One peek inside of Lost Odyssey’s plastic shell and you’ll know that Mistwalker and feelplus were planning the gaming equivalent of an epic all the way. The bar was set very high by Sakaguchi back in the Final Fantasy days, so it should be more of a pleasant than a big surprise that Lost Odyssey is stretched across four DVD’s. Yes, Lost Odyssey is easily a forty-plus hour romp in actual gameplay time, which isn’t necessarily too much code for one disc.
"Early on in Lost Odyssey... it becomes clear this is not the Japanese role-playing game of your childhood... If Sakaguchi intends to turn Lost Odyssey into a franchise -- and all indications are that he does -- I'd like to see these refreshingly adult themes expanded on further in future titles."
Last year Blue Dragon whet Xbox 360 owners' appetite for role-playing adventure, but the soon-to-be released Lost Odyssey promises to up the ante by drawing players in to a profoundly immersive, dark, and emotional journey not to soon be forgotten. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to catch a moment of Sakaguchi's time to discuss his upcoming epic RPG. Here's what he had to say.
If you’re patient with plot, love your amnesiac protagonists and get aroused at the thought of having to keep two saves so you can reroll a character if need be, Lost Odyssey has your name written all over it. If any of that makes you sick to your stomach, and you really don’t want to watch repeated cutscenes that last longer than it takes to order a pizza, pass now or waste $60 on the most frustrating 60 hours of your life.
"Fans of old-fashioned Japanese-style RPGs will doubtlessly find aspects to enjoy, but this is not the title that will vault Mistwalker to the triple-A status the studio's hype might suggest."
"The political intrigue of city-states caught in a staring contest is just a sideshow for Lost Odyssey's true conflict. Kaim has lost his memories, the past 1000 years mysteriously stripped from him... Unlocking these memories proves the key to thwarting a sinister plot that threatens two worlds.It's a promising premise that's never fully realized."
5