One of the last great RPGs for the PS2

User Rating: 8.5 | Odin Sphere PS2
By Spike_Foxx | Review Date:
One more time Atlus doesn't disappoint (even if they just localized it). Anyone looking for a good 40-50 hour, just plain fun RPG romp would do well to run out a snag a copy of this game. Unlike most games that are relying on 3D effects and polygons, this has hand-drawn, gorgeous characters in a beautiful, pre-rendered 2D background. Sound a little lack-luster? Surprisingly, not really. It's not FFXIII, but it's still impressive. The gameplay is just deep enough to keep your attention. There's still the normal EXP gainingm leveling up, but rather than getting experience for defeating enemies, you eat food and collect Phozons from downed enemies (think soul collection a la Onimusha or Devil May Cry). Rather than leveling up general stats, just the weapon and HP level and increase independently and in different ways. Food has different classifications for both HP revival and EXP gained from it, and has handy level-up meters right on the HUD on the screen to see where you're at. In fact, very little can't be done right on the screen. The item menu and map are both pulled up with simple button pushes. It's very handy to have all your HP items able to pull up so quickly in the middle of a tough and frantic battle.

Speaking of battles, be prepared to give your thumb a workout. Much of the game is button-mashing; hitting the square button to pull off combos and chains. As your weapon levels up, you'll gain new magic moves for your character, which are powered by the same Phozons absorbed when an enemy is defeated. Blowing through an entire inventory of HP items in a level won't be an uncommon occurence. The fights are hard, but not overwhelmingly so. Of course there are waves of enemies that will attack en masse, and it can be easy to suddenly find yourself in a pincer spot. But with the moves you'll have at your disposal, it can be no problem to at least get away if not kill a few pests on the way out. The only place gameplay can get bogged down and stonewall you are the boss fights. There is not just one, but numerous boss fights per map; some just being sub-bosses that make whatever the final boss is look like walk in the park. Some bosses can take numerous tries, and can be a little frustrating. A few of the boss fights, and smaller fights, can lead to some considerable lag on the screen and slow down the frame rate, but it's temporary.

The presentation of Odin Sphere comes in a nice package. Not only are the graphics incredible (which makes the game worth buying alone), but it is fully voiced. And unlike some dubbing, it's done top-notch. The voices are suited to the character; some of the accents seem slightly out of place, and are a bit stereotypical. But the main voices still ring in nicely. The background music rounds it out, making for few moments where you're left wincing in pain or wanting to find way to turn off the sound. Retailing at $40, there aren't many reasons NOT to buy this game.

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