It seems as though the Great Nintendo RPG Drought of 2000-2003 has come to an end, as the GameCube has received a trickling of RPG titles for the 2004 year. While the RPG selection for the GameCube is still hardly a deluge, it’s enough to keep GameCube fans hopeful for a future bevy of RPG goodness. Baten Kaitos, the third of the big three GameCube RPGs (Tales of Symphonia and Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door being the other two), is arguably the least anticipated of the big three in part due to the unorthodox card battle system that has been implemented. Nonetheless, Baten Kaitos does more than just hold its own against it’s fellow GameCube RPGs, it actually raises the bar even further for future titles on the system. Baten Kaitos is an excellent blend of artistic style, excellent music, and a compelling combat system; but it’s not perfect.

Features

Over 1000 unique Magnus cards for collecting

Two discs, bringing over 40 hours of gameplay.

Brought to you by members from the same team of the popular RPG, Xenosaga

Dolby Pro Logic II compatible

Rated T for teen


Breathtaking. Simply Breathtaking.
Most reviews don’t start with an overview on the graphical quality of a game. However, Baten Kaitos almost demands people to take notice of the breathtaking art design and stellar environments. Baten Kaitos is the best looking game to grace the GameCube since Metroid Prime, and it’s likely more beautiful than its pretty predecessor. The sheer amount of detail they’ve packed into the prerendered backgrounds is huge, and even though the backgrounds are prerendered, each and every one of them moves and breathes in subtle ways that help give the static environments life. One of the most excellent uses of such tactics shows up when crossing a castle bridge. While the main bulk of the environment (the castle and bridge) is static, the rest of the scene (the sky and air below the bridge) shows a breathtaking waterfall of clouds.

The character models are likewise very vividly detailed, each one wildly different from the others, but in a good way. During your typical stage wandering scenes, the character models are a little jaggy, but that may be simply because they’re being placed on the highly detailed, high resolution background. While the general style of the models may not be for everyone, the execution of said style is very good. The beauty of the game extends beneath the surface and goes deeper, as the game steps into a variety of different dimensions to bring unique levels and unexpected environmental puzzles. Without giving too much away, some of the environmental puzzles in Baten Kaitos are truly a treat to explore, although they’re never truly difficult. One of the most unusual and interesting levels to play through in the game involves a hall of shattered mirrors. Imagine navigating a labyrinth looking through broken pieces of a mirror and you’ll get a picture of it.



Beautiful environments. This screen is low res, mind you

Now for a rant. Turn on your GameCube, and put down the controller. After 7 minutes or so, pick it up, and realize you have just witnessed some of the most beautiful FMV ever to grace an RPG. We’re talking Square-Enix standard stuff, here. The FMV theatrical trailer is astoundingly well-produced and very pretty. Now, lament in the fact that you’ve seen all of the FMV the game has to offer you. What is it with Namco and teasing players with opening FMV, only to strike it from the rest of the game? Sure, it isn’t necessary, but seeing those scenes from the opening trailer being shown in the real time engine instead of the gorgeous FMV is disappointing. Why, Namco? Why?