Lost Sphear Reviews
Tokyo RPG Factory clearly listened to gamers feedback from I am Setsuna, the storyline improved and it brought a variety of gorgeous environments along. However, Lost sphere doesn't have a unique identity it trys so hard to combine favorite classic systems into one game.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
A disappointing sophomore effort from Tokyo RPG Factory, Lost Sphear proves relying on nostalgia alone doesn't make a great game.
This is a very boring game that can seem interesting and cute only at first, but because of the protracted plot, dull dialogues, weak exploration component and the lack of some important elements, it simply disappoints.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Old school JRPG fans will find much to enjoy here, but the refusal to innovate does more harm than good for the genre's reputation.
Lost Sphear wants to harken back to the great classic JRPGs of yesteryear such as Chrono Trigger and early Final Fantasy games. However, it falters way too much in its execution by providing characters that severely suffer from being tropes and provide eye-rolling dialogue. While the combat is quite enjoyable and the story picks up steam at around the midway point, it is way too slow on the uptake and delivers an experience that can just be classified as serviceable.
Lost Sphear tries to recapture the 90s JRPG magic but in the process loses its own identity. Tokyo RPG Factory tried to squash every JRPG trope into this game, and as a result, the characters and the plot suffered. A massive step backwards for Tokyo RPG Factory.
Lost Sphear is a game of two sides, on one hand, it takes us on a trip rife with nostalgia that can bring a smile to our face whilst on the other hand it crams this nostalgia down our throat without giving us a chance to get deeply into any individual element. During my time with the game, I experienced boredom and frustration with some enjoyment thrown in for good measure. It's a game that borrows from our past but loses itself a bit in the process. Is it the best JRPG? No, certainly not but it does deliver glimmers of a great game.
Together with the lack of voice acting and other minor flaws, it’s hard to justify the game’s rather high price tag, as its production values just don’t seem to be in line with titles at this price point. There is some fun to be had here if you are fond of classic JRPGs – and I would recommend it for such people – but I would wait for a good sale before considering this one.
Lost Sphear fails to live up to the classic feeling while playing it. They improved some elements but it isn't the game that I expected.
Review in German | Read full review
An average RPG missing a sense of exploration and flexibility to make it memorable. The battle system is a particular highlight, however, and there's definitely some good groundwork if there's to be another game in the series.
When more exciting retro-styled throwbacks like Project Octopath Traveler are on the horizon, Tokyo RPG Factory really need to take a look at what they're going to do with their next game to make it stand out from the crowd.
I love Tokyo RPG Factory's admiration of the past, but Lost Sphear offers little for both longtime fans of the genre and casual passersby. If a taste of the past is all you need, however, then it will surely be your companion on that trip down memory road. Just don't be looking for anything more than that here.
Whatever moral fibre Lost Sphear had seems to have been 'lost' by the immaculate moon.
Despite its attempts to captures the essence of JRPGs of yesteryear, Lost Sphear fails to live up to the classics it's trying so desperately to emulate.
Lost Sphear is an all-in nostalgic RPG that never really tries to offer something new. But if the story starts in the most classic of ways, the game will fulfill patient gamers with some more complex stuff, and not-so-easy fights. Unfortunately, you will have to pass through an very generic artistic direction and pointless dialogs.
Review in French | Read full review
Lost Sphear is a competently assembled retro product that may dredge up fond memories of older, better JRPGs, but it lacks a personality of its own. The unique, melancholy world of I Am Setsuna has been replaced by soulless tropes, and incrementally improved battle mechanics and dungeons don't make up for that loss of identity. Sadly, the makers of Lost Sphear have lost the thread.
A less focused outing than its predecessor, Lost Sphear gets lost amid its various, undercooked systems, and it fails to successfully consolidate its many inspirations. It's a pleasant enough game with a nice aesthetic, but we doubt we'll be looking back on this one with too much sentimentality.
Lost Sphear is a game that seems to fall victim to its own ambition. It presents plenty of classic JRPG elements that fans of the genre will enjoy, but its efforts to follow a nostalgic form result in something that ultimately feels insincere. The foundation is solid, particularly with regard to its battle system, skill customization, and overall presentation, but the soul of the experience just isn't there. Lost Sphear is meant to feel like a proper return to a traditional form, but its lackluster dialog and underwhelming plot development instead result in a game that simply can't stand up to the classics it's inspired by.
Most people probably won't mind Lost Sphear's nostalgia tinted approach to game design, but there's surprisingly little to write home about. Despite a rather intriguing premise, the characters come across a tad too bland, while the quest itself is too linear. It's hard to knock it too much, but after the thoughtful journey at the heart of I Am Setsuna, this is a pretty average showing and certainly not a fresh take on the JRPG.
Here's hoping that Tokyo RPG Factory's next project takes that gameplay design and applies it to a heartfelt story that doesn't feel like it was assembled on a conveyor belt.