Home » Technology » Console Role Playing Games » Albert Odyssey (review) - Page 2

Albert Odyssey (review) - Page 2

© Chuck Bednar

However, the story itself does have some problems. Legend of Eldean was originally released in Japan as a side story to the main Albert Odyssey game/series, and as such some of the references back to the original are either difficult to understand or forcibly explained in an uncomfortable style.

The story centers around a boy named Pike, who is raised by harpies after his folks meet an untimely end. One day, his home is attacked and his adoptive sister Laia is turned to stone. Pike sets out, accompanied by his faithful sword Cirrus, to find the cure, and ultimately is tossed into not one but two fairly cliché save-the-world quests. However, there is also the side-story of the Eldean family, which is explained by the narrator before the start of the game and frequently impacts Pike's journey. Not inspired, but entertaining, especially to role-playing fans who fondly remember the SNES days.

There are a few technical gripes I have about the game as well. First and foremost is the bland, uninspired, and (in some cases) just plain ugly world map design. While this may be a victim of the game's age, it is nonetheless annoying and is sure to hurt your enjoyment of the game somewhat. The other complaint is that some of the game's final dungeons are far too easy to navigate. The four towers surrounding the central Fargasta tower are each about four levels long, and the floors are far too short. A gamer simply should not be able to complete a dungeon and defeat one of the last couple of bosses in less than an hour! Thankfully, the complex design of the final Fargasta tower more than makes up for it.

Albert Odyssey: Legend of Eldean is an old game. It looks like an old game. It sounds like an old game. It feels and plays like an old game. But it has aged well, at least in this gamer's eyes. On the whole, the writing is solid, especially with the heaping helpings of humor added by Working Designs. If you yearn longingly for classic-style RPGs and can pull yourself away from the Dreamcast or PS2 long enough for a 15-20 hour adventure, you might want to give Albert Odyssey a try. Surprisingly, it's well worth it.

The copyright of the article Albert Odyssey (review) - Page 2 in Console Role Playing Games is owned by Chuck Bednar. Permission to republish Albert Odyssey (review) - Page 2 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.