Etrian Odyssey (video game)

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Etrian Odyssey
Etrian Odyssey.PNG
North American cover art
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Director(s) Kazuya Niinou
Programmer(s) Mitsuhiro Hoshino
Artist(s) Yuji Himukai
Writer(s) Shigeo Komori
Composer(s) Yuzo Koshiro
Series Etrian Odyssey
Engine Unity (HD)
Platform(s)
ReleaseNintendo DS
  • JP: January 18, 2007
  • NA: May 15, 2007
  • EU: June 6, 2008
  • AU: August 14, 2008
Switch, Windows
  • WW: June 1, 2023
Genre(s) Role-playing, dungeon crawler
Mode(s) Single-player

Etrian Odyssey [1] is a 2007 3D dungeon crawler role-playing video game by Atlus for the Nintendo DS. It centers around first-person exploration of a mysterious dungeon known as the Yggdrasil Labyrinth using a player-created party of characters. The game received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who criticized its punishing difficulty as limiting its appeal, but also making its gameplay more rewarding.

Contents

A remake, titled Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl , was released for Nintendo 3DS in 2013. A remastered version of the original released for Nintendo Switch and Windows in June 2023 under the title Etrian Odyssey HD.

Gameplay

The player talks to an NPC on the top screen; the map of one of the floors of the Labyrinth is shown on the bottom. Etrian Odyssey gameplay.png
The player talks to an NPC on the top screen; the map of one of the floors of the Labyrinth is shown on the bottom.

Drawing comparisons to titles such as Wizardry and The Bard's Tale , [2] Etrian Odyssey challenges players with exploring and mapping a vast dungeon. Players navigate through the dungeon in fixed increments. Time passes only when an action is taken, causing movement, random encounters, and combat to all be entirely turn-based. The game uses a first-person view to present the dungeon using a combination of relatively simple 3D computer graphics for environments and single-frame 2D sprites for enemies.

Etrian Odyssey requires that players maintain their own map by annotating (with the stylus) a small map displayed on the DS's touchscreen. The player is free to map accurately or haphazardly. However, the player cannot draw their own symbols, and must instead use the game's limited set of pre-designed symbols. The game also limits the number of symbols that can be used for each level map.

In addition to normal random encounters, the player must overcome "FOEs" (Field On Enemies), which are exceptionally powerful monsters which wander around the dungeon in much the same way as the player's party, advancing whenever the player does. The AI of FOEs varies, but most will wander the dungeon in a set circular path until they sense the player's party, after which they will move directly towards the party. If the player encounters an FOE in an area with multiple FOEs, it is possible for a second or even third FOE to join the battle if it reaches the party before they defeat the first one.

Like most early RPGs, Etrian Odyssey uses custom characters from a number of different character classes. While only five characters can be in the party at a single time, a much larger number can be created and kept in waiting back at the "guild hall". Characters can be switched in and out of the party when in town, so if a given specialty is needed for a specific obstacle, the party can be tailored appropriately. The player allocates skill points to specific skills during level advancement.

Plot

The game starts with the player forming an adventuring guild in order to explore the mysterious Yggdrasil Labyrinth from the nearby town of Etria. This is encouraged by the Radha and its chieftain, Visil, due to the town's prosperity stemming from exploration of the labyrinth. He uses the experienced rōnin Ren and the hexer Tlachtga to teach the player how to explore the labyrinth and continue descending into each stratum.

Once the player nears the lowest stratum of the labyrinth, they encounter a humanoid race known as the Forest Folk. The Forest Folk attempt to prevent the player from descending further, citing an ancient pact, but the player finally prevails against their massive guardian bird, the Iwaopeln. Entering the lowest stratum, they discover the ruins of post-apocalyptic Shinjuku, revealing for the first time that the setting of the game is actually a far-future Earth.

At this point, the player is confronted by Ren and Tlachtga, but this time to kill the player. They claim that if the secrets of the labyrinth were discovered, explorers would stop coming to Etria and the town would no longer prosper. The player defeats the two, and confronts Visil deeper in the labyrinth. Visil, who was actually the immortal lead researcher who created the Yggdrasil Project to restore the planet, merges with the core of Yggdrasil, becoming the Etreant in order to protect Yggdrasil. The player defeats him, destroying Yggdrasil.

Development

The title was first announced by Atlus through Famitsu after demonstrating it behind closed doors at E3 2006.

The development team within Atlus was led by Kazuya Niinou who also directed the development of Atlus' first in-house game for the DS, Trauma Center: Under the Knife . The game features character designs by Yuji Himukai, monster design by Shin Nagasawa, a story by Shigeo Komori, and FM-like music by Yuzo Koshiro.

The game was originally to be released internationally as Yggdrasil Labyrinth, but was renamed to avoid any possible confusion with Yggdra Union (a game published in North America by Atlus a year earlier) or Deep Labyrinth . [3]

Remaster

During a Nintendo Direct event on February 8, 2023, Atlus announced that the game will be remastered in HD and released for Nintendo Switch and Windows on June 1, 2023. The remaster is available for purchase separately or alongside remasters of Etrian Odyssey II and Etrian Odyssey III in the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection. [4]

The remastered version is based on the Nintendo DS original instead of its 2013 remake, and includes updated visuals and music, quality of life changes, and additional character portraits. Portraits featuring Joker from Persona 5 and Ringo from Soul Hackers 2 were added as DLC. [5]

Reception

Etrian Odyssey sold 32,511 copies in its first week of release in Japan. [17]

Media Create/Famitsū reported that Etrian Odyssey had sold 119,584 copies in Japan as of July 1, 2007. [18] Atlus' own July 2007 investors report listed US sales of the title at around 30,000 units, roughly 2 months after release. [19]

Elsewhere, the game received "favorable" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. [6] Although the title was recognized as accomplishing its goals (in terms of presenting a very classic RPG experience), it was noted that this greatly limits its appeal to a certain "hardcore" demographic. The IGN review noted, "[...] if you gave this game to ten players you may find one or two in the group that truly enjoy it". [15] GamePro concurred, remarking: "Ultimately, this one is for fans of the genre and not for the short-on-time". [12]

Most reviews noted that those who enjoy rigorous dungeon crawls or fondly recall similar titles from years past may greatly enjoy the game. 1UP.com summarized this sentiment by concluding "Etrian Odyssey will definitely appeal more to the OCD'd than the ADD'd, and its punishing difficulty and very deliberate pacing may turn off younger gamers who grew up on flashier roleplayers. But it offers a real sense of wonder and a sense of accomplishment -- feelings missing from far too many modern games". [7] N-Europe awarded the game an 8/10 score, though the site criticised its lack of story and the fact that it is "too old school for some". [20]

In a review of Etrian Odyssey in Black Gate , Josh Bycer said "Even though dungeon crawlers aren't as huge as they were back in the day, there is an audience looking for games like Etrian Odyssey and well designed RPG systems; which is what makes or breaks this kind of design. Balancing difficulty with design is never easy and it takes a skilled team to make that perilous journey worth taking." [21]

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<i>Etrian Odyssey II</i> 2008 video game

Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard is a 2008 dungeon crawler role-playing video game by Atlus for the Nintendo DS. Heroes of Lagaard is the sequel to Etrian Odyssey.

<i>Etrian Odyssey III</i> 2010 video game

Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City is a 2010 3D dungeon crawler role-playing video game by Atlus for the Nintendo DS. It is a sequel to Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard. Players assume the role of a guild leader, adventuring into the labyrinth to fulfill quests.

<i>Etrian Odyssey IV</i> Video game for the Nintendo 3DS

Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan is a dungeon crawler role playing video game developed and published by Atlus for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the sequel to Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City and the first in the Etrian Odyssey series to be released on the Nintendo 3DS.

<i>Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl</i> 2013 video game

Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl is a 2013 role-playing video game for the Nintendo 3DS by Atlus. It is part of the Etrian Odyssey series, and is both a "reimagining" and a remake of the first entry. It was released by Atlus in 2013 for Japan on June 27 and in North America on October 1 and released by NIS America in Europe on May 2, 2014. It was available via both Nintendo eShop and retail at release.

<i>Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth</i> 2014 video game for Nintendo 3DS

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<i>Etrian Mystery Dungeon</i> Video game for the Nintendo 3DS

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<i>Etrian Odyssey V</i> Video game for the Nintendo 3DS

Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth is a dungeon crawler role-playing video game developed and published by Atlus for the Nintendo 3DS. The game was released in Japan in August 2016, in North America in October 2017, and in the PAL region the following month.

<i>Etrian Odyssey</i> Video game series

Etrian Odyssey is a dungeon crawler role-playing video game series. It is primarily developed and published by Atlus and currently owned by Sega. By 2016, the series had sold a combined total of 1.5 million copies worldwide.

<i>Dragon Quest Builders</i> 2016 video game

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<i>The Caligula Effect</i> 2016 video game

The Caligula Effect is a role-playing video game developed by Aquria. It was released for the PlayStation Vita in Japan in June 2016, and by Atlus USA in North America and Europe in May 2017. A remake of the game, The Caligula Effect: Overdose, was released for the PlayStation 4 in Japan in May 2018, and worldwide by NIS America in March 2019 for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Windows. An anime adaptation of the same name premiered in April 2018.

<i>Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight</i> Video game for the Nintendo 3DS

Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight is a role-playing video game developed and published by Atlus for the Nintendo 3DS. It is part of the Etrian Odyssey series, and is a remake of Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard. It was released in Japan in November 2014, in North America in August 2015, and in the PAL region in February 2016.

<i>Etrian Odyssey Nexus</i> Video game from the Etrian Odyssey series

Etrian Odyssey Nexus is a dungeon crawler role-playing video game published and developed by Atlus for the Nintendo 3DS and it is the sixth and final main installment to be released on the handheld console. It was released in Japan in August 2018, and worldwide in February 2019.

References

  1. ↑ Released in Japan as Sekaiju no Meikyuu (世界樹の迷宮, Sekaiju no Meikyū, lit. Labyrinth of the World Tree )
  2. ↑ Meunier, Nathan. "Etrian Odyssey Review". Cheat Code Central. Archived from the original on September 12, 2007. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  3. ↑ Archived July 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Dinsdale, Ryan (February 8, 2023). "Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection Brings Original 3 Games to Nintendo Switch and PC". IGN. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  5. ↑ Romano, Sal (February 8, 2023). "Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection announced for Switch, PC". Gematsu. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Etrian Odyssey for DS Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 2011-12-01. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
  7. 1 2 Fitch, Andrew (May 15, 2007). "Etrian Odyssey Review". 1UP.com . Archived from the original on January 17, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  8. ↑ EGM staff (June 2007). "Etrian Odyssey". Electronic Gaming Monthly . p. 92.
  9. ↑ Parkin, Simon (July 3, 2007). "DS Roundup (Etrian Odyssey, US Import)". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on January 17, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  10. ↑ Riley, Adam (January 10, 2007). "Nintendo Wii/DS Reviews | Famitsu Rates Wario, Excite Truck & More". Cubed3. Archived from the original on January 17, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  11. ↑ Juba, Joe (June 2007). "Etrian Odyssey". Game Informer . No. 170. p. 118. Archived from the original on January 30, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  12. 1 2 Glasser, AJ (May 15, 2007). "Review: Etrian Odyssey". GamePro . Archived from the original on May 17, 2007.
  13. ↑ Magrino, Tom (May 29, 2007). "Etrian Odyssey Review". GameSpot . Archived from the original on June 2, 2007. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  14. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (June 18, 2007). "Etrian Odyssey - NDS - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 8, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  15. 1 2 Bozon, Mark (May 16, 2007). "Etrian Odyssey Review". IGN . Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Etrian Odyssey". Nintendo Power . Vol. 217. July 2007. p. 96.
  17. ↑ Ishaan (July 11, 2012). "Siliconera: This Week In Sales: Anarchy Reigns In The Midst Of An Etrian Odyssey". Siliconera. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  18. ↑ Dalthien (August 6, 2007). "Japan DS/PSP Sales Charts". NeoGAF. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
  19. ↑ "2007年7月期 決算説明会資料" (PDF). Atlus. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
  20. ↑ Penny, Steven (August 20, 2008). "Review: Etrian Odyssey". N-Europe. Archived from the original on January 17, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  21. ↑ https://www.blackgate.com/2015/06/14/dungeon-crawling-is-fun-again-etrian-odyssey/
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