Odin Sphere (PS2)

[Bad^Hat]

Anyone heard about this? It seems to be getting very little coverage although it looks like it could a freakin stellar game. I just heard about it through Penny Arcade (link), who got a review copy and seem to be loving it.

Basically it looks like a 2D (YES.) side-scrolling beat-em-up RPG sim type dealie. With multiple overarching storylines. And alchemy.

Did I mention it's 2-mother****ing-D? That joys me for some reason... and not just because I've already seen how goddamn beautiful it is.

Some links for those curious -

Official site: http://www.atlus.com/odinsphere/index.html
Trailer: http://www.atlus.com/odinsphere/archive/archive02.html
IGN hands-on (also check out their gameplay videos, yummy): http://ps2.ign.com/articles/783/783630p1.html

Out near the end of May. Oh, and it's made by Atlus. Mmmm.

 

[Vigilante]

Definately looks like something that's worth paying attention to!!

 

[Stigmata]

Tycho and Gabe from Penny Arcade are giving this game a ton of love. It sounds awesome.

 

[AmishSlayer]

Wow - This one snuck under the radar. Definitely gonna check this out. It reminds me of Guardian Heroes (if only this was multiplayer ).

 

[<RJMC>]

the aritistic style is too crappy manga

but since this game is made by the same company who made shin megami tensei nocturne (right?) them I will try it

 

[Darkside55]

I saw this the other day too, and was introduced to it by PA. I can't believe I haven't seen a preview for this until now. Looks like it could be really good.

 

[Gray Fox]

This sounds a lot like Valkyrie Profile.

 

[Bad^Hat]

It has Valkyries!

@ RJMC, the manga style is a bit full on, but I'm finding it really hard to care when it's so very very pretty.

Anyone ever notice that often with games of this style, the more dark and/or sinister the plot, the more disproportionately cutesy the art becomes? It adds a unique edge of... weirdness that could only ever come from a Japanese product...

 

[VictimOfScience]

I saw the trailer a week or two ago on gametrailers.com and thought it looked pretty damn cool and wondered why it was getting almost zero press. Looks wicked. Don't know if it is worth $50 or so yet though. Reviews will be very helpful here.

Oh, and Atlus rules for publishing such kick-ass stuff that we might not see over here otherwise. :thumbs:

 

[CyberPitz]

The game looks pretty freaking badass...I might think about picking it up. Looks great. Reminds me of everything good that came out of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

 

[JNightshade]

Wow. I generally don't like RPG's, but that one has me entranced

 

[rAdIOhEaD]

There is big preview with interviews in the latest issue of PLAY magazine, I am definitely going to check out this game...

 

[VictimOfScience]

There is big preview with interviews in the latest issue of PLAY magazine, I am definitely going to check out this game...

One of those mags--Games or Play or something--gave it a 10 out of 10 saying it was incredibly amazing. This is a must-get for me!! The 1up preview said that it was absoultely wonderful as well. They compared it favorably to Symphony of the Night and said that in 5 or 10 years, gamers will look back on this one with similar reverance. Pre-ordering today at lunch!!:bounce:

 

[CyberPitz]

One of those mags--Games or Play or something--gave it a 10 out of 10 saying it was incredibly amazing. This is a must-get for me!! The 1up preview said that it was absoultely wonderful as well. They compared it favorably to Symphony of the Night and said that in 5 or 10 years, gamers will look back on this one with similar reverance. Pre-ordering today at lunch!!:bounce:

yeah, it definitely looks like a game that will be worth picking up. It's good to see people are still going for great gameplay and not next gen graphics.

 

[ThomasToad]

yeah, it definitely looks like a game that will be worth picking up. It's good to see people are still going for great gameplay and not next gen graphics.

I think the appeal at least for me is almost totally based on the art style. Not that I think this particular art style is that great but when I actually see a game with extremely detailed drawn characters I can't help but support it. 3-d simply can't match the artistic quality of hand drawn 2-d characters. Yes, that is right, I prefer 2-d art styles to bland texture based 3-d ones!!!

 

[Bad^Hat]

Oh yeah, caught that review ages ago and didn't think to bump this.

Apparently PLAY are known for their over-enthusiastic reviews sometimes, so a 10 out of 10 from them shouldn't neccesarily be taken as a perfect. That said, it's far from being a bad sign either. Still hyped for this.

 

[VictimOfScience]

Oh yeah, caught that review ages ago and didn't think to bump this.

Apparently PLAY are known for their over-enthusiastic reviews sometimes, so a 10 out of 10 from them shouldn't neccesarily be taken as a perfect. That said, it's far from being a bad sign either. Still hyped for this.

Yeah, the Play reviewer seemed pretty darn pumped alright (almost too much so) and the 1up review did mention a framerate issue during some of the bigger bossfights, so while not technically perfect, it sounds like it is deserving of loads of kudos for a brave art style (2-D sprites are by no means a surefire selling-point these days--for shame!) and great storytelling and action and some pretty deep role-playing elements. I will get this one for sure because I LOVE games that ooze style and have an exceptional use of color and 2-D sprites--esp. really big ones!! The wait is going to be a bit unbearable unfortunately...

 

[Combine Hybrid]

If you are interested in this game, you should definitely check out Grimgriomoire.

 

[VictimOfScience]

If you are interested in this game, you should definitely check out Grimgriomoire.

Yup, got my eye on that one in a big way too. I like Harry Potter and I like RTS games, so this seems like a no-brainer. The same colorful use of 2-D sprites looks very very cool and the idea of a vertical RTS is certainly interesting to say the least. I just hope there is a lot of variety of levels/environments within that huge tower....