Etrian Odyssey I, II & III - first person dungeoneering

[Dante]

A new Nintendo DS RPG from Atlus, called Yggdrasil Labyrinth.

 

Atlus has decided to bring this title stateside and publish it, while renaming it Etrian Odyssey.

 

The people that are behind this title have worked on other games that some might recognize. The game is directed by Kazuya Niinou (Trauma Center: Under the Knife), with Shigeo Komori (Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner) doing the story design, and Yuzo Koshiro (Actraiser, Streets of Rage) heading up sound design.

 

Nich Maragos, the project lead of Etrian Odyssey for Atlus USA, states, “This game revitalizes the classic spirit of exploration and adventure for a new platform and a new audience. The hand-drawn map feature along with the lush graphics will make gamers want to get lost in the striking forest world of Etria.”

 

The story of the game focuses on a small town of Etria, which was not well known until a huge discovery was made. People had discovered a labyrinth at the edge of the town, which attracted visitors from all over.

 

Of course, many adventurers have come to Etria to see just what treasures the labyrinth holds. While the labyrinth can surely be their last place to see, the promise of fame and fortune motivates people to try and find their way through the labyrinth.

 

www.allrpg.com.

[demonmike04]

Looks very interesting, what do they mean by 'Hand Drawn map' feature?

[Dante]

new scans.

[darksnowman]

Atlus seem to do good things in the RPG realm. Id love to be able to get my hands on Yygdra Union. I hope this one makes it to Europe!

[darksnowman]

So the last post was by me in 2006, hoping that Etrian Odyssey would make it to Europe... and guess what? We FINALLY have a date for it through a press release on Gamepress:

 

Etrian Odyssey launches across Europe on 6th June 2008.

 

This summer, prepare to undertake a dangerous journey into the unknown! Discover hidden secrets and lost treasures from the depths of the mysterious Yggdrasil Labyrinth in Etrian Odyssey, an enthralling new fantasy RPG for the Nintendo DS. Combining classic dungeon exploring, old school ‘pen and paper’ style map drawing, ferocious and inspired enemies and an absorbing universe, Etrian Odyssey will reawaken the imagination of every player and launch them into a magical world of quest and combat. Etrian Odyssey launches across Europe on 6th June 2008.

 

Set in Etria, a small village at the edge of the fabled Yggdrasil Labyrinth, heroes from all over the world are drawn to the challenge of reaching the depths of the enchanted caverns, recovering riches, defeating monsters and gaining everlasting fame. However, until this day, no one has ever discovered the labyrinth’s secrets and reached the bottom level and survived to tell the tale. It is now your time to change this. Do you have the courage to lead your party of adventurers to do the seemingly impossible and cement your place in legend?

 

 

Overcoming fierce and numerous enemies that live within the maze will not be an easy task and assembling a prodigious band of adventurers who can handle any situation is critical to reaching the inner depths. At the very beginning of the game the player creates a guild that is home to all party members. Up to 30 player-created characters can reside within the guild, however, only a group of five can ever explore the dungeon at once, challenging the player to choose wisely when planning for a mission. Quests will often require an eclectic set of skills to achieve the desired goal and choosing the wrong setup can be the defining factor between success and failure.

 

A triumphant guild is one that contains an extensive assortment of characters who are experts in different talents, covering combat and magic, and both defensive and attacking abilities. Fortunately the choice available in Etrian Odyssey is vast, with nine unique classes in total that can be further specialised by acquiring specific abilities with skill points. From the Landsknecht - a classic warrior, the Alchemist – a dark magician, to the Survivalist – an archer, players will easily find a winning combination that suits the situation to achieve fame and glory.

 

Recording your route is crucial for any adventurer when exploring the dungeon and the Nintendo DS’s innovative Touch Screen makes this process intuitive, enjoyable and reminiscent to old school ‘pen and paper’ dungeon mapping. Using the Nintendo DS stylus, players are able to precisely draw walls to map up a 2D representation of the map and identify important places with detailed notes. Updates to the map are continually saved, which is great news if your band comes to an untimely end within the labyrinth.

 

Combat is a core feature of Etrian Odyssey and players need to master different techniques, tactics and items to beat the monsters encountered. Fighting is turn based and takes place in a specific battleground where enemies are represented in classic 2D. Throughout the game, the player’s party will come face-to-face with extremely powerful boss monsters known as F.O.E.s. These are the only enemy to appear on the map and players are often warned by non-player characters (NPCs) to avoid where possible. However, the rewards from defeating such foe are often too tempting to ignore, leading to intense and closely fought encounters.

 

Character development occurs continually throughout the game giving players access to new talents and more potent abilities. Gaining experience is at the heart of any RPG and Etrian Odyssey is no different. Completing quests and defeating monsters are the most rewarding routes to obtaining experience points, and upon reaching a new experience, level skill points are received that are spent on improving existing or learning new areas of expertise. The higher the level, the more lethal the character will be, making it possible to unleash new deadly techniques to torment the enemy. Players will learn very fast that choosing talents wisely when developing your party can alter the course of a skirmish for the better.

 

Even the strongest of parties need to take time-out from questing every once in a while, whether it be to buy and sell equipment, cure illnesses and mend cuts and bruises, or simply find extra work. The village of Etria satisfies all these needs and is a hive of activity for the budding adventurer. Equipped with an inn, apothecary, general store, pub, guildhall and town hall, the player will find that everything needed is within touching distance.

 

So what are you waiting for? Etria is in need for a hero and you are more than worthy to answer the call. Don that armour, grab that spell book and sharpen your trusty sword, Etrian Odessy is calling for you to defeat the Labyrinth!

 

Etrian Odyssey is available from 6 June 2008 for the Nintendo DS at an estimated retail price of £34.99.

 

 

Its been out for what seems like ages everywhere else, and we've since had news of a sequel (which is probably nearing completion) but, hey, better late than never, eh? Dunno when I'll get this, my penchant for RPGs is at a low point at the moment, despite having some to get through.

[Ike]

Typical, Japan and the US get the second one and we only just get the first one.

 

Anyway looks interesting, I might pick it up some day, I've been meaning to import it for ages.

[Ten10]

So first of all there is an rpg drought on DS. Now there is a flood. There never ever seems to be a balance with these things, but I like what I see. Not sure I would buy it comparing it to some of the other stuff on the horizon.

[MoogleViper]

So first of all there is an rpg drought on DS. Now there is a flood. There never ever seems to be a balance with these things, but I like what I see. Not sure I would buy it comparing it to some of the other stuff on the horizon.

 

Same with lots of consoles. It makes you miss out on some games and have dry spells the rest of the time.

[darksnowman]

Ok so if all has gone comme prévu then Etrian Odyssey should be out here in Europe at long last. Who got it? Come on, don't tell me we've all let it slip by so far...?

[Ike]

I didn't know it was released. I was searching through the coming soon section of GAME wondering where it was. Then I found out it was out.

I want the game, I just don't have enough money atm.

[darksnowman]

Yeah, I thought it was out at the end of June or even July- I hadn't realised it was out already. I've been skimming back through some reviews and stuff... feels like years since I first read them... and it probably was if you think of how long E.O.'s been out in the rest of the world.

 

Gametrailers preview.

 

RPGamer 3.5/5

IGN 7.4/ 10

Eurogamer 7/10

 

I'd be worried that its too old skool and too hardcore for me, but I think I'm willing to give it a go.

[Emerald Emblem]

I traded it in after 2 days to get the world ends with you. There just isn't enough variety and it got old very fast, I only really liked the customized characters, of course that was quite limited.

[darksnowman]

I think the main focus of it is basically... grinding and customising your guild. From what I've read Etrian Odyssey walks a think line and could either be a great game, or like you think, a bit of a stinker. I've been reading about the sequel too and it sounds decent. Hmm...

[Funktion]

This is definitely not a game that everyone will enjoy, but for those who enjoyed playing "old school" 1st person RPGs like the Dungeon Master or Lands of Lore series, or enjoy RPGs with turn-based combat, you will probably have a blast with the game.

 

It looks good, sounds good (soundtrack from Yuzo Koshiro ), it allows you to draw your own maps on the bottom screen (kick-ass feature! It probably doesn't say much to younger gamers, but it used to be a common practice to draw your own maps for games, due to the several factors like the trial and error game designs from the 80's and early 90's), it's a game worth checking out.

 

I actually have the US version, so I played it last year (well, it only took over a year for the game to get an European release... ), and I should be receiving the US version of the sequel any day now. Can't wait...

[darksnowman]

Lol, nice work on getting this last year. I'm just glad to see its come to Europe but having to wait a year on it is kinda horrendous. I've been reading up on it through the European reviews of it and I've realised that the mapping isn't as I thought it was. When I first read about it I thought it was more of a "dungeon creator" game and that's why you have to draw the maps- basically to map out/ create the dungeons and floors. Now I properly understand that each floor is already there but you just get to draw your map because you don't pick up a pre drawn map like in Zelda.

 

I had a look in Game and HMV for Etrian Odyssey today but to no avail. Actually, the amount of decent games was in the vast minority to all the Imagine games and all those things you get for DS. Hmm!

 

Also, regarding Heroes of Lagaard, I've read that its a good game and irons out some of the wrinkles in EO1 and gives you a slightly better mapping system. I look forward to its EU release next summer! :p

 

------------------------------------

 

I've been reading A Tour of Etrian Odyssey since I last posted and its pretty decent. Its basically someone is blogging a playthrough of the game, and going by how this reads it will be done one stratum at a time, rather than just one floor or whatever. Its a decent enough read and there are next to no spoilers in it. From what I understand, the game has pretty much zero story so there shouldn't be much else anyone would be worried about having spoiled.

 

http://www.omgnintendo.com/article/88015/a-tour-of-etrian-odyssey-part-1/

[Funktion]

That "Tour of Etrian Odyssey" is a good read, and it shows nicely how the game is played.

The game does have a bit of story (especially a few hours into the game), but it's not really heavy on it. Your party doesn't really have backgrounds, so it's a case of they are what you make them to be, as is most of the game. Think of this as a Dungeons & Dragons game, in which a party of different classes tries to fulfill a certain "ultimate goal" at the end of your quest, something generic and simple as "clear a dungeon", or something like that. The game has a few side quests along the way, but it's not really like most modern RPGs in which for each quest you complete you move the plot forward.

My description may make the game sound a bit dull and "empty", but on the contrary it's a fascinating and interesting game.

 

There's a cool fan site for the games, those interested in getting more info should check it out:

http://www.intothelabyrinth.net/

[Emerald Emblem]

The start is the most difficult part of the game, it's so easy to get annihilated and it's so hard to keep money in your pocket and buy equipment since things at the beginning are worth practically nothing. I just gave up in the end, I prefer a more in depth experience than this offered.

[Ike]

Just picked up the game from Gamestation for £12.98! Deal is in-store and online.

[darksnowman]

I bought, I received, I played it in bed last night, I did the first floor and I enjoyed.

[flameboy]

is it another rogue like game? easier that shiren? just because darksnowman was talking of floors made me think. which is proper hardcore...

[Domstercool]

It's a very old school first person view RPG, hardcore to the max really!

 

 

Enjoy the song :P

[Ike]

Yeah, the game is hard. I've had it for nearly a week and I'm only onto floor 3 and died a few times already.

[darksnowman]

Its not a rogue-like no. Its something in the vain of Shining in the Darkness I'd say. Etrian Odyssey has basically no story (less than Shiren I'd say) but its a similar goal actually. In Shiren you are looking to get through to the very last floor and to the "treasure" and Etrian Odyssey is basically the same idea. At the start you whip a guild together- choose your people/ classes, name your people, name your guild etc. There's a town but you don't walk around it, its menu based and you can select to enter the labyrinth which is where you walk about... in the first person.

 

I'm only on the second floor at the minute but I'm actually really enjoying it. I'm scared that I've picked the wrong sorta party, though that can be rectified anyway, but its a nice fear to have, and I'm genuinely feared about getting slaughtered. I've had one Game Over, by the first FOE I battled, but aside from that I've been really careful to take wires with me (to warp back out of the labyrinth) and I've trekked back to town to rest up whenever necessary.

 

Money is running low however. Selling stuff isn't really yielding a great income. I have one thing (whitestone or something) that's worth 100en that I'm tempted to sell... but 100en ain't that much anyway!

[Ike]

Sell the whitestone, you don't use it for anything else. I had money problems at first, but now it's better after I've hit the 4th floor.

[darksnowman]

I sold it and it wasn't long before I had the 100en spent again on resting up at the Inn and buying a couple of medicas. I haven't progressed past B2F yet because there are those FOEs on the prowl! I took out one last night after spending time levelling up and selling off the items the enemies dropped. I'm fairly sure it was a Ragelope, and instead of it wiping me out I managed to beat it with only my Alchemist eventually getting beat down- luckily he had done most of the damage by then anyway. He has good fire skills and using poison was a godsend but its still unfortunate he missed out on the exp! I've seen two other FOEs on this floor, I've been doing my best to take evasive manoeuvres.

 

Good game, I'll be getting back to it soon!