Unique RPJ game ..
In this game, you use 'magnus' cards to attack, defend, heal and even solve puzzles or quests. In a battle, you can use a variety of magnus to fight or defend against your opponent.
Graphics : 9/10
Lush, hand-drawn backgrounds emulate a real atmosphere for any town or dungeon in the game. The full-motion video is almost real and game graphics are absolutely breathtaking. The graphics are absolutely amazing from the start of the game.
Sound : 10+/10
Baten Kaitos shows the greatest soundtrack in gaming history, joining Star Ocean 3, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2. Songs like Lord of the Nine Heavens bring out an epic battle scene while songs like Violent Storm and Chaotic Dance bring out a completely different atmosphere. Cutscene songs like Brave Way or Bottom Out are excellent and in some cases, inspirational. Battle and game music is some of the greatest, and excellent.
Length and Replayability : 10/10
It's a very long game, for just two discs. Replayability value is high, with one time decisions and cutscenes changing depending on your reply to a question or reply to a comment. The game is worth replaying since anyone would want to play again, for anything revisited.
Quests and Storyline : 10/10
Both quests and storyline are straight-forward, even though this game is so long. No more giant golems jumping up at you through the ground, all you have to fight is the real enemy. Bosses and enemies are all strictly storyline based.
The storyline is epic and in a way, inspirational. A storyline where you have to defeat gods of evil and fight someone who betrayed you is just excellent. Some of the biggest twists in RPG history is here, including a lot of betrayal and lies.
Gameplay : 10/10
Battles get feverishly fast paced and quicker as the game goes on. While it is turn based, you have to be fast. If an enemy attacks you and you have a Shield Magnus on you, you can use that Shield Magnus to defend, and vice versa. There is a large amount of difficulty in getting used to the battle system, but after you've figured it out, it's excellent.
Overall : 10/10
Blends of heavenly music, breathtaking graphics, amazing gameplay, massive length and a rock-solid quest and storyline make Baten Kaitos a high calibre game with some of the greatest achievments in gaming thrown in. Definitely worth your $100 at EBGames and an excellent game.