PSP World

Etrian Odyssey II Review

Atlus is back with more old-school dungeon exploration on the DS. Better than the original in nearly all respects, is it enough to entice new players?

Those who enjoyed the first installment in this clunky pen-and-paper style RPG have undoubtedly already purchased Etrian Odyssey II. The sequel promises more of the same – players craft a party and explore an uncharted dungeon with mapmaking tools (in this case the DS stylus) in hand. While the first game suffered from some weaknesses that were largely the result of sticking to a bare-bones formula, the new upgrades might appeal to those who were intrigued by the first game but never took the plunge.

Up instead of Down

The overall structure of the game remains identical to the first title. Players find themselves in a town which is represented by beautifully-drawn but static artwork. There is the usual bar where players can sign up for new quests, and a guild hall where new characters are created and specced out. Other than that, the world of Etrian Odyssey is a fairly lonely and sparsely populated place. There are no NPCs wandering around town that need to be tracked down and pumped for information like in more mainstream RPGs. There are not even any neighboring towns to visit.

Like in the previous game, there is only one massive, multi-tiered dungeon to investigate and map out. Unlike the previous installment, this time the dungeon takes the form of a rising tower instead of a cavernous labyrinth. But for all intents and purposes, the formula is the same.

A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi

It is difficult to explain the appeal of Etrian Odyssey to the uninitiated, but I’ll try because this is a game that every RPG fan should experience. While the formula might seem bland and repetitious on first viewing, it is in fact remarkably complex. There are twelve character classes to choose form, as well as a large number of different skill combinations for those players who enjoy twiddling with stats. What makes Etrian Odyssey II unique, however, is the ambience and mood that it evokes. The hand-drawn enemies, beautiful 3D corridors and haunting music all combine to make something truly immersive and special. Some might complain that the game is too tough and forces players to grind in order to advance, but the slow, methodical pace of the game will appeal to those who enjoy the simple pleasure of exploring uncharted areas and accumulating loot.

The first game was punishingly difficult and this sequel continues that tradition. The feeling of dread from arriving at a new stratum still remains from the first title. New enemies are overpowered and will require careful team skill management in order to defeat. FOEs (those giant, lumbering balls of death) from the first game are back as well and tough as ever. This is not a game for newcomers to the RPG genre or for casual players. The game demands attention and strategic thinking, another one of its unique charms.

New and improved

Etrian Odyssey II looks, sounds and plays better than its predecessor. The first game had functional graphics for enemies and 3D environments, but a great deal of care has gone into the art for this game. Textures are more varied and have more detail, and enemies are more unique and plentiful than in the first game. The score is wonderfully done and fits the mood of the game very well.

There are a number of gameplay changes that make Etrian Odyssey II more accessible in terms of gameplay . First, the mapping system has been made more versatile. It now includes new icons and color schemes to help differentiate between different events and locations. In the first game, it was impossible to tell the difference between resource types (chop, mine or take). Now, these are color coded to avoid confusion. Mapping might frustrate players who are used to having their radar handed to them on a silver plate, but those who enjoy drawing out dungeons will find it easier to accomplish here.

The skill allotment system has also been streamlined to make it more forgiving. In the previous game, it was possible to re-allocate skill points to a character only after sacrificing 10 levels of experience by “resting” them. Now, players lose only 5 levels, so the penalty for changing skill sets is much lower.
When combined with a more interesting (although still basic) story line, new character classes and other little gameplay tweaks, Etrian Odyssey II is superior to its predecessor in every respect.