Orphen

by ACTIVISION

Product Features

• Play as Orphen or as any of 5 of his companions in this epic, action-RPG adventure.
• Take on 3 immersive storylines and 51 action-packed, event-based encounters.
• COnquer puzzels, Battle monsters and complete quests on the mysterious Chaos Island
• Cast over 30 spells, collect items and use hidden weapons to defeat your enemies.
• Enjoy cinematic Anime' cut-scenes and stunning Playstaion 2 computer entertainment system graphics.

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004WYR7
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches ; 7 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: May 18, 2007
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,730 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #77 in Video Games > PlayStation 2 > Role-Playing
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

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.

Product Description

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dissapointing for a TRUE RPG fan...., November 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Orphen (Video Game)

Although the graphics are good, and I was impressed with the Anime style of the FMV scenes, the game could have been much better. Not a classic RPG game, the battle sequences are not the traditional turn based style attacks you might expect. During group battles, you can't even control the other characters in your party, and items can't be used in battle either, so you can't heal during a rough fight. There aren't any shops to upgrade armor, in fact there is no armor at all. No shops to spend any gold, and although you discover new spells after a boss fight, you never advance in level. Another thing that is dissapointing, is that there is no discovery aspect in the game. There are no secret, hidden goodies to find: everything you find is in a clearly visible treasure chest. On the eye candy scale, the game gets 5 stars for it's graphics. But true RPG fans will find the game something to do until Dark Cloud is released, or something to rent on a rainy weekend. Not a must have game for the PS2.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's pretty good. At this price give it a shot., January 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Orphen (Video Game)

This really isn't all that bad a game. Sure, it's nothing like most console RPG's--it seems that most complaints have been that it's not just like Final Fantasy, Chrono Cross, or anything else Square has made or been copied. As someone else said, it's more like playing a Zelda game or a Castlevania game, where you are doing as much platforming as fighting. Admittedly, a lot of the items seem pretty useless and it can be annoying to watch the same long cutscene fifty times until you manage to beat the boss--something that can be avoided by making a change to your setup and which resets the battle.

Like most dubs, there is of course something lacking. The cutscenes can look pretty ugly, but that can be made up for in part by the good anime cutscenes. The battle system could have used a little more interactivity to it, but it is not the huge problem that other reviewers have made it out to be.

The game's major problem is that it is too linear and short in terms of actual gameplay. If I remember correctly, I managed to beat the game in about 15 hours. I've just started to replay it after not touching it for nearly six months. If you don't have a problem with linear games then this won't be a problem for you. Be warned that there are no side quests, no mini games, and while things like the diary entries and enemy list make for an interesting extra, you can survive without them.

One more thing now that the anime is out. All you people that hated the characters in this game try watching the anime--just make sure you're watching the subtitled version. The characters for the game are just about right based on the anime--Cleao (Cleo) is somewhat annoying and bossy, Majic (Magus) is not bad with magic but looks up to Orphen, Orphen is dead on, and Dortin and Volcan are pretty close as well.

Give it a shot. If I hadn't played this game I would have never tried Zelda or Castlevania.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good but not great, October 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Orphen (Video Game)

a good game but not a great game. activision's Orpen: Scion of Sorcery is probably the best rpg out there for the PS2 so far. Great graphics and a great story line makes this the rpg choice for the PS2. the only thing that makes this game not a great game is that the battle system is not quite of a rpg type. the game feels and plays almost like zelda. this game is recommended to all PS2 owners who loves rpg but if action/rpg is not ur type then dont even think about buying this game. the best thing about this game is that it has anime in it(yes i said anime). so if u like anime and a good game then go out and buy this game right now. trust me u wont be dissapointed.