story with loads of movie clips (read some ware the game has 20+ hours of movie in it) and if you like good old FF7ish JRPG turn based fights that are actually a challenge.… Expand
  19. AdamH.
    Feb 24, 2008
    0
    This is the WORST game I have ever played. I don't know what all these people are thinking saying that it was sold short by reviews. Its amazing they sold any copies of this game.
  20. MikaL.
    Feb 24, 2008
    10
    This game is already a legend. Great, deep story and all.
  21. CarlosA.
    Feb 24, 2008
    10
    The game is awesome, great gameplay and more than 50 hours of game :D
  22. TomW.
    Feb 23, 2008
    9
    Great game with some very emotional moments. Gameplay is fun and the story is engaging. And the cherry on top is one of your teammates, Jansen, one of the funniest game characters in gaming history.
  23. JakeH.
    Feb 22, 2008
    10
    Honestly my favorite JRPG to date, and that's coming from someone who started with FF1 at the tender age of 3! The story is by far amazing, well written, and full of twists and OH MY GOD surprises. At times confusing but it does clean itself up to make sense of itself. The 1000 Years of Dreams is an amazing way to put back story together. Combat is fun, and fast paced as long as you Honestly my favorite JRPG to date, and that's coming from someone who started with FF1 at the tender age of 3! The story is by far amazing, well written, and full of twists and OH MY GOD surprises. At times confusing but it does clean itself up to make sense of itself. The 1000 Years of Dreams is an amazing way to put back story together. Combat is fun, and fast paced as long as you have rings equipped, otherwise it turns in to a normal JRPG of select and wait. Spells play a more important role, as do skills, than any other JRPG I've played. Music = Amazing, simple Uematsu and his magic! The world map theme is probably my favorite piece :), even the sappy love song between (SPOILER) Jansen and Ming worked a lot better than in FF8 (eww!!). Graphics, are well done, but come with my only quip. There's slowdown, but not noticeable if you clean out your HDD before playing every time. I wish they would have used the real time engine instead of CGI for some of the cutscenes... Really well done JRPG, and I think everyone is pushing it too much towards Final Fantasy and comparing it to that. It's not FF, it's more mature, written better, executed seamlessly. Load times are NOT a problem as stated in numerous reviews (between 1-5 seconds, 10 for long CGI sequences). Recommended for anyone who loves an amazing story, and quite complex JRPGs! Def. my game of the year and #1 JRPG!… Expand
  24. JeffG
    Feb 22, 2008
    10
    Amazing JRPG... starts off slow, but the other 40-50 hours are great.
  25. JasonN.
    Feb 21, 2008
    9
    An absolutely marvelous example of Jrpgs as a whole. The true spiritual successor to ffx. One of the best stories in a long time made even better by competent voice acting. The "dreams" are in actuality mini short stories written by an real novelist and it shows. The gameplay isn't revolutionary but its simple enough so that there inst one of these 10 hour learning curves like many An absolutely marvelous example of Jrpgs as a whole. The true spiritual successor to ffx. One of the best stories in a long time made even better by competent voice acting. The "dreams" are in actuality mini short stories written by an real novelist and it shows. The gameplay isn't revolutionary but its simple enough so that there inst one of these 10 hour learning curves like many modern rpgs which try to hide their lack of real depth with an overly convoluted gameplay system. I will take off one point though for the lack of any user inputted dialogue, I really felt it could have added something to the game. In the end this game is exactly what it said it would be, a shining example of the jrpg genre. If you don't like jrpgs then you will not like this game, period.… Expand
  26. ElmerF.
    Feb 21, 2008
    9
    I have been waiting for a revival of the classic JRPG genre and Lost Odyssey is exactly that. This is a prime, well-crafted example of an old, and apparently forgotten, style of gaming. The reason people give it bad reviews is because they compare it to more recent rpg genres, like open-world games (eg, Oblivion) or the flashy FPS that have been the core of the Xbox catalog. Judging on I have been waiting for a revival of the classic JRPG genre and Lost Odyssey is exactly that. This is a prime, well-crafted example of an old, and apparently forgotten, style of gaming. The reason people give it bad reviews is because they compare it to more recent rpg genres, like open-world games (eg, Oblivion) or the flashy FPS that have been the core of the Xbox catalog. Judging on it's own merits I am impressed with the truely next-gen graphics and immensely mature story line. The combat is about skill management rather than the traditional item upgrades, which I found to be a refreshing change. This genre has all but been forgotten in the rush to big budget, flashy eye candy and I'm very glad that Mistwalker has reminded us that there are alternatives to the standard console fare. Xbox needs more titles like this - not only for my own enjoyment, but also in order to better compete in Asia, where this genre of RPG is still favored.… Expand
  27. KallenP.
    Feb 21, 2008
    10
    I have to say that I'm not even through the first disk and i have cried 3 times, laughed out loud and had a blast with the fun and balanced combat. I could nitpick some graphical things like framerate drop during in game cutscenes or the fact that their is no lip syncing on the intro to battle. Honestly if the game ended now I would look back at Lost Odyssey with fond memories. I I have to say that I'm not even through the first disk and i have cried 3 times, laughed out loud and had a blast with the fun and balanced combat. I could nitpick some graphical things like framerate drop during in game cutscenes or the fact that their is no lip syncing on the intro to battle. Honestly if the game ended now I would look back at Lost Odyssey with fond memories. I can't believe there is more in store for me.… Expand
  28. MontyK.
    Feb 21, 2008
    9
    This game is amazing. I have gone through the first two discs and nearly done with the third. It doesn't change things up too much but this game is proof nothing needs change. There are original ideas in the battle system. This game has a engrossing story that keeps you hooked. If you like the Final Fantasy series then YOU WILL love this game. I recommend it highly to JRPG fans! You This game is amazing. I have gone through the first two discs and nearly done with the third. It doesn't change things up too much but this game is proof nothing needs change. There are original ideas in the battle system. This game has a engrossing story that keeps you hooked. If you like the Final Fantasy series then YOU WILL love this game. I recommend it highly to JRPG fans! You wont be disappointed!… Expand
  29. JesseS.
    Feb 21, 2008
    10
    Research the gamer tags of the reviewers rating this game 75%. Many of them don't have the "Disc 2 unlocked" achievement, and the game spans four discs. The majority of the game takes place on the 3rd and 4th discs. So be warned, they are offering you an extremely uninformed opinion. My own opinion is that Lost Odyssey is the Final Fantasy killer. I love the series to death, but Research the gamer tags of the reviewers rating this game 75%. Many of them don't have the "Disc 2 unlocked" achievement, and the game spans four discs. The majority of the game takes place on the 3rd and 4th discs. So be warned, they are offering you an extremely uninformed opinion. My own opinion is that Lost Odyssey is the Final Fantasy killer. I love the series to death, but it's been downhill since FFX. It's obvious that Sakaguchi agrees -- Lost Odyssey is the direction Final Fantasy should have taken. Beautiful game, beautiful music, beautiful story. Technical issues are highly exaggerated - framerate never drops outside of the 3 seconds random battles take to load, and even then, it's negligible. This is also the first JRPG since FFIX to offer a true world map with a pilotable airship late in the game -- an element sorely lacking in FFX and FFXII. Combat is engaging and well-balanced, and the ability system doesn't punish the player or necessitate grinding. This is the first JRPG where I've looked forward to random battles, even 40 hours into the game. If you like Japanese RPGs, you owe it to yourself to play this game.… Expand
  30. NeilJ.
    Feb 21, 2008
    10
    It makes me sad that this game has been rated so low overall, mainly due to "long load times." Gamespot has confirmed that the review copies varied from the final version of the game, and load times were cut drastically. I think this game is amazing and the load times aren't anything to be picky about. You hardly even notice them. This is the Xbox's answer to Final Fantasy, and It makes me sad that this game has been rated so low overall, mainly due to "long load times." Gamespot has confirmed that the review copies varied from the final version of the game, and load times were cut drastically. I think this game is amazing and the load times aren't anything to be picky about. You hardly even notice them. This is the Xbox's answer to Final Fantasy, and it answers well. It lives up to everything you would expect in a JRPG and goes beyond that. The story alone in this game should be worth buying it. It has one of the best and most moving stories of any game I have ever played.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

53
#53 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2008
9
#9 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2008
4
#4 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 68 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 68
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 68
  3. Negative: 0 out of 68
  1. IGN AU
    80
    It's staggeringly gorgeous, and looks and plays like a Final Fantasy title. It rarely steps away from the origins of the genre – instead playing with the 'me too!' mentality of a company that desperately wants to show the world that Square Enix can be bested.
    Read full review
  2. IGN
    82
    It may not be in the same class as "Mass Effect," but for a system in desperate need for more quality RPGs, Lost Odyssey fits nicely into the 360 library.
    Read full review
  3. GameSpy
    50
    We have immense respect for what Lost Odyssey tries to do: be a back-to-basics JRPG with modern technological trimmings on the 360. Unfortunately, it's less a celebration of what made older RPGs great and more a crude relic of their past.
    Read full review
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