Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean

"A game fit for a king!"

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!! Baten Kaitos is such a great game. It has been over a year since I've beat this game and I still think about it from time to time...that is how awesome this game is! For me, it is crucial that a game worthy of a rating of 10 require some high score on specific key elements. Listed below are these key elements along with the score I give for each. Here is how I rate Baten Kaitos:

Graphics-(10)
There are so many present in this game. Baten Kaitos is a virtual feast for your eyes! The characters are very detailed and move about smoothly and this contributes to a great gaming experience. I can honestly say that I have never seen a game that looks quite like this one. Each of the weapon, item, armor, and magic cards are very detailed and I the care and dedication put into this game shows. The environments are wonderful and the environments become sort of like characters all to their own. The fighting sequences are amazing! Each character has his/her own dramatic special attack(s) that really make this game fun to watch. This game is one of the most beautiful games available for the Gamecube, if not the most beautiful.

Characters-(10)
Here is another category where Baten Kaitos shines more brilliantly than other games. Each main character in this game has his/her own unique tie to the quest. And each character's reasons for going on this quest is unclear at first until the game progresses. I found that each of their histories were equally important to this game. It was nice learning about each character's past and reasons for attending this quest. I found myself drawn to certain characters for certain reasons (fighting style, magic, and weapons) and others for other reasons. I was equally impressed with all of the main characters, including the enemies. It is rare to find a group of characters in a game that are all equally memorable and Baten Kaitos is a rare gem that sparkles with memorable characters.

Music/Sound-(9)
The only slight problem I have with Baten Kaitos is that it appears to have a slight echo in sound only when characters speak. It is really strange, but it was not a major problem for me because I was so captured by all of the other great aspects of this game. The music is very good overall, and the character voices are really great. I really got a sense of each voice fitting each character's appearance. The sounds in the battle sequences are great and I love what each of the characters say as they attack. Mizuti is a great character in this game and Mizuti has a very memorable voice that is sure to make you smile in and out of battles.

Game Play-(10)
There is so much you will love about this game and the way it handles. Characters are very easy to maintain because leveling up is done almost automatically. I found it to be fun to arrange my cards according to battles because it kept the game fresh and challenging. There are so many cards you can choose from and this keeps the game exciting as well. There are side quests to give you more options. You can even take pictures of monsters and sell them in this game. There is a lot to do, but you will find yourself completely drawn into the main quest and objectives because they are so fun and challenging. Let me warn you about a few things...as you progress in the game, battles and bosses will get increasingly tougher and battles will last longer than you might expect...give yourself ample time for later battles. Overall, you should find challenging battles end with great rewards and a feeling of accomplishment. The puzzles in this game can appear to be easy at first sight, but once you begin, it is easy to lost very quickly. Camera angles can pose minor problems in certain areas, but you will have to learn to adapt.

Should I rent or buy Baten Kaitos?
You should definitely BUY this great game. Renting this game will do it no justice. Besides, you need ample time to finish this game to truly appreciate EVERYTHING it has to offer. There is so much to love about this game and you can't truly understand that until you play it for yourself. I give this game a 10 because I really think this game is one of a very few selection of games that deserves a rating of 10. If you are in the mood for a different kind of RPG, then Baten Kaitos is for you. If the card battle system scares you, get over it...its a great game and you will end up loving the card system because its fresh and challenging and always different. Try something new and I am sure you will love it. I never thought this game would end up being such a favorite of mine because I had passed it by so many times before finally deciding to give it a try. Needless to say, I am a true fan now and I can't wait for the next installation of Baten Kaitos to hit the stores. Baten Kaitos is a breath of fresh air in the often lack-luster world of traditional RPGs.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/23/06