New games this week: Lost Odyssey edition

by Justin McElroy { Feb 11th 2008 at 8:45AM }

We were fully prepared to make the absolutely delightful-looking Professor Layton and the Mysterious Village our featured game but we were afraid ... well, we were afraid that you'd make fun of us. There, we said it. So we went with the predictable choice: The sweeping, "no, we swear it's not Final Fantasy" epic RPG adventure of Lost Odyssey, which we know will send several of your hearts aflutter this week.

Also of note this week, we're looking forward to Wipeout Pulse and (in a sick sort of way) Jumper, which promises to be the best game based on a movie starring Hayden Christensen in which you do not actually play his character ever.

Xbox 360:

Lost Odyssey
Jumper
Conflict: Denied Ops
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic
Ninja Gaiden Black (Xbox Originals)
Black (Xbox Originals)
Sid Meier's Pirates! Live the Life (Xbox Originals)

PS3:

Conflict: Denied Ops

Nintendo Wii:

Balloon Pop
Go Diego Go: Safari Rescue
Jumper

Virtual Console:

Lords of Thunder
Harvest Moon

PS2:

Jumper
Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Mermaids
Go Diego Go: Safari Rescue
Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon Special Edition
Iridium Runners

PSP:

Wipeout Pulse
Chessmaster

Nintendo DS:

Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts
Professor Layton & the Curious Village
New Zealand Story: Revolution

PC Games:

Pirateville
Conflict: Denied Ops
Forgotten Riddles: The Mayan Princess
Abra Academy
Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate
Powerboat GT

Tags: lost-odyssey, newgames, professor-layton

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

baby sea tuna @ Feb 11th 2008 8:55AM

This doesn't seem to be a good week if you tend to hate most Japanese games (which I do). I'm trying very hard to change my opinion (since I'd actually like to play my Wii or PS3 once in awhile) but No More Heroes and DMC4 aren't really helping all that much.

Shadow El ( NDF - Zola Ring ) @ Feb 11th 2008 5:35PM

Because excellent games would never do anything to change your opinion, right?

Dr. @ Feb 11th 2008 9:07AM

hah, character with huge sword and ridiculous hair. Perhaps they meant "From the Same Mold as Final Fantasy"?

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 11th 2008 9:07AM

Professor Layton edition for me... very addictive game, high production values, a lot of very well designed puzzles.

Change the edition Joystiq. Lost Odyssey is an average RPG. Professor Layton is above the average puzzle game.

Monthenor @ Feb 11th 2008 9:21AM

Professor Layton is your little sibling interrupting you with their new book "1001 Brainteasers" while you're trying to watch My Neighbor Totoro.

I love it.

FidliousWong @ Feb 11th 2008 9:42AM

Fernando hyping a Nintendo published game... big suprise.

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 11th 2008 9:43AM

You should try it sheppy... fanboyism apart, you will love it.

FidliousWong @ Feb 11th 2008 9:54AM

I plan to eventually but it's not in my budget right now. Granted, I played through the Japanese version so for me it's essentially replaying the game but in english this time.

Noshino @ Feb 11th 2008 11:13AM

the fact that it is published by Nintendo doesn't really matter....what does is that it is a Level 5 game, that on its own makes it a must buy game...

btw, usually Level 5, when they do localization, they add extra content to the US and PAL versions, was this also the case? (gotta love them for giving something extra for the waiting)

Mr.ESC @ Feb 11th 2008 11:40AM

Actually it looks like a good game but I bought Contra 4 instead.

Wipeout pulse and Ninja Gaiden Black are also awesome.Lost odyseey,meh.

samfish @ Feb 11th 2008 9:36AM

Awww, it's OK, Justin McElroy – if you're not man enough to make Professor Layton the featured game (as you *obviously* know it should be), then just admit that you're a little girl. A little girl who isn't even out of her training bra yet! "WAA! WAAAAAA! They're gonna make fun of me because I'm a sissy little girl!"

Wuss!

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 11th 2008 9:53AM

*cough cough

http://kotaku.com/354759/week-in-games-professor-layton-and-the-curious-villiage-edition

=)

xFenixKnightx @ Feb 11th 2008 9:58AM

Fernando!!! How DARE you put up a Kotapoo link?!! lulz!
Seriously though I hate Kotaku, I havent been there in ages. Joystiq RULEZ!!

Mr.ESC @ Feb 11th 2008 12:11PM

First Fernando you deserve to be voted down to oblivion for posting a link to gaytaku,hell even rick roll would be better.

Second:It should be Ninja Gaiden Black edition.

Eff your handheld games.

dan stabbingworth @ Feb 11th 2008 1:21PM

pwned by kotaku...weak

tmmoore_nc @ Feb 11th 2008 9:42AM

Why the hell are Xbox Originals featured? If you're going to feature those, at least have the decency to feature the Virtual Console games. Your bias rating is over 9,000 at this point.
Oh yeah, and not feature Layton is a fireable offense if I'm not mistaken. It's like a law.

John Z @ Feb 11th 2008 9:50AM

Oftentimes the Virtual Console releases aren't revealed until AFTER this post goes up. So they're not biased... technically. Let's not get into the fact that oftentimes the VC list gets its own entry. I'd much rather that the "games of the week" list get delayed until the VC list is announced, but I could live with it.

Oh, and I agree that it is not only criminal, but shameful to not have Professor Layton headlining this week. Still, to each their own, and it could be worse-- we could have been left with "Go Diego Go edition".

deaftly @ Feb 11th 2008 9:53AM

blah blah blah

B1gC72 - PSN: KillaKornbread @ Feb 11th 2008 10:27AM

it does seem biased at first glance but its not this time. Virtual Console gets its own section and we never really know what PSOne Classics are coming for PSP and PS3 until Thursday, which does you no good since most games come out on Tuesday. let this one go man, they did slap them up in there with the 360 games and brackets so its not really a feature anyway.

Martin @ Feb 11th 2008 9:41AM

For those PSP owners out there, you owe it to yourself to pickup Wipeout Pulse. It's so much better than Pure, and that is saying something. I've already cleared the first three grids. I thought it would get old and stale quickly, but it's gripping and intense.

For myself, I'll be picking up Professor Layton this week, with Lost Odyssey soon after if it gets good reaction from the playerbase.

xFenixKnightx @ Feb 11th 2008 9:52AM

Really? Man I loved Pure...or any Wipeout for that matter =) Cant wait for Wipeout on PS3!!!

Mr.ESC @ Feb 11th 2008 12:08PM

Ok I never played pure tho'.

FidliousWong @ Feb 11th 2008 9:41AM

Well, looks like I'll continue playing Company of Heroes and Killzone this week

xFenixKnightx @ Feb 11th 2008 9:49AM

Lost Odyssey actualy looks cool but I just dont have THAT much time on my hands.

CassilineKnight @ Feb 11th 2008 9:55AM

Lost Odyssey for me....have it on Pre-Order at Best Buy. I cannot wait to get into it.

JodyAnthony (death by snoo-snoo) @ Feb 11th 2008 10:16AM

for me this is Harvest Moon on the Virtual Console edition, with bonus Professor Layton (which everyone should buy. SO GOOD OMG.

mr nimblewick @ Feb 11th 2008 10:18AM

I don't know anything else about Lost Odyssey, but that is some really terrible box art. Look at the terrible trying-to-be-cool font for "From the creator of Final Fantasy."

The characters remind me of the pre-rendered art from the 16-32bit era.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 11th 2008 11:41AM

...which is what makes this game interesting, to me. That cityscape completely and totally reminds me of Vector of FF6 fame.

Never played this game, but the FF series lost its heart and soul when Sakaguchi and Uematsu (respectively) left Square.

360 gamers (may or) may not be getting the FF franchise, but we're getting the talent that created the best and most memorable entries of the series.

Noshino @ Feb 11th 2008 12:04PM

Sorry Crono, but Uematsu still works for SE, he still in charge as the composer of XIII...

As for Sakaguchi, I don't know dude, it feels as if the man had lost its magic...

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 11th 2008 1:18PM

Actually Uematsu is a free agent now. I didn't know he was back to doing soundtracks for SE. I thought FF10 (11?) was his last game. I know he didn't do 12's soundtrack (which is one reason why its so forgettable).

FidliousWong @ Feb 11th 2008 2:03PM

You know, I hate to hate on Uematsu but seriously... majority of the soundtracks he's done are the same, just thematically remixed. On each new FF game, 30%, if that, is truly new material.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 11th 2008 2:17PM

I would disagree, but only because I think I misunderstand what you're saying. Uematsu picks a "Theme song" for his games, and then mixes and plays with the theme for most of the soundtrack. This is a trait shared by most movie soundtracks and really good thematic albums such as Scenes from a Memory by Dream Theatre. And the themes are almost always good.

In my mind, this places him as one of the best neo-classical composers of our time. His music has a soul and the power to move emotions like few other composers of our time.

Noshino @ Feb 11th 2008 3:37PM

actually Crono, Uematsu did work on on FFXII, although all he worked on was the theme song...

eight @ Feb 11th 2008 10:20AM

no love for the Professor... I wouldn't make fun of you Justin. Thats what I am picking up today.

umm....hello??? @ Feb 11th 2008 10:55AM

LostOdyssey for me....and Jumper (the MOVIE...not the videogame) looks very good--I shall see it this week. But no way in hell will I touch the videogame.

deaftly @ Feb 11th 2008 11:02AM

Sorry Lost Odyssey, as much as I want to buy you I have to finish a plethora of games still. Sigh...I still will probably.

Freelance @ Feb 11th 2008 11:29AM

Man I know that feeling. I hadn't caught up with games from last year yet. The positive spin on that is, by the time you don't buy the game the price usually has dropped.

Freelancepimp @ Feb 11th 2008 11:27AM

WTF! Wheres all the balloon pop coverage. Why didn't anyone tell me this game was coming out. Screw you, selective gaming media.

Korova @ Feb 11th 2008 1:00PM

Balloon Pop FTW! It has story mode!!ROXXZZ!!

Seriously, I think I am getting a Wii. This. Week. It has the best minigames. To hell with all the midcore stuff, I am going casual for the rest of the year.

David @ Feb 11th 2008 11:26AM

You know, I think people will make fun of you more if you DIDN'T put up the Prof.

Deck @ Feb 11th 2008 12:02PM

ZOMGZ w0000t! My RPG soul is jumping up and down sporadically!

Blue_Falcon @ Feb 11th 2008 12:08PM

It's just Professor Layton for me this week.

capt_carl @ Feb 11th 2008 12:31PM

Lost Odyssey for me...if I wasn't saving for a Wii and Brawl. Maybe if I have spare cash I'll pick it up. I just hope I don't get let down like I did with Blue Dragon. Sakaguchi seems to have lost his touch, but Uematsu is still awesome. Plus, as long as boss battle themes don't involve Ian Gillan shouting unintelligible lyrics, it'll be a hell lot better then Blue Dragon.