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‘Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir’ Reviews: PlayStation 4 And PlayStation Vita Remake Is Getting High Marks

By Bryan Star
Published on: 22:37 PST, Jun 2, 2016

Fans of the PlayStation 2 hit Odin Sphere will be pleased to know that the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita remakes are scoring high across the board.

Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir is an updated version of its older self. The graphics are crisp, the characters are fluid, and the gameplay is just as engaging as it was years ago. It’s not every day that a remake or remaster can capture an audience with nostalgia like its former version, but that appears to be no issue with Atlus’ release of the enhanced Odin Sphere. The game spans five stories, each of them weaving in and out to complete a tale of epic proportion in the world of Erion. Warring kingdoms are fighting for control, and the story is broken up to complete a journey that leaves no detail spared.

The main characters in Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir are unique, and each of them is memorable. Their weapons are forged from what are called phozon, crystals that are found in the game’s Netherworld. Just as you’d expect, each individual carries a different type of weapon to hack and slash their way through levels. The lore refers to each weapon as a “Psypher.” Oswald, the shadow knight, wields the Psypher sword to cuts his enemies down with the power of darkness. Gwendolyn, the valkyrie, uses the Psypher spear to freeze her enemies before shattering them with crushing blows. Mercedes, a fairy who wields the Psypher crossbow, delivers aerial attacks with great accuracy. Cornelius, the pooka prince, is a man that has been turned into a beast. Armed with his Psypher sword, he wields the power of lightning to zap and shock his foes. Lastly, Velvet is a witch that uses fire to burn her enemies with the Psypher chain.

As you can see, Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir offers character variety to give players multiple ways to play. According to Gamespot, the combat system is fresh thanks to the addition of attacks and smoother gameplay. This certainly gives higher marks to Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir as a whole, though fans who played the PlayStation 2 version will be disappointed to know that the old methods of combat are no longer present. Still, the original game has been raised to a level fitting of the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, and the core of the game that made it a hit is alive and well.

If Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir has any negatives, it appears that the game might feel “adolescent” to some. In a report by Zam, the general feeling is that Odin Sphere seems like an adolescent fairy tale. The overall mood of the game is one that suggests an easy difficulty, and the increase of abilities for each character only makes advancing more of a time consumption than a challenge. Players are able to raise the level at their leisure, though the feeling of struggle only deepens so much before the main character’s power allows the player to avoid flirting with death.

Ultimately, Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir has been enhanced to feel more like Dragon’s Crown. As a 2D beat-em-up, it gives old and new players alike a chance to experience the magic of an interesting story. The reviews are giving the game high marks, and it appears that the main praise for the game lies in its fluid execution on multiple levels. Whether you’re using a sword or a chain, the action is consistent enough to keep the player engaged. Odin Sphere retails at $59.99, and it will be available on June 7 of this year. There is currently a demo available, just enough to hold anxious players over until the game’s full release

How do you feel about Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir and its enhancements? Do you feel it’ll do the original game justice? Let us know in the comments below.

[Image Via Atlus]

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