Hey folks. Thanks for dropping by. Just to get ahead of a couple things people might try to correct in the video- 1) I clustered early story events together to save on time and excessive explanation but it all checks out fine. 2) Enemies never use clashing elements when defending, I just portrayed it this way to give a good example of how calculations in battle work. Otherwise, I hope you all enjoy the crunchy 480p GameCube graphics while we patiently await the upcoming remaster that almost derailed my entire edit!

I'm so upset that they're taking the voice acting out of the remasters! This is an example of "it's so bad, it's good!"

What's wild to me is that Tri Crescendo's involvement always made me think it was a Tri-Ace game rather than a Monolith collab. What a soundtrack though!

Thank goodness, FINALLY, an actual, well-put-together video about my favorite game, i can't stand when people go goofy and poop all over it, and don't really care for it. i love this!, good job. Also it made my poor lonely childhood WAY better, and kept me well, WELL entertained for 5 years, and i am STILL finding out new facts?!, i had NO idea about the whole camera+lighting thing or the sword burning out...how did i not notice?, i swear i would have. ALSO; based on another person's comment: OHHHHHHHH, so MY audio being normal sounding was because i had it on mono???. i also don't mind the portal-audio, people are HUGE babies, it's not THAT bad, it adds to the atmosphere of being in another form, the guardian spirit. i'm mad they didn't add the English to the remaster...all for the people whining i bet.

Finally Baten Kaitos getting its due reognition!!!

man I'm glad I found this. my head just decided to give the series a replay a few weeks ago and then I found out about the remaster. I've always said this is one of the best JRPGs ever made but severely underrated. Couple points - back in the day word on the street was the audio weirdness was intentional because you're hearing through a portal so its compressed like a telephone call. it can be fixed if you switch audio to Mono in the settings for some reason. The combat system is goated and its so frustrating that there hasn't been a second go at this style of jrpg. Theres also a weird point that the intro video on the disk is ALSO a separately recorded take, and is for some reason just significantly better acting than the actual in game voiced lines which is completely bonkers. Second - im about three quarters through Origins at the moment and id reccommend giving it a go. its bizzare how it both fixes every problem that the first game has while simultaneously completely fucking up other aspects. the combat system is way more busted in an attempt to "streamline" it, i guess? but the acting and character work is VASTLY superior. whatever audio fuckery was going on in the first game - its gone here. Story really is holding up too - id argue its actually been a better plot than the first game. anyway thanks for the video mate - earned a sub and a bingewatch for sure. stay spooky

I'm so thrilled that Baten Kaitos and Origins are getting the remaster treatment! Especially since Origins have never been released in Europe. And I'm so glad you put together this retrospective! Baten Kaitos is a fascinating and unique game that feels, in the best way possible, that it belongs in the PSone golden age of RPGs, and I adore the fact that the game isn't afraid to be absolutely absurd. Things like the Shampoo Magnus sound like a playground urban legend from the late 90s. You should be proud of this one, Tarks. This will probably get some extra traction with people looking up reviews with the remaster coming out

If it makes you feel better, I'm going to pick up the remaster thanks to this video. :)

I never played either of the Baten Kaitos games and have always been curious about their composition. I am not normally someone who is interested in a card based approach but it is pretty clear with this title at least that the implementation is done in a fun way that is something I'm willing to try. The remaster (and the fact its getting a physical release) is exciting to me and definitely the way I'd like to be introduced to playing them for the first time. This retrospective is honestly fantastic. I watched the entire thing, front to back and it has definitely sold me on Eternal Wings. Crazy how the timing of a video like this can be done as you illustrated at the end of this retrospective. The work you and others put in this is fantastic. Thank you TG, great work here.

This is a truly great game, with some of the most inventive, unique ideas ever see in the genre. I have fond memories of playing it when it came out, I remember being obsessed with the card system, constantly experimenting with it to find new things, before breaking down and looking up all the combos and secrets on gamefaqs near the end. The way the system is universal, working not only for battles but also for puzzles, sidequests, story elements etc, really makes the world of the game and the player's experience with it feel like a cohesive whole, as does the brilliant framing of the story, the role of the player in that framing, and how those things play into the brilliant long con happening from the start. I had the sequel but never played that far into it, I think because I was annoyed at how different the battle and card systems were, after seeing the original as essentially perfect I couldn't understand why so much was changed. This was a great retrospective, and god it would be fun to play this again, nearly two decades later, in HD and with the original Japanese VA, which I believe wasn't even an option in the original release. Truly a hidden gem... I can also imagine that the whole experience of the game could be quite different with the original voice acting... actually come to think of it, I'm almost certain that I elected to play through the vast majority of the game with the voice acting simply turned off or at zero volume, and that made the experience much much better, making it feel like any great oldschool jrpg where there was no issue of voice acting in the first place, and it was just like using one's imagination while reading a good book... that's how I grew up playing the genre in the early 90's, and the obsession with including voice acting in everything after MGS always was quite idiotic to me, actively lowering the quality of the player's experience in many cases, and this game is a prime example of that. Trust me, if you just turn the VA off, you won't even remember it's a thing after a little while and all the story scenes are vastly better. You have a choice!

idk man, I think you put this video out at the perfect time, when just enough people will be curiously looking for information on what Baten Kaitos is all about ahead of the remaster. If Monolithsoft's recent work hadn't already gotten me on board with it, this video sure might have.

Really loved this game, Baten Kaitos as well as Skies of Arcadia were two of my fav JRPGs on the GameCube.

Subscribing to save this for later to when I finish the games. I grew up seeing my cousin playing these on his Gamecube, and finally it is my turn. Loving it so far!

Hi. New sub here because I finally found a physical copy of the remaster and I am loving it.

Playing the remaster! What a great timing!

I´ll watch this entire thing on Sunday when I have the time, but I'm definitely subbing. Always lovely to encounter fellow Baten Kaitos fanatics.

I about to play this game and they announced the remastered and then I see this retrospective… just can’t wait to play this game for the 1st time. It’s been on my backlog for so long, so freaking long

I remember staying up til 4 in the morning on multiple weekend nights with my cousin playing games and Eternal Wings & Origins. There is so much charm and plenty to do with a unique & fun card-combo gameplay, and not much games still today have the same kind of appeal as the series did.

ALLLLLSO 💀what is that 2nd dub...dear god... and THANK YOU for showing/telling about "tales of the abyss" i LOVE the guys music work, and i have searched far and wide, but...i didn't see that one?!?!?, HOW COULD IT GO UNKNOWN?!?!?!.

bro great documentary style breakdowns of games. subbed today

Hey man just wanted to say I really really appreciate your channel. You always do such great work! I also think that you are more genuine that most youtubers. Thanks for always providing great content!

Hopefully it proves beneficial to get your retrospective out just before the launch of the remaster, when buzz is high, rather than 4 months after the remaster when everyone has moved on to something else. Either way it was a cracking video which I thoroughly enjoyed alongside my morning coffee.

The original Monolith Soft game that takes place on a giant floating continents where you meet the heroine of the game being attacked by monsters and her two guards sacrifice themselves to save her. It was also the first Tri Cresendo game where you made money by taking photos of monsters and the value of said pictures increased or decreased based on the lighting. PS: Kinda crazy how the two Baten Kaitos games are synonymous with card based JRPGs on the Gamecube when Lost Kingdoms I&II,Megaman Network Transmission and Phantasy Star Online Episode III all predated it.

Looking forward to the remaster, although I am a bit bummed about the English audio. It is quite understandable for their reasoning. Another great video here Tarks

I've always said "Ba--ten Kay-tose" myself. I had finished the game once, and have always liked it. My early gaming days are a bit fuzzy now, though Baten Kaitos may have been my first actual JRPG. Took me all the way to Mira to start actually figuring out that I was making the game very difficult as I was using the elemental strengths of enemies in my attacks and defenses in each fight, having a much easier time once I stopped being the biggest dumb. I remember Mira the most of any location from all the odd places you visit, and that damned garden with the hands and slimes, took me hours to figure it out. I was a smart-ish kid, but wasn't too bright in some areas.

Perfect timing.

This is my favorite game of all time (although I just played it in 2019, talk about being late to the party). Very nice video, even if the surprise remaster announcement caught you off guard while you were working on it. I’m personally devastated that the English dub is missing. The original game’s voice acting is so hilariously bad that it wraps around to being amazing, and BKO legit has a terrific dub. Hope you enjoy BKO this fall! I can’t wait for more people to experience this masterpiece. Don’t expect to ever see BK3, but the remaster was such a total shock so I guess never say never.

I have been wanting to replay Baten Kaitos for years but figured it was an abandoned franchise. Watching this is the first I'd heard of the remaster... and it's already out! Guess I know what I'm getting myself for Christmas. Cheers!

I still own my GC copy of it, and i think i prefer the old graphics and tin sounding voices. I was so turned off by the remaster from the moment i watched the cinematic in the title screen. Im still going to play it, and bought it if nothing else to show the devs that we want more baten kaitos! Even got a friend to buy it too

Baten Kaitos Origins has a lot of interesting lore for Eternal Wings, especially about the "true" identity of Malpercio. I was quite mind blown and feeling bad about what I did in Eternal Wings. You will understand if you play it one day. ;)

Thanks so much for making a much-needed video about baten kaitos! it was a very interesting watch for me, and i absolutely did not remember the audio quality being THAT bad LMFAO. kinda wish they could re-dub it, but that would just be a post-release bonus update tbh .

SAVED THIS VIDEO!! cant wait to watch it while I work later today - one of my favorite childhood games 🥰

Thanks for the video and that little gem at the end of it. These games were so much fun for me to play as a kid. I'm currently working on a playthrough with no level ups, which has me getting ready to leave Mira for the first time (LOTS of grinding). I really hope a third iteration of this series is realeased!

Great timing Tark! I'm excited to finally try these out!

Always been interested in this series! Hoping the remasters will make it a bit more accessible. Thanks for the retrospective sir!

I'm at the intro with tark and his gauntlets, and you've already earned your like and comment.

Good work dude, always happy to see a new vid from ya!

"Baten Kaitos" (I'm surprised I managed to pronounce this the dev intended way all this time) certainly takes me back to when I was younger. Feels like forever since I originally played it. But at the same time, it's been long enough that I don't actually recall too much about it. From the little I do remember, I think I enjoyed it but found it strangely frustrating. Not so much for the difficulty but cause of all the constant micro-managing you had to do with the decks. Between getting new cards, the cards themselves changing (usually for the worse), and combat getting stricter the further you got, it just annoyed younger me at the time. Not to mention other stuff like making sure to take a picture of every boss encounter but never selling them cause of collection purposes. The whole semi-completionist mentality that I still have. But the biggest offender were the Quest Magus cards since I just couldn't ever find the right ones to finish quests and always kept ones I wasn't sure I could get back resulting in wasted space, like the ones you start with. I remember looking up a quest guide, saw I already screwed up and missed several, and then just kind of gave up playing. I got a little ways past the big twist before losing interest if I recall correctly, even despite still enjoying it overall. If I tried to play it again nowadays, I don't think I'd have anywhere near as much of a problem but I don't know how interested I am in trying to do so. Probably was why I really wanted to get the sequel, to see what got improved, but I unfortunately never found a copy. And it's too little too late now. Funnily, re-reading this, you've more or less said everything I tried to say. Guess I wasn't alone in some of those thoughts.

“Us heroes we have so much to do.”

Gunna grab this on the switch

This video deserves views just for that Marge cameo

Despite them cutting the dub, buy the game. Support the series, maybe we'll get that Baten Kaitos 3.

Baten Kaitos took me 13 years to complete thanks to constantly corrupting 3rd party memory cards, but when I finally completed it in the summer after I graduated college, it was so worth it. I actually didn't realize at the time of its release that Xenoblade Chronicles and Baten Kaitos were from the same developer. All hail the tin can voice acting though, that shit is so nostalgic. I never heard about the compression theory, that was insightful even if it is speculation.

Seems pretty cool. Visually it reminds me a lot of Chrono Cross. Was pleasantly surprised its the same guy. Looking forward to it in the future.

I remember buying this game when it was brand new and it's one of the most iconic Gamecube titles for me. I do specifically remember Kalas being...kind of a huge jerk really made it stand out for me because I was so used to goody two-shoes protagonists. It does really suck that the remasters are removing the voice acting. I can't believe we'll never get to hear 's voice ever again *sob sobs* Also thank you for mentioning the shampoo because that still just makes me laugh.

The "bad quality sound" in the voice track its because a bug. Disable the surround thing and its gonna work like a "Charm".

Baten Kaitos' wonderful world inspired many a daydream in my childhood. I love the worldbuilding and the awesome OST. However when I replayed this game about 2 years ago some very negative aspects stood out to me. Once you missed your opportunity at taking a picture or at finishing a quest, you will never be able to redo it. I know that this probably too much of what Monolith Soft is going to with the remake, but I think, that the remake should've a Boss Rush mode, where you can fight every boss as much as you want. Furthermore at the end of the game you should be able to battle every enemy you have encountered before somewhere. The quests that disappear should be marked, so that you don't forget to finish them first before progressing the story.

I felt bad liking the video. It was at 69 likes and now, because of me, it's at 70. Anyway... awesome Vid as per usual! I enjoyed the game back in the day and even imported Origins because they didn't release it in Europe, but never finished it. Maybe with the Remaster...

Yes! I've been looking forward to this since you hinted that you'd do a video on it at the end of your extensive/great Legend of Dragoon video. :) Now, here's hoping the remaster is good enough. *fingers crossed*

I never owned a GameCube and I tried to play in my Wii back in the day but the game disc that a friend had lent me didn't work correctly so the remaster is a godsend to me. Live monolithsoft and this is their only franchise that I'm missing. Awesome retrospect as always.

I heard this theory running around when I watched this being streamed about the tin can sound: Since you're actually playing as the spirit guiding the mcs, they hear everyone talking like they're in a tube, so tubelike ears for the spirit. Never played Baten Kaitos nor do I wish to (cards turn me off heavily) but it sure looks great and OST is widely regarded as Sakuraba's best works, the plot twist is very neat too.

Easily one of the most beautiful game ever made!! Every background is breathtaking even to this day! This game is to me just as good as FF4-5-6, Chrono, Suikoden 1-2, Lufia 1-2 etc..

I dunno, I think the crunchy graphics were perfect. I came here to reminisce. This was solid AF

I bust a gut laughing at "the god of demise and destruction... the cursed power of... Marpetro?"

That part about the voiceacting quality: I also found it weird, how the game sounded when I first played it. So I looked at the settings and changed the sound from stereo to mono. That totally fixed it. Try it.

Crazy theory about the voice quality that I have: the voices sounds this way because you, the guardian spirit, would hear them this way, through a sort of veil, or like from another room, from you are: on the other side of the screen. It might actually be a crazy creative choice. Now, maybe not since the japanese voice acting doesn't seem to have that same low quality, and neither does the sequel, but it's fun to think about.

Damn that guy voicing Sabin needs to take voice acting lessons

Lol I love how the setting of Baten Kaitos did the setting of Skyward Sword before Zelda did

Fun fact, i got Gebari when i was level 5... Because i didn't know how to level up, got stuck there for like 10 hours and even re-started the game a few times... I was a spanish speaker with a foregein confusing game.

Glad it’s this game is getting a remaster I’m just disappointed there won’t be an English dub. Especially because Origins has a good VA and Eternal Wings is kinda so bad it’s good for me at least. Probably still gonna pick it up would have been cool if they re-voiced the game but this is also the company that keeps failing to properly remaster Tales Of Symphonia.

Can’t wait for the remaster so I can play it and completely forget everything you said about the combat.

The audio was done intentionally. The player is a Guardian Spirit in another dimension

Baten Kaitos origins & baten Kaitos eternal wings & lost ocean will always be one of the top JRPGS on the GameCube.

Hope you and your alligator friend are enjoying some all you can eat ribs (since you're too cool to get some with the boys) -Love Victor

23:58 did someone say foot gang ? Awesome vid tarks as always cant wait to get it on switch

About the tin-can sound of the voice acting: I think the japanese version sounded similiar, what if it was on purpose like a form of art. Because we (player/spirit) don't hear it directly, we hear the sounds through Kalas ears. That could explain tzhe tin-can like sound.

Bah-Ten-Kai-Tos that's how I always pronounced it ^ ^ but you can say it however you want

I always interpreted the slight distortion on the voices as being a thematic thing since we, the player, are viewing the events from the perspective of a spirit. Just a slight something to create seperation between the world of the characters and our own world as the viewer. It honestly never bothered me even the slightest bit when I played the game back in my late teens. I'm a bit bummed the english VA is being dropped since quite a lot of Melodia's lines the emotion in the delivery on them seems way better than the Japanese one. (Spoiler below) For example, her reaction when Kalas rips-off the second wing he got so he could return to normal, and she's completely thrown-off that a mortal could remove the power of a god from themselves by their own will. I also love Mizuti's absoutely flip-out in the english dub when she busts her mask. The japanese VA is so much more subdued than the english VA's yelling "NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!!!!!" followed by Mizuti bitch-slapping Malpercio. I can live with playing the game with the Jap VA, but it won't quite be the same. But I guess it would be an excuse to get my Wii out of its box and replay the GC version at some point.

MonolithSoft's greatest hidden gem is arguably Disaster: Day of Crisis, but Baten Kaitos still rocks. Glad to see a proper long retrospective.

Just leaving this here to say thanks, I wish the English dub was kept, and I bought it physically and digitally in the switch... Hoping that this entry comes out.. AFTER THE XENOSAGA TRILOGY. Please God, please.

If you liked the Kalas twist, you should play OFF, Omori, and Deltarune.

I bought this game on day -1 when it released. And loved it

I sorta broke the narrative by naming my spirit guardian Kalas. Created some funny dialogue though.

This is perfect timing with the remaster coming! Monolithsoft is one of my favorite developers but Baten Kaitos is one of the few games of theirs I haven’t played yet. Thank you daddy Tarks for another great viddy!

I think it is time Tarks Gauntlet to talk about Xenoblade Chronicles 2 DLC, Xenoblade 2: Torna the Golden Country, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 & Xenoblade Chronicles 3 DLC

Original audio sounds like theyre speaking through a tuba

Love this series!!

Never mind I braved twitter and did some reading don't let it get to u too much

So, belly of the beast? That's dope

Hell yeah

Thank God for Xenoblade.

The voice acting sounding like they are talking into a can or box occurs when the game is on stereo sound. Switching it to surround sound in the settings fixes the bug somehow? It is definitely a weirdass oversight. Great vid by the way. Still salty about the English VA being taken out of the remaster though.

11:13 o come on. That is the exact problem with phonetics: That is why ghoti is pronounced as 'fish'.

one of my all time favorites, so happy it's getting rereleased, just hope they don't mess it up like symphonia

Aww wish u talked about more of the things u left out like syna story and what not

Nobody said there would be math. Is this on the test?

In Arabic it's بطن القيطس.

I finished the game at 14 😂

As far as I know, the weird "tubey" voices where they sound like being in a glass box is coming from an emulation issue, it's not present on the real hardware. But hey not being a native english speaker, even if I played it first with these english dub I won't miss them haha

Where are you from that you pronounce -ar like a pirate?

Sorry, but a few seconds in and I already have problems with this. "The sun was setting on the fourth year of the new millenium. December 2003" how is this the fourth year? maybe you meant rising since it was almost 2004... but even then, the new millenium started in 2001, so it still wouldn't be correct. Yeah okay, gonna continue watching now ^.^

Wait what!? You've never played Baten Kaitos Origins? But you're praising the first one? Please go play Origins as well, it's an amazing prequel!

Baten Kaitos Adam Sesssler right about this game

hi dude . i adore baten kaitos and baten kaitos origins !!! same thing for xenogears , and the 3 xenosaga . however , i detest xenoblade serie...sorry dude .ps : i'm french , sorry for my poor english...

Dude wut happened to ur talk about jrpgs being a bad word 🤔

I don't know why people are making a big deal out of the removal of the ENG VA. The original's VA was shitty as best. Let's not wear our nostalgia glasses too tightly now...I'm hoping to get a fresh new experience with the Japanese VA, now what I am personally more accustomed to Japanese dubs.

Hi weeb

Did I mention how much I absolutely positively without a shadow of a doubt HATE X-Play!?