Lost Odyssey is better than FFXIII
I just finished FFXIII, and what I can say that it doesn’t live up to my expectations. In fact, it isn’t as good as Mistwalker’s RPG Lost Odyssey, which in my opinion is the best JRPG this generation. When Lost Odyssey was released in 2008, some reviewers criticized it for the lack of innovation, slow loading time, and other minor things. While some are true, Lost Odyssey offered a better and more complete role playing experience than FFXIII, and here is why:
1. Lost Odyssey has better cast of characters and a better story overall:
Lost Odyssey main protagonist Kaim and his fellow companion personalities and characteristics are more interesting than Vanille, Lightning, hope and the rest of the cast of Final Fantasy XIII. When you talk about humor relief characters, Jansen is funnier and more entertaining than Sazh. Lightning the main protagonist of Final Fantasy XIII is the typical emo character, while Kaim is an immortal who has seen a lot of bad things happened to him or to the people he loved in his 1000 years of living. Themes that were presented in Lost Odyssey such as immortality are mature and more interesting than the typical themes presented in FFXIII. Final Fantasy XIII has some good moments in its story, but when you compare those high points with the high points found in Lost Odyssey, Final Fantasy XIII story feels average at best. The Thousand Years of Dreams also gives Lost Odyssey the edge over Final Fantasy XIII in story telling.
2. Lost Odyssey soundtrack is stronger and more memorable:
While some tracks from Final Fantasy XIII are good, it pales in comparison to the master work done by Nobuo Uematsu in Lost Odyssey. Lost Odyssey battle theme is more heroic and more epic. The boss battle themes in Lost Odyssey are more intense and gives the player a sense of danger while keeping the epic feel to them. Lost Odyssey soundtrack is one of the best soundtracks ever made for any game. It’s memorable, emotional and epic at the same time.
3. Voice acting in FFXIII is weaker:
Vanille voice over sucks, and the strange thing, it’s one of the most important and the most talkative character in the game. Which sucks. Also, Lost Odyssey gives the player the option to play the game in various languages while you can play FFXIII in English only.
4. Lost Odyssey is less linear and its world is more interesting to explore:
If you think that the lack of real towns and villages or exploration in FFXIII doesn’t hamper the experience, you are fooling yourself. Ok, FFXIII opens after more than 25 hours of gameplay, but after this point, you begin to get used to the linearity which discourages the player to explore the game’s world. Lost Odyssey gives the player more freedom from the outset which encourages the player to explore every area in the game. Also, FFXIII world is less interesting.
I presented to you four reasons why Lost Odyssey is a better JRPG than FFXIII, and I can give you more reasons, but I won’t. I’m not saying that FFXIII is a bad game, no it isn’t. But it isn’t as good as I was hoping for. The funny thing is FFXIII has a higher score on metacritic despite the fact that Lost Odyssey is the better game. Also, FFXIII sold over 1 million copies in its first week in the west while Lost Odyssey overall sales still didn’t hit 1 million. A very sad facts indeed.
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Biased and baseless. Final Fantasy XIII and Fabula Nova Crystallis as a whole has a much better concept regarding the mythology and story.
Posted on March 21st, 2010 at 6:52 pm
I didn’t give this might thought until I read this article but I gotta agree
Posted on March 21st, 2010 at 7:58 pm
@ Andy:
Your comment is stupid. You disagree with the article and called the author biased, but you didn’t give a good reason to prove your point.
Posted on March 21st, 2010 at 8:16 pm
I can’t go too far with my disagreement, as I have not played Lost Odyssey, but from what I have seen of it is where I will limit my statements to.
First of all, the story and the characters. I’m not sure about the story, I’m finding Final Fantasy XIII’s decent. Lost Odyssey is mostly known for it’s story as well, so I’m not going to say which one is better here. But in terms of characters, I think that Lost Odyssey is beaten by Final Fantasy XIII simply for the reason that Lightning is much more iconic as a video game character than Kaim. It is kind of like that Master Chief, or perhaps Mario type feel. Lightning is designed with a much more heroic aspect in mind than Seth. In other characters though, I have heard that Lost Odyssey goes more in detail. Once again, not so sure, but Lightning definitely beats Kaim for me.
The soundtrack is something I’ll have to disagree on. I’ve heard the main theme for Lost Odyssey, and to be honest, it all depends on the setting you prefer. I prefer futuristic games, and Final Fantasy XIII’s musical score certainly does have a futuristic vibe to it. On the other hand, the music in Lost Odyssey suits its ancient war setting. I prefer the Final Fantasy XIII in the music and sound department, and yes, I have heard a few of the main Lost Odyssey songs, as well as a bit of the sound quality.
Voice acting? Certainly, I think that the overall voice acting of Lost Odyssey is better than the overall voice acting of Final Fantasy XIII. However, I still find some characters like Lightning and Yaag to have better voice acting than the characters I have heard in Lost Odyssey like Kaim and Seth.
Finally, the worlds in both games. I strong disagree with this. The lack of linearity in Lost Odyssey is, in my opinion, not a valid point to find the world more interesting. In fact, I tend to find the worlds where exploration isn’t big more interesting. But it does come down to the setting once again. Final Fantasy has that futuristic look to it, which I prefer over the ancient, old war look in Lost Odyssey.
Overall, I think Final Fantasy XIII is a better game than Lost Odyssey.
Posted on March 22nd, 2010 at 9:43 am
You need to play LO in order to understand how much more effort was put in making those characters. The 1000 Years of Dream sequences that you find are done insanely well… by themselves they destroy FF13… they are written well enough to bring some emotional people to tears with ease (there was a couple of sniffles from me and my gf did cry a few times). Not only that but the battle system makes you think and the boss battles are always epic and very difficult.
Posted on March 23rd, 2010 at 2:24 pm
@Daniel Lawson
Like I said, I cannot comment about the story. However, I can say that Final Fantasy XIII’s story sounds way more intriguing and better than Lost Odyssey from descriptions. I also don’t like turn-based battle systems, and even though Final Fantasy XIII incorporates turn-based, it is becoming more real-time.
I’m not sure how the story can destroy Final Fantasy XIII as a whole. It’s as if you’re saying that a story from a book smashes Final Fantasy XIII in terms of video games.
Posted on March 24th, 2010 at 9:30 am
@ Daniel Lawson:
I agree with you. Lost Odyssey story is so much better than FFXIII.
@ Dion:
“I can say that Final Fantasy XIII’s story sounds way more intriguing and better than Lost Odyssey from descriptions. ”
What? Even from a description stand point Lost Odyssey story sound more intriguing. Themes such as immortality, sadness, loss and 1000 Years of Dream sequences add more depth to the story. Also, the story is easy to understand, but there is complexity coming from th themes discussed in the game. I played FFXIIII from start to finish, it has some good moments in the story, but it isn’t as good as Lost Odyssey. And please don’t judge the game without playing it.
Posted on March 24th, 2010 at 10:45 am
I haven’t played Lost Odyssey but I doubt it’s presentation and gameplay is better than FFXIII.
Posted on March 28th, 2010 at 4:37 am
@solidsnake
Do you know what the word intriguing means? It doesn’t mean it’s better, it means it sounds more interesting. Immortality, sadness, loss and 1000 Years of Dream sequences don’t make a story deeper at all. Final Fantasy XIII on the other hand shows different characters, some that don’t even know each other, to come together and escape a world in which is frightened of them, resulting in multiple organizations of armies hunting them down. From that sort of description, it’s easy to tell that Final Fantasy XIII will be a lot more action-based and more sci-fi, which is what I am into. I can look at Lost Odyssey and see that I’m not going to be interested in the story when I can’t even get interested in the world the story is set in. This doesn’t mean the story is bad, it just means it isn’t as intriguing.
And you don’t have to play a game to know how intriguing the story is. If you do for Lost Odyssey, then that just goes to show how long it really does take for the story to start.
Posted on March 28th, 2010 at 9:42 am
Dion is an idiot. If you haven’t played it, you can’t judge. Period. Now get out.
Posted on April 3rd, 2010 at 8:53 am
Sam you’re 12 and have no idea what games are about. Don’t even play games, you don’t deserve to.
Posted on April 5th, 2010 at 8:11 am
FFXIII history is full of emo crap , Dion must be like those generic myspace emo’s that has his hair like Hope.
Posted on April 15th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
FFXIII was the worst FF I have ever played. I didn’t feel like I was in another world. Yes, the battle system was cool, but I didn’t need to be handheld in a straight line for 25 hours just to die against a normal mob. All there was to do was fight. I’d rather experience the ‘random battles’ of LO than to fight another mob in FFXIII.
The story in FFXIII was OK. But the dialog was just HORRIBLE. Especially after XII’s well written (albeit, ineffectual) prose.
The production value of FFXIII is awesome and so were the cut scenes, but those don’t make the game for me. I give it a 4/10 because of the production values, but everything else just kills it for me. It was the first FF I couldn’t finish; I returned it and got my money back.
LO on the other hand isn’t groundbreaking at all. Although I can tolerate it much more. Nothing really stands out, Nobuo Uematsu’s soundtrack isn’t his best, but it’s pretty solid. The story is OK so far and the acting and dialog are OK as well. Most importantly the pacing is solid. In FFXIII the reasons for making it linear were because the ‘heros’ were on the run. Well why does it take 25 real life hours to be on the run. The first half of the FFXIII could have been way shorter, while still telling the same story.
Like I said, LO isn’t anything special, but its a decent game. Hence most scores (7.0-8) represent that, but I just don’t get people who think FFXIII is an above average game.
Posted on April 17th, 2010 at 12:26 am
And Oxvial must like sleeping with big, muscular men.
Posted on May 23rd, 2010 at 2:28 am
Well we know LO is the better game here, I cried at the end of LO. Such a beautiful game… Without any confusing segments of.. wha?… Who.. and why?
Face it the original creator did a magnificent job with the story in LO… I take my hat off to Mistwalker. For their efforts they did, to grace us with an BEST RPG for this generation!!
FF13 wish it was LO in my perspective… But thats just me. For all the haters.. you’ll be kicking yourself for not playing one of the few good RPG exclusives this generation i give it 9/10
Posted on June 17th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
i have played both games and can safely say that final fantasy XIII is better at least for me… but i will agrea that the music in lost odyssey takes the cake.. its damn good. also lost adyssey does have an excellent story and is the only reason i own an xbox 360.. as far as your comment about Vanille voice… i completly disagree.. i have been playing rpgs for a long time and own quite a few classics from japan for my trusty sega saturn.. and for a voice over job.. its on of the best.. Vanille, Fang, Snow, Sarah, Hope, Sazh and Lighting have excellent voice overs that match up well… as for lost odyssey it also had strong voice acting.. and i will admit that i put more then 100hrs of gameplay time into it.. but the story of Sazh in FFXIII apealed to me more…
but if anyone wants to know the king of RPG’s this generation
then you are all wrong.. Valkryia Chronicles takes the cake and is by far the best rpg available only on ps3… im not a fan boy .. but i promise if you play that game from begining to end.. youll agrea with me
Posted on June 20th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
LO>FFXIII, but that doesn’t mean that any of them are great. But LO is the natural continuation of the FF saga. FFXIII is not and Sakaguchi is why. LO made me cry more than once. (OK I’m a 37 yo man, with a sensitive side) FFXII didn’t even make me care. I’ve played all of the FFs. (Even FFXI) and I’ve loved them all, except fot FFXIII. Mistwalker MUST make another mature RPG!
Posted on August 15th, 2010 at 2:36 am
Lost Odyssey is not only better than FFXIII but definitely the best JRPG so far this gen. IMO, it is comparable to some of the great Final Fantasies of old such as FFVI and famed FFVII. It’s completely true that LO doesn’t do anything as far as innovation goes, but that is no reason to downgrade the game as its lack of innovation does not deter it in any way from being epic. We all know innovation doesn’t always equate to being good.
While FFXIII is very beautiful visually(not to say that the other isn’t a pretty game), LO’s true beauty lies in the sense that it was created with heart and soul. The story is told in a manner that is understandable and easy enough to follow, but, at the same time, the ideas and themes touched upon are deep and even soul-searching.
LO doesn’t focus on the usual teens that most Jrpgs focus on but on a group of immortals who have lived 1000 years. Their experiences on the path of life(sometimes happy and positive, sometimes sad and full of loneliness) are told through the Thousand Years Dreams sequence. It’s ironic to note just how human and realistic immortals can be when things are done right. In fact, the characters are some of the most realistic and mature I’ve seen around in an RPG. Even the two children impressed me somewhat.
Music-wise, XIII has good pieces here ‘n there but a lot of it is what I would personally almost describe as a meshing of different notes. On the other hand, I really enjoyed LO’s soundtrack. The pieces really set the mood well for the story you’ll encounter. Considering that the music was done by famed FF composer Uematsu though, I guess that’s really no surprise.
All in all, FFXIII will appeal to some(especially to those who are not familiar with the series’ predecessors), but I think many fans who have been following the Final Fantasy series over the years will agree LO is, if not a masterpiece, the better JRPG of the two.
Posted on September 1st, 2010 at 8:52 pm
I find it interesting to hear the fan-boys defend their game & downplay LO like it’s no big thing or something.
Especially Dion, who’s never even played THREE HOURS of LO before….
That’s because Lost Odyssey is most definitely a better game, production values wise.
If you don’t find mystical wars and magical empires who fight each other, for political survival no less…all the while being manipulated by Immortal gods from on high than I do not know what sort of taste in stories you are supposed to have.
FF 13 on the other hand is a tale about sorrow and religion.
Lost Odyssey, is a tale dipped in tragedy, hope as well as political intrigue where entire nations are wiped out. It’s nearly IMPOSSIBLE to not love LO’s story, especially if you include the dream sequences themselves…which are about as long as a mini novel.
That said, there is a few flaws in LO like a bit too much rushing on the main villain. But being honest here, FF6 had those flaws as well. And there is a lot in LO that one can only like, just like FF6, so in a way it is very tough to take away points!
FF13 while a very good game, isn’t great. On a scale of one to ten, FF13 is pretty much a 9. Lost Odyssey is great, and is easily a 10. A sequel to Lost Odyssey would be spectacular, without question. It would light the RPG world on fire in fact. The depth of inquiry LO forces you into as a player, is all about how life would be if one was immortal. Not to mention, what they would do with the human world….if immortals were really controlling everything.
Praise San-Sakaguchi! ^_^ There is so much meat to LO’s narrative that this game, not Blue Dragon….is who is screaming out for a series. Put the other JRPGs on the backburner MS, bring us Lost Odyssey 2 and don’t look back.
Posted on September 18th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I’ve played both games, and I quite agree that LO > FFXIII in most aspects.
In my opinion:
Lost Odyssey is what should’ve been Final Fantasy XIII.
Final Fantasy XIII is what should’ve been a lonely JRPG with any other name.
That way, both games would have been loved as they deserved.
Enough said.
Posted on January 17th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
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