Metareview: Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360)

Judging from what we had seen of Lost Odyssey before its release, we pretty much figured we had it pegged, and the reviews that have popped up since have only cemented our first impressions. By all accounts, it seems to be a competent, well-polished effort that is extremely traditional, if not derivative of games in the genre before it. But for those who are fans of that genre, it seems to be a solid choice.

• 1UP (80/100): "While Lost Odyssey's overarching tale is effective enough as a generic RPG plot filled with political intrigue, it really only serves to get the player from Point A to Point B. The storytelling is most compelling when dealing with the interaction between characters, whether it's Kaim and Sarah's intriguing relationship, Seth's pirate past, or the sexual tension (?) between Jansen and Queen Ming."

• Eurogamer (80/100): "Given the involvement of hotshot RPG superstars like Final Fantasy creators Hironobu Sakaguchi and Nobuo Uematsu, it should come as no surprise that Lost Odyssey is utterly, utterly traditional. ... Given the involvement of Mistwalker's hotshot superstars, it should come as no surprise to find that it's superbly polished."

• Gamespy (50/100):"While it's certainly playable, it feels like more of a relic than perhaps its creators intended. Basic features and dungeon design are handled with the graceful hand of a master designer, but that doesn't compensate for numerous gameplay, storytelling and technical issues. Fans of old-fashioned Japanese-style RPGs will doubtlessly find aspects to enjoy, but this is not the title that will vault Mistwalker to the triple-A status the studio's hype might suggest."