The basic combat varies depending of the character, some using close-range melee weapons, with other having more range with a whip and a bow. On its surface, the game appears to be a fairly straight forward 2D brawler. This also makes the game well-suited to the PlayStation Vita a number of times I found myself with ten minutes to kill, which is a perfect amount of time to work through a couple of the combat levels. Individual combat scenarios are frequently completed in under a minute, which brings in a steady supply of materials for alchemy and food for eating. Though telling the story from five perspectives does lead to some repetition of combat areas, the combat mechanics are so satisfying that I did not find this to be too problematic. The story is not particularly ground-breaking in any way, but how it is told, and the quality of the writing, means it is a very enjoyable journey. There is a little bit of a difficulty spike (it was the first time I failed a battle more than once), but it felt like a fitting challenge for the end of the game. The end, which features all of the characters in some way, is particularly good. The five character threads are well-woven together, and seemingly unrelated events slowly culminate towards the game's end as the player explores the motivations of the other characters. However, as I got deeper into the game, and starting seeing alternative perspectives from the other characters, I gained a deep appreciation for how the game built a layered tale of fantasy and intrigue. The vendor dialogue is a surprisingly fun part of the game For much of this character's section of the game (which was around six hours out of the 30 or so I spent with the game), I wasn't particularly interested in the game's narrative it was certainly enjoyable enough to play, but never really grabbed me and wasn't driving me through the game. The story opens with Gwendolyn, a Valkyrie and daughter of a king.
Using the framing device of a child reading a series of books, five playable characters, each with their own unique style of combat, take turns in showing a new layer of the story. The game is set in Erion, a fantasy world featuring several warring factions.
The gorgeous hand-drawn artwork fuses with a fluid combat system to make one of the most striking looking games I have played in recent years.
Disclosure: A PlayStation Vita download code was provided by the publisher for this reviewįrom the moment I started Odin Sphere Leifthrasir, I was stunned by the visual presentation of the game.