Mistwalker’s first Xbox 360 RPG hasn’t even hit the European shores yet, but news is coming in on its second offering, Lost Odyssey, which has been confirmed by a Microsoft representative as being 70 per cent complete.

A recent issue of Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu features an update on Lost Odyssey provided by Hironobu Sakaguchi himself. He commented that the main theme to the upcoming RPG will be “humanity” and the music is being composed to reflect inner emotions. The music director Nobuo Uematsu is nearly done with the score and it’s set to be a big change in style from Mistwalker’s first Xbox 360 RPG, Blue Dragon.

Sakaguchi also announced that the latest build of Lost Odyssey is far enough along that the team has gone into the balancing and tuning portion of development, where features like the load times are being reduced so that they are less noticeable.

It has also been confirmed that Lost Odyssey will have a fixed camera system, which will move to provide realism through “camera vibration and focus effects.”

One of the most interesting things Sakaguchi commented on was the battle system. According to the article, Lost Odyssey will employ a wall system which will require players to ensure that the front guards protect the rear. Enemies will use these formations as well and Mistwalker plans to add an “analog trigger system for physical attacks” to breech the walls.

Sakaguchi explained that magical attacks in Lost Odyssey will be much more powerful than physical attacks, so sorcerers will have to be protected with the front line while they do their thing. He went on to hint that acquired skills will be needed to equip accessories and that the obtainable skills will vary between mortals and immortals in the game. He then told readers that item synthesis will work through combining items infused with magical power along with a basic weapon.

Sakaguchi finished off by saying that the team are working “full-power” on Lost Odyssey, so expect new details to emerge shortly.

Thanks to nofear360 for submitting.