No game can
kill a weekend like an RPG. The never-ending battles, epic storylines and
award-winning soundtracks make it one of the hardest games to put down – once
you’re hooked.
For its
first two years on Earth, Nintendo DS was not the best place to look for new
RPGs. That’s changing now that the system has taken a huge lead in Japan, AKA
the Land of the Rising Role-Playing Game. Many will cite Zelda, Pokemon and
Dragon Quest IX as the most prominent titles either in development or on store
shelves, but sequels aren’t all gamers have to anticipate. There is also a
small mix of original properties headed to the DS, including the newly
released Etrian Odyssey. A pseudo RPG / first-person explorer, Etrian Odyssey
dares to compete with the trademark style of Nintendo DS’s fastest-selling
game. Can you guess what it is?
Etrian
Odyssey’s concept is split in two, half of which comes from other games and is
very well executed. Up to five party members may be in your control at one
time for a journey that looks like a first-person shooter (minus the gun)
meets the world of Pokemon. Monsters are the bulk of your enemies, ranging
from bug to beast. They come at random and, with the exception of boss battles
and discovery zones, cannot be avoided. There are no visual cues hinting at
the next attack – every engagement is purely random.
In dungeons
the camera is a first-person three-dimensional take on grimy (but visually
appealing) environments. In town and in battle the game is strictly
old-school, menu-based clicking with minimal effects to entertain wandering
eyes. On the up side, it’s unlikely that your eyes will have a chance to
wander – or even want to, despite not having their attention held by bursts of
color or polygons. Etrian Odyssey is like any relationship, personal or
professional: if you don’t give it attention, it will die. At the start of the
game you will learn about the hiring of party members and their different
types, the way new quests are acquired, and the process for which progress
must be tabulated (see “A Map Quest” later in this review for more) and
delivered.
Landsknecht,
one of the seven initial types of warriors you can command, is great for
sword, axe, knife, dagger and other close weapon assaults. Survivalists are
the opposite, opting for the long-ranged bow as their weapon of choice. Dark
Hunters use whips, Medics can heal, Troubadours dance, Alchemists cast magic,
and Protectors are another type that uses swords. Each warrior will be
assigned to either the front or back of the battle formation. The strongest
allies should go up front, regardless of the game’s recommendation to throw
those that are presumably weaker (like Alchemists) in back. Characters are
only as weak as the player, who will learn to heal and level up often. Fallen
comrades can’t level up, so as your characters’ lives fluctuate in battle,
you’re likely to end up with a party whose levels are not an exact match. In
time, your Alchemist may be the most powerful ally you have.
Each type of
warrior offers four different aesthetics for appearance customization. But it
doesn’t really matter – Etrian Odyssey’s focus is on the enemies. The
character selection screen is one of the few times when party members are
actually visible.
The battle
screen layout is the easiest part of the game, so enjoy this moment while it
lasts. The average array of attack, defend, skill and item options available
are similar (though not exact) to Pokemon. After attacking, the battles play
out with a very primitive presentation. Most moves barely consist of more than
a couple frames of animation. Some are essentially still images that are
tossed around the screen to create the appearance of animation. Given the 3D
capabilities of the DS, as well as the 3D exploration portions of the game,
the developers must have intentionally chosen to keep the battles in line with
Pokemon – that is, to make them as low-end as possible.
In a strange
way that could only be felt by a Pokemon fan, the no-frills experience is
appealing. I have a love-hate relationship with big-budget, polygon-packed
RPGs. The spells look fantastic but usually take too long to cast. If there’s
a skip function the game winds up feeling like a lousy point-and-click
adventure (since that’s what you end up doing – point and click through every
skirmish, taking no time to watch what’s going on). Etrian Odyssey’s graphics
don’t run into either distraction. Certainly they could’ve added some
polygonal bliss without going overboard. But I suppose that’s where the 3D
dungeons came from.
A Map
Quest
The other
half of Etrian Odyssey is an original and interesting idea that requires a
moment of thought: map building. As you move throughout each stage, the player
is expected (and at times fully required) to draw lines, add stair icons, and
paint walkways that outline every area that has been visited. The map is
similar to what you get in the Castlevania games but must be created and
perfected by the player. One space of movement counts as one square.
To note this
on the map, you do not simply draw four adjoining lines – that would be
confusing. You’d have squares everywhere without any direction. Instead, you
need to scour the area and look for any corners or dead ends and draw lines
that match those paths. If the map is not drawn properly, one of two
consequences may occur, the first being that you cannot move forward in the
game. That’s okay – just go back, reexamine the area, and get it right.
Players who need to be forced to level up, regardless of how many times death
knocks at their doors, will not be backtracking in vain. Leveling may be
painful and undesirable in this game (and for some, in any RPG), but it will
also mean that your party members will be stronger the next time a boss drops
in for a game of player annihilation.
The second
consequence is a bit more consequential. Etrian Odyssey’s frequent and
extravagant monster encounters will force you to exit the dungeon more times
than could ever be counted. I have never played an RPG where, only minutes
after re-entering a dungeon that has already been visited multiple times,
there was the need to leave quickly and buy additional health items or revive
a fallen party member. It’s inescapable. Death is around every corner, and
that’s why a flawed map will crush your spirits. Screwing up is one thing – a
small flaw should be fixable.
But if
you’re lazy and say, “I’ll map this later,” you will hate the day later comes.
When your party is low on health and your inventory is running short on
supplies, the only thing to do is run back to town. The monsters won’t
suddenly back off because your team is weak. That’ll only make them attack
more efficiently. Seriously – Pokemon is a great game, but most of its AI
trainers are dummies, attacking at random, not with guidance. Etrian Odyssey’s
monsters almost always attack your weakest party member to ensure that he or
she is taken out. It’s infuriating! And refreshing. An RPG that actually makes
the player fight? That’s practically unheard of.
Since all
you can do is run, an exit strategy is a must. If your map is perfected, that
won’t be a problem. But if it’s anything less, you may not make it out of the
dungeon before your party is wiped out, at which point all achievements that
have not been saved will be lost. (Map progress is the exception. You can save
that post-death if you wish.) Truthfully you may not make it out anyway. There
is a limit to how many health items can be held at one time and not enough
dollars to ensure your inventory is always well stocked. You don’t gain money
for winning battles – you gain monster carcasses. The bodies may be exchanged
for loot, but it’s never enough. That, and the constant surprise of new and
unforgiving enemies, will cause the “Game Over” screen to appear at an
extremely high rate.
Whether this
sounds enticing or tenacious, one question remains: is it fun to map your
progress? The unfortunate answer is no. It’s more of a chore than anything
else. If it weren’t necessary, I’d just stick to the battles. Besides, the
Castlevania games (and several other titles) have been giving us free,
pre-made maps for well over a decade. I’m never turned off by developers who
attempt to do something different with the Nintendo DS’s touch screen. But
there are some things that are better off left alone.
Etrian
Odyssey is a good game that’s hard to recommend. The average RPG player will
be turned off the difficulty, while hardcore gamers who welcome the challenge
may be turned off by the repetitive map-making options. Everything you see
here can be found in another game – except for the challenge, which is where
this game draws its strength. For those in search of rough battles that could
leave you in tears (and give you a reason to scratch the DS’s bottom screen
that has nothing to do with gameplay), and for those who are willing to ignore
the map-making monotony, Etrian Odyssey could be your favorite handheld game
since Pokemon.
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Gameplay: 7.2
Half turn-based
RPG, half map-your-progress, Etrian Odyssey is a solid RPG with a few loose
screws. The relentless, Pokemon-style battles are easier to learn than any RPG
in recent memory but are more difficult to win than most games combined.
Players will be amused by the 3D exploration style and feel satisfied whenever
a tough enemy is defeated. On the down side, Etrian Odyssey is a highly
repetitive game that forces you to map your progress with simple touch screen
commands. Be sure to note that “simple” is not a synonym for fun.
Graphics:
6.0
The 3D
first-person view is pretty attractive, more so than any stagnant screenshot
can reveal. But the rest of the game comes straight from the land of Pokemon,
a place where animations are brief and special effects are nonexistent.
Sound: 7.3
Etrian Odyssey
has a good soundtrack, but there isn’t much to say about the sound effects
(other than pointing out that a few of them sound exactly like Pokemon).
Difficulty: Medium/Hard
If the hardcore
battles are any indication, Etrian Odyssey’s marketing plan must contain a
demographic that states, “For the most ridiculously dedicated gamers on the
planet.” Casual Pokemon players will die out in the first thirty minutes.
Final Fantasy enthusiasts will cry, “It’s too difficult!” Dragon Quest fans –
don’t even bother. Etrian Odyssey is tough. Very tough.
Concept: 7.0
While interesting
as a DS game, Etrian Odyssey doesn’t provide any Earth-shattering gameplay
elements that make it stand out as a DS exclusive. It’s a new kind of
experience for the DS, but it is not a new experience for RPGs.
Overall: 7.1
Whether you’re
newer to RPGs and the experience feels fresh or a veteran who just can’t get
enough of the genre, Etrian Odyssey is best suited for gamers seeking an
abundance of ultra-challenging Pokemon-style battles without a single Pocket
Monster to speak of. Great for lengthy trips and humid summer days, Etrian
Odyssey is a game that will win you over during this imbalanced season – but
doesn’t necessarily have the staying power to guarantee further amusement when
the crowded months of September, October, and November arrive.
