I'm not the kind of guy to buy into the hype wagon belonging to a videogame that doesn't belong to a series that has proven to me its merits (unless it has some awesome, preorder-only extra that I'm pretty sure I can't live without). Even if I am a big fan of the developer or publisher, everyone screws up once in awhile and I don't want to be the sucker with yoke on his face and a hole in his wallet; I've been burned too many times. So when I caught wind of Atlus' Odin Sphere - the spiritual successor to a Japan only Saturn title known as Princess Crown - I was intrigued but not sold. Interesting gameplay dynamics involving cultivating plants and pretty artwork just wasn't a convincing enough argument.

So I kept the game on my radar, waiting for when the reviews would begin to trickle in, to see if my holdout was justified or not. Chock full of praise and starry-eyed adoration, these reviews had me dropping my guard in a hurry and off to track down a copy for myself. What I found was a game that even the most detailed review couldn't build up enough, as all expectations were swiftly excelled by the sheer genius that is Odin Sphere. For a game of this inexplicable quality to see a release at the end of the PlayStation 2's lifespan is mind blowing, as without hesitation, this game trumps not only 95% of everything released on that system, but nearly everything released for the PlayStation 3 as well.

What sets Odin Sphere apart from the crowd is hard to pin down to just one aspect, as it exceeds in just about every category you can think of. But if I had to pick just one, I would say graphics. Just about every video and screenshot currently on the Internet fails to do the game justice, as this game simply must be seen to be believed (especially in progressive scan on an HDTV by way of a PS3). The entire game is made up of hand drawn 2D graphics, all set upon a 2D plain (think the Valkyrie Profile series). The detail in each object and character through the entire game is astounding, utilizing a deep color palette and natural shadows to create something unlike anything else on the system to date. Even with the art direction leaning heavily on the anime-style - something that has been abused since the PSOne in the name of 'Being Cheap' - there is no sacrifice between paper and TV screen; if anything, there is more detail in this game than most anime!

Though everything is technically flat, Odin Sphere does not flaunt it like the Paper Mario series; instead it layers everything very heavily, as if the world was built from stickers, giving each layer animation where necessary. This translates into, for example, scale armor, where each scale is an individual piece and a forest background can come to life by animating each layer as it stretches out. To continue on the animation thread, this game sports an amazing amount of fluid, lifelike movement that takes the wondrous art to a whole new level. Just watching a character breathe heavily after a tough fight is breathtaking, as different parts of their body move, not just their chest. Eyes blink, facial expressions vary depending on the moment and mouths mimic the Japanese voice track perfectly. The game never leaves the in-game graphics for cut scenes, as there is just no point when the in-game engine can produce such astounding results.

All this detail does bring along one minor problem - which shouldn't be a problem for most players to overlook - and that's slowdown. The game can slow to a crawl during the most hectic of battles, which can be annoying. But that speaks less about the game as it does the system, as Odin Sphere simply pushes the PS2 to its outer limits. I didn't find it as prevalent or as harmful to the overall experience as other reviewers made it out to be (could have something to do with me playing the game on the PS3 though), but it is there and it does affect the gameplay.

The sound department doesn't miss a beat, playing off the graphics with unrelenting enthusiasm. Hiroshi Sakimoto, the man behind the music of many beloved titles such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII, and his company Basiscape have put together a triumphant score that easily holds up his mantle as one of the premier composers in videogames today. Booming anthems, blazing battle tunes and soft, reflective compositions provide each and every scene with the perfect audio backdrop. Just make sure you adjust the sound settings, as the default level has the music getting lost behind the myriad sound effects. Vocally, the title mostly excels. As is becoming the norm, thankfully, you can select between the English and Japanese vocal tracks. Hands down the Japanese track is superior, as the voice actors really nail every line with perfect tone and inflection. The English track, which uses many voice actors who will ring familiar with anyone who has played any recent Atlus or NIS America titles, is decent enough, but as usual, lacks the vocal consistency and skill to push it beyond acceptable.

Once you gain enough composure to look past the graphics and peel back the other layers of the game, Odin Sphere does nothing to dull your awe. The game, based within five books, is about a young girl reading books by herself, playing the title role in her head in each one - a task that is actually handled by the player. The world of Erion is nearing the end of an unsteady peace, as the mysterious destruction of one its most powerful countries, Valentine, has led the power hungry countries of Ringford and Ragnanival to fight for the lost country's former glory. This sets in motion a lost prophecy that will bring about the end of the world.

On the surface that doesn't sound so great - pretty run of the mill really. But it is what is done within this overarching plot device that makes this story stellar. Using many motifs and plot devices found in the Arthurian stories of yore, such as extramarital affairs between enemies and a high emphasis on honor and properness, the main characters in Odin Sphere are forced to grow up within a rigid society. Their interactions with society, whether direct or indirect, bring a wide variety of emotions, actions and reactions into play that show us how each character has grown up and how they plan to continue growing. Each character has their own fears, goals, anxieties, hatred and loves, humanizing them with even more layers emotionally than they have visually. As you begin to unravel the tale and see how each character has been connected to the other, and how that connection has been linked to the fate of the world, it will be extremely hard to not want to speed through the action parts to get to the next story section.

But speed through the action on purpose you must not, as it is yet another feather in Odin Sphere's flair-covered cap! As I mentioned before, the entire game takes place on a 2D plain. Areas where monsters can be found are broken into multiple levels; as you beat levels - which range in difficulty (listed in stars), rewards (top reward listed next to the stars) and enemies (there are regular, mid-boss, boss and shop levels) - you move along the branching map as you work your way to your objective. Once you enter the first level where monsters can appear, you are in an arena-style area, which is represented by a circular map in the bottom right side of the screen. That map is not in a circle for fun, as the level loops, much as if you ran around the world, so to speak. Enemies begin to appear out of the ground and air until you have beaten everything that level has to offer. You are given a score grade based on your performance, awarded (or not awarded) fat loot accordingly and then that level's exit(s) open up for you.

When it comes to actually laying the smack down, you are given quite a few options. You can hack, slash and block away, use the air for either combos or dive bomb attacks or cast any spells you have learned, all with speed and ease, while keeping an eye on your POW meter, which depletes with each of one of those actions. Run out of POW and you're momentarily stunned, wide open for enemy attacks. The key to winning is to use all three in tandem to attack your enemies' weaknesses, which may or may not exist, marking one of Odin Sphere's more addictive features. Enemies very rarely feel as if they are just rolling over for your current character, as they are properly leveled and designed to be tough, always giving you a decent fight. Mid-level bosses are no slouches either, constantly demanding your respect and attention. Bosses are always a treat, as they test you to no end with their varying skills and strengths, as well as almost always sporting a badass appearance. The first chapter alone has more than its share of awesome boss battles, ranging from a giant dragon to a hulking, treacherous piece of man meat.

To compliment battle is the alchemy/cooking system and the horticulture system. Unlike in the Atelier Iris series, where these tasks can only be accomplished safely in town, Odin Sphere demands that you not only access them at anytime, but that you have to for survival. As you learn recipes, you can craft your own potions at any time using a mixture of materials found along your travels or purchased from a shop. To make sure you keep up on it, the game periodically forces you into corners that cannot be escaped without the use of the right potion, such as freezing temperatures depleting your life without a warming potion or an area full of poisonous enemies.

The horticulture system ends up being one of the more interesting aspects of the entire game. It is exactly what you think it is: you plant seeds, help them to grow by harvesting phozons from enemies for them to absorb, then chop down the bounty they present. This is the absolute key to battle, as all your non-store healing items come from this. Plants range in what type of fruit (including one that grows sheep!) they offer when fully grown, with each fruit offering a different amount of HP and HP experience (which levels up your HP bar). But since absorbing phozons is the key to leveling up your character's weapon, as well as keeping your MP gauge filled, striking a balance between you and your plants quickly develops into an interesting dynamic that never grows easier or old.

Lasting appeal just isn't a problem of any kind in Odin Sphere. Just pushing through the main quest will take over forty hours, and though there isn't a large wealth of extra material in terms of side quests, the multiple difficulty levels and a constantly high fun factor demand an immediate replay - about as high as praise can get for a traditional RPG. Even if you move onto another game after finishing Odin Sphere, this isn't a game you'll want far from your collection, as the entire production comes together so satisfactorily that it, without an inch of hesitation, deserves the title of 'instant classic'.

If there is one phrase that can cover just about everything Odin Sphere is about, it would be this: Odin Sphere has 2D sensibilities. If you remove the technological aspect of the game - not that you'd want to - you have a game that could just as easily been released on the Super Nintendo and ruled the hearts and dreams of fan boys and girls around the world. But it is that technological aspect that pushes the game beyond the realm of above average to sheer greatness. Do not miss this one of a kind experience that, much like a Red Bull, will revitalize your mind, body and soul.

Reviewed by Tony Peters for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).