Spellbinding, universally engaging, and meticulously crafted—this is what video game magic is all about.
The story to Odin Sphere starts out unconventional. A young girl in her attic one day picks out a book and decides to read. The tale then unfolds and, through the pages of the book, we embark to the world of Erion. Right from the beginning, you are thrown into an intercontinental war between Ragnanvial and Ringford over the possession of the crystallization cauldron. Whoever controls it has the power to forge crystal psyphers (their magical weapons), and essentially can rule over all. However, where the cauldron is located makes you question its true power. The once prosperous nation of Valentine, where the cauldron is eventually found, was reduced to a baron wasteland—its people gone. What truly happened?
The first book puts you in the perspective of a Valkyrie, Gwendolyn. Under the command of King Odin, the entire army of Raganvial is sent into battle. From what looks to be a generic story, the plot most certainly thickens. Eccentric and memorable characters are introduced, unsuspecting twists unfold, and new books later become unlocked. The best aspect of this is that the books you later unlock tell unique tales set in the same conflict, but from the perspective of different protagonists. In a game where you play as five different characters, it’s nice to see that each one is deeply developed. It is here where Odin Sphere distinguishes itself in the sea of one dimensional role playing conventions—character development. All characters are fully voiced, have monologues and theater asides, and because you get to play as different people, you meet familiar faces again, seeing different angles of their personality. This novel storytelling dynamic helps flesh out the overall plot in an engaging fashion.
Not only is the story format distinctive, but the cinemas of the game are as well. The cut-scenes complement the game’s gorgeous real-time engine and have the look and feel of a Shakespearean play. Characters speak in a light combination of contemporary and Elizabethan English (meaning they say phrases such as ‘tis’). However, the English is easy to understand and no where near as difficult as Shakespeare’s plays. It actually goes well with the classic fairy-tale feel that the story portrays. Additionally, the cinemas are made only better from the game’s sweeping orchestral soundtrack. Musical composer Hitoshi Sakimoto is a master of mood. Throughout the game, music continually matches what is being shown on screen. From slow string melodies reaching a crescendo during dramatic cinemas, to the vocal hymns of the main theme, Odin Sphere is just as fun to watch as it is to listen to. Oh, and it’s a blast to play as well.
The gameplay here manages achieve a perfect harmony of simplicity and challenge. The underlying depth that the game has to offer needs some digging, but once discovered and understood makes it hard to put down. At first, the simple controls gives off the illusion that you can deliver unrelenting death with ease. However, you will soon notice a little bar called the power gauge. Every time you attack, it is depleted. Get too into your combo and when it hits zero, you will be stunned and vulnerable for attack. The inclusion of this power gauge immediately counters any button mashing instincts. Furthermore, you will also quickly notice that you cannot cancel your attack animations. Enemies can still attack when you are on the offensive. This will require you to memorize enemy patterns on top of your own specific character’s attack animations. This style hearkens back to old school side scrollers, both in its sense of difficulty and challenge. Players with fast reflexes and finesse are awarded more so than those with impressive stats.
What is important to note, though, is that while the combat is fast-paced and fluid, the Playstation hardware slows it down. Both in frequent loading screens, and rare but horrendous slow downs. Throughout the game you fight in these repeating, linear, sphere-like environments called stages. They branch out and when you find a map, you can see which is the best path to take to the final boss. However, in between each stage there is a loading screen. Your patience may wear a little thin when you have to stare at a ten second loading screen, only to finish a stage in twenty.
To fulfill its genre category of the ‘Action RPG,’ there are elements role-playing here. When enemies are slain, they produce phozons. Rather than your character automatically receiving experience from killing foes, you must stand stationary and absorb the phozons to your weapon like a magnet. This in turn levels up your psypher, gives you more MP, and increases your attack strength. Your HP, on the other hand, is leveled up separately by gaining experience from eating. This provides leeway into another unique aspect the game—gardening. In addition to being given a grade at the end of each stage, you are awarded with a plethora of seeds. You may plant them at anytime, but in order for them to ripen, they must absorb phozons. From this you will find yourself planting a seed while being surrounded by enemies, killing them, letting the seed absorb the phozons, picking the fruit it produces and chowing down to heal your wounds and level up. The system is streamline and very intuitive. Food plays such an important role in leveling up that the game has a restaurant and a café in the Pooka Village. Here you can take your collected food to use as ingredients to create instant HP leveling up dishes.
It's a testament to a game when it is in 2D and on a last-generation console, yet still shines through. While some gamers may be turned away because of the game's old school sense of difficulty, those who go through with a purchase will be rewarded with an unforgettable experience.This title will likely go down unjustly as a cult classic. It should not. Odin Sphere is a rare treat that is well worth the reduced price of admission. Spellbinding, universally engaging, and meticulously crafted—this is what video game magic is all about.