Lost Sphear Critic Reviews

Lost Sphear, as with I Am Setsuna before it, is a beautiful, heartfelt bit of classical Japanese videogame storytelling. It’s not a game that you should be playing for the gameplay in so much as it wraps nostalgia and some more modern ideas together in order to tell something that is both memorable and soulful. It’s a beautiful, emotive game and with it Tokyo RPG Factory has cemented itself as one of my favourite JRPG outfits going around.

Lost Sphear is an outstanding game, taking most of what made I Am Setsuna memorable and topping it. Lost Sphear doesn’t fare quite as well when it comes to the soundtrack, but its battle system is vastly superior and one of the most enjoyable battle systems I’ve played in a JRPG in years. It keeps the turn-based system that many have used before and puts new twists on it to keep it fresh – so while the plot itself goes with a lot of tried and true turns, the battles feel much newer. It isn’t a perfect game, but does a better job of merging the genre’s past tropes with modern-day gaming conventions than Tokyo RPG Factory’s debut effort and is a must for any fan of JRPGs.

Lost Sphear is a good game, a solid RPG with an enjoyable plot, solid systems, and a great soundtrack. If you need an RPG to hold you over until 2018’s bigger AAA RPG releases, then this is your game.

The latest Tokyo RPG Factory game manages to hit the hearts of those who grew up with the Super Nintendo and the first PlayStation.

A nostalgic tribute of 90s RPGs. Great music and atmosphere, perfect for people who search a brief adventure instead of excessively long RPGs.

Lost Sphear has all the makings of a classic RPG, along with some of the trappings expected with the genre.

Thanks to its whimsical soundtrack, interesting script, enjoyable combat system (even if most of its copied from I Am Setsuna), there’s plenty of aspects found in Lost Sphear that I fell in love with. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of the genre or a newcomer looking for something accessible, you should give this one a try. Just expect nothing mind-blowing.

Lost Sphear is a little step forward for Tokyo RPG Factory, solving all the bad things from I Am Setsuna and keeping the good ones exactly as they were. If you love JRPGs and miss those times where everything was simpler, don't miss it.

Lost Sphear is an homage the old-school JRPG genre, while adding strategy mechanics into its easy-to-master gameplay and holds a good rhythm in its narrative. Its world-building is captivating, yet its characters lack originality in design and charisma.

Since finishing Lost Sphear, I can’t stop thinking about it.

Even though it won't go down as the masterpiece it takes inspiration from, Lost Sphear will give longtime JRPG fans all they can ask for, such as a fast and enjoyable combat system and a huge degree of customization. If you don't expect anything groundbreaking, give it a chance.

Even though Lost Sphear may not quite match the quality class of the SNES classic, the Tokyo RPG Factory is much closer to the big role model with their new game than it was in I am Setsuna.

If you liked I am Setsuna or just games with a very old school gameplay, then this title is for you.

Lost Sphear may be the homage factory it was intended to be, but thanks to mixing elements of yesteryear together in such a smart way, it ends up feeling like its own, unique beast. Inevitably, it falls victim to the age-old argument of "Is it fair to compare this to other games," and because it is designed to imitate those games, it obviously is. Truth be told, while some of it sags, Lost Sphear is one of the best games to come out imitating those highly revered titles, and any fan of those '90s RPGs would be a fool not to give it a chance.

Lost Sphear is one of the few JRPGs that retains the Chrono Trigger feeling, but improves many aspects of the gameplay to offer a modern approach to fans of the genre. It's a true classic JRPG featuring a charming art style, nostalgic music and an interesting combat system.

The game's overarching plot is a little derivative, the main conflict less impactful the more abstract the story gets, but it's grounded by likeable characters with personality and a satisfying abundance of actual story-telling. Topped off by a beautiful presentation, in particular an amazing musical score, and a combat system that offers a lot of player choice, and it's easy to become captivated by the charms of classic RPGs all over again.

Compared to I am Setsuna, Lost Sphear is a step forward and a step backward at the same time. Tokyo RPG Factory improved on storytelling and character development but the gameplay structure and nuisances aren't just recalling the good old times. They just feel outdated and sometime plain annoying.

In spite of my cruel and cutting remarks, I still enjoyed Lost Sphear.

A step forward for the 16 bit-esque JRPG initiated by I am Setsuna. Old school gameplay with all the flavor, pros and flaws that one could expect from that.

I've certainly enjoyed my time with the game, and I think it's worth playing. But I know deep down that in a few years I'm far more likely to replay Chrono Trigger for a twentieth time than I am to come back to Lost Sphear.