New On Kotaku: Looking For A Game That Is A Literary Masterpiece? Try Odin Sphere.
Odin Sphere is often overlooked in discussions of video game storytelling, despite it being a literary masterpiece.
In other words, Odin Sphere is a totally kickassingly good game with a freaking heart-breaking story and people need to stop saying, "Oh, oh Uncharted is the most amazing game with a story of all time, just like Bioshock and Alan Wake and Prince of Persia and Red Dead Redempdepcepmtion and a whole crap-ton of other Western games" because NO. Most of those are MEDIOCRE AT BEST. (*Ahem* From a writer's standpoint.) Odin Sphere is incredible, and should be hoisted up on shoulders as a shining example of video game storytelling. That is all.
READ MY ARTICLE! I love you.
[Kotaku: Looking For A Game That Is A Literary Masterpiece? Try Odin Sphere.]
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January 28th, 2012 - 00:03
In reference to Nick’s request above, I’m not on Twitter or Facebook, so I’ll have to say here that I think you’re awesome and hilarious, and I love the site. This article is one of the reason’s why.
I have heard of Odin Sphere, but never got around to playing it. You have made me very sorry that I didn’t. I play my games mostly for the stories. I never really have the patience to play through a game unless the story grabs my attention. Perhaps the reason why I have been playing a lot less lately. I actually love the long cutscenes and such. Xenosaga is still one of my favourites, because of that.
I definitely agree with you that the multiple endings are a bit cheap. They are supposed to add extra replayability, but I end up just reading through the faqs to make sure I get the good ending so I don’t feel ripped off. But then you end up ruining the sense of exploration and discovery. When I read your comment about wishy-washy endings, I immediately thought of A Tale of Two Cities “It is a far, far better thing I do, than ever I could have done; skip to page 407 for By the way, I lied. That guy over there is the one you really want to kill. Get him!” The ending makes or breaks the story. If you can’t decide on an ending, then you haven’t decided what the story was that you wanted to tell.
Video games have come a long way in being accepted as mainstream. Only a few have been accepted as art. Of the ones that have, there are a lot of differences, but what they have in common is that they are the ones with the most engrossing and original stories, I think. Sorry for rambling.
January 28th, 2012 - 00:14
Don’t have a PS I will be hunting for walkthroughs and such on youtube.
January 28th, 2012 - 01:02
Not a massive fan of linking my accounts through so many different websites so like others I will leave my comments here despite the article itself deserving them on the native site.
There are two particular things I look for in games which is; game play first, storytelling second. For example even if I don’t like how Mass Effect is turning more into a shooter instead of an RPG I am still heavily on board to see how the story ends in ME3. If you aren’t focusing on game play then a good story is another worthy venture. Even if the offerings are weak and spotty at best it does make those games who do hit the mark stand just that bit taller.
I honestly don’t play many games from Japan because both their game play and storytelling elements largely have moved away from a direction I want to go with (or conversely I did). However there are always exceptions to rules and the depth of storytelling and characterisation that you have described in Odin Sphere has made me very curious. So this may very well be one of those exceptions.
Nice work Lisa, your words have swayed me, I will look into this game on the PS3.
January 28th, 2012 - 12:55
Cool article Lisa, you should try cosplaying as one of the characters from “Odin Sphere” someday.
January 29th, 2012 - 18:01
You crazy words won’t brainwash me Lisa! I’m immune to yourmustbuyOdinSphereandkillTheJerseyShoreKids……………..
January 31st, 2012 - 03:04
Fudge! Now I NEED to play this game!
I have heard of this game before but I guess at one point I forgot of its existence. Until now. I’ll be sure to download it as soon as I get my next paycheck.
(Wait, PSN will be down this Thursday and Friday morning…)
FFFFFFFFFFF!
February 8th, 2012 - 06:04
Read article – Never played Odin Sphere – probably will when released on UK PSN – HOWEVER……… Alan Wake, Bioshock, Red dead and Uncharted ”medicore at best”?!?!?!?!?! *HUMPH* Good day to you!!!!
P.S. loving your work, keep it up :-)