Lost Odyssey

I should start this review by prefacing that Lost Odyssey is the most recent brain-child of master storyteller, Hironobu Sakaguchi, responsible for directing or producing Final Fantasies I through XII. So, when I first heard of his next project, I was eagerly anticipating what the game could potentially have in store. The game deals with a group of immortal who have lived for 1000 years, but recently lost their memories, leaving them to wonder about their origin and what they've gone through. The way in which these character's immortal life is examined gave me a stronger emotional link to the characters than I had in any other video game before or since. It remains in my mind as the greatest story to come from a video game. Beyond the story, the turn-based RPG may not be what most people are looking for, but what's there cannot be underestimated. While the intricacies of the battle mechanics are not the best I've ever seen, they're still engrossing and a clear cut above the average game. However, there's so much more to love: the gorgeous artistic style, the almost obscene large number of side quests; I could go on and on. If you love art, RPG's, heck, even if you just love excellent stories, buy this game. It's your duty.