The Ragnarok universe first started out back in 2002 as a massive multiplayer online role-playing PC game in South Korea. Its growing popularity spawned an animated series in 2004 as well as a Nintendo DS game in 2008. Now this year, we see yet another creation from the same universe this time for the Playstation Vita called Ragnarok Odyssey.
With this version, you begin as you create your own character with six character classes to choose from. You got the Sword Warrior, Hammersmith, Assassin, Hunter, Cleric and the Mage each with their own particular fighting style and attributes. If you’re seeking a well-rounded, balanced class, then the Sword Warrior would be the best. Besides that, you’ll also be able to modify other aspects of your characters, including hair style, outfit, and voices.
Once you’re satisfied with your customizations, it’s time to get your mission objectives. At this point, you’ll be setting off on your adventure where you’ll be battling your way against various creatures and monsters that you encounter.  Of course, they all vary in appearance, attack patterns and difficulty.
Attacking and dodging enemies is pretty seamless due to the availability of the dash command using the square button. Jumping is executed via the X button while your attacks can be pulled off with circle and triangle. Attacks are even made simpler thanks to the targeting system using the left shoulder button. When you combine all these commands, you can perform some crazy combos both on the ground and on air.
Movement is performed using the left analogue stick, camera control with the right stick, and menu functionality with the d-pad. Ragnarok Odyssey also takes advantage of the Playstation Vita’s touch screen. Specifically, you’ll be able to use it to select items or even pick up potions and use other items during gameplay.  And for added convenience, the touch screen and rear touch pad can serve to adjust the camera, in case you prefer to not use the right analogue stick.
After your missions, you come back to your fort which is the area you would access for more quests. This is also where you can refine your weapons and make them powerful as well as acquire new clothing, granted that you do pick up the necessary materials during your adventures. There’s also a card system that grants you certain perks. All these are what allow Ragnarok Odyssey to retain players’ attention span since there’s so much to keep track of.
As you progress further in the game, the difficulty ramps up especially with the increasing number of enemies you run into. It gets even tougher with the boss battles in which case your foe will be way bigger and more deadly. Even if you manage to find their weak spots, it still takes more than a button-mashing frenzy to dispose of these bosses, making Ragnarok Odyssey challenging yet fun.
As for the graphics, the game does look attractive and interesting despite some rough textures. While Ragnarok Odyssey is presented in a 3D world, there are objects in the background that appear 2D and, hence, out of place. And although the character themselves are designed quite well, they do lack a certain degree of detail in comparison to other games of the same genre. Nonetheless, these issues can easily be ignored when you look at this game as a whole. If you factor in the lighting effects that appear, the visuals turn out to be mighty impressive and epic overall.
In terms of the audio, Ragnarok Odyssey doesn’t leave a lot of firepower. The background music isn’t as memorable and, instead, fades in the background with its medieval theme. As for the sound effects, it’s really a mixed bag in this case. The voices you hear from your character are comical to the point of annoyance, depending on your customizations you choose. However, the attacks and clashing of the weapons do compensate for the quality of the voice acting.
Ragnarok Odyssey is a fast-paced and complicated action RPG that’s easy to pick up and play on the go. Despite some minor issues with its presentation, it still offers a lot of satisfaction and entertainment value. If you’re either familiar with the universe or seeking something new for your Playstation Vita, you should welcome Ragnarok Odyssey to your collection.
