Baten Kaitos: Endless Creativity and the Lost Franchise.
Original Score Before Backloggd Rounding: 8/10 (Great)
Baten Kaitos. I have a lot to say about this game, and I will do my best to explain why this title, this series, is so special. It is one of the most unique examples of its genre out there, and especially for those have become fans of Monolith Soft’s more recent work, absolutely something that should be checked out. Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean is one of the most boundlessly creative, unique, innovative, charming, and fun role playing adventures I have ever, ever played. It is classic Monolith Soft, and through their collaboration with tri-Crescendo, an example of how incredibly talented and imaginative their worlds can be, a perfect representation of how despite perceptions, they are a team of passionate creatives that would do much better than being chained to Xeno purgatory until the end of time.
The title of Baten Kaitos itself is a symbol of the grand imagination and creativity that makes the series so artful, and a perfect fit for the little Cube that could, where it was released in 2003. Much of the game's world revolves around the idea of a lost ocean, swallowed by an evil god, and iconography of whales who were once guardians of the ocean. The sky islands themselves, the remains of the old world, are also known as Whales. This is because the name 'Baten Kaitos' itself is an Arabic phrase that loosely translates to 'sea beast's belly'. The other aspect of the name is the star Zeta Ceti, otherwise known as Baten Kaitos, in the constellation of Cetus. The game features plenty of star symbolism and icons, including a collectible-based side quest that involves rebuilding a star map. The series also implies the Baten Kaitos games are set in our universe, around the titular star itself, 235 light-years away. If the game reminds you of Chrono Cross, it should! Yasuyuki Honne, who also worked on the models of the Bionis and Mechonis that inspired Xenoblade Chronicles, did the environmental art for both Chrono Cross and Baten Kaitos, and served as co-director on this title too. Masato Kato, writer on Chrono Cross, was also hired to write Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean. Despite the game's age, it has not aged all that poorly due to its linearity, which makes it incredibly hard to get lost for the majority of the game.
The battle system is one of a kind; it was not done before, and it has not been replicated since. A turn based role playing game, it spices things up by combining it with elements of card games. Each attack and defensive item in the game is presented as a card, with each party member having their own customisable deck that the player can optimise and build for the occasion. Complex combos can be assembled by flicking the right stick (C Stick on GameCube) in the direction of a number depicted on the card in order to assemble pairs and straights, which will boost the potency of a player's string. It is so much fun. While some might find issue in the random hands your characters end up with, I believe it enhances the experience, and there are still JRPGs released even today which don't have basic options like a Guard/Defend command. At least here, it is played into. Also, you can use Pac-Man as AN ATTACK! HUH?! BWAH!? The item aging mechanic, where certain Magnus's transform depending on how long they've been in your inventory, can occasionally be frustrating, which I've accounted for.
The music is incredible. It is Motoi Sakuraba's best work on a game in this genre and style, bar none, in my honest opinion. Better than Golden Sun, better than Star Ocean, and miles better than Tales. Every single battle and boss battle track is an absolute delight, and the overworld and dungeon themes are so beautifully orchestrated. Not only is it a top 10 RPG soundtrack, it might be a top 10 video game soundtrack for me, period. The world itself is filled with wonder and creativity, especially the fourth sky island. From a village made entirely of candy, to a location themed around Namco's Tower of Druaga, to a town that looks like it was ripped out of a picture book, Baten Kaitos is filled with fascinating and beautiful locations, with newly redrawn gorgeous HD assets for this remaster. The characters themselves are fun, with Kalas standing out as a highlight, though I really appreciated Lyude's arc. I loved the unique perspective of playing through a self-insert in the most literal sense, as Kalas’s Guardian Spirit. You're encouraged to even name this spirit after yourself, as a breaking of the screen barrier between game and player, further including and immersing the player in the world of Baten Kaitos. The story in its own right, while in some ways simple at least to start with, is well crafted with an amazing twist. I have not yet completed the game, but I have played most of it, and enough to form an opinion on it.
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean is an amazing game, and still to this day one of Monolith Soft's most underrated triumphs. It is a game that never ceases to amaze with its endless creativity, and is a shining example of what younger Japanese developers can achieve when given the reins. It is a shame Baten Kaitos continues to remain obscure and underappreciated, even when made available on the (currently) third best-selling console of all time. I am not sure whether to blame Bandai Namco for their marketing (or lack of it), or for most Monolith Soft 'fans' not caring about anything that doesn't have Xeno in the title. I for one would love to see this remaster sell well enough for Bandai Namco to at least be open to talking to Monolith Soft and Nintendo about a third entry, but given the franchise's long absence, continued low sales, and the prior cancellations of Baten Kaitos DS and 3, I'm not holding my breath. I'll admit, and get it out there right away, I did not play the original GameCube releases of Baten Kaitos. I am only able to judge this remaster based on the content as it is presented to me now. Issues with the removal of the low quality English voice acting aside, which I would have liked if it was at least kept as an option, and some slight technical stutters that really shouldn’t be there for remasters of sixth-generation games, the game is still fantastic. I just wish Bandai Namco had done it more justice.
Baten Kaitos remains a hidden gem of its genre, something filled to the brim with pure imagination and love for its craft, and an example of what has made Monolith Soft such a beloved and respected developer, despite the obscurity of their non-Xeno products. There is nothing else like it and there probably never will be. I love this game. I love Baten Kaitos.
Original Score Before Backloggd Rounding: 8/10 (Great)
Baten Kaitos. I have a lot to say about this game, and I will do my best to explain why this title, this series, is so special. It is one of the most unique examples of its genre out there, and especially for those have become fans of Monolith Soft’s more recent work, absolutely something that should be checked out. Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean is one of the most boundlessly creative, unique, innovative, charming, and fun role playing adventures I have ever, ever played. It is classic Monolith Soft, and through their collaboration with tri-Crescendo, an example of how incredibly talented and imaginative their worlds can be, a perfect representation of how despite perceptions, they are a team of passionate creatives that would do much better than being chained to Xeno purgatory until the end of time.
The title of Baten Kaitos itself is a symbol of the grand imagination and creativity that makes the series so artful, and a perfect fit for the little Cube that could, where it was released in 2003. Much of the game's world revolves around the idea of a lost ocean, swallowed by an evil god, and iconography of whales who were once guardians of the ocean. The sky islands themselves, the remains of the old world, are also known as Whales. This is because the name 'Baten Kaitos' itself is an Arabic phrase that loosely translates to 'sea beast's belly'. The other aspect of the name is the star Zeta Ceti, otherwise known as Baten Kaitos, in the constellation of Cetus. The game features plenty of star symbolism and icons, including a collectible-based side quest that involves rebuilding a star map. The series also implies the Baten Kaitos games are set in our universe, around the titular star itself, 235 light-years away. If the game reminds you of Chrono Cross, it should! Yasuyuki Honne, who also worked on the models of the Bionis and Mechonis that inspired Xenoblade Chronicles, did the environmental art for both Chrono Cross and Baten Kaitos, and served as co-director on this title too. Masato Kato, writer on Chrono Cross, was also hired to write Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean. Despite the game's age, it has not aged all that poorly due to its linearity, which makes it incredibly hard to get lost for the majority of the game.
The battle system is one of a kind; it was not done before, and it has not been replicated since. A turn based role playing game, it spices things up by combining it with elements of card games. Each attack and defensive item in the game is presented as a card, with each party member having their own customisable deck that the player can optimise and build for the occasion. Complex combos can be assembled by flicking the right stick (C Stick on GameCube) in the direction of a number depicted on the card in order to assemble pairs and straights, which will boost the potency of a player's string. It is so much fun. While some might find issue in the random hands your characters end up with, I believe it enhances the experience, and there are still JRPGs released even today which don't have basic options like a Guard/Defend command. At least here, it is played into. Also, you can use Pac-Man as AN ATTACK! HUH?! BWAH!? The item aging mechanic, where certain Magnus's transform depending on how long they've been in your inventory, can occasionally be frustrating, which I've accounted for.
The music is incredible. It is Motoi Sakuraba's best work on a game in this genre and style, bar none, in my honest opinion. Better than Golden Sun, better than Star Ocean, and miles better than Tales. Every single battle and boss battle track is an absolute delight, and the overworld and dungeon themes are so beautifully orchestrated. Not only is it a top 10 RPG soundtrack, it might be a top 10 video game soundtrack for me, period. The world itself is filled with wonder and creativity, especially the fourth sky island. From a village made entirely of candy, to a location themed around Namco's Tower of Druaga, to a town that looks like it was ripped out of a picture book, Baten Kaitos is filled with fascinating and beautiful locations, with newly redrawn gorgeous HD assets for this remaster. The characters themselves are fun, with Kalas standing out as a highlight, though I really appreciated Lyude's arc. I loved the unique perspective of playing through a self-insert in the most literal sense, as Kalas’s Guardian Spirit. You're encouraged to even name this spirit after yourself, as a breaking of the screen barrier between game and player, further including and immersing the player in the world of Baten Kaitos. The story in its own right, while in some ways simple at least to start with, is well crafted with an amazing twist. I have not yet completed the game, but I have played most of it, and enough to form an opinion on it.
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean is an amazing game, and still to this day one of Monolith Soft's most underrated triumphs. It is a game that never ceases to amaze with its endless creativity, and is a shining example of what younger Japanese developers can achieve when given the reins. It is a shame Baten Kaitos continues to remain obscure and underappreciated, even when made available on the (currently) third best-selling console of all time. I am not sure whether to blame Bandai Namco for their marketing (or lack of it), or for most Monolith Soft 'fans' not caring about anything that doesn't have Xeno in the title. I for one would love to see this remaster sell well enough for Bandai Namco to at least be open to talking to Monolith Soft and Nintendo about a third entry, but given the franchise's long absence, continued low sales, and the prior cancellations of Baten Kaitos DS and 3, I'm not holding my breath. I'll admit, and get it out there right away, I did not play the original GameCube releases of Baten Kaitos. I am only able to judge this remaster based on the content as it is presented to me now. Issues with the removal of the low quality English voice acting aside, which I would have liked if it was at least kept as an option, and some slight technical stutters that really shouldn’t be there for remasters of sixth-generation games, the game is still fantastic. I just wish Bandai Namco had done it more justice.
Baten Kaitos remains a hidden gem of its genre, something filled to the brim with pure imagination and love for its craft, and an example of what has made Monolith Soft such a beloved and respected developer, despite the obscurity of their non-Xeno products. There is nothing else like it and there probably never will be. I love this game. I love Baten Kaitos.