Well alrighty then – after a chunk of time spent downloading thanks to a sloooooow connection and a bit of a false start when booting up the first time (I got a black screen for ages and had to reboot my Vita twice before the game woke up and decided to start), I’m finally playing Ragnarok Odyssey – well, the single player mode so far. So far, it’s quite fun – easy to get into in terms of setting up and creating your character, but not the grind-fest I thought it would be. You actually don’t gain levels by killing monsters (although you can repeat quests to gain extra items, weapons and other drops plus more Zeny to buy supplies and upgrade gear with). Your rank goes up as you complete chapters that advance the overall story.

Thanks to the AP meter that drains as you attack, combat initially feels like a mix of Monster Hunter (but not as maddening) with a dash of some of Game Arts’ own later Grandia games and a few other action-based RPGs. Although combo-based, it’s NOT a button masher at all. There are a number of attacks for each character class (I’m playing as a Hunter to start out) and unless you take time to read the manual or pore over the text assistance popups, there’s a bit of figuring out how to pull off some combat moves. Quests are timed, so in a number of cases after the initial few quests, there are multi-area maps that you won’t be able to completely scour in the time you get. The game also drops really hard enemies into some areas (much like Gods Eater Burst or Xenoblade Chronicles for example), meaning you’ll need to do some running away in order to beat the clock (and not get beat up).

So far, the inventory is limited in terms of the number of potions you can carry, so early on you learn to be very efficient with your attacks and evasive maneuvers. I’m piling up some items that look as if they’re going to be useful in upgrading gear or making potions at some shops, but so far it seems that hoarding everything isn’t a focus of the game. That could change as the story opens up more. Those familiar Ragnarok emoticons are all here and the Vita’s touch screen is used quite well overall provided you take the time to learn not to tap certain parts of the screen accidentally. Additionally, when you’re locked on to a target, you lose the ability to turn the camera with the right analog stick until you break or lose the lock. Again, it’s something to get used to, but this looks like one if those games where the learning curve adds appeal to gamers looking for a bit more complexity in what’s normally fairly conventional in game after game in the MMO genre.

OK, I’m going to shut up and get back into the game for a little bit before passing out for the night. I’m going to try and get enough play time in to get a review posed by the 30th (when the game hits PSN) or 31st (Halloween – I have no plans that day other than staying out of trouble). See you then…. or actually, sooner with some other game updates.