Etrian Odyssey I, II & III - first person dungeoneering

[Grazza]

I bought this today, £14.99 at GAME. Not sure if it was the last one or not. I've got a feeling I'm going to like it, and I won't moan about having to choose different characters!

[darksnowman]

Nice one, Graz. I still need to get stuck in and clear up the post-game content. Lol, I'm glad you reckon you won't complain about the customisation aspect of it all... but I bet you will.

[darksnowman]

I know its lengthy but I came across this and thought I might share it:

 

It's all there, from the first-person perspective to the open-ended gameplay to the relentless difficulty. Etrian Odyssey even manages to bring back the lost art of graph paper mapmaking via the Nintendo DS's touchscreen, firmly evoking the past while simultaneously saving trees. The sequel also has the added convenience of being able to toggle whether the map should automatically follow you, though true members of the old school will no doubt choose to do without.

 

For those weaned on Japanese RPGs, Etrian Odyssey is certainly a very different experience from what they might be used to. The style may have a reassuringly anime bent, but Tales of Destiny this is not. The story is almost non-existent, and in the grand tradition of western RPGs, pretty much every character is built from scratch. As usual, success is predicated on the right mix of classes, ability and equipment, encouraging the development of a party that's unique to each player. Developing a top quality party is a must, especially when facing down the forest beyond.

 

In Etrian Odyssey II at least (I can't speak for the sequel, but I'm sure it's not that different), the trees are full of danger, replete as they are with enemies who can kill you in an instant if you're not careful. The worst of these are the so-called F.O.E's, which are represented by glowing orbs that chase you around the map. Tangle with one of these unprepared, and you will die. No questions asked. That's just the sort of thing Etrian Odyssey likes to do.

 

This is a game that will never yield an inch, requiring plenty of trial and error for even a modicum of success. The unforgiving, old school gameplay is its own reward though. And for those who long for the good old days of PC RPGs, Etrian Odyssey is rewarding indeed.

 

So Why Is It Essential?

 

Etrian Odyssey was built from the ground up for a special kind of player. The patient sorts, the ones who can spend hours mapping its tangle of twists and turns. They are the ones who can see the simple beauty of the design, whose central tenet is "go forth and discover."

 

The need to reach the next floor is the carrot that Etrian Odyssey dangles, but even something so simple as that isn't always easy. There are plenty who will give up when they run afoul of an F.O.E and die, or realize how much work they have to put into their party to even be remotely successful. But there are plenty of others who will relish the challenge.

 

If you're not sure which group you fall into, you owe it to yourself to find out. Etrian Odyssey is surely not for everybody, but for those who understand it best, it's pure gold.

 

1UPs Essential DS RPGs

[Grazza]

Nice one, Graz. I still need to get stuck in and clear up the post-game content. Lol, I'm glad you reckon you won't complain about the customisation aspect of it all... but I bet you will.

 

Well that's where you're wrong, darksnowman, because I love it!

 

Seriously, to me this does not have the same problems as Dragon Quest IV at all. My main complaint about that game was that you had different types of mages: one could do fire, one could do ice etc. Same for the healers. In Etrian Odyssey, the Mage can do everything. OK, there are nine different job classes (seven to me at the moment), but they are all completely different and each one can do everything you'd expect for that job class.

 

The party I've settled on is:

 

Landsknecht (because he works well with the Alchemist)

Protector (superb defensive skills)

Alchemist (I consider a mage pretty essential)

Medic (a healer is essential)

Bard (I wanted someone who could regain everyone's TP)

 

It's working very well, although I did get frustrated for a few days thinking I had to actually defeat the Wyvern on Floor 8, instead of just sneaking round it.

 

One thing I love about this game is that the mission is so focused. You have one town and one labyrinth. I find this very neat.

[darksnowman]

Grazza, I'm really glad to hear you are enjoying EO so far. I had my fears that you'd stuck it on one night and you hated it so thats why I hadn't heard anything from you.

 

You open up two new classes later in the game, so hopefully you will have fun with those too. Do you find that there's a proper sense of adventure with the exploration? I mean, obviously its all laid out as tiles, but you have to map it all out for yourself and with each floor you descend, you are really going into the unknown. I love it.

 

Don't wanna rain on your parade... but although your alchemist can do everything, you won't be able to max him out in every element. You will have to be focused with how you develop him (and everyone)... aiming to just specialise in one element might actually be for the best. :wink:

[Grazza]

Thank you kind sir!

 

You open up two new classes later in the game, so hopefully you will have fun with those too. Do you find that there's a proper sense of adventure with the exploration? I mean, obviously its all laid out as tiles, but you have to map it all out for yourself and with each floor you descend, you are really going into the unknown. I love it.

 

Yes indeed. I particularly like the way there's just one town, and that's your "base". You can do everything there to prepare yourself for your next expedition. I also love the music at night and in Shileka's shop.

 

Don't wanna rain on your parade... but although your alchemist can do everything, you won't be able to max him out in every element. You will have to be focused with how you develop him (and everyone)... aiming to just specialise in one element might actually be for the best. :wink:

 

Ah, I see, thanks. I'm thinking of completely ignoring the "mid-tier" elemental spells and taking the strongest ones up to 5. That way, I can Boost to simulate them at max power. If I feel I need one of them at maximum, I think I can drop my character 10 levels and get all the skill points back.

[Grazza]

I've reached the 5th Stratum and I think the storyline is amazing. It will strike a chord with those of us who like to play RPGs for their olde worlde escapism.

 

There's just one thing I can't work out. The Protector has skills like "Antifire". I've read that at level 5 it nullifies fire, any higher than that and it absorbs it. What exactly does "absorb" mean in this case? Surely "nullify" means no damage at all, in which case, does "absorb" mean you take some damage?

 

Any help appreciated.

[Ike]

I've reached the 5th Stratum and I think the storyline is amazing. It will strike a chord with those of us who like to play RPGs for their olde worlde escapism.

 

There's just one thing I can't work out. The Protector has skills like "Antifire". I've read that at level 5 it nullifies fire, any higher than that and it absorbs it. What exactly does "absorb" mean in this case? Surely "nullify" means no damage at all, in which case, does "absorb" mean you take some damage?

 

Any help appreciated.

 

I think nullify meant weaken it, absorb means you take no damage. Although it's been a while since I've played it and I'm not sure I even used antifire before, I think that's how it worked.

[Grazza]

Thanks Ike. I haven't had a chance to test it yet, as I've still not encountered anything that uses fire.

[Diageo]

well i have never played this game but I would think nullify means you take no damage and absorb means you get healed. At least that's what happens in other games.

[Ike]

OK I checked to make sure. Level 1-4 increases resistance, level 5 prevents damage (no damage) , level 6-10 absorbs fire attacks and heals you.

[Grazza]

Ah, I see, using the fire to heal you. I might reset my points and max them all out at 10 then. Thanks Diageo and Ike.

[Grazza]

OK, I completed the main story. The final boss was difficult, but I called upon my old skool mettle and beat him first time!

 

I liked the way there was only one phase to the battle. You have to put everything into it, so it would be exausting with multiple phases.

 

 

I had my characters maxed at Level 70, which, by the way was very easy to get to (I didn't even do it on purpose). The designers put a lot of thought into the balance of the game, making sure there was still quite a lot of challenge even when you're at the highest level.

 

My characters also had what I considered to be the best armour up to that point, but it was still difficult. Even with three buffs on (generally Defender, Immunize and Shelter), the boss hit hard. My mage had very low maximum HP, so I had to revive him quite a few times.

 

But anyway, I thought it was a very good game, probably the best on the DS I've played so far. It has a lot to teach about subtle, implicit storytelling.

[darksnowman]

OK, I completed the main story. The final boss was difficult, but I called upon my old skool mettle and beat him first time!

 

Lol, I had every faith in you. You flew through the game though!

 

But anyway, I thought it was a very good game, probably the best on the DS I've played so far. It has a lot to teach about subtle, implicit storytelling.

 

I agree that its probably one of the best on the DS, especially for those reasons you mentioned. Once you get over the initial shock of not being eased into the game (i.e. being slaughtered on B1F!) then you realise that its all finely balanced. The story is surprisingly good, doesn't really kick off til the 4th Stratum- probably just when you are getting a wee bit bored...

 

Glad you enjoyed it, Grazza, and didn't get overwhelmed with all the customisation!

[Ike]

I didn't find the final boss too hard. Now you need to do the post-game bosses who are a lot tougher.

[Grazza]

Thanks guys!

 

Lol, I had every faith in you. You flew through the game though!

 

LOL, I thought I took a long time! It was about 7 weeks. It's funny how, in theory you "just" have to map 25 floors!

 

In all honesty, I don't remember any real jumps in difficulty, apart from those FOEs on B3F. They're the only ones I really remember. Then Fenrir on B5F posed a challenge, then those bears with claws on B6F, I suppose, but the subsequent FOEs seemed easy. When I realised I didn't have to fight the Wyvern, that is.

 

Glad you enjoyed it, Grazza, and didn't get overwhelmed with all the customisation!

 

As if...

 

Oh, another thing, I loved the quality of the 2D artwork and the general atmosphere pumped into the town and its buildings. I also loved the music - very Megadrive - and I mean that entirely as a compliment.

 

I didn't find the final boss too hard. Now you need to do the post-game bosses who are a lot tougher.

 

Time to reset my skill points!

 

It wasn't the hardest RPG battle, but I needed to use a lot of the items I had. I'm the type of RPG gamer who won't use items until I absolutely need them. Luckily, the designers thought carefully about what you'd need and gave it to you.

 

Since September last year, I wanted to be in the "Etrian Odyssey Club"! Now I've just got to obtain The World Ends With You and maybe I'll try Dragon Quest V with a fresh mind.

[Grazza]

I beat the Ice Dragon last night. The post-game content is taking ages - I didn't realise how hard it'd be!

 

I took my Landsnecht, Protector, Alchemist, Medic and Bard, with a decent supply of potions. It started off alright, with me casting Anticold, Immunize and a boosted Relaxing (that set me up very well for the whole battle). The Landsnecht did Blazer and the Alchemist Inferno.

 

However, I thought Anticold lasted five turns, yet I don't think it does, as we all took loads of damage on Turn 2. So, I had my Protector cast it every round. For some reason, the Dragon had some attacks that got through that, and I had three members knocked out! Luckily I got back on my feet with some Nectar IIs .

 

From then on I had my Bard cast Erasure every round, just in case. The Dragon has got two annoying buffs, and I forgot to level-up Erasure so it gets rid of two buffs (I have now though!) Everything went fine from then on and I beat him!

[Grazza]

Did any of you ever beat the Primeval? I got to it ages ago (must have been June), but it must be one of the most unfair bosses ever. On approximately the 15th round it tries to One-Hit KO your entire party. Unfortunately, I was usually only left with my Protector, and this isn't good enough when you consider you need to revive, cure and buff everyone again.

 

I tried it about three times, but it just seemed impossible - beyond skill or strategy. I tried equipping all of them with two or even three items that are meant to resist One-Hit KO, but it still didn't work.

 

In a rage, I deleted my game data.

 

Now, like a fool, I'm starting again! Are there any items with double resistance to One-Hit KO?

[Ike]

Picked up EOII for £6 pre-owned last week, not bad considering it's £25 on VGP (not inc postage) box isn't in the best condition but can't complain for £6. Not sure when I'll get round to playing it though :P

[darksnowman]

Picked up EOII for £6 pre-owned last week, not bad considering it's £25 on VGP (not inc postage) box isn't in the best condition but can't complain for £6. Not sure when I'll get round to playing it though :P

 

Thought you had EOII already...? I need to get it but the VGP price isn't as low as I'd like either.

[Ike]

Thought you had EOII already...? I need to get it but the VGP price isn't as low as I'd like either.

 

Nope. I was waiting for a UK release, but that doesn't seem likely to happen any time soon.

[Grazza]

BUMP

 

So, it's been three years since I played Etrian Odyssey. Basically, I got frustrated at the post-game boss, Primevil, and sold it on. This year, I decided to re-buy Etrian Odyssey, plough through all 30 floors again, get the best equipment (or near enough), and...

 

I have finally beaten Primevil!!!

 

But first, a few comments about the experience in general. There's a large difficulty spike on B6F, an unbelievably tedious Quest on B8F and an annoying bit where you have to keep travelling between B18F and B20F. Other than that, I did not have a problem with the difficulty of this game.

 

Apart from the post-game boss, that is. Primeval was just as difficult as I remembered, and I almost gave up again! The problem is, once you have his health in the red, he hits you with a OHKO move. I don't normally use the word "unfair", but a move that OHKOs all five of your party members at once is just that. But as I say, I did beat him. Binds don't work (unless you're unbelievably lucky), so I quickly threw out my Dark Hunter + Hexcaster strategy. The team I beat him with was this:

 

Front line: Landsknecht (using Axes), Protector, Medic

Back line: Alchemist, Survivalist

 

I won't go into details because I know not everyone is as obsessed as me, but the key is to beat him within 20-25 turns and just hope he doesn't use his OHKO move.

 

Now I've finally beaten it, I can forget about this particular Etrian Odyssey and play Denpa Men! I still want to play Etrian Odyssey IV though, as I hear they lowered the difficulty from III onwards. As I say, I've no problem with the general difficulty of the games, I just don't really want another boss like Primeval, who is pretty much the hardest RPG boss I've ever beaten!

[Hero-of-Time]

Did you ever play the others? I know Atlus are doing a reprint in Jan and you can get all 3 of them for £60 from VGP.

[Grazza]

No, I didn't play the others as I have never been very familiar with importing. Tempted though!

[Hero-of-Time]

No, I didn't play the others as I have never been very familiar with importing. Tempted though!

 

Very easy. Just go to videogamesplus and buy from them. It's where most of us on here get our imports from.