Product reviewsBaten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean (Nintendo GameCube, 2004) - European Version

Beautiful and Unusual RPG

"Baten Kaitos" refers to a star in Cetus (the whale constellation) The scenerio is set in the future after the oceans have been destroyed and everyone lives in islands high above polluted skies. Most of the humanoid inhabitants of the game have wings, the protagonist of the game is a bit of freak having one natural wing and another engineered wing. It is sword and sorcery futuristic fantasy RPG in which strategy involves an inventory of "magnus" which are like an endless variety of playing cards. During combat the cards are suffled and then you select cards to play for lethal or healing effects.

This is an oddball game, it is very Japanese it seems Japan is always trying to create unusual variants on the usual games. This is a good thing, though it does take some getting used to. I have to admit I wasn't crazy about going around collecting cards but in effect it works out rather nicely. In a typical RPG players may find that random numbers are generated with little input from the player so essentially your random numbers are based on what you've equiped in your inventory. Using cards allows for chance with quick thinking allowing pairs and series of cards to magnify effects. It isn't highly additive but I definently liked it more than I thought I would.
Graphically the game is superb and the environments very diverse etherial and imaginative. I don't think I'll be interested in going through it again any time soon, but there is enough content to give many hours of play time.
I bought it because game cube has so few good games out there I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm happy I did.Read full review...

Baten Kaitos, a taste of the olde schoole

I missed out on this game when it first came out. So when I saw it for cheap on E-bay, I decided to give it a go. This game has two major draw backs. Any long time RPG fan will find most of the story ho-hum been there done that, though newbies shouldn't mind. And the voice acting is often beyond painful. Thankfully voice overs can be turned off, and if you can read you won't miss them. Trust me.

What I really like about this game is how much it feels like my old favorites on the SNES and PS1. Backgrounds are faux 3D hand painted and pre-rended images. Extra sprites and 3D effects make the environments come alive. Alot of work has gone into the art style of this game. Even the over the top Japanese wierd parts are beautiful. This kind of design means virtually no load times, ever. The game plays like Final Fantasy 7-9 and Chrono Trigger/Cross. The battle system takes some getting used to; but the game eases you into it, and after an hour or two it becomes second nature.

Summary: It's not perfect, but if you see it somewhere for $25 or less GRAB IT. A GREAT GameCube/Wii oldieRead full review...

Another great RPG game for the Gamecube!

Reviewed for Big Boss Games by: Eschneider6

Another great RPG game for the Gamecube thanks to Namco.

This RPG is different, you have to buy or collect attack, spell, defense, and item cards to help you in battle.

Also in the battles the attack phase is turn based with a timer, and then it goes to real time when the monsters attack and you quickly have to pick an item or defense card or get clobbered.

The story of Baten Kaitos is a world adrift in time and space. The earth below and the vast oceans it once harbored are mere legend.

Act as conscience and spirit guide for young Kalas and his companion Xelha. Guide them in battle and watch their friendship bloom. Join them as they struggle to reveal the mystery of the lost sea and destroy the corruption that threatens their world.

I played this game for 70 hours, doing the three main sub quests (Constellation Magnus, Animals side quest, and family sub quest) and completing the game.

Also set some time aside for a great ending, this game had a great story, good characters, and some secret stuff that rocked! I highly recommend this RPG. With so few RPGs available on the Gamecube, don?t miss this one out.

Start playing it today!

My review score for Baten Kaitos = 9.5
(Score is 1 is throw it out and 10 is a must buy!)Read full review...

Baten Kaitos, a hidden gem for gamecube RPG lovers

I bought this game based on underground fame. It was a wise decision. Baten Kaitos has a relativly generic story. Boy with a mysterious past meets girl with mysterious past and they fight evil. The story is good enough that you care what happens to the characters and you want to see the story unfold. What makes this game unique is the card based fighting system which make fights more difficult and makes your approach and prep all the more important. The fighting system is complex and may be tough to get a hang of but makes the game far more exciting. The linear story line with optional sidequest can best be compared to Chronos Trigger. Due to the relative obscurity of this game in north america, the only place you'll probably be able to find a copy is eBayRead full review...

Baten Kaitos Eternal Wings and Lost Ocean - Review

This is without a doubt my favorite game of all time, though I may be biased as it was also my first around ten years ago. But finally, after all that time, I finally got the game again.

This game is a masterpiece in every way, besides the voice acting. The voice acting really isn’t even that bad, it just seems to have some weird filter over it. The gameplay is flawless, the combat system stunningly well don’t. Though, it may not be for everyone, it can be complicated for new people. The story has some pretty interesting twists and turns, has some great characters, and the whole design is just damn good.

I wish I could say more, I could go on and on about how much of a fanboy I am of this game, but I won’t drag this on unnecessarily. But if you like games like Final Fantasy or other JRPGs, you’ll most likely love this.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: am88664

Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean (GameCub

I bought this game because I love role playing games and the reviews on this one were good. Well....it's different, challenging and a bit confusing at first. It involves cards (called Magnus) which you are to choose for attacks, healing and defense and you have very little time to choose. Each card is numbered and supposedly beneficial if chosen in the correct order. This is the part I find challenging and confusing because I can't think that fast. However, after a while your instincts kick in and somehow advances take place. I would recommend this game because of it's fun value. Just be prepared for a different kind of turn based play (at least for me it was).Read full review...

Underrated GameCube Gem

Definitely an underrated game in an underrated JRPG series on the GameCube. It’s well worth the money and it’s actually made by the same people that made the Xenoblade games (Monolith Soft) as well as Namco; who make numerous other games.Read full review...

An Addicting and Interesting gem of a rpg that every rpg lover should have!

I'm a rpg lover and this is gem of rpgs that was often overlooked since it was on the GC system. I only just started the game and it's amazing and addicting. It takes awhile to get used to the card system, especially when your used to more traditional turn-based games.

Likes: I like that the battles tend to be quick, the storyline is interesting, characters are fun, enemies are seen on the maps,animation is smooth and quick loading times.There's voice-acting and it done fairly well.

Dislikes: The only minor dislike I will have is you can't escape from battles until you can an escape card and I'm used to having a map and there doesn't seem to be one in this game.

Other INFO: I find this rpg a refreshing pace from the new generation console rpgs that tends to lack the depth of characters and stories that this game has. If you desire a break from recent rpgs that lack the beauty, depth, and characterization of old school rpgs, then I highly recommend this game to any RPG LOVER, that wants a game with quality characterization, battles, and storyline. Even the voice-acting is done really well.Read full review...

Baten Kaitos

Im not a big fan of RPGS, but I do love card system battling. Prior to this my only experience with that was with Duel Monsters. Baten Kaitos gets some getting used to, and I still have a lot of work to do. However, I feel it is worth it because I *want* to master this new card battling system.

What may be a little overwhelming is there are SO MANY types of cards to use...and knowing when it is a defense or an offense turn.

The graphics are beautiful, if you want to get swept away in a fairy tale and new battle system, this game is a must have for all GC owners.Read full review...

Amazing title overall; not for everyone but extremely rewarding for players

I bought this game because I thought it would be a game that would take dedication to beat, have a rewarding gameplay experience, a good story (which is asking a lot with today's video game standards), and offer a truly unique package overall. Baten Kaitos exceeded all of these expectations and went above and beyond what I had expected. One of the best original IP's in my opinion, I don't understand why there hasn't been a third game released for the series. Game is outstanding in every way; they might hold your hand for gameplay a little too long in the beginning but once you fall into sync with the controls and story, it doesn't get much better than this. I would refer this game to everyone, but it really isn't meant for that. This game will test your patience and require a lot of time to see it through; and if you are not a fan of card-based combat, I would pass this game up for something more suitable. But if you want a game that presents itself with the best show of potential, and has an immersive story that leaves you hooked and wanting to trudge on at the end of every chapter, then you want to pick up this game for yourself. Worth every penny you spend on it.Read full review...