7.7.2016

Odin Sphere is a 2D action adventure game that was originally released on PS2 in 2007. It follows the unique stories of five different playable characters and is hand drawn in the customary luscious style of its developer Vanillaware. I played the original briefly all those years ago and really fell in love with the beautiful sprites and engaging combat. For one reason or another, however, I never finished the game completely, so when I heard of the Leifthrasir remaster for Vita and PS4 I knew I’d have to have it!The five different stories follow a group of warriors as they battle their way towards different end goals using powerful weapons called Psyphers. Similar themes are present in the five different stories: friendship,betrayal, overcoming self-doubt, and, most evidently, love. Gwendolyn, for example, seeks the attention of her father but no matter what she does he never appreciates her the way she desires. Cornelius is cursed by an unknown party, transformed into a beastly Pooka and cast out of his kingdom; he must fight his way back to his rightful place against all odds. Mercedes’ mother is slain in battle and, unready, she must take her place as Queen and fight to save her kingdom against treachery and aggressive onslaught from neighbouring tribes. All the stories intertwine to some extent and the differing viewpoints offer an interesting insight into what lies behind the protagonist’s and antagonist’s motives.The sphere in the title of the game relates to the stages in which most of the game’s battles take place. Instead of being linear, most parts of the map loop back on one another in a spherical fashion. This makes the battles more intense as there is only a certain amount of distance that can be put between the player and the foes they are facing – this plays an important role in weighing up critical choices as things like eating food to regain lost health take time and can lead to the player being wiped out if too little distance is put between them and the enemy. Regular linear sections are mixed in amongst these spherical stages, many of them acting as rest areas where the player can buy items and equipment from travelling pedlars and bolster health and levels by providing ingredients to the chef at Maury’s Kitchen.Characters can be developed and toughened up in a number of ways. As the warriors fight their way through the onslaught of tribulations they face, they can level up their weapons using Phozons which are released upon defeating enemies and from certain plants and butterflies that can be found hidden with stages. Each character’s level can also be upgraded by killing foes and eating food items either bought from shops, cultivated from seeds found in chests, or by accessing the numerous kitchens available in the game. Rare Phozon Prisms can be obtained from especially difficult battles or from well-hidden chests and are used to unlock powerful attacks and supporting abilities to help you overcome the many seemingly insurmountable encounters. With each acquired level up, skill level orbs are given to the player and can be used to enable additional supporting abilities which lend latent assistance such as additional EXP from food, protection against status effects and an increased possibility of dizzying enemies.Special attacks consume either PP or POW. POW is a bar that sits above your health and steadily recovers itself over time. PP is much harder to recover and can only be refilled by collecting the floating phozons dropped by downed enemies. Abilities that use PP and POW must be used tactically as spamming a move continuously will expend the available energy very quickly and leave the player vulnerable to attack, especially during boss fights. Equipment can be worn which lessens the speed in which these powers are consumed but they only prolong the inevitable by a moment or two longer.The game contains the PS2 original and a modern, ‘refined’ version on one cart. Although both games boast the exact same retouched HD sprites, there are differences between the two versions in the gameplay department. Some of these changes are subtle, some less so. In the PS2 original, for example, phozons would not be automatically absorbed and treasures dropped by enemies would not open of their own accord and would disappear after a short period of time if not attacked. The grading and combo systems have undergone an overhaul in the ‘refined’ mode that vastly improves the fluidity and functionality of the game. Characters have received additional TLC and now have a range of specialist attacks and support abilities that are relevant to the way they approach combat. If you collect all of the character’s Phozon Prisms you are now able to unlock a devastating ultimate attack which wreaks havoc on the battlefield and looks damned pretty into the bargain. Upon completion, new modes and boss rush options become available that were absent in the PS2 release and trophy support has been implemented. Of course, purists can ignore these changes if they like and stick with the original imagining of the game but I honestly think these tweaks have improved Odin Sphere and made it more approachable and, most importantly, more enjoyable to play.The game does have a few issues which are worth noting. Strangely, the game is far harder at the beginning than it is in its latter stages. I’m not sure if this is down to developing a mastery of the game’s mechanics and character combos as you play through or if it was an intentional design decision. Whichever it is, I played on hard and found Gwendolyn’s Valkyrie chapter by far the most difficult. That said, I do feel the difficulty of the rerelease has been worked down from the original as I had a much easier time of progressing than I did on the PS2 all those years ago – this can either be seen as a pro or a con depending on which way you look at it as the original was tough as nails!Upon the completion of each chapter, you unlock a new tome which can be accessed from the attic that serves as the game’s main screen. Each book puts you in control of a completely new character which can be jarring. You can spend hours mastering one character’s move set and levelling up their abilities only to be thrown into the deep end with a completely new character. This can lead to you feeling as though your hard work was for nothing when you have to start completely anew with a fresh and totally undeveloped character at experience level one. The hardest transition is from Cornelius’ chapter to Mercedes’. Mercedes is a ranged attacker working with a bow and her new attacks and the approach one needs to take when using her are vastly different to the two preceding melee characters. Additionally, she must occasionally stand still for a brief moment to reload her bow, something that isn’t explained very clearly in-game and can lead to frustration until properly understood, often by accident. Still, with dedication and a little practice these alternating styles can be mastered and the change in tactics can be seen to freshen things up and break the monotony of button bashing through the entire game with a singular character.Another slight issue is the repetition you will encounter. From one chapter to the next you will be required to battle the exact same foes and bosses from previous chapters and traverse the same handful of stages many times over. This repetition can take some of the wonder out of the game as facing off against the same attack patterns in the same locales can make it seem as if you are stuck in some sort of loop.Additionally, when encounters become particularly frantic there can be instances of slowdown. Although I didn’t run across many occurrences of this issue, it does happen, especially on occasions when the screen becomes busy with enemies and items. This was most noticeable for me when activating special attacks against the giant ooze enemy that uses mitosis to replicate itself when damaged.Overall, however, I found my time with Odin Sphere Leifthrasir to be extremely enjoyable. I have been through a sort of trial separation from gaming over recent months and this game has helped me patch up some of the issues that almost had me filing for divorce. The game is beautifully designed, challenging, and, most importantly, extremely fun. Its nods towards gaming mechanics of yesteryear are welcome, with this gamer at least – there really is no better feeling than the elation of besting a colossal foe having spent a few fruitless battles learning his attack patterns!Despite Odin Sphere feeling decidedly old school, it came as a breath of fresh air for me amongst the dearth of originality in recent big name releases. Anyone who has a yearning for a tough, 2D beat-em-up should definitely consider picking up Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir. Recommended.QUICK PROS:+ Beautiful to look at+ Many, many hours of game time available+ Options added to original to increase replayability+ A great sense of achievement when besting the giant boss battles+ The refined combat and game mechanics are a joy to beholdQUICK CONS:- Can be overwhelmingly difficult early on- Repetition creeps in when redoing stages and fighting the same foes over and over- Jumping between new characters in each chapter can be frustrating- Some infrequent but annoying slowdown issues

7.7.2016

Odin Sphere is a 2D action adventure game that was originally released on PS2 in 2007. It follows the unique stories of five different playable characters and is hand drawn in the customary luscious style of its developer Vanillaware. I played the original briefly all those years ago and really fell in love with the beautiful sprites and engaging combat. For one reason or another, however, I never finished the game completely, so when I heard of the Leifthrasir remaster for Vita and PS4 I knew I’d have to have it!The five different stories follow a group of warriors as they battle their way towards different end goals using powerful weapons called Psyphers. Similar themes are present in the five different stories: friendship,betrayal, overcoming self-doubt, and, most evidently, love. Gwendolyn, for example, seeks the attention of her father but no matter what she does he never appreciates her the way she desires. Cornelius is cursed by an unknown party, transformed into a beastly Pooka and cast out of his kingdom; he must fight his way back to his rightful place against all odds. Mercedes’ mother is slain in battle and, unready, she must take her place as Queen and fight to save her kingdom against treachery and aggressive onslaught from neighbouring tribes. All the stories intertwine to some extent and the differing viewpoints offer an interesting insight into what lies behind the protagonist’s and antagonist’s motives.The sphere in the title of the game relates to the stages in which most of the game’s battles take place. Instead of being linear, most parts of the map loop back on one another in a spherical fashion. This makes the battles more intense as there is only a certain amount of distance that can be put between the player and the foes they are facing – this plays an important role in weighing up critical choices as things like eating food to regain lost health take time and can lead to the player being wiped out if too little distance is put between them and the enemy. Regular linear sections are mixed in amongst these spherical stages, many of them acting as rest areas where the player can buy items and equipment from travelling pedlars and bolster health and levels by providing ingredients to the chef at Maury’s Kitchen.Characters can be developed and toughened up in a number of ways. As the warriors fight their way through the onslaught of tribulations they face, they can level up their weapons using Phozons which are released upon defeating enemies and from certain plants and butterflies that can be found hidden with stages. Each character’s level can also be upgraded by killing foes and eating food items either bought from shops, cultivated from seeds found in chests, or by accessing the numerous kitchens available in the game. Rare Phozon Prisms can be obtained from especially difficult battles or from well-hidden chests and are used to unlock powerful attacks and supporting abilities to help you overcome the many seemingly insurmountable encounters. With each acquired level up, skill level orbs are given to the player and can be used to enable additional supporting abilities which lend latent assistance such as additional EXP from food, protection against status effects and an increased possibility of dizzying enemies.Special attacks consume either PP or POW. POW is a bar that sits above your health and steadily recovers itself over time. PP is much harder to recover and can only be refilled by collecting the floating phozons dropped by downed enemies. Abilities that use PP and POW must be used tactically as spamming a move continuously will expend the available energy very quickly and leave the player vulnerable to attack, especially during boss fights. Equipment can be worn which lessens the speed in which these powers are consumed but they only prolong the inevitable by a moment or two longer.The game contains the PS2 original and a modern, ‘refined’ version on one disc. Although both games boast the exact same retouched HD sprites, there are differences between the two versions in the gameplay department. Some of these changes are subtle, some less so. In the PS2 original, for example, phozons would not be automatically absorbed and treasures dropped by enemies would not open of their own accord and would disappear after a short period of time if not attacked. The grading and combo systems have undergone an overhaul in the ‘refined’ mode that vastly improves the fluidity and functionality of the game. Characters have received additional TLC and now have a range of specialist attacks and support abilities that are relevant to the way they approach combat. If you collect all of the character’s Phozon Prisms you are now able to unlock a devastating ultimate attack which wreaks havoc on the battlefield and looks damned pretty into the bargain. Upon completion, new modes and boss rush options become available that were absent in the PS2 release and trophy support has been implemented. Of course, purists can ignore these changes if they like and stick with the original imagining of the game but I honestly think these tweaks have improved Odin Sphere and made it more approachable and, most importantly, more enjoyable to play.The game does have a few issues which are worth noting. Strangely, the game is far harder at the beginning than it is in its latter stages. I’m not sure if this is down to developing a mastery of the game’s mechanics and character combos as you play through or if it was an intentional design decision. Whichever it is, I played on hard and found Gwendolyn’s Valkyrie chapter by far the most difficult. That said, I do feel the difficulty of the rerelease has been worked down from the original as I had a much easier time of progressing than I did on the PS2 all those years ago – this can either be seen as a pro or a con depending on which way you look at it as the original was tough as nails!Upon the completion of each chapter, you unlock a new tome which can be accessed from the attic that serves as the game’s main screen. Each book puts you in control of a completely new character which can be jarring. You can spend hours mastering one character’s move set and levelling up their abilities only to be thrown into the deep end with a completely new character. This can lead to you feeling as though your hard work was for nothing when you have to start completely anew with a fresh and totally undeveloped character at experience level one. The hardest transition is from Cornelius’ chapter to Mercedes’. Mercedes is a ranged attacker working with a bow and her new attacks and the approach one needs to take when using her are vastly different to the two preceding melee characters. Additionally, she must occasionally stand still for a brief moment to reload her bow, something that isn’t explained very clearly in-game and can lead to frustration until properly understood, often by accident. Still, with dedication and a little practice these alternating styles can be mastered and the change in tactics can be seen to freshen things up and break the monotony of button bashing through the entire game with a singular character.Another slight issue is the repetition you will encounter. From one chapter to the next you will be required to battle the exact same foes and bosses from previous chapters and traverse the same handful of stages many times over. This repetition can take some of the wonder out of the game as facing off against the same attack patterns in the same locales can make it seem as if you are stuck in some sort of loop.Additionally, when encounters become particularly frantic there can be instances of slowdown. Although I didn’t run across many occurrences of this issue, it does happen, especially on occasions when the screen becomes busy with enemies and items. This was most noticeable for me when activating special attacks against the giant ooze enemy that uses mitosis to replicate itself when damaged.Overall, however, I found my time with Odin Sphere Leifthrasir to be extremely enjoyable. I have been through a sort of trial separation from gaming over recent months and this game has helped me patch up some of the issues that almost had me filing for divorce. The game is beautifully designed, challenging, and, most importantly, extremely fun. Its nods towards gaming mechanics of yesteryear are welcome, with this gamer at least – there really is no better feeling than the elation of besting a colossal foe having spent a few fruitless battles learning his attack patterns!Despite Odin Sphere feeling decidedly old school, it came as a breath of fresh air for me amongst the dearth of originality in recent big name releases. Anyone who has a yearning for a tough, 2D beat-em-up should definitely consider picking up Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir. Recommended.QUICK PROS:+ Beautiful to look at+ Many, many hours of game time available+ Options added to original to increase replayability+ A great sense of achievement when besting the giant boss battles+ The refined combat and game mechanics are a joy to beholdQUICK CONS:- Can be overwhelmingly difficult early on- Repetition creeps in when redoing stages and fighting the same foes over and over- Jumping between new characters in each chapter can be frustrating- Some infrequent but annoying slowdown issues

22.7.2016

I bought this on a whim after seeing the gorgeous art box in my local Game. I knew nothing about the game, and had not played the PS2 version but I'm a sucker for a well done special edition and this is definitely one of those!Special edition features:The art book is the main selling point here. The artwork is gorgeous and unusually there is lots of text with titbits from the development team on character creation and things like that. I havent read it in depth as I dont want to spoil the story.Poster is nice, would look good framed.TS is mens as usual so I wont wear it, though I would have been tempted if the design was the same as the box design.Metal slipcase is also very niceActual Game:I am totally IN LOVE with this game and I've only started on the second chapter.

23.7.2016

Odin Sphere Leifthrasir is a remaster of the Playstation 2 title Odin Sphere.The game looks beautiful with hand drawn art graphics and the gameplay has some great tweaks that help the action.The story is fine, not good or great, but fine and is enjoyable for what it is.The game ends up being bit a long as you play with 5 different characters that play a bit similar.For purists and curious ones, the game includes the old playstation 2 version, that can be played with the original aspect ratio (4:3) or wide screen, with the original hud and more importantly without the gameplay tweaks that were made such as the power bar management.With all that said, if you're looking for a side scroller action rpg,

2.5.2018

Few can pull 2D sprite based graphics as good as Vanilaware.This is the ultimate remake of the game! besides the HD treatment, most of the cumbersome mechanics of the original game have ether been improved, redefined, rebalanced or completely replaced with better ones, and for the purists, there is also a classic mode with none of the changes.The one draw back is the repeating stages, as you'll visit them multiple times with different characters. Thankfully the layout, the secrets and each character's gameplay are completely different each time!Besides changes, the story is fantastic, keeping you engaged much more than an anime-ish game like this had any right to. Don't let the graphics and screenshots fool you.

1.9.2017

Amazing collector's edition with all the goodies you might want!The shirt that comes with this edition is nothing too special, kinda cute, but very simple, and very unlikely for someone to even recognise it. The little art print is absolutely adorable though, with Alice and her cat Socrates, which I immediately hung on the wall.The book has details, quotes and art of characters as well as the general story, all look amazing and well stylised, from concept art, to sketches and finished designs.Speaking of style and design which is, of course, super high quality, as to be expected from Vanillaware at this point, this game provides in spades. They do amazing 2D side scrolling brawlers,

15.10.2018

I missed Odin Sphere the first time around on PS2, but I remember a lot of my friends being obsessed with it so I picked up the PS4 remaster for about £22. All I can say is wow, this is already one of my favorite games of all time. The 2D graphics are absolutely stunning, with a breathtaking variety of colourful environments, enemies, and abilities. This is one of those titles that blurs the line between gaming and art; and despite being 2D and quite linear it still manages to be a fully immersive experience. I booted it up the first time, went through a few tutorials, and before I knew it 3 hours had gone by. It's highly addictive in nature,

2.7.2016

If you own a PS Vita or need a reason to pick one up, you owe it to yourself to play Odin Sphere Leifthrasir.A side-scrolling RPG / beat 'em up, Leifthrasir is another knockout title from developer Vanillaware who made two other highly acclaimed Vita games of the same genre: Muramasa Rebirth and Dragon's Crown.Leifthrasir is an HD remaster of a PS2 classic that addresses serious framerate issues that tainted the original and improves upon the gameplay too in a very significant way with reworked combat mechanics that makes is a much more enjoyable and fast-paced beat 'em experience.Although it's on PS4 too, I feel games like this are best enjoyed on a handheld like Vita thanks to the bitesize levels that are ideal for playing on the move.

11.10.2016

In a world of high def realistic games this is a retro breath of fresh air.I never played the original on PS2 and I can't help but feel I missed out, the game itself is colourful, dynamic and interesting with both plot and evolution of characters.The remaster takes advantage of the powerful systems to create a smooth scrolling 2D platformer/scroller and combining it with some outstanding combat play makes it feel well suiting to this new gen era of gaming.The game itself stops repetition by introducing new abilities as your character progresses and learns new potion mixes.As far as retro gaming experiences on modern platforms go you'll be hard pressed to find a better example,

24.9.2016

Old Skool gaming on a modern level, been outa gaming for years, picked up a few titles on hard copy and dl'd this from PS store on a demo version. Loved it from the second I played. This is in no way a skill game or has anywhere near a level of intensity despite boss levels which us old skoolers will understand. I like it though, traditional Sega style gaming. It's the perfect pick up for some chilled Sunday afternoon or between more intense titles like expert level Doom. I would recommend it but as always check out the gameplay on Youtube first as it gives you a good idea of the gameplay. I tried to resist for the price to drop closer to twenty GBP but clicked at 34.

27.8.2017

This is a great collector's edition.Comes in a gorgeous outer box that features art from the game on all sides (although it's rather weak and damages easily). Inside we find an exclusive tin slipcase for the game's box, a nice Alice & Socrates art printes that is begging to be framed, and a 64 pages artbook.And then there's the T-shirt which is about as unimaginative as it can be. NIS could have put one of the charater arts on it, but no, they went with a stupid equation.A soundtrack and a poster would have been a nice addition (instead of the lousy T-shirt) but nontheless, it's still a must have for the fans of the original PS2 game!

29.6.2016

Amazing hand drawn sprites and background. Addictive and fun combo gameplay. Interesting story with 5 different characters to play as. The storys crossover so you will meet some of the other playable characters when you are playing as certain other ones.Overall this game is a master piece and suits the vita screen really well. You'll get around 50hrs from the main game and a lot more if you do post game.A must buy for the vita.

28.6.2016

This game is absolutely fantastic. I'm really enjoying it. Beautiful graphics, no framerate drops, smooth intuitive combat, seriously one of the best games on Vita. Gameplay is hack and slash with some RPG elements, levelling and upgrading etc. It is story based so you get to know characters. I can not say enough good things about this game. A must have!

26.12.2016

Stunning, captivating, beautiful, extremely playable. I don't think too many people even know about this remake from ps2 to ps4 and the game deserves to sell by the bucket load as it's that good. Just buy this game and thank me later lol. Now, I'll just wait patiently for Vanillaware to bring Dragons Crown to the PS4.

27.6.2016

-Beautiful art and rich lore.-Game can be challenging and very fun by using a wide variety of combos, potions that you can create and different characters as you progress.-Fun and clever leveling system.-Long and heart touching story that connects each character through different paths.-Worth every penny.

Odin Sphere: Leifdrasir - Reviews

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