NGF: Ogre Battle 64 Review

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to start this review. I was going to talk about the greatness that the SNES achieved in the RPG genre, how there's a total lack of RPG's on the N64 and that that's one of the reasons that people are so down on Nintendo these days. Then I realized that talking about the shortcomings of the N64 would require a separate article altogether. So instead I've decided to focus on this game, Ogre Battle 64, one of the best RPG's to come along on any system in the last few years. Of all the games that I've played recently, Ogre Battle is the most personal of them all. The key to the entire game is that YOU are in control of your own destiny. From the path you take, to your characters name and class, all the decisions are yours to make. There aren't any Hollywood style FMV cinematic sequences, no ten minute conversations, and no one forcing you to do things their way. Ogre Battle 64 is the very definition of what role playing should be, plain and simple.

When you start the game you're treated to a cinematic on the history of the Zeteginian Continent and the Ogre Battle Saga itself. Ogre Battle 64 is part of the saga that takes place between the original Ogre Battle on the SNES and Tactics Ogre. The story begins where your character, an 12 year old Magnus Gallant, is saying goodbye to a childhood friend. Magnus was born the son of a nobleman of the empire and as such has led a somewhat sheltered life. He knows nothing of life outside of the graces of the nobility or the living conditions brought on by the greed and cowardice of the royalty. Recent events have led him to find his own path outside of the protection of his name and title. He's decided to join the military academy to become a soldier in the royal palatinean army, the military force of the Kingdom of Palatinus. Cut to six years later, it's the day of graduation at the academy and you have been called to the platform to be presented to Odiron, the archbishop of the Eastern Orthodox Church, for your final evaluation. This is where your story begins.

The personal feel of the game is readily apparent even from the beginning. Odiron begins by asking you your name followed by a series of questions to help determine what type of person you are. You can either use the character's default name or a name of your own choosing. The answers you give to Odiron's questions are varied and can also determine a bit more than just your alignment. After you're done there you'll be introduced to some of the main characters of the game and your first big decisions will be made. While I haven't even gotten to gameplay and battle systems yet, I want to say again how much this game is about what YOU want to do. Yes the story is great and involving but the great thing is that it's shaped and molded by the things that you do. You can be a villain or a saint but whatever happens, it's all up to you. More on that later, for now let's just get down to the game itself.

The first hurdle that I think many people will come across is the graphics. While it's not so much a hurdle as it is a choice of graphical style. All the OB fanatics from long ago will love the style mainly because it's a pretty big upgrade to the previous titles in the series. The problem comes in with the more "new age" members of the gaming world. When you're used to seeing mind blowing CG cut scenes and dazzling five minute long magic spells, you'll be more than a little disappointed here. I'm going to have to show my age again and tell you that personally, I enjoy the game graphics cut scenes rather than the static FMV style scenes. I prefer the "organic" feel of watching my characters interact with each other than the overly dramatized scenes in other games. A lot of it seems to be that some people can bring the game to life with their imaginations more so than blindly watching what the developers give them. There's more personality to seeing a little sprite run around than a character that's already been "made and refined" for you. If you're an old-schooler you'll be right at home, if you're a newcomer with an open mind you'll have no problems at all. Don't let the graphics deter you from playing one of the great ones.