Expedition 33 & The Ghost of Lost Odyssey: Turns Out 'Old School' JRPGs Were Never Dead, Mate!

AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·

Expedition 33 & The Ghost of Lost Odyssey: Turns Out 'Old School' JRPGs Were Never Dead, Mate!

This article explores how *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*'s critical success, particularly its turn-based combat, is challenging the gaming industry's assumptions about 'modern' design. It highlights *Lost Odyssey*, an Xbox 360 cult classic, as a crucial, unacknowledged predecessor that directly inspired *Expedition 33*'s acclaimed approach, proving that strategic, story-driven JRPGs with realistic graphics are far from 'old school' in the hearts of gamers.

Right, so you know how everyone and their mum has been raving about *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* this year? Won all the awards, had critics doing backflips over its deep turn-based battle system, and fans shedding tears over its characters and story. It's even become the most nominated game in The Game Awards' history – fair dinkum!

But here's the kicker: its turn-based combat. Yeah, you heard that right – a proper, old-school, command-menu turn-based system, complete with gorgeous, realistic graphics. For years, the gaming industry, especially the big western studios, seemed to reckon that style was about as fashionable as dial-up internet. It felt like turn-based was relegated to nostalgic pixel art romps or the very specific niche of Japanese-centric gems like *Persona* (unless you’re building an actual D&D campaign in *Baldur's Gate 3*, of course). Even Square Enix, the maestros of JRPGs, have been slowly but surely nudging *Final Fantasy* towards more action-oriented pastures.

Then *Expedition 33* arrives, like a wizard accidentally teleporting a retro arcade cabinet into a futuristic expo, proving there's not just an appetite, but a *hunger*, for deep, strategic, turn-based combat with all the modern graphical bells and whistles. And you know what the last game to really nail that combo was? *Lost Odyssey* on the Xbox 360.

Rewind a bit, back to the Xbox 360 era. Microsoft's shiny new console was a global hit, but it was flailing a bit in Japan. They desperately needed some Japanese RPG cred to make inroads. Enter Hironobu Sakaguchi, the absolute legend who birthed *Final Fantasy*. After his cinematic adventure *Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within* (a noble effort, but maybe some magic is best kept interactive, eh?), he’d struck out on his own, founding Mistwalker. Microsoft, ever the ambitious sorcerer, courted Sakaguchi, resulting in two Xbox 360 exclusives: the charming, anime-esque *Blue Dragon* and, more significantly, the darker, more realistic *Lost Odyssey*, which aimed to fill that *Final Fantasy*-shaped hole on the Xbox. They even snagged Nobuo Uematsu for the scores, just to make sure everyone knew this was the real deal.

*Lost Odyssey* landed in 2007 (Japan) and 2008 (West). It was well-received, but never quite achieved mainstream behemoth status. No sequel, just a quiet, dignified retreat into 'cult classic' territory, beloved by a core group of JRPG fanatics. One of those fanatics? Guillaume Broche, the creative director for *Expedition 33* at Sandfall Interactive.

Broche tells Eurogamer that *Lost Odyssey* was "the last grand turn-based RPG adventure with realistic graphics." He reminisces about its heavy themes, handled so incredibly well it was "the last game that made me cry." Bloody hell, that's high praise! The game's protagonist, Kaim, is a classic amnesiac – a trope as old as time, but *Lost Odyssey* used it to weave poignant, lyrical short stories, penned by acclaimed novelist Kiyoshi Shigematsu, delving into life, death, and existence. It was Sakaguchi experimenting, even if the exploration and combat were seen as a bit 'old fashioned' at the time.

When I first peeked at *Expedition 33*, Broche name-dropped a whole pantheon of inspirations: *Final Fantasy VIII*, *Persona*, even *Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice* for its action focus – and, naturally, *Lost Odyssey*. That action-focused turn-based combat in *Expedition 33*, where precise button timings amplify your actions? That lineage traces right back to *Lost Odyssey*'s ring system, where perfect trigger releases buffed your attacks. It’s a mechanic that proves engagement doesn’t always mean frantic button mashing.

"It became a cult classic because few people played it," Broche observed, "as it was available only on Xbox 360 while its core audience was probably more used to PlayStation consoles." He added that the critical reception at the time was "very unfair," because it was branded 'old school' when anything not an open world was getting the side-eye from western critics. For Broche, *Lost Odyssey*'s linear structure, world map, incredible story, and fantastic music made it "one of the best games of its kind."

It’s pretty ironic, isn't it? *Expedition 33* gets showered with praise for its fresh, modern take on JRPGs, yet it proudly embraces the very 'old school' design principles – like a world map and turn-based combat – that *Lost Odyssey* was criticised for. It's almost like the industry spent two decades assuming players only wanted big open worlds and real-time hack-and-slash, when actually, a healthy chunk of us were still quietly craving that strategic depth and heartfelt storytelling.

*Expedition 33* hasn't just recaptured attention; it’s continued a legacy, proving that a truly good game, regardless of its combat style, will always find its audience. Broche laments that *Lost Odyssey* "never had any real successor." He’s right. "Justice for Lost Odyssey," he proclaims. "Remaster it now so more people can play it, please." And honestly, mate, he's not wrong. It’s still perfectly playable via backwards compatibility on modern Xbox consoles, and its combat and narrative are as impactful as ever.

If *Expedition 33* has shown us anything, it’s that the 'old ways' still hold plenty of magic. Don’t let *Lost Odyssey*'s name become a reality – it's high time this forgotten gem gets the wider recognition it bloody well deserves.

Tags: JRPG, Turn-Based Combat, Lost Odyssey, Expedition 33, Gaming History

Original article: Eurogamer