DS Review: Etrian Odyssey

It seems as though the video game review-o-sphere is not quite certain what to make of Etrian Odyssey, Atlus Software’s latest RPG for the Nintendo DS. The game has been described as “unapologetically oldschool”, and even “masochistic” by reviewers who, for the most part, can’t overcome the novelty of a game that requires (gasp!) a high level of attention from the player. Etrian Odyssey focuses on exploration of a 3-D labyrinth, and tasks players with drawing a map of their travels using the touch-screen as they progress through the game. Although it incorporates certain “old-school” features, Etrian Odyssey is very much a modern game, and for the most part, a successful one. The designers have clearly gone to great lengths to make the mapping interface as user-friendly as possible, and to update their old-school ideas in a way that keeps them fresh and entertaining. For its innovation and ambition alone, we can’t help but recommend Etrian Odyssey to any fan of the RPG genre, or for that matter, anyone with an open mind who would like to try something new.

The basic setup is that there is an underground forest that needs exploring, and you and your guild of adventurers are the latest to step up to the perilous task. Etria, the one town available in the game, provides players with everything they need to carry out their quest, and movement through it is navigated by selecting between a list of locations. While in town, players can set up and recruit new members for their guild, sell items harvested from the labyrinth for money, rest up at the inn, and take on new quests. Since the game has no real storyline, quests serve as a means to propel the plot along and encourage adventurers to delve deeper and deeper into the massive 30-level forest. There are no adolescent heroes, Chocobo races or hackneyed love-triangles here, just a dungeon to be explored and glory or death at the other end.

While the gameplay has clearly been influenced by Western pen-and-paper RPGs, the visuals in Etrian Odyssey show the anime-styled influence of Japanese culture. The avatars used to represent male and female characters are cute, and come in multiple hair colors. Characters that are met in the course of exploring the labyrinth are also hand-drawn, and express themselves in dialogue boxes that have been competently translated.

When inside the labyrinth, which is where players will spend the majority of their time, character movement is accomplished using the d-pad, and the top screen shows a first-person view of the maze, while the bottom touch screen is used to both display and draw the map of the level as the player progresses. A handy auto-map feature draws the floor in for you, so all that is required of the player is to draw in the walls and indicate the location of important objects, events and enemies, using a very simple drag-and-drop interface. Despite the vaunted difficulty of this game, we were surprised at how intuitive and well-designed the map-making tool was. Drawing in details quickly becomes second-nature, and adds to the feeling of exploration and discovery that is often found in the best RPGs. The rewards offered in Etrian Odyssey are less explicit than in other games: there is no fanfare when players descend to a new level in the forest, but the sense of satisfaction felt is immense. The game also quietly keeps track of the statistic for each member of the player’s guild.

Enemy encounters are (mostly) random, and are handled in a turn-based manner, with the enemies displayed in front of the player on the top screen. Players can select from a list of familiar options such as attack, use item, defend, and flee. The order of battle then plays out according to which character has the highest amount of agility. Animations during battle are sparse (showing only the swipe of a sword or the occasional magic effect), but the enemy sprites are colorful and well-drawn. Rather than collect gold from defeated monsters, players will receive a random item drop unique to that particular foe. These items such as hides, fangs, and wings can be sold back in town to the blacksmith, who will eventually fashion them into useful items for players to buy. This mechanic is reminiscent of the Monster Hunter franchise, and it works well here, with the exception that the game gives you very little guidance about which items are required to produce specific weapons or armor. Another slightly annoying aspect to the shop interface is that it does not provide a clear comparison between items for sale and items that you may currently have equipped in your party.

If there is a complaint to be made about Etrian Odyssey, it is that the designers decided to cut back the storyline of the game significantly. We are clearly expected to be exploring the dungeon for the dungeon’s sake, with only minimal guidance from NPCs to carry us along. It is understandable that the designers of Etrian Odyssey wanted the story to take a backseat to the player’s own imagination, but since the 3D environments produced by the DS hardware all sort of look the same, it is harder to get excited about the same stretch of forest after the nth time through. There was room here for a little bit more back-story and intrigue, without ruining the player-directed feel of the game.

Because it places emphasis on tactical foresight and attention to detail, Etrian Odyssey demands a little bit more attention than the average game, and this might make it unsuitable for the youngest players (parents are advised that the game might be too complex for gamers under 12). However, for people who like a bit more of a challenge, the game delivers an unequivocally entertaining experience.

Things we liked:
• An innovative update of traditional pen-and-paper role playing
• Solid production values, especially in the interface
• A long and involving quest

Things we didn’t like:
• Over-reliance on “the grind” as a gameplay mechanic
• The sameness of locales reduces the “wow” factor over time

Final Score: 8 / 10

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Second Opinion: by sergioalb64

For someone who never played a traditional pen and paper RPG of the old days, Etrian Odyssey was a very nice surprise. Traditional turn-based battles accompany an interesting and fun map-making system as you explore the depths of the Yggdrasil Forest. It takes a little while to get used to the map-charting touch screen controls, especially for southpaws (left-handed individuals), but it’s worth being patient and doing some trial and error as you get accustomed to the game’s mechanics, as your reward is an addictive and entertaining old-schoolish RPG. The game’s graphics are ok, but it would’ve been nice to see a few more animations and special effects. The game’s audio is really nice and suits the game well, keeping with the mood and remaining consistent throughout the adventure.

Etrian Odyssey is certainly not for everyone. The game is very challenging; it throws you into the forest and offers little guidance thereafter. The battle system is as traditional as ham and eggs, and depending on your taste it might make or break the experience. And the mapping system is a very particular feature which some folks will love and others will hate. Consider these circumstances, and if you decide that Etrian Odyssey is up your alley, you’ll find a fun and rewarding experience that has appeal to both old-school RPG fans and traditional players looking for something new.

Final Score: 7.5 / 10