Lost Sphear Reviews

Alex Fuller

RPGamer

March 9, 2018

Though Tokyo RPG Factory's first offering was a competent game in its own right, it didn't quite hit all of its notes. Does the studio's sophomore effort do a better job on delivering a quality throwback experience?

Leif Johnson

PC Gamer

February 6, 2018

62/100

In its zeal to revive the memories of the JRPGs of yesteryear, Lost Sphear fails to leave a memorable impression of its own.

Kyle Johnson

TechRaptor

February 1, 2018

5/10

A disappointing sophomore effort from Tokyo RPG Factory, Lost Sphear proves relying on nostalgia alone doesn't make a great game.

Dave Irwin

TheSixthAxis

February 1, 2018

6/10

Most people probably won’t mind Lost Sphear’s nostalgia tinted approach to game design, but there’s surprisingly little to write home about. Despite a rather intriguing premise, the characters come across a tad too bland, while the quest itself is too linear. It’s hard to knock it too much, but after the thoughtful journey at the heart of I Am Setsuna, this is a pretty average showing and certainly not a fresh take on the JRPG.

Kyle Bradford

GameSpew

January 31, 2018

6/10

Perhaps even worse is that Lost Sphear doesn’t have much to say, other than how remembering our past is just as important as enjoying the present. I love Tokyo RPG Factory’s admiration of the past, but Lost Sphear offers little for both longtime fans of the genre and casual passersby. If a taste of the past is all you need, however, then it will surely be your companion on that trip down memory road. Just don’t be looking for anything more than that here.

Nathan Birch

WCCFtech

January 30, 2018

6/10

Recapturing the magic of the Golden Era of Japanese RPGs is no easy task. Games like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, and Secret of Mana are relatively simple by today’s standards, and yet, some essential part of them seems to elude most modern developers. Most of the time, it’s better to just replay the classics.

Nat Patterson

Checkpoint Gaming

January 30, 2018

Unscored

Tokyo RPG Factory’s latest offering, Lost Sphear, is an ode to the era of RPG classics such as Chrono Trigger and Xenogears. Following 2016’s I Am Setsuna, another love letter to the days-gone-by, the game builds upon the foundation Setsuna laid by focusing certain mechanics and introducing new ones. At times the game struggles to find a thread to follow, but ultimately, Lost Sphear is a step forward for Tokyo RPG Factory and a warm reminder of the 16 bit classics of yesteryear.

Shubhankar Parijat

GamingBolt

January 29, 2018

7/10

Lost Sphear may not be the vastest or most extraordinary RPG on the market, but it's a very well made game that is sure to deliver a very enjoyable thirty hours or so.

A.J. Maciejewski

Video Chums

January 29, 2018

7.2/10

The folks at Tokyo RPG Factory clearly have a passion for recreating what made classics in the genre so appealing. Although they haven't quite got the magic formula down, Lost Sphear is a competent JRPG that can easily consume dozens of hours of your time.

Josh Brown

GameWatcher

January 29, 2018

7/10

Lost Sphear takes a little too long to really get going. Dungeons are tiny, its characters paper-thin, and the story far too predictable in its overuse of already overused plot elements. It’s a JRPG that struggles to add anything of value, perhaps to the point of reminding us why the natural evolution of the genre happened in the first place.

Kevin McClusky

Destructoid

January 24, 2018

7.5/10

I’ve certainly enjoyed my time with the game, and I think it’s worth playing. But I know deep down that in a few years I’m far more likely to replay Chrono Trigger for a twentieth time than I am to come back to Lost Sphear.

Kimberley Wallace

Game Informer

January 23, 2018

6.5/10

As RPGs evolve and adopt more modern complexity, it’s refreshing to revisit the classic mechanics that helped make the genre what it is. Like I Am Setsuna (the previous title from developer Tokyo RPG Factory), Lost Sphear tries to capture the 16-bit era, paying homage to classics like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy. However, just like its predecessor, it fails to offer much beyond nostalgia. Lost Sphear feels like a journey I’ve taken before; it is a bland return to yesteryear without the novelty.

Michael Ruiz

DualShockers

January 23, 2018

8/10

Since finishing Lost Sphear, I can't stop thinking about it. The game does not break the mold by any means — in fact, it attempts to fit the mold of the 90s JRPG — but it does excel in certain facets. While aspects of its gameplay do falter, I never felt discouraged from pressing forward and uncovering the mystery behind the lost phenomenon. Lost Sphear is a beautiful game that even the newest JRPG player can enjoy.

Jeremy Parish

IGN

January 23, 2018

6.7/10

Even if it falls short of becoming a worthy successor to the likes of Chrono Trigger, Lost Sphear really does capture the essence of classic role-playing games in a lot of ways. When it's not bogging itself down in overwrought mechanics, this RPG really can spark a sense of nostalgia. Its writing, environments, battle system, and music all evoke the best moments of bygone days. And even if it doesn't quite hit the heights it aspires to, it does a fine job of rekindling some fond memories.

Zack Reese

RPGSite

January 22, 2018

8/10

Tokyo RPG Factory plays it safe in this follow-up to I Am Setsuna, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.