Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan

[Grazza]

Unlocked the ability to use Burst skills which helps with fights against FOEs. Can go down to BF3, but seems to be a boss down there which is a stronger version of the FOE's that appear on the 1st and 2nd floors but I can't take out those yet. I'm still only at level 10 at the minute.

 

I haven't got there yet but it sounds like a Red FOE. It's tradition for them to be on 3F and there is only ever one option when you first find them - run!

 

Right, let's get the negative out of the way first. I don't think overworlds suit Etrian Odyssey. The first two games were about getting further into a labyrinth, which helped make them extremely compelling. III and IV, however, have overworlds which (in my opinion) fragment the gameplay. For example, in IV you have a starting area, then get told to explore the overworld, start on the main labyrinth (one of many?); then as soon as you've mapped the first floor you get sent to a different training area! If they wanted the game to be longer, I don't know why they didn't just add more floors. Etrian Odyssey is about map-making, which is good for the labyrinth but not so much for the overworld.

 

Right, now the negative point is over, time for the good news - Etrian Odyssey IV is a brilliant game. As the first entry on the 3DS, it benefits hugely from the handheld's superior graphics and music. The latter in particular is beautiful.

 

The classes make so much more sense to me than Etrian Odyssey III's and the skill tree is by far the best yet. In the first game you could really waste your skill points by putting 10 points into something when you only needed 1. Not so with this - the skills are all capped at whatever level the designers thought appropriate, and the skill tree makes it totally transparent where each branch leads.

 

There's no need for a farming team either - just put a single point into the type of gathering any particular class specialises in. Furthermore, skills are presented to you in tiers. Certain ones are held back until you are level 20 (for example), so you always have an idea of which ones you should be putting your points into at the right time.

 

So, I'm loving it at the moment. Surely the best RPG on the 3DS.

[Ike]

Right, let's get the negative out of the way first. I don't think overworlds suit Etrian Odyssey. The first two games were about getting further into a labyrinth, which helped make them extremely compelling. III and IV, however, have overworlds which (in my opinion) fragment the gameplay. For example, in IV you have a starting area, then get told to explore the overworld, start on the main labyrinth (one of many?); then as soon as you've mapped the first floor you get sent to a different training area! If they wanted the game to be longer, I don't know why they didn't just add more floors. Etrian Odyssey is about map-making, which is good for the labyrinth but not so much for the overworld.

 

I had similar thoughts while playing this. It was far more exciting in the first game going deeper and deeper down the Labyrinth wondering what new enemies will be there, will I be strong enough to take them on?

 

Kinda takes the mystery out and sense of exploring in a way.

 

But hey, you get a fly a blimp (/Airship). :p

 

Agree with everything else. The battle music is fantastic (which is important since you'll be hearing it a lot). I'm still singing it long after a play session.

[Ike]

I haven't got there yet but it sounds like a Red FOE. It's tradition for them to be on 3F and there is only ever one option when you first find them - run!

 

Managed to beat it and now there's an even stronger version. I was just like "nope" when I found it.

 

Found some extra areas to explore on the overworld map but they were pretty small and I was a bit overleveled for the areas but they had some nice equipment upgrades so it was worth it.

 

Team is level 15 now, I can take out the Kangeroo FOE on the overworld map, although he can still destroy my team if I'm not careful.

 

Paralyse status is such a pain, getting a lot of problems lately due to that status effect.

 

My Runemaster has the potential of causing the most damage, but she's limited by her TP. She's pretty essential for fighting FOEs at the minute. Funnily enough, it's my Sniper that goes does first a lot of the time. I don't think he's meant to be in the front row.

[Grazza]

Managed to beat it and now there's an even stronger version. I was just like "nope" when I found it.

 

Fought them myself now. It's quite clever how the game gets you used to a FOE ("Cutter"), then a stronger version, then the boss. In a way, even the Angry Baboon teaches you how to fight the FOEs and bosses in that area, as it's their arms that are dangerous.

 

I forgot this is the first Etrian Odyssey where you can actually see what the FOEs look like on the map (as opposed to an orange or red circle), which leads to some nice, light puzzles.

 

Team is level 15 now, I can take out the Kangeroo FOE on the overworld map, although he can still destroy my team if I'm not careful.

 

Yep, I did manage to beat a kangaroo FOE at level 14, but I definitely think the game intends them for when you're level 15. I also just managed to beat the boss on B3F at level 17. I think the game considers 15 the right level, but I'm sure I'd have run out of TP.

 

Anyway, it's a really nice game. Plays perfectly in most ways but I still find it strange having so many different areas. So far I've been in a training floor for every level of the proper labyrinth. As you say, it's worth exploring them for the drops and gather points.

[Grazza]

Got my characters to Level 22 and have now Rested all of them so they're Level 20. In the first game, Resting set you back 10 levels, but it gradually shrank as the series went on, and 2 levels is not a problem (I hope).

 

What's different about IV is that the skill tree only lets you unlock certain skills when you are at Levels 20 and 40. This is why I wanted all my skill points back (to use the Level 20 skills), and will probably do the same at Level 42.

[Ike]

Fought them myself now. It's quite clever how the game gets you used to a FOE ("Cutter"), then a stronger version, then the boss. In a way, even the Angry Baboon teaches you how to fight the FOEs and bosses in that area, as it's their arms that are dangerous.

 

I beat him today myself. He wasn't as tough as he looked. I did get lucky and managed to seal his arms. I also discovered you can make then flinch during the charge attack which I only found out by accident by fighting the weaker versions. I actually don't think he even hurt me, certainly didn't have to heal at any point.

 

Anyway, feels good to move onto the next area and have a change of scenery. Too scared to fight anything though, lol.

[Haden]

Hey guys just wondering if anyone is still playing this game?

 

I installed the demo yesterday and have really been enjoying it, it is unlike anything I have played before and I love the map making

 

Just wondering if someone could give me impressions of what the game is like at later stages and how they are finding it?

[Grazza]

Hey guys just wondering if anyone is still playing this game?

 

I installed the demo yesterday and have really been enjoying it, it is unlike anything I have played before and I love the map making

 

Just wondering if someone could give me impressions of what the game is like at later stages and how they are finding it?

 

Yep, I'm still playing it. Just so busy this year, I can't focus on it as much as the older ones. And quite honestly I can't stop playing Animal Crossing either, which has limited my time on this.

 

But... Etrian Odyssey IV is a very, very good game. If anything, it gets better as it goes on, as you unlock better classes and the ability to subclass them. For example, you might use a Sniper early on because they are the only ones who can use binds (eg. stop the enemy breathing fire at you/swiping you with their hands/hitting you with their tail). However, not too much later you unlock a class that has more success with binds, so for example you can have that as one character and give him/her the Medic subclass.

 

Personally, I got to the 3rd Boss and left it for a while, but it really is a good game and I'll be back to it before long. In fact, looking at my Activity Log, my three most-played 3DS games are Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Fire Emblem: Awakening and Etrian Odyssey IV. I can definitely see this being in my Top 3 favourites, it's just that it's been an amazing year for 3DS.

[Grazza]

Beaten the 3rd Boss now at level 45, which felt about right (although I didn't level-up, so the game probably thought I was over-levelled). Many of the bosses and FOEs are mild puzzles, making you consider the room and the environment - it's sort of a nice idea, but on balance I don't actually like it. I preferred it when a boss just sat in a room waiting in one spot!

 

Use the Bushi's "Roar" ability to debuff the boss's Regen. Otherwise you'll likely run out of TP.

 

[Haden]

Yep, I'm still playing it. Just so busy this year, I can't focus on it as much as the older ones. And quite honestly I can't stop playing Animal Crossing either, which has limited my time on this.

 

But... Etrian Odyssey IV is a very, very good game. If anything, it gets better as it goes on, as you unlock better classes and the ability to subclass them. For example, you might use a Sniper early on because they are the only ones who can use binds (eg. stop the enemy breathing fire at you/swiping you with their hands/hitting you with their tail). However, not too much later you unlock a class that has more success with binds, so for example you can have that as one character and give him/her the Medic subclass.

 

Personally, I got to the 3rd Boss and left it for a while, but it really is a good game and I'll be back to it before long. In fact, looking at my Activity Log, my three most-played 3DS games are Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Fire Emblem: Awakening and Etrian Odyssey IV. I can definitely see this being in my Top 3 favourites, it's just that it's been an amazing year for 3DS.

 

 

Great thanks for the feedback I am sure I will get this soon.

 

I am quite intrigued by the map making is it something that gets more complex later in the game? I enjoyed using it in the demo but felt like I didn't really need to do it.

[Grazza]

I am quite intrigued by the map making is it something that gets more complex later in the game? I enjoyed using it in the demo but felt like I didn't really need to do it.

 

Hmm, I wouldn't say it gets more complex, but you'll probably want to "feel" where all the walls are (and draw them in). There are many two-way shortcuts that you can see from both directions, but only activate from one. It's quite important you mark all these shortcuts properly as the main dungeons each have three floors and when you're ready to fight the boss, you'll want to get there as quickly as possible.

 

Plus it's useful to mark Chop, Mine and Take points, as the items you get from them are generally more valuable than items the enemy drops.

[Grazza]

How far did everyone get in this? I'm almost at the end of the main story now and haven't been able to put it down. Honestly, it's an amazing game. If it weren't for Zelda and (especially) Animal Crossing, I would never have left this in the first place.

 

I'm having to grind a bit now because I need more attack for the amount of TP I'm using (think I should have developed Nightseeker instead of Fortress), but there hasn't really been a dull moment.

[Grazza]

I've completed the main game, so here we go:

 

Etrian Odyssey IV Review

 

Through no fault of the publisher, Etrian Odyssey IV was released at an awkward time for me. This, combined with the fact there were so many other great titles for 3DS last year, meant that until now I haven't given EOIV the attention I might have. This is unfortunate, because it's utterly fantastic.

 

As ever, your task is to build a party of five and explore the game world. There have always been more character classes than you can actually use at any one time, which has gained the series a (deserved) reputation for featuring difficult choices. This has never been truer than in the fourth game. Whereas in previous entries some of the classes were stand-outs (and others not so essential), in Etrian Odyssey IV, every one is incredibly well-balanced. All ten would be extremely desirable to have on your team.

 

The moves, too, are just as well-balanced as the classes. Whereas some RPGs feature a range of very obscure moves, the ones in Etrian Odyssey make much more sense. Survival is less about learning esoteric techniques and more about relying on your wits. Etrian Odyssey IV differs from previous instalments in that it is far less easy to "waste" your skill points, meaning that whichever classes and skills you choose, you'll probably get by.

 

It almost goes without saying that the visual and audio quality is at an all-time high, so too are things like the very fair and transparent skill trees. Unlike the second game, FOEs give EXP again. It's basically Etrian Odyssey evolved in a perfect manner, which brings me to the one (slight) negative.

 

I've said before that I'm not sure an overworld suits the Etrian Odyssey series. The first game was about getting deeper into a labyrinth; the second was about getting higher. The third game lowered the amount of floors-per-Stratum to four (previously it was five), and added an external map. This started adding problems, in my opinion. The first two games were about mastering a Stratum, getting all the enemy drops as you went and then getting to the warp point after the bosses every five floors. Adding external maps/overworlds arguably breaks the focus, as you are always unsure whether to explore that or press on ahead. Etrian Odyssey IV features a handful of external maps (you won't be "exploring" to the same extent as a standard RPG); each one featuring a three-storey "Maze" (apart from the fifth one, which is smaller) and a few single-story "Caves". This isn't a massive problem, but it's questionable.

 

A bigger problem, in my opinion, is the use of your airship on these external maps. To get to some of the Caves, you have to distract the (very powerful) FOEs, which can be a nuisance. The biggest problem I had with the whole game, however, was sneaking into the fourth Maze. This frustrated me so much, if I wasn't a fan of the series I might have given up.

 

But let's get back to the positive, because although there may be a frustrating moment or two, there isn't a dull one. Etrian Odyssey IV requires careful play, but to me that doesn't mean it's slow-paced. I personally found it thrill-a-minute! By the time you have developed and understood all ten classes, it's extremely satisfying. Your Nightseeker might seem unremarkable, for instance, but wait until she attacks an enemy under an ailment! If you need more front row attack, slot in a Bushi and watch the battles go faster. Or, if you're taking a hammering, bring back your Fortress and see how much he/she really does protect the team. It all comes back to the sublime balance I referred to earlier.

 

I'm glad I found the time to play Etrian Odyssey IV (and it's not over yet). As great as Fire Emblem, Zelda and Animal Crossing were last year, this is right up there with them (and leagues above anything else I played).

 

Verdict: By far the best RPG on the 3DS and, in most ways, the peak of the series so far.

 

Score: 9/10

 

...

 

Onto the post-game!

[Grazza]

...And, completed it. When you finish an Etrian Odyssey game, you feel like you've reached the top of a big hill. You've assembled a strong guild, beaten all the bosses and are looking back down with a sense of relief and satisfaction. So, how was IV compared to the others? Tough, but probably not so crazy.

 

The level cap has been raised to 99, so going from 1-99, retiring then going back from 30-99 is a lot of work, especially compared to the first game (which had a level cap of 70). On the flipside, the post-game boss didn't seem at all unfair. I don't think it needs any specific techniques, just good ones of course!

 

Speaking of which, my heart was pounding as I fought him. All that work! Had I prepared enough? When he showed his true form, it was time to act. Turn 1 - no problem. Turn 2 - no problem. Turn 3 - he reduced my entire party to near-zero HP. Turn 4 - I stunned him then unleashed my best attacks. It wasn't enough!!! Turn 5 - My blood pumping, I selected all my best attacks again. Would my guild survive long enough to use them? The boss unleashed an array of status effects, turning one of my Imperials to stone. My other Imperial grasped her Drive Blade and drove it into the swine, felling him once and for all!

 

Awesome, awesome game - my 2nd-most played 3DS game (after Animal Crossing), and the best RPG on the system. It's also probably the best Etrian Odyssey, putting nostalgia aside. I actually turned on my DSi XL with Etrian Odyssey III afterwards, just to compare, and it's so low-res. I definitely think it's a good idea to jump into the series with the 3DS entries, if you're inclined to do so.

 

On a finishing note, the StreetPass in this game is very good - it allows you to swap Guild Cards, which I've actually got a lot of. My own one is now decorated with 100% enemies, 100% items and "Defeated all enemies on Normal" amongst others! So, if you ever encounter the Sherwood guild on your travels, you know who it is.

[kalipso3]

Really tempted to try this one... nice new shiny Etrian Odyssey. But never got into Etrian Odyssey before - should I play Millennium Girl first? Won't I get lost in IV being overly complex for series newcomer?

[Grazza]

Really tempted to try this one... nice new shiny Etrian Odyssey. But never got into Etrian Odyssey before - should I play Millennium Girl first? Won't I get lost in IV being overly complex for series newcomer?

 

I don't think IV would be too complex for a newcomer, but Millennium Girl is out very soon, so you might as well wait for that (I've yet to finish III, but am waiting until I've completed Millennium Girl first).

 

It's true, though, the original is simpler. Two things that made the series more complex for me were sub-classes and external maps (both introduced in III), although I got used to them both.