Certain genres of games are squarely targeted at certain demographics. Madden and Halo are aimed at foul-mouthed 15 year-olds and jocks who think their self-worth can only be measured by pec size. Strategy games are for folks with such rampant OCD that they're more worried about farming the proper resources than bathing. I could go on for days laying out the stereotypes (MMOs = people who can't make friends in real life, Wii = people who don't play video games), but there is one genre that stands out with a special place in the nerd kingdom, and that is the JRPG.

   This sub-genre of gaming is most well-known for androgynous characters (has any Final Fantasy character ever had a clearly defined sexuality?), complex combat systems, and stories so convoluted and ridiculous that you begin to wonder if there are any young teenagers among us who are not destined to save the universe from an unspeakable evil. The RPG market in general is evolving, and gamers are starting to move away from tradition turn-based JRPGs in favor of more action-packed Western fare. However, Hironobu Sakaguchi, he of Final Fantasy fame, is standing square in the way of this evolution, and thrusting Lost Odyssey out before the masses much the same way his heroes thrust their swords into the very depths of malice that threaten the world. And much like these stalwart warriors, Sakaguchi has struck yet another effective blow on behalf the genre he virtually created.

An Amnesiac Immortal? It's like the Gaming Equivalent of Chocolate and Peanut Butter

   Lost Odyssey opens with a raging battle in a desolate valley. Amidst the chaos, the camera focuses on one particular individual, a mercenary with badass skills and absolutely dynamite hair (one must wonder what conditioner he uses for such luscious locks). As the combat heats up, a giant meteor hurtles down from the heavens, smashing into the battlefield and incinerating everything around it. Everything that is, except for one warrior. Our mystery mercenary with the scalp of a god remains unscathed, and the game begins proper.

   You quickly learn that this mysterious fellow is Kaim Argonaur, an immortal mercenary who has been wandering the planet for 1000 years. Kaim has a problem though, as it seems he has no idea what he's doing here or why he can't seem to die. So in the meantime, Kaim has decided to place himself in the service of Uhra, a country which is in a bit of a tiff with the neighbors, with the hopes that maybe somewhere along the way he'll figure out his purpose.

   Turns out Kaim isn't the only immortal around, though, and through the course of his travels he meets up with other immortals, namely a pirate captain, a queen, and a lady he knocked up and then forgot to call for 800 years (hard to avoid your baby momma when she doesn't bother to die). All the other immortals share the same amnesiac affliction as Kaim, so they all sally forth together as indestructible warriors who can't remember where they put their keys.

No, I'm Not Crying, That's Just Liquid Coming from My Tear Ducts

Do You Mind Dancing Around in a Menacing Fashion Until I Attack You?

   In a departure from current RPG combat systems which feature real-time, battle on the fly fighting, Lost Odyssey returns to the very (very!) old school of relegating battles to a purely random-encounter, turn-based affair. Thus, all attacks, magic, items, and skills are governed by menus, and everyone takes their turn based on speed and the amount of time needed to execute a particular action. If you are the type of gamer who craves the fast-twitch action of Mass Effect, then you'd best stay far, far away.

   Those who don't mind slower-paced combat, however, will likely get a lot of enjoyment out of the game's fights. Enemies are divided into specific types, and you'll find combat significantly more strategic than what is normally featured in Western RPGs. Many battles come down to constantly switching up equipment (don't worry, you won't waste a turn doing it like you do in so many other games) and choosing the correct spells to use given the situation. This system could easily be frustrating to someone who just wants to quickly tear foes limb from limb, but goes a long way to satisfying those whose tastes skew more towards strategic combat. That being said, given the sheer number of accessories you can carry and their various effects, it can get a bit tedious constantly shuffling through your inventory trying to find that one item that will up your attack damage against organic enemies or protect your from a particular status ailment.

   One other neat little touch is the way in which characters acquire skills. As you play through the game, numerous mortal characters will join your party, and they acquire skills in the traditional RPG way of learning them as they level up. Immortals can learn skills known to a mortal through skill linking, but they will only develop the new techniques if the mortal they are linked to remains in the combat party. For example, if you want one character to learn the "Double EXP" skill from one mortal, while another character adds the "White Magic Lv. 8" skill, then both mortals who have the techniques must be present in the party. Using this system, you are given an incentive to rotate all your available combatants in and out of the party in order to maximize everyone's abilities.

That Boss Keeps Killing Me, I Should Go Level Up. What Do You Mean I Can't?

   While the combat, equipment, and skill systems run deep in Lost Odyssey, there are still some balancing issues and gameplay decisions that don't make a whole lot of sense. First off, the game is incredibly difficult when you are starting out. While you can carry up to 5 people in a combat party, it will take you an entire disc (this is a 4 disc game mind you), to acquire that many party members, and it will likely be a couple more discs before you can create a party that consistently kicks ass. This makes early battles with difficult enemies particularly annoying, as you always seem to have that one party member whose only combat skill seems to be dying repeatedly and in record time.

   There are other issues complicating matters. Not only do characters not in the combat party not earn any experience points, but each area of the game features a level cap, meaning that no amount of grinding will ever make you much stronger than the enemies you are currently facing. There are also times when your party is forcibly split up (making you use that damn useless character you wish you could have left by the side of the road a few towns back), boss fights where particular individuals become mandatory party members (I don't care if you don't like that slobbering beast, you're a weakling and I'd rather let a real man kill it - you can dance on the corpse if you'd like), and certain bosses and enemies who are just overpowered in comparison to your cap. All this means that many battles, particularly early boss fights, can become as frustrating as trying to have drunken sex with a goldfish.

Your Hair is So Beautiful in HD

   One area where it is easy to heap praise upon Lost Odyssey is in its production values. The use of the Unreal Engine has led to an impressive-looking cast of characters and a frequently awe-inspiring world. It's hard to find any blemish both in combat and on the overworld map, and there may be times where you stop what you're doing just to take it all in for a moment. Some outlets have complained of long loading times before battles, but in my experience everything booted up quickly, creating no more of a lag than one would experience in any other RPG.

   Furthering the experience is excellent voice acting and script work which makes dialogue driven scenes a treat rather than a chore. Jansen, a particularly saucy character, does a great job of breaking the dramatic tension and constantly interjecting with an amusing quip. It is as though he is the only character who realizes how RPG heroes take themselves overly seriously, and he's ready to burst the "woe as me," tortured soul bubble at every turn.

I Can't Think of a Funny Heading, So I'll Just Tell You to Buy This Game

   For those looking for a mature - not necessarily sexy, but more of a thoughtful and meaningful RPG experience, there are few games that compare to Lost Odyssey. Sure, you face the standard cliché of the end of the world brought on by cackling madman, but at least this time you're doing it with a team of (mostly) adults who have a much different perspective on things than most RPG protagonists. For them, the main struggle is not what to do to save the planet, but rather how to continue living immortal lives once they've discovered the truth behind their presence.

   There are a number of gameplay flaws, particularly in the areas of difficulty and monotony (turn-based games are quite dull when compared to their more modern kin), but underneath it all there's still a lot to love about the title. If you are in the mood for an epic, old-school, meaningful RPG, then it's hard to go wrong with Lost Odyssey.

       ... Brad