Odin Sphere Leifthrasir is a magnificent remake of a cult classic. Five intertwined stories in a sumptuous Nordic fantasy universe. Breathtaking visuals, perfect action-RPG gameplay. Essential.
Your verdict
Category
Action RPG1 player12+
Description
Gwendolyn, Oswald, Mercedes and allies relive their mythological adventures in this Vanillaware action-RPG masterpiece. Published by Atlus, released in Europe in June 2016. Sidescrolling action-RPG with fully reworked hand-painted visuals, epic bosses, interwoven storylines. European version.
Odin Sphere - Leifthrasir review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
MAX
Story
★★★★★
"Masterful"
Entirely repainted by hand, this Nordic tale bursts with deep colours, gigantic creatures and settings of infinite detail. Every screen looks like a page from an illustrated book set in motion. This pictorial splendour, Vanillaware's absolute signature, remains a constant dazzlement.
From the pen of Hitoshi Sakimoto and Basiscape, the music unfurls a baroque orchestra of rare nobility and emotion. Each tale of the story rises with a fairy-tale grandeur, underlining the tragedy as much as the beauty. This symphonic breadth, sumptuous and refined, elevates this illustrated tale from end to end.
Told like a storybook in five voices, this tale weaves the crossed fates of heroes caught in a twilight war for power. A fairy-tale tragedy of Norse inspiration, it blends love, prophecy and the end of the world with rare theatrical scope. Its structure of interlaced chapters makes it a fresco of solemn beauty.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Slashing, gathering ingredients to cook and growing your hit points blends nervy 2D action with fine management across a tragic tale staged with stunning beauty. Each chapter unveils a character and revives the urge to see what follows. A few repetitive fights crop up, but the beauty of the linework and the richness of the system sustain a tenacious charm.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Reliving the interwoven fates of five mythological heroes unfolds an action-RPG of rare beauty, rich in combat, alchemy and five long stories. Growing each character, combing the levels and tying the tales together fills dozens of hours. That generosity, a Vanillaware masterpiece, offers a lifespan action-RPG fans cultivate.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
A Vanillaware reworking of one of its classics, Odin Sphere Leifthrasir elevates the hand-drawn 2D action RPG with overhauled combat, in a reduced-run European Vita edition. The format's physical scarcity and the studio's prestige make it a sought piece. Its interest combines this recognized beauty and this limited distribution.
Memorable bosses
In a Norse-inspired tragedy magnified by Vanillaware, the heroes cross paths with dragons, giants and war machines of crushing proportions. The Psypher, a blade fed on energy, structures duels as demanding as they are graceful, where dodging and resource management come first. The painterly splendor and the gravity of the tale give these fights a singular operatic intensity.
A cult cover
A mythological tale set to paint, the image gathers Gwendolyn the valkyrie and her companions in a profusion of gilding, wings and precious motifs. The jewel-toned palette and fairy-tale breath evoke an animated picture book rather than a mere game. Fully reworked for this version, the Vanillaware artwork keeps a stained-glass elegance.
Is Odin Sphere - Leifthrasir still worth playing in 2026?
An overhaul by Vanillaware, Odin Sphere Leifthrasir offers an enriched 2D action RPG adventure with five heroes of distinct gameplays in a Nordic fantasy universe. The absolutely sublime watercolour art direction by George Kamitani, fluid handling and epic scenario make it an absolute peak of the Vanillaware saga on Vita. For anyone fond of Vanillaware or seeking an absolutely unmissable action RPG, an absolutely essential recommendation today still without the slightest hesitation on the Sony portable machine truly here indeed.
