While lazily perusing NeoGAF this morning, my jaw almost fell off its bloody hinges when I read that Play Asia was selling Lost Odyssey, right now, in English, on a region-free disc. Quickly burrowing my way into the thread like a dirty mole, I became even more shocked -- it's not region free, but multi-region, and works on both Japanese and European consoles. THAT's when the jaw fell.
This is the first time I can remember in a long time that a PAL region consumer has had such an opportunity (Mario Strikers doesn't count). This is early, cheap and exclusive from Japan to Europe. NeoGAF discovered this a while ago and yet for some reason I didn't read about it anywhere. Why was I not informed of this? This news might be old to some, but it's new to me, and blast you all for hiding this!
Because of the currency exchange, the best news is that Lost Odyssey won't cost half as much as retail games do. In fact, after shipping costs, the whole thing came to £28.05. Suck my brass ones, English government (England has its own government, I have decided)!
If you're European and a fan of Japanese RPGs, I'd get your credit cards out because Lost Odyssey is in stock right now. I have already whipped out my credit card and made an impulse buy and will be sure to let you know the results when it arrives, hopefully next week.
Oh lawd, great deal is great.
£28! For a video game! Madness!
Funny that all the release schedules are backwards, with us PAL regions getting it early, because the game itself seems to be a pretty giant leap backwards in terms of gameplay mechanics.
Two words - Random Encounters.
I might give it a play through if I can get it cheap and it scores REALLY well on reviews...
i ordered this halfway through last week, i'l let you fucks know what the dealio is with it when it arrives. It was posted on the 25th so it should be here anyday.
low-rent-final-fantasy-athon begins soon!
i ordered this halfway through last week, i'l let you fucks know what the dealio is with it when it arrives. It was posted on the 25th so it should be here anyday.
low-rent-final-fantasy-athon begins soon!
Don't bother
'you fuck'
Well done Sterling. I'm interested in getting an honest opinion on this game. I just don't know that I have another turned based JRPG in my soul. The Blue Dragon demo gave me hives...
Erm...wasn't this supposed to be a simultaneous worldwide release? I'm confused.
Does this work then on the usa version?
It was released around the 17th of december in Japan, Necros.
holy crap, ordered
Holy shit Jim!
I've been harsh on Sony, msotly because they are fuckwits, but this region free bullshit is definitely reason#1 to get a PS3.
Something for Europe? Really?
Anyone? Can this be used on the US xbox?
So does this have english text and menus? I'm confused. If so why isn't out over here yet?
@RJG
Well you can go back to being harsh since Lost Odyssey is a 360 title, not a PS3 title... how easy it is to forget sometimes
Number 1, there's no such thing as the "English Government" and number two once that package arrives with you then you'll be subject to paying import tax AND any handling fees that your carrier puts on it. Royal Mail charges something like £5 per package.
neiltc13: I have ordered from Play Asia before. In fact, I got a package just today, bigger than a videogame box too. No import tax. I'm aware it exists, but I won't be paying it, I promise you that.
We'll know soon whether or not Lost odyssey will live up to the hype... so far, it sounds like in japan it's doing just about as well as Blue Dragon more or less... however, considering the overall mixed opinion of Blue dragon, can't really be sure if that's good news or bad news =/... won't know what to make of it until it hits the states and get reviews and what not in english
Jimmy i owe you a pint buddy!
Being the cunt i am ive looked at the game on play-asia plenty of times but when i saw just ntsc-j i sighed a little. Never looking at the PAL compatibility.
Ordering NOW!
Thats pretty awesome.
Ah, I think it was The Last Remnant that has the simultaneous release.
I actually picked up my local AU region one today from my local EB. So bizarre to see Australia/Europe getting a game like this a little bit before America/
I've just tested this version and I can confirm that it works 100% on a PAL 360. English menu's and everything, you can select JAP/KOR/ENG language before you start a game.
That's good to know. Region free games could be one of the best things about having a 360.
Kane and Lynch and Orange Box are also region free on 360. I'm sure if you went to play asia, they'd sort you out with those for near the same price of Lost Odyssey.
Always worth checking but obviously we have to find out for ourselves. The powers that be will keep it zipped so long as money is being paid.
Actually Cowboy TTop: the PS3 has all games as regionfree, while only around 70% of 360 games are regionfree. This game isn't even regionfree but multi-region, you probably meant the same, but just in case you were going to order it for an NTSC 360... :)
Cool....I just started playing Eternal Sonata, which is the first JRPG I've played since FFX. Love'n it, aewsome fighting system, too.
This one looks too much like a FF rip-off, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just don't play turn-based stuff too much any more.
Awesome find and an awesome deal.
@Professor Pew
Y'know i did not know that about the PS3 region free games...
So, back on Lost odessey, can we expect to see some early unofficial reviews before the release?
Ordered.
Ta for the heads up Jim.
Oh man, do I feel sheepish. I didn't know region free 360 discs were that common. I knew it was possible, but MS leaves it up to publishers and nearly all of them region lock, or so I've heard.
RJG: Not strictly true. The vast majority of Japanese publishers will region lock, while the vast majority of Western publishers choose to go region free.
So, as a handy guide:
Gears of War: Region Free.
Devil May Cry 4: Not So Much.
Awesome.
I'm pretty sure this game got pooped on by reviewers. But hey, it's cheap!
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