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Game Narrative: Lost Odyssey

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Lost Odyssey is a beautiful example of storytelling in a video game. The breadth of the characters and skillful emphasis of loneliness make it a very enjoyable narrative experience. While the plot appears to be simple and familiar it incorporates the needed smaller details to create a depth rarely seen before in a video game. The inclusion of the "Thousand Years of Dreams" does an incredible job filling in what we don't know about the characters, even through its tell rather than show of exposition. This creates emotion in the players, without which Lost Odyssey would be little more than a mediocre RPG.
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Nineball2112 - contributor
Published: 98 days 7 hours ago | Article | Xbox 360
 
 

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SpoonyRedMage - 98 days 9 hours ago
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Great game with a great story.

Can't wait for Mistwalker's next game.:)
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green - 98 days 7 hours ago
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1.1 - same here
Lost Odyssey was the biggest shocker for me this gen.Did not really want it or care for it but was persuaded by a friend to give it a try and i am so happy i did.Good story, great gameplay and very long at 83 hours on my play through.I hope Microsoft funds the development of a sequel because i believe the IP has a lot of potential and could end up being the premier JRPG on the 360.
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SpoonyRedMage - 98 days 7 hours ago
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Well they've given the go ahead for Blue Dragon 2 and the new DS Blue Dragon so I think Lost Odyssey will become a full blown franchise too.
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Chris399 - 98 days 6 hours ago
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1.3 - Lost Odyssey was easily one of my favorite games this gen.
A brilliant, if traditional, JRPG. I was drawn into the game from the very first playable (sorta) cut-scene. That sweeping battle-field shot suddenly centered on your character. I was like: "Wassist? I'm playing, I'm in control now?!" Looked pretty damn close to CGI (but obviously wasn't). Lost Odyssey's intro really set the stage for something epic; and the rest of the game did not disappoint.

Furthermore, it was coded by the disenfranchised developers of the Shadow Hearts series! (Also awesome.) And the God-father of Final Fantasy was involved in the game's creation. What's not to like? I honestly don't understand the hate (or phantom disagrees in this thread) towards Lost Odyssey.

I do hope that it's a franchise. The story, pacing, music, atmosphere and visuals were superb. I'd love to see what they improve upon for the sequel.
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shocky16 - 98 days 9 hours ago
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2 - Metal Gear Solid 4 is another example
Such a amazing story just like Lost Odyssey.
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Saaking - 98 days 6 hours ago
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2.1 -
don't even compare this to MGS4. MGS4 is a masterpiece leaps and bounds ahead of this.
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shocky16 - 98 days 5 hours ago
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2.2 - I fully agree with you.
MGS4 if my favourite game this gen along with Mass Effect but both have amazing storys, IEO.
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ApocalyPS3 - 98 days 5 hours ago
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Yeah, unfortunately saaking's wrong. MGS4 is not leaps and bounds above Lost Odyssey. I'll say a slight hair above, because Kojima is a good writer/director/producer.

But Sakaguchi is also a great guy too. His work in Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey have been the finest examples of what Mystwalker can do.

But I mean come on...it's Sakaguchi. His skill was never in question.
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Ri0tSquad - 98 days 7 hours ago
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3 - Great story, great soundtrack
Graphics and gameplay could off been better though. I was a little worried about how LO would turn out but after playing it, it's now one of my favorite RPGs. If they make a second one, I'll buy it day one.
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Millah - 98 days 6 hours ago
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The pacing could have been much better in LO, as is the case with most current gen JRPGs. The game never really built up smoothly to a really high climax like most older JRPGs were able to do very well. The start of the game paced well but didn't manage to build that high climax for me. It sort of all happened too fast towards the end of the game.

Either way LO is probably the best example for this gen alongside MGS4 for game narrative.
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FantasyStar - 98 days 6 hours ago
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I agree about the "paceness". The open battlefield in Wohl during the first 15 minutes was very...cool. The problem is that LO never really achieved that same level of intensity throughout the game ever again.

However in hindsight, the Thousand Years of Memories segment made LO worth playing, and Uematsu's work along with excellent voice acting and facial expressions sold the experience. It was literally a Day 1 buy for me. I searched 5 stores before I found LO.
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Highatus - 98 days 5 hours ago
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Easily one of the best rpgs I've played this gen. The story and gameplay are very well executed. Mind you I'm only 3/4 of the way through I recommend it to anyone that may be on the fence.
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baodeus - 98 days 3 hours ago
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^^
u will have a lot of things to do on disc 4....it seems almost like 35% of the game are on disc 4. So much things to do. I spend 100+ hrs on this game. Glad u enjoy it. One of the best,if not the best, RPG this gen.

Very underated RPG (guess most people that play it don't read....). Got to read the story people. Kojima did it through long cut scene, LO did it through the short stories. If u are playing this game without reading it, it is a waste of your time really. I actually prefer reading then watching cut scene. There are things that u just can't convey through movies.
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blu_yu_away - 98 days 2 hours ago
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Not a huge fan of JRPGs but every once and a while I find myself in the mood for one. Picked it up cheap last holiday season and finally got around to playing it this spring. Loved the themes, and the dream sequences were by far some of the greatest story telling I've ever seen in a game. Gotta say, next to Mass Effect this has been my favorite RPG this gen and my favorite JRPG since Final Fantasy X. Now just to get around to Valkyria Chronicles which I've heard is superb as well.
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RufustheSage - 98 days 1 hour ago
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Agreed! I love this game a little too much, great story, music and everything. Things got hectic toward the 4th disc, amazing game. The one thing I wish they would do for this series is bring over the 1000 Year Dreams book. I heard it was amazing, but you can't get everything.
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Bullseye - 97 days 16 hours ago
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9 - Not just me then?
I'd never played a full blown JRPG before, but finding myself a little jaded with the current crop of FPs' and wanting to try something different, i decided to give this a try.And, since it was only £12.00 delivered,I took the plunge and bought it.Currently,I'm on disc 3 having played about 50hrs so far and needless to say I'm thoroughly enjoying it.I would definitely recommend this game to anyone unfamiliar with this genre,and thinking they might like to give it a try.I have a PS3 and 360 - any other JRPG titles you guys would recommend?
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