Orphen: Scion of Sorcery
Orphen: Scion of Sorceryby Activision
Platform: PlayStation2
ESRB Rating: Teen
ASIN: B00004WYR7
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GameSpot Review: Though the game is in many ways flawed, Orphen: Scion of Sorcery's interesting core game system often manages to transcend the game's poor production and haphazard design. It's not often that a console RPG attempts to challenge the established conventions of the genre. Indeed the lure of wrapping a trite narrative around a turn-based combat system and a set of "brilliant" CG movies often seems too much for most developers to resist, as the slew of me-too console RPGs makes evident. Granted, there is something to be said for a good story and well-thought-out characters, but when the genre is examined from a technical standpoint, only a few innovations have surfaced that have gained much in the way of mainstream acceptance.
Enter Orphen: Scion of Sorcery, a game with an altogether different game system. In many respects, the game plays much like a platform adventure, though there is a definite sense of character development, however streamlined its processes. The game puts you in the role of Orphen, a young ne'er-do-well of sorts who wields formidable magical powers. Along with two apprentices and the odd companion or two, you explore a detailed 3D world, complete with all manner of hazards. Platform-game elements are prevalent, as is a light load of exploration, which is facilitated by a set of real-time maps.
The game's most endearing aspect is its battle system. Drawing obvious inspiration from Panzer Dragoon Saga, among other games, Orphen's combat is a sort of hybrid real-time/turn-based system that most jaded console RPG gamers should find most refreshing. The usual trappings of RPG combat - magic points that regulate the use of spells and such - are shed in favor of a more dynamic, liberating system. For use in combat, any spell in your arsenal can be mapped to one of three face buttons on the controller, with the fourth button reserved for a standard "shield" spell. All the spells have differing effects. Some are geared toward melee combat, while others are straight-up projectile attacks. And you can "charge up" most of them by holding down their respective button to maximize their effect. A melee spell that mimics a sword, for instance, will cause the blade it summons to grow longer when charged, while one of the game's projectile spells will shoot forth a greater number of bolts, depending on how long you charge it. There are quite a number of spells available, and their effects are varied, making the assembly of your arsenal a pleasurable undertaking.
The enemies you encounter move in a sort of rhythm on the battlefield, which makes targeting an exercise in memory and coordination. True, most area-effect spells can effectively blanket the battlefield in destruction, but it's seldom that simple. The act of targeting is interestingly handled: Each battlefield will have its own preset target spots, onto which your enemies will often move. The key to victory is figuring out when your enemies will land where and deciding what spell would most effectively take advantage of the situation. Oftentimes other targets are more attractive than the enemy itself - such as swinging censers or flaming braziers, which damage your foes indirectly and often more effectively. In short, the beauty of Orphen's combat system is the way that it least resembles what has become console-RPG tradition; that is, it's active and engrossing.
In terms of the overall production, Orphen: Scion of Sorcery is a tad weak. The game looks decent graphically, and the fully rotatable camera present in most areas works like a charm. The graphics are clean, sharp, and cohesive. The quality in-game effects are wildly disparate - in some areas and encounters, the splashing of water looks laughable, while in others, subtle lens flares and motion blurs are used to an almost artistic effect. To say that Orphen has some of the most inventively rendered boss fights would be only a slight exaggeration - superbly scripted and immensely playable, the encounters keep you in control, and the action seldom relents.
Outside of combat, the game is often a series of disjoined plot sequences, which unfortunately highlight the game's poor translation. All too often the action breaks, and you'll be pulled into a cutscene - all of which feature spoken dialogue - that is likely replete with exaggerated voice work, hyperbolized gesturing, or an unpleasant mixture of both. These frequent intrusions into the heart of the game essentially hack at the seams of the overall experience and do much to undermine the game's effect as a whole. The inability to skip the cutscenes makes them even more annoying.
The disjointed nature of Orphen is unfortunate, because it's easy to envision great gameplay experiences being the product of its game system. Let's hope that Activision decides to make use of the Orphen's high points in future products, in spite of the game's relatively lukewarm reception.
--Miguel Lopez--Copyright © 2000 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited.
Customer Reviews:
Kinda Off-Balance.... But pretty well done., December 5, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from USA
Ok, for starters, I have to say that I gave up on this game just as I got out of the first building on that strange island. Why? Because when you come out, you arrive in a different time, and It's all icy, right? Well, I got lost (turned around, whatever), and kept running into these icy things, losing hit points, and died. So....after that, you can guess what my opinion of the walking screen was. >.< Ouch! Otherwise, this game is really good. The graphics are a bit sketchy, but the cinimatics are DEFINATLY worth it! THe battle system is compleatly unique, and totally fun! I suppose I really would reccomend this game. Toodles! ^_^
annoying little game, November 18, 2002
Reviewer: revolverking
the attemt to make the game exciting by putting a lot of stupid puzzles makes this game a not very fun game at all. the battle system is alright and i like the anime sequences that take place. its rather annoying when you get trhough little puzzles, maze like areas that take you ages to figure out. Im used to the experience points and equiping weapons you bought or forged, since its in most other RPGs that ive played. also the fact that you cant skip movies makes it annoying when you die after watching a long movie because you have to watch it again.
An RPG masterpiece with very bad production!, November 13, 2002
Reviewer: SHINGETTA from Puerto Rico
Orphen is an RPG with GREAT gameplay because:
1- The intro was VERY COOL.
2- It contains many animated cinematics.
3- The fighting-style is amazing (Not SUPERB as Grandia but much better than Final Fantasy).
4- You can see the enemies before you fight them (Just like in Chrono Cross).
5- The music is cool.
6- It contains voice-acting.
7- You can see your friends following you all the time (Just like in Chrono Trigger).
8- You don't have to put another names for the characters (Just like in Lunar).
9- COOL character desing.
Those were the good things but the bad things are:
1- Cheap movement for the characters and also for the cinematics.
2- The graphics were not all that good.
3- You don't have freedom on the map-screen.
4- The voices were so-so.
5- Poor longivety.
Ok, but not great game, September 28, 2002
Reviewer: Anna mcnelly from Medford, or United States
This is a ok game, not the worst game I've played, but certainly not even near the best. The graphics are not very good, but acceptably so. Gameplay is average, and it may take a while to get used to, but it's not hard to get the hang of. There's enough story to keep you going, and different storylines to boot, so replay value is sorta a little above average. Music's ok, nothing special, and sound effects are ok, too.
This is a pretty average game overall, so I recommend renting this game first before you consider buying it.
Some great RPGs I recommend to just about anybody include the Final Fantasy series, Grandia 2, Chrono Cross, Star Ocean 2, Jade Cocoon 2, and Legend of Legaia, to name a few of my good ones.
The Gamin' Girl
This game by far the worst rpg on PS2!!, September 24, 2002
Reviewer: metal_monster1996 from Summerdale Al. USA
I bought this game a few weeks ago and i played it right away.At first it looks cool but it started to repeat itself.The graphics are good as to be expectied of a PS2 game but the gameplay is horrible.The battles are incridibly easy and simple, the story is weak and booreing,and you never leave this island.I stoped playing it after the 3rd time i put about 4 or 5 hours into it and found it to be horribly stupid.Its kinda like a zelda inspired game but it hardly even should be spoken in the same sentence.You should probablly just forget about this game and buy Shadow Hearts which is probablly one of the best rpg's for this console.
They had a good idea, September 9, 2002
Reviewer: naughty_elf from Austin, Texas
Okay, this game was on my 'to buy' list but I rented it first, and to say in short, the characters bug the heck out of me.
The yelling, whining & snottyness of the sister and brother are way to much. And the main char isn't much better.
The way the battle is set, it is hard to figure out what your attacking and how.
The camrea angles are really bad too.
The only thing I liked in the game where the anime movie shorts and at times the music.
Great, August 15, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from Addison, Texas United States
This is a great game,but, everybody thinks that this is a rpg game but, it's not,this is a adventure game,great for anime fans who had seen the serie about orphen ,like me.Other people thinks that this game is bad but, if they see the serie they'll like it.It's like dragon ball final bout it's a bad game but everybody like it because it's about dragon ball.This game is great for anime-fans and for a real player.
this game is a coaster, August 8, 2002
Reviewer: h3l1x from DFW
if you buy this game you are buying a drink coaster - it is horrible - the comabat system is horrible - the characters are horrible - the graphics are glitchy and the controls leave much to be desired - THIS IS A LAUNCH GAME - which means it is one of the oldest games out - DO NOT BUY _ buy DARK ALLIANCE INSTEAD
This is a pretty good game, July 3, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from Melbourne, FL US
I think the problem with reviewers like billfy is that they think the dubbing is more important than it really is. So what if the words don't follow the mouth of the characters! And also, they expect it to be more of an RPG, but it's more of an action game. It is a litle too linear, but it was over all a pretty OK game. This especialy true for beginners who aren't very good with GPG's because they get lost too easily.
In the end, I would mostly recommend this game to either beginners or those who just prefere a more linear action game rather than RPG's.
And I NEVER Hand Out One Star Reviews, June 18, 2002
Reviewer: billfy from NY USA
Ok, so maybe it is only once in a great while that I give a one star rating to something, but this game is so vile, and disappointing that I had to.
Not only are the graphics sub-par, but the controls are awkward, and the dubbing is the worst I have ever seen... ANYWHERE! At first I thought it was kind of funny that they would start talking before thier mouth moved, and then continued flailing thier arms much after the dialog had stopped, but the humor was soon lost, and it just became a poorly timed marionette show.
This is a poor game, I cannot reccomend it to anyone.
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