Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Mistwalker
System: Xbox 360
Genre: Role-playing
Release date: Available now
Review by: Michele White

The controller vibrates. Arrows fill the air as the machine opens and hordes pour out. Monsters, half creature and half machine powered by evil mages, wage war against a massive army. Enter Kaim Argonar. Handsome, dexterous and more than a little handy with a sword, Kaim commences to dealing out the death and mows down the horde. His first attack takes down three of the big bads, and his guard automatically comes up to block their fellows’ assault (no skill involved). Kaim never suffers so much as a scratch. Soon, the Khent have had enough, and they literally bring in the big guns. The heavy tank towers over the battlefield. Kaim strikes, and gets rewarded for his efforts with a magma blast straight to the face. (Ouch!) Not only can the tank use its dual flame throwers, it has the ability to bonk you on the head with its mighty blade. Barely able to stand after multiple magma blasts, Kaim puts the metal beast down with a cool killing blow to its magic engine. The sky darkens. A meteor storm blots out the sun and drowns the world as we know it in deadly lava. Kaim watches helplessly before everything goes black. The world has been reduced to ash and rubble. Kaim, miraculously the lone survivor, makes his way across the desolation as his Lost Odyssey begins.

Though Kaim’s army appears utterly annihilated, some of the Khent managed to survive and plague him as he moves across the wasteland. Two Khent soldiers pose a brief threat, but Kaim manages to dispatch them with little difficulty. As Kaim continues through the wasteland, you’ll very quickly learn that “fire bad – lava hurts”. Enemies pop up out of nowhere at random intervals, but fear not. There’s always enough time to prepare for battle. Once successfully across the barren wastes, Kaim encounters some friendly soldiers and they escort him back to base camp where he learns little about what happened, but they offer him a lift back to the city.

Like most games of this genre, gold and other goodies can be acquired from fallen foes, but there’s no need to search. Booty acquired through combat simply appears in inventory after the battle is over. Items can also be acquired by opening or probing boxes and other containers. There’s no hacking required. Some containers you need simply walk through, while others require use of the A button to physically open them. Among these items are rings that can be modified with components to add magical bonuses to attacks. Formulas for creating these rings are easily found within the inventory menus, and the components required can either be found while adventuring or purchased from a merchant.

It’s a rocky ride on board with the Uhra troops, but the rear view of Kaim’s well-cut form makes it worth the trip. Kaim also encounters HER here, Officer Seth Balmore, another survivor. They arrive at the Magic Republic of Uhra and the transport stops. Kaim’s been summoned to the council chambers, but Balmore is rudely instructed to remain behind. The greenery and life that abound within the capital city of the Republic stand out in sharp contrast to the barren wastes that Kaim left behind. Peace still reigns within, but for how long?