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Mistwalker is the legendary, arguably underrated studio from Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. After Sakaguchi’s split from Square Enix, he founded this studio. Certainly, the studio doesn’t have the success it deserves. But this doesn’t mean it doesn’t have excellent games worth checking out. So, what is the best Mistwalker JRPG?

Mistwalker has phenomenal titles like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, Fantasian, and more. These JRPGs are well worth your time. When it comes to the best one out of these in of visuals, story, characters, and gameplay, though, there is only one answer.

Siliconera Speaks Up: Our Favorite Mistwalker JRPG 3t6u2j

Lost Odyssey was, strangely enough, one of the first JRPGs I ever played and a game that ranks highly for me in the overall genre. Since I only ever had a Nintendo handheld for Pokemon or an Xbox console growing up, I missed out on just about every JRPG out there for a long time. My general knowledge and experience from playing Final Fantasy XII when I borrowed a PS2 for a short time got me to check out this game and I adored it.

The story of Lost Odyssey is incredibly unique with its tale of immortals, the little visual novel-like stories you find throughout is such a novel idea, and the turn-based combat still holds up well today. Sadly, I never finished it as my disc got scratched up when I was likely around 75% through. I’m really hoping for a remaster someday so I can finally see it through to the conclusion. Of the incredible Mistwalker JRPGs, Lost Odyssey stands out as the best for me. That said, I also enjoyed my time with Fantasian for a bit on my iPad. I never finished it but it has some neat ideas of its own. I look forward to completing it with Fantasian: Neo Dimension soon. -- Cody

Fantasian: Neo Dimension releases for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on December 5, 2024.

The post What’s the Best Mistwalker JRPG? appeared first on Siliconera.

The RPG landscape was beginning to shift in 2007 when Lost Odyssey released. Final Fantasy had begun to favor more stylized and cinematic storytelling. The not-far-off Final Fantasy XIII in particular would limit exploration (to an extent) to serve its deep political and sweeping narrative. In contrast, Lost Odyssey represents a progression of golden age JRPG storytelling, offering players a rich world full of exploration, a great cast of characters, and plenty of discovery along the way.

Created by Final Fantasy's father Hironobu Sakaguchi, Lost Odyssey acted as a spiritual successor to 90's JRPGs. Also, with Uematsu on board for the soundtrack, Lost Odyssey felt like a Final Fantasy game in everything but name.

The game offers a rich, emotional narrative with deep character development, focusing on themes of immortality, loss, and memory. Also, the traditional turn-based combat and richly detailed world feels like a love letter to fans of classic JRPGs.

The characters in Lost Odyssey are one of the game's strongest aspects. A diverse cast of characters Kaim Argonar, the immortal protagonist. Each has their own struggles and backstories deeply intertwined with the game’s central themes.

In of gameplay, Lost Odyssey stays true to those same roots Final Fantasy does. The turn-based combat system is strategic and challenging. The addition of the "Ring System," which adds a timing element to attacks, keeps players engaged during battles. The game also includes traditional exploration and puzzle-solving elements, reminiscent of the earlier Final Fantasy titles.

At the time of its release, Lost Odyssey was part of Microsoft’s strategy to break into the Japanese market. Alongside games like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey was one of the key titles in Microsoft's attempt to attract Japanese gamers to the Xbox 360. Although these efforts ultimately fell short, Lost Odyssey remains a significant title from this period. It showcases what could have been if Microsoft had succeeded in its ambitions.

Lost Odyssey captured the essence of what many JRPG fans loved about the genre during its golden age. Despite being over a decade old, the game still holds up well, with its timeless story, memorable characters, and classic gameplay mechanics.

In the end, Lost Odyssey represents a separate path from the Final Fantasy series. For fans of classic JRPGs, Lost Odyssey remains a must-play title. A game that stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of the genre and the creative vision of Hironobu Sakaguchi.

Lost Odyssey is currently available as a backwards compatible title on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

The post Lost Odyssey Was a Solid Successor to Pre-Playstation Final Fantasy appeared first on Siliconera.

Microsoft announced a wave of delistings for the Xbox 360 Marketplace, and a number of RPGs like Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey are about to disappear.  The two were added to the store in September 2016. The company shared PDF lists for each region on its official site. Both games appear on the lists for the US and UK. So do other notable titles like Dark Souls, Jet Set Radio, Mass Effect 2, Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds, and The Witcher 2.

Here is the full list of games that will start to be delisted from the Xbox 360 Marketplace as of February 7, 2023. Microsoft didn’t say exactly when all of them could be removed.

• Aegis Wing
• Assassin's Creed III
• Assassin's Creed IV
• Assassin's Creed Brotherhood
• Assassin's Creed Liberation HD 
• Blood of the Werewolf
• Blue Dragon
• Breakdown
• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
• Call of Duty: Ghosts
• Castle Crashers
• Cloning Clyde
• Counter-Strike: GO
• Dark Souls
• Darksiders II
• DAYTONA USA
• Defense Grid
• Eets: Chowdown
• Far Cry 2
• Final Fight: DblImpact
• Iron Brigade
• Jeremy McGrath's Offroad
• Jet Set Radio
• Left 4 Dead
• Left 4 Dead 2
• LIMBO
• Lost Odyssey
• Mass Effect 2
• MONOPOLY DEAL
• Mutant Blobs Attack
• N+
  
• The Orange Box
• Outpost Kaloki X
• Peggle 2
• Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds
• Prince of Persia
• The Raven Episode 1
• R.U.S.E.
• Sega Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co.
• Skate 2
• South Park: The Stick of Truth
• Spelunky
• Splinter Cell Conviction
• Star Wars Battlefront
• Star Wars KOTOR 2
• The Witcher 2

While these games will be gone, it only means they will no longer be available to buy digitally. People who buy them before their delisting will still own them. They can then them from their libraries.

People have until February 7, 2023 to buy games like Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey for their Xbox 360.

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The E3 season is a time of yearning. A time of hoping for long-awaited sequels, of surprise and delight at new things. What are our most wanted E3 2021 announcements? Read on. (And share your own in the comments!)

I've learned over the years that the more narrow my wishes, the more likely my disappointment. So rather than a specific project, I'll hang my hopes on something, anything related to a new traditional Fire Emblem. A Genealogy remake? A Radiance remaster? I'd even take an as-is Binding Blade localization and be happy.

But it's about time for another entry in one of my favorite franchises, and it's unlikely that a full, original successor will quite be ready. (And the rumors on all these projects have been around forever. At some point, one has to pan out, right?)

Of course, if Nintendo holds off on a new Fire Emblem announcement because it's reviving Advance Wars, you won't see me complaining. — Graham

I would be over the blue, blue glass moon if a major publisher or platform holder would give prominent promotion to the announcement of full, officially sanctioned localizations of Fate/Stay Night and Tsukihime (or its remake). The time is right, and having them (and games like them) gain pride of place at one of the English-speaking gaming world's splashiest events would be a truly inspiring occurrence.

Of course, such a move would likely be more down to Type-MOON's decision making rather than a major player like Sony, Nintendo, or Microsoft's, but however it happens, the thought of being able to write about a still-kind-of-obscure visual novel franchise as an E3 headline is exciting. — Josh

Capcom has been releasing Legacy Collections of the Mega Man franchise in recent years. So far, it has covered the classic, X, Zero, and ZX series. Only a few series are left to receive the legacy touch: Legends, Battle Network, and Star Force.

Honestly, I can't talk about Legends without reopening old wounds about the canceled third game project. But I'd be on cloud nine if Capcom announces a Battle Network Legacy Collection. It would also go well with the current celebration of its 20th anniversary. I also hope Star Force will follow closely, since it will soon reach its 15th anniversary as well. — Kite

Since it's E3 2021 announcements time, I'm going bold and overly hopeful here. I'd love a sequel to Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Seeing Nintendo and Square Enix working together again on a shared IP would make me so happy. Although fans often consider the Mario & Luigi RPG series to be its spiritual successor, I never clicked with them. The new races and characters in Super Mario RPG always felt more creative and exciting.

I would love a proper sequel that involved visiting Star Road and learning about the "higher authority" mentioned by Geno. A revisit to some past location with appearances from familiar characters would be lovely, too. However, I want to see new characters and an expansion on what the two gaming giants created 25 years ago. — Oni

I want what I can't have, haha.

I would love to see Tokimeki Memorial: Girl's Side 4th Heart localized. Given how popular otome games are and that simulations like Princess Maker are getting official translations, we should have it too! I want The Idolmaster: Starlit Season to appear outside Japan. It will be on Steam this time. Take a chance on that localization, Bandai Namco! And Koei Tecmo should finally realize there's a big enough audience outside of Japan for Angelique Luminarise to appear and perform well. Let's see some unusual Japanese games appear everywhere in 2021 and 2022! — Jenni

If Koei Tecmo is willing to put together a Ninja Gaiden collection, then surely there's a fighting chance we'll get an announcement for a Fatal Frame collection, right? I am dying to see these games on the Switch or some modern console. Having replayed most of them recently, they're still some of the most terrifying experiences in gaming, and it's a crime that they're only getting harder and harder to play as time es. They're vital pieces of horror history, as well as just excellent games.

Plus: photo modes are all the rage these days. I'm sure folks would love to take some classy black-and-white pics with a ghost that's choking them to death. — Joel

While it wouldn't be anything entirely new, I would love to see Microsoft bring some of the JRPGs released exclusive to the Xbox 360 to PC. It's definitely beating an old drum. And nothing worthy of E3 levels of groundbreaking announcements! But seeing a Lost Odyssey PC port would be incredible. It's definitely a defining RPG of that era, and I would personally love to see it more accessible to new generations of JRPG players now that the genre is back in vogue. Nothing beats that opening transition from CGI to gameplay, and it really is something that should be accessible outside of backwards compatibility on current gen-Xbox consoles. — Kazuma

What are your most wanted E3 2021 announcements? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter! And read our other handy roundtables for more thoughts from the Siliconera team.

The post Our Most Wanted E3 2021 Announcements appeared first on Siliconera.

This past year, Microsoft has worked to make the Xbox One backwards compatible with two Xbox 360 JRPGs. On September 29, 2016, Mistwalker and Feelplus’ Lost Odyssey ed the lineup, followed by Mistwalker and Artoon’s Blue Dragon on November 2, 2016. Now, to make it easier for Xbox One owners to acquire both games, they’ve been added to the Xbox 360 Marketplace. Previously, both were only available digitally.

However, Xbox 360 and Xbox One owners won’t need to pay for one of those two games just yet. To celebrate the one year anniversary of the Xbox One backwards compatibility program, Lost Odyssey is temporarily free. Until December 31, 2016, people can a copy of the game and play it on their systems.

Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon originally appeared on the Xbox 360.

The post Lost Odyssey And Blue Dragon Added To Xbox 360 Marketplace appeared first on Siliconera.

The third (well, second for North America) piece of able content for Lost Odyssey is about to arrive on the US/Canada Xbox Live Marketplaces today. We talked about it before, but in case you don’t for 400 Microsoft Points ($5) you get an extra dungeon. The Seeker of the Deep (aka Seeker of the Abyss) package brings Kaim into an underwater area with new monsters and items not found in the regular game. One of them is the Eternal Magic Engine, an accessory that removes MP costs from all skills. Yes, immortals can learn the ability essentially making them even more overpowered.

While no further Lost Odyssey content has been announced in any other region there is one content package absent from the US Xbox Live Marketplace. Microsoft gave out cards with a code to unlock the Master’s Secret Scroll and the additional dream sequence as a pre-order bonus in North America. However, this content has yet to appear on the US Xbox Live Marketplace. Meanwhile, it’s available in other regions and the able content is completely compatible with the US version.

Images courtesy of Microsoft.

The post Dive into Lost Odyssey’s Seekers of the Deep appeared first on Siliconera.

Daniel sent in a tip (thanks!!) pointing towards Opposable Thumbs' article on the Lost Odyssey Bonus Pack, which comes out later today. For 200 Microsoft Points ($2.50) you get the Shattered Bond item to unlock an additional dream somewhere near the Castle of Uhra, the Memory Lamp and a Killer Machine Ring. This content was released as the second pack of able content Japan got, not the first.

The pre-order bonus content with the Master’s Secret Script and extra dream has not been given an official date. However, if it never matriculates you can always snag the content pack for free with a Japanese Xbox Live as we previously discovered.

Images courtesy of Microsoft.

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The previous two Lost Odyssey content packs on the Japan's Xbox Marketplace are compatible with the North American version. Seekers of the Abyss, the recently released extra dungeon, might not be. Aoshi00 sent an e-mail with his experience:

“After d/ling the patch (80+ Mb), I put it the US version of disc 4 (my last save).  Once I entered the sunken experimental staff, Kaim is kicked out and a message prompts player to "update the game" before proceeding w/ this new dungeon.  But the thing is the US disc won't update itself, only the Jpn disc 4 does!  So it looks like DLC #3 only works w/ the Jpn version of the game, not the US version, while the two previous DLCs were compatible.  I'm not 100% sure, but I popped in both the US and Jpn discs and only the latter works.”

Has anyone else tried to explore the new dungeon, which is supposedly only for Japan at the moment? I personally ed Seekers of the Abyss, but I’m um… not at the point in Lost Odyssey where I can confirm if it works with the North American release or not.

One thought I had was the update may not be available on US servers yet, which is why Seekers of the Abyss may not work with the US disc. On the other hand it might be incompatible altogether like the able content for Blue Dragon. In any case, I mentioned how the other packs are region free, so at the very least I think it’s fair to post out this warning to prevent any waste of Microsoft Points.

And thanks go to Aoshi00 for watching out for the Siliconera community!

Images courtesy of Microsoft.

The post Warning: Lost Odyssey dungeon pack may not be region free appeared first on Siliconera.

Instead of getting a shuffle dungeon creator like Blue Dragon, Mistwalker has a static dungeon called the Seeker of the Abyss as the third piece of able content for Lost Odyssey. To enter the extra dungeon you need to be on the forth disc. With the Nautilus, dive into the sea and search around the Experimental Staff to find it.

Unlike the other able content packs so far you aren’t immediately given items. However, hidden in the new area is the Eternal Magic Engine, an accessory that teaches immortals a skill that reduces MP consumption to nothing. The extra items are supposed to balance the challenge level. Seeker of the Abyss is a dungeon designed as a challenge for gamers who have completed Lost Odyssey. Japan has been fiddling with a thousand years of dreams since December 2007.

That doesn’t mean you can’t get access to the content early. I already picked up the first two packs of able content off the Japanese store and they work fine with a North American build. Anyways, we shouldn't have to wait much longer for Microsoft to roll out Lost Odyssey packs for the rest of the world. If they stick to the same timeline the pre-order gift pack (Master’s Secret Scroll / extra dream) should appear on the Xbox Live Marketplace soon.

Strong monsters and an ultimate boss are waiting for Kaim on April 10. The entry fee is 400 Microsoft Points ($5). Jump in?

Images courtesy of Microsoft.

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Missed getting the Master’s Secret Script because you didn’t pre-order Lost Odyssey? Don’t worry. The extra item is available right now with a little help from an international Xbox Live . If you hop online with an Asian or Japanese Xbox Live you can the “bonus item two piece pack” and immediately get access to the Master’s Secret Script and Weapon Guard II regardless of the game’s region. Let me explain that again: you can the Japanese key with a US version of Lost Odyssey!

As an added bonus you can even get access to the second piece of able content if you have an extra 200 Microsoft Points lying around in a Japanese Xbox Live . As you can see in the screenshot I have Kaim equipped with the Killer Machine ring, an item that is currently unavailable in any region outside of Japan. It works just fine (except it makes the game a little too easy!) and the Memory Lamp is sitting in my inventory until I find the Nautilus.

The post Get early access to Lost Odyssey’s able content appeared first on Siliconera.

Besides releasing Mystery Dungeon games Chunsoft is also well known for making sound novels. The experience is very much like reading a book, only in an atmospheric setting with a gentle soundtrack. When Kaim dreams players are treated to interactive prose peppered with PowerPoint-like text transitions. While the moving text has new effects (and probably related to Office 2007) the Thousand Year Dream sequences are probably the closest thing to a sound novel in North America.

In case you haven’t seen one of the dream sequences in Lost Odyssey skip to around two minutes and forty seconds in the clip below. I think this should be self-evident, but since this is a story sequence there are spoilers in the video.

[youtube]https://youtube.com/watch?v=fY2aVueXlVc[/youtube] 

The post Lost Odyssey’s dream sequences or North America’s introduction to sound novels appeared first on Siliconera.

Lonely on Valentine’s Day? Singapore’s Xbox division understands and takes this opportunity to suggest games with strong single player elements for “you to become lost in for the duration of Valentine's Day.” This is a marketing list, but the tongue-in-cheek humor makes it notable. For instance, “Lost Odyssey should provide more than enough material for you to sequester yourself in a dark room for the entire week, let alone the day. You might even fall in love with the enthralling story and expansive landscapes, which is better than loving a real person, because the game won't squeeze the toothpaste from the middle of the tube.” (Well when it is explained that way….)

The best quote is about Portal, which the author claims is “the cheap date of the gaming industry, but boy, does it put out.” Even though this is a joke, I wonder what would happen if Microsoft’s North American Xbox division said something similar about Portal, Halo or any other Xbox 360 title.

The post Lost Odyssey is “better than loving a real person” appeared first on Siliconera.

Lost Odyssey commercials began airing on US TV last week. Meanwhile an English version of the game is already out in Asia and Microsoft isn’t missing an opportunity to push it. Gamers in Hong Kong can pick up Lost Odyssey at Toys ‘R Us and show the receipt to a local Mos Burger to receive a gift. On top of that, the burger t is teaming up with Microsoft to promote Lost Odyssey with Kaim concept art covered meals.

What makes this tie-in even more notable is the location of the alliance. See, Mos Burger is a Japanese fast food chain with delicious rice burgers. Mos Burger has a handful of stores in Hong Kong, but their base is still Japan. When Lost Odyssey launched in the home of Feel Plus and Mos Burger, Microsoft didn’t team up with the burger shop. The only store with a Lost Odyssey launch promotion in Japan was 7 Eleven, an American chain!

The post Only in Hong Kong, Mos Burger’s Lost Odyssey meal appeared first on Siliconera.

Microsoft is releasing a special item three point pack for Lost Odyssey on February 7 in Japan. Lost Odyssey’s trio of goodies consists of a new combat ring called Killer Machine, a memory lamp sitting in the Nautilus that lets players view old events and a new entry of the thousand year dream. The sequence is (loosely) translated as Will of the Ancient Soldiers.

The good news is Silver Xbox Live won’t have to wait a week to view the extra dream. The bad news is this item pack costs 200 Microsoft Points ($2.50) opposed to the low price of zero Microsoft set for the first Lost Odyssey combat pack. The memory lamp sounds like a neat extra, but I’m hoping Mistwalker has something like a Shuffle Dungeon creator in a future pack to extend the longevity of a video game starring immortals.

The post a memory lamp and a new dream for Lost Odyssey appeared first on Siliconera.

The Asian version of Lost Odyssey has something the Japanese version doesn’t English and Chinese text. If you add in three different voiceover tracks: English, Japanese and Korean, this is a prime import. Now only if it was region free... and it sort of is!

Play-Asia notes the Asian version of Lost Odyssey will work in Japanese/Asian Xbox 360s plus PAL Xbox 360s. So, if you’re in Europe and you can cut the wait for Kaim’s quest down a month.  However, if you’re in North America you are unfortunately out of luck. The Asian version will not work with NTSC-U Xbox 360s. This is a quizzical set up, I can't think of another Asian game that works with NTSC-J and PAL 360s, but not NTSC-U consoles. 

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