Lost Sphear Review – a Love Letter to JRPG Fans

very good
key review info
  • Game: Lost Sphear
  • Platform: Playstation 4
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: Yes  
  • Reviewed on:
Lost Sphear cover

For the connoisseurs, Tokyo RPG Factory doesn't need any presentations, but if the name doesn't mean anything to you, then know that this is Square Enix studio fully dedicated to bringing gamers all around the world traditional Japanese role-playing games, also known as JRPGs.

Tokyo RPG Factory is mostly known for its work at I Am Setsuna, a splendid JRPG that's meant to be a love letter to fans of the classic JRPGs of the 90s. The newest project of the studio, Lost Sphear shapes up to be similar in almost every aspect with I Am Setsuna, so if you liked that game a lot, you'll probably fall in love again.

Lost Sphear is evidence that Square Enix and Tokyo RPG Factory have taken criticism about the lack of diversity from I Am Setsuna to heart, so the visual experience is now richer and more immersive.

However, Lost Sphear retains the feeling that you play a 90s JRPG, which might put off players expecting stunning graphics and modern combat mechanics. Yes, the nostalgia feeling is strong with this one, but that shouldn't stop newcomers to the genre from trying it out.

Story

If you love story-driven games, Lost Sphear may seem a bit of a hit and miss. While the game does offer a lengthy story, you'll find it a bit predictable and lacks any major twists. The one thing that Lost Sphear doesn't lack is “charm.”

The main protagonist, Kanata is a young orphan living in a small town that suddenly disappears, a strange phenomenon that makes people, towns and other things vanish completely and become “lost.” Kanata and his faithful friends, Lumina and Locke become the only force capable to bring back any object or human being that's been “lost.”

Embark in a perilous journey to save the world
Embark in a perilous journey to save the world

And so they embark in a perilous journey to find out what's causing this alarming phenomenon and how they can counter it. As you progress into the game, you'll meet more characters who will want to join your cause, from kings to kids and even demons. You'll be able to build your team as you see fit, but the developer's choice to make allow players to choose from such a wide array NPCs is a bit strange.

The cutscenes between fights and adventuring moments are very emotional, something specific to Japanese games. Well, of course that aren't any “what the heck” moments, but the writing is solid enough to keep players engaged and disregard many of the cliches plaguing the story.

It should take you around 30 hours to finish Lost Sphear, something that I wouldn't have expected from an indie game released in 2018. Games these days tend to be rather short, but Tokyo RPG Factory is more concerned of their own product rather than this trend.

Gameplay

Lost Sphear features the same combat system adopted in I Am Setsuna, but with some improvements. It's called Spritnite and it uses the extremely popular active time battle system (ATB), which allows characters in a party to act in real time as soon as they are ready for a new attack.

Aside from basic attacks, each character comes with a specific set of skills they can unleash, but there's one other aspect that makes fights more interesting than ever – Momentum Mode. Each time a character executes a basic attack, it gains a blue dot that can be used in conjunction with Momentum Mode. You can have up to three blue dots available for devastating attacks, so the more you wait, the higher the reward.

Momentum mode can be devastating when used correctly
Momentum mode can be devastating when used correctly

You'll need to execute a momentum mode attack at the exact moment (hence the name) to land a powerful attack on one or more enemies. A blue ring will glow around a character soon after they choose to attack an enemy. Taping the square button at the right moment will allow you to execute a devastating attack and those blue dots will be depleted.

All your characters will have access to mechanical suits called Vulcosuit, but they require the use of so-called vulcosuit points which are hard to come by the first time you acquire them. In fact, it would be a mistake to start using them immediately at the expense of the standard armors that you can find during your adventures.

First, keep raising that VP gauge and then start using the Vulcosuits, which offer immense attack and defense power, along with the Paradigm Drive ability. Even after you have enough VPs at your disposal, you'll notice that some boss fights are harder with the Vulcosuits on, so you'll have to diversify your combat strategy from time to time, which isn't a bad thing at all.

Graphics and audio

It's true that Lost Sphear doesn't feature stunning visuals, but unlike I Am Setsuna it offers a great variation when it comes to landscapes. The visuals look like hand-drawn paintings, while the 3D models are kept simple. It's exactly what you would expect from an indie JRPG, nothing more, but nothing less either.

The soundtrack greatly adds to the immersion and it's quite pleasant most of the time. A little bit of warning though – the music may wake up melancholy feelings due to its rather gloomy sound line. The orchestral music notes do a great job supporting some of the greatest moments in the game, from the flashback cutscenes and to the joy of triumph after each boss battle.

Lost Sphear landscapes
Lost Sphear landscapes

Music and visuals are important aspects of a JRPG and Tokyo RPG Factory manages to portray the feelings of the protagonist using charming graphics and melancholic sounds.


The Good

  • Charming artwork
  • Solid writing
  • Lengthy campaign
  • Great soundtrack
  • Improved Spritnite combat system

The Bad

  • Lack of originality
  • Graphics needs an upgrade

Conclusion

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.

I can't blame the folks at Tokyo RPG Factory for lack of originality, since many of Lost Sphear's gameplay elements are taken from Square Enix's previous games, but I wish their next project would bring at least one or more innovative aspects.

What I can tell you is that I have definitely enjoyed my time playing Lost Sphear and I'm already thinking if Square Enix is considering a sequel. Even though I feel that Tokyo RPG Factory focuses too much on trying to apply the Chrono Trigger formula to their new game, I still believe that Lost Sphear is a step in the right direction.

story 8
gameplay 8
concept 8
graphics 7
audio 8
multiplayer 0
final rating 8
Editor's review
very good
 

Lost Sphear screenshots (32 Images)

Lost Sphear coverLost Sphear landscapesEmbark in a perilous journey to save the worldLost SphearLost Sphear
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