Square Enix have been doing a pretty good job of churning out RPGs at a rate of knots over the past year or so. The DS and PS2 platforms have been bombarded by Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest titles aplenty, but here we have something totally different in both name and style. That’s not to say the story isn’t something based upon mystical people and creatures with spells and items aplenty, mind you.

The game itself is a story told from five different viewpoints revolving around the control of a cauldron with magical powers, which in the wrong hands could spell disaster. The first part involves Odin’s daughter, Gewndolyn, who sees her sister die in the field of battle. This tragedy, as well as a desire to be loved by her father, spurs her on to fight the enemy even more.

If you’re of a nervous disposition towards pixels then it’s probably best that you look at screenshots with some supervision, but it has to be said that these are the most lavish and lush 2D graphics ever seen not only on the PS2, but any machine (and that includes all the Street Fighter/Capcom/SNK games) in living memory. The colours are strong and vibrant, as well as awe-inspiring artwork that burns into your retinas. The animation is also worthy of mention, with such attention to detail unseen in pixelated character movement since the Metal Slug series. Sure, some of the bigger enemies and allies cheat a little and consist of a polygons disguised in a pool of finessed artistry, but it all mixes very well and you’re not really going to be picking through it with a fine toothed comb when the end result looks this good.

As with all Squaresoft role players, the character voices aren’t of the most convincing, with a typical straight-from-the-script feel to its execution. It’s times like this you begin to see the ways in which celebrity vocal work, such as the efforts made in games like Mass Effect, can really pay off and add to the atmosphere of a story. The music is supplied by the composer of the Final Fantasy XII tunes, Hitoshi Sakimoto, and manages to make up for the dialogue’s shortfalls with some lovely melodies flowing from the veins of Sony’s old boy.

The most compelling thing about Odin Sphere is its gameplay, as it’s nothing you’ve seen before on the PS2. There’s a hint of Devil May Cry in the form of multiple hit combos, which combines with some basic RPG elements like hit points and levelling up. Oh, and did I mention the absorption of slain enemy life force (much like that of Onimusha) to improve your weapon status? As well as all this, there’s also a little bit of Alchemy going on, with numerous concoctions possible using various plant life, food or other liquids. This vocational skill is vital later on, as the game doesn’t give you an easy ride in the health department.

The chapters of each book are split up into verses, which themselves are made up of several maps and shop intervals, accessible via your choice of exit from the conquered stage. Sure, there may be a hint of linearity about the whole thing in general, but at least this gives you a little more control over your own destiny. Certain sections of the game can be finished quickly depending on the path you choose, so hardcore players may want to look before they leap. 

Odin Sphere is a breath of fresh air in a stale RPG market, and shows that new things can be done with tired genres. Some people may wince because it’s “not a proper role playing game”, but this game demonstrates a remarkable combination of two styles of adventure gaming, feeding off of each other quite expertly. You could well think of it as Final Fantasy Lite, but don’t let that thought fool you; there’s still a fair amount of depth contained within and it’ll eat you up quickly if you think you’re better than it. With eye candy so sweet it could rot your teeth, and astounding symphonics mixed with a delightful storyline, this is a game everyone has to snap up before it’s too late.

This last sentence brings me back to the question from the start of the review. The answer is quite simple: Two of the three games I mentioned were products which were released at the end of their designated console’s life and never quite got the sales or recognition they deserved. This, I fear may also be the case for Odin Sphere, but I hope it’s not too late for it to achieve success right here, right now.

If you have the Playstation 3’s older brother and haven‘t yet been brainwashed with a diet of first person shooters and shiny racing cars, then you must get this game. Two dimensions have never looked better.