18 Years Ago Today the Best Xbox 360 RPG Released

by

I loved growing up with Nintendo and PlayStation, especially colorful platformers and story-driven RPGs. But it was actually Gears of War that made me want an Xbox 360. I played a lot of games on that console, but none have had the same impact as Gears of War. It was amazing when I first played it, and it still is, but it’s frustrating that Microsoft isn’t doing anything with the franchise, despite how many fans it has.

Released in 2007 for the Xbox 360, Lost Odyssey quickly became known as one of the greatest RPGs ever made – a sentiment I share. Created by Mistwalker and led by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the original creator of Final Fantasy, it offered a classic turn-based JRPG experience with cutting-edge graphics and presentation for its time. Fans have been requesting a remake for years, and while a more recent version is available through backward compatibility, it’s not the full, updated revival they’ve been hoping for. Now, with RPGs experiencing a resurgence in popularity, thanks to games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, it’s the perfect time to revisit and remake Lost Odyssey.

Lost Odyssey Is One of the Best RPGs of All Time

Originally released in Japan in 2007 and worldwide in 2008 for the Xbox 360, Lost Odyssey quickly gained attention from fans of Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs). This was largely due to the involvement of Hironobu Sakaguchi, a key creator of the beloved Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger series, and Nobuo Uematsu, who composed the game’s complete soundtrack. Their previous collaborations were well-known and highly regarded within the JRPG community, evoking a sense of classic role-playing gameplay.

While many role-playing games were switching to fast-paced, real-time battles, Lost Odyssey stuck with a classic turn-based system. But it didn’t just copy older games – it improved upon them. A unique timing mechanic made battles more engaging, requiring players to actively participate while still keeping the strategic, menu-based structure. The game also featured deep elements like managing your party, connecting skills between characters who lived forever and those who didn’t, and challenging boss fights that unfolded in multiple stages, making it a standout title among traditional Japanese RPGs.

Lost Odyssey was a truly expansive game, spanning multiple discs and offering a huge amount of content – from the main story to side quests and optional challenges. It used a classic JRPG structure with towns, a world map, and dungeons, which was a welcome throwback for players who missed that style, especially as it wasn’t as common on home consoles then, but felt fresh and updated.

What really made this game special was its storytelling. The main character, who couldn’t die, shared his memories through unlockable text stories called “A Thousand Years of Dreams,” written by Kiyoshi Shigematsu. Unlike typical cutscenes, these were purely text-based, and players and critics loved them for their emotional impact and beautiful writing. They dealt with themes like loss, regret, and love in a very realistic and moving way, and I still think about them today. I often stopped playing just to savor these stories, because they were so well-written and added a lot to the overall experience.

Lost Odyssey Being Exclusive Is a Shame

A major reason why Lost Odyssey didn’t reach a larger audience was that it was only available on the Xbox 360. At the time, most fans of Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) played on PlayStation consoles because of the brand’s history and the many strong games already available for it. While Xbox was popular in Western countries, it wasn’t as well-known in Japan. This limited the game’s success in important markets. Because of this platform restriction, many RPG fans didn’t get a chance to play it when it first came out. Although positive reviews spread by word of mouth, access to the game remained limited, and by the time it gained popularity, it was too late to significantly boost sales.

For years, fans have consistently asked for a remake or remaster of Lost Odyssey. Every time Xbox announced updates to its backward compatibility feature, players hoped this classic RPG would be included. While Microsoft did eventually make the game playable on newer consoles through backward compatibility – which helped preserve it and made it more accessible – it’s not the same as a full remake or remaster. A proper update would include improved graphics, a more user-friendly interface, and adjustments to the game’s pacing.

Lost Odyssey is a compelling game with a fantastic story, but unfortunately, its limited release hurt its success. If it had been available on PlayStation as well, it likely would have reached a larger audience and potentially led to a sequel or remake. When a great game is exclusive to one console, it can significantly impact sales. This is a key reason why Lost Odyssey is often considered one of the best RPGs on the Xbox 360, rather than being widely celebrated as one of the best RPGs of all time.

The RPG Revitalization Is Perfect for Lost Odyssey to Return

Today’s RPG market is much more open to traditional game design than it was a decade ago. Turn-based RPGs, once considered old-fashioned, are now widely accepted, largely thanks to the huge success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Both Japanese and Western game developers have released popular titles that focus on slower, more strategic turn-based battles and compelling stories. Games like Persona 5 and Baldur’s Gate 3 have further boosted the resurgence in popularity of this style of RPG.

Classic role-playing games are making a big comeback! Remakes and updated versions of older titles, like the recent Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, are consistently popular. More and more players are asking for these classic, turn-based RPGs to be brought back, and as these projects succeed, the demand only increases. This creates a great opportunity for Lost Odyssey. A modern remake could improve the game’s flow, enhance the graphics, add voice acting to important story moments, and simplify the menus, all while staying true to the original design that fans love.

I still think about Lost Odyssey all the time, and it’s not just about cool game mechanics – it’s the characters and the story’s themes that really stuck with me. Even now, years later, I can still vividly remember certain plot twists and flashback sequences, which is more than I can say for a lot of other, bigger games. That’s why I’m so excited about the remake – great stories deserve to be experienced again! People have been hoping for more than just a simple re-release for ages, and with RPGs being so popular right now, and everyone feeling nostalgic, it feels like the perfect time. Even after eighteen years, Lost Odyssey is still one of the best RPGs on the Xbox 360, and it absolutely deserves a proper comeback.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

Read More

2026-02-12 17:12