Summons?

Nope. Just different types of magic and attack skills.

The fact that the summon system was changed quite a bit through every FF since the idea was introduced points to the fact that it was a flawed system, in my opinion. I consider FFVII to be where JRPGs peaked, and have gone downhill since then. I still enjoy them, but I consider it and its contemporaries(the period that started with Chrono Trigger and ended with FFVII and Xenogears) to be where the gere hit its high point. The only one of thse games with real "summons" was FFVII, and it worked in that game because of the fact that the summons were implemented like any other spell. Even in FF Tactics, summons were used very similarly to the other magics. FFVIII had a similar summon system too, but many people criticized it because of the draw system that they used for magic. I understand completely why it was not put into Lost Odyssey, and I think the game is very well designed in its balance between magic and melee. In my experience, summons are nice in theory, and look really cool, but cause problems from a design standpoint.

I am not saying that they are dead. In fact, I have played many that I enjoyed quite a bit. I just think that the gere hit a peak, and had not been on that level since. You are correct, I have not played them, but I have heard good things about the series. My personal favorites, however are:Chrono Trigger, Star Ocean:Till the End of Time, Xenogears, Final Fantasy VI, and then FFVII. More or less in that order, but also depending on the mood I am in at the time. Most of which do not have summons in them.(FFVII is the obvious exception, as stated in the previous post)

It definitely has magical spells that would qualify as summons. Anyone seen the high level eight holy magic by now? So that is for certain, one hundred percent incorrect; unless you only count summons to be some computer controlled character.


RPG's definitely peaked with Final Fantasy 6, there's no doubt about it. The others while good do not have that same spark, depth or enormous world to keep doing quests. I look more at this game for a perfect example of what was needed/required from rpgs.


This one has everything Final Fantasy should have but has been lacking, dozens if not over 50 side quests, all these rings to forge; an intriguing end of world story that is reminiscent of ff6, endless combinations of being able to do things such as the magic cubic score game, etc. At least seven super bosses, an underwater dungeon, submarine like game and clear-cut addictive towns. And ways to steal items in different ways. I would just point out that no recent rpg has what Lost Odyssey does, including ff7 or ff13 or even ff9. It was obviously created with extreme care and caution. If this era is indeed over, this game marks the end. Now wouldn't that be a sight to have a sequel to LO, next-generation to see the genre rest in peace proper.