Just finished the Sorceress stage, and my god that was a slew of difficult puzzles. I hadn't scene that coming down the pipe, and then there I was scratching my head. Worse then that thanks to the random battles it almost felt like I was solving the puzzle under fire. I think my characters catapulted three levels, and near the end I was fleeing every encounter. Somewhat out of frustration, but more out of the sense I would level too high to keep the final encounter compelling. I confess I had to check a guide, and some advice spoiler or not you can move that statue. Just keep working around it till you get the prompt. A obvious puzzle element, but its easy to think you cannot move it, because the prompt is very temperamental.

That said even then the battle was a near run thing. I made one critical error on my first pass which doomed me to failure, and on the second pass I finished it off with less then a hundred on the counter. Needless to say the puzzle elements have really taken a step up in my eyes. I rarely fall back on guides, because I can usually unravel a puzzle in short order on my own, but if it draws out for forty five minutes or longer. I will fall back on a guide. I rather keep my rhythm rather then languish in frustration. Granted if the prompt had been less tenuous I would have been through the level in half the time, but its not a major point. I do think the interaction prompt is a flaw in the game.

yea the puzzle was a killer in there, just cause it was hard to catch the interaction with the statue.

There are alot of puzzles in the game

Yeah, some of the puzzles had me scratching my head a bit. I did end up buying the strategy guide (I like getting the guides for rpgs that I like :) ), although I didn't get it until I was about on disc 3. Though, my game and guide are all in Japanese ;-p

If you like mass effect will you like this?

hard to say, both are really completely different games.

THe only thing they are alike in is having a great story, besides that everything is different

Mass Effect and Lost Odyssey fall on different sides of the track, and excel in different areas. Where one is weak the other is strong. So while they are not the same it seems that they serve as counter points to one another. Had you found something somewhat lacking in Mass Effect you will find it in Lost Odyssey.

I hesitate to compare the two honestly. Mass Effect is more of the simpletons role playing game. Lost Odyssey is more of a apprentices role playing game. There are games even simpler then Mass Effect, and there are games more difficult then Lost Odyssey. Neither are at the extremes.

Mass Effect basically is a third person shooter with a few role playing mechanics laid on top to inhibit effectiveness. That said you can point, click, and evade your way through Mass Effect you need not be particularly well versed with its role playing mechanics, or even rely upon them. You can almost ignore them. Merely upgrade to the next item numerically, and allocate the points to the particular weapon you predominantly use. There is little strategy involved, and no penalty for having a polar character. You don't even have to rely on your unlocked abilities, or actually feel compelled to use them.

Lost Odyssey is a role playing game pure and simple. The reason I refer to is as apprentice is that due to its nature your always on a learning curve discovering, and then being forced to utilize new developments. You cannot rely on a tired strategy you must adapt as the situation changes. You also must rely on the role playing mechanics to succeed in the game. You must learn or understand the values involved, and the appropriate uses and strategies.

I would say if you found the role playing game mechanics in Mass Effect less then exciting you might find your fix in Lost Odyssey. Yes different presentation, but those elements are far more compelling in this game and more rewarding. On the other hand if you weren't particularly interested in those aspects in Mass Effect. Basically playing it as a simple auto aiming third person shooter. This game might actually be too complex and too frustrating for you. The different being checkers to chess. Both are played on the same board, but in Chess you need to know a lot more then you need to know in checkers.

I just finished the first disc and so far I am really impressed with this game. The action is a bit slow but the games got a lot of emotion. I also had some laugh out loud moments with some of Jansens lines. I would definately recommend this game.

I really enjoy reading the dreams. If you are playing the game you have to take the time to read them. They are great short stories. And this game has come the closest to making me cry out of any game I've ever played. It's full of sadness.

@Astrodust

Some solid advice don't share that epiphany with a Neanderthal. Some gamers are in touch with their emotions and can freely admit that they have them. Others are knuckle dragging jerks. You know they are full of it when they say they wouldn't get emotional over a compelling story in a game, but it's like a homosexual in the closet. They can never admit that even to themselves, and thus they go into taunt or bash mode.

Honestly if you can read these short stories without getting choked up, or misty you are a twisted psychopath. You obviously lack empathy or the ability to form a meaningful relationship with other people. I applaud the novelist I understand there is a book of short stories out for this game titled He Who Journeys Eternity. Unfortunately Amazon has no listing for it. I hope it gets localized I would love to read a book of short stories such as these.

Aww man I just found out Im a twisted pyscopath! Damn you are harsh Dodece!

Im very early into the game (like 1 hour in only, been too busy). I only had the dream about the sick little girl so far. I admit when that first popped up I was like *sigh* "I gotta read all this?", but as I kept reading I found it interesting and worthwhile. But nary a tear from my eye,but uhh, it did make me feel a bit sad.

Im the type who skipped most of the books in Blue Dragon so go figure.