The Excellent Etrian Odyssey

 

It's all there, from the first-person perspective to the open-ended gameplay to the relentless difficulty. Etrian Odyssey even manages to bring back the lost art of graph paper mapmaking via the Nintendo DS's touchscreen, firmly evoking the past while simultaneously saving trees. The sequel also has the added convenience of being able to toggle whether the map should automatically follow you, though true members of the old school will no doubt choose to do without.

For those weaned on Japanese RPGs, Etrian Odyssey is certainly a very different experience from what they might be used to. The style may have a reassuringly anime bent, but Tales of Destiny this is not. The story is almost non-existent, and in the grand tradition of Western RPGs, pretty much every character is built from scratch. As usual, success is predicated on the right mix of classes, ability and equipment, encouraging the development of a party that's unique to each player. Developing a top quality party is a must, especially when facing down the forest beyond.

In Etrian Odyssey II at least (I can't speak for the sequel, but I'm sure it's not that different), the trees are full of danger, replete as they are with enemies who can kill you in an instant if you're not careful. The worst of these are the so-called F.O.E's, which are represented by glowing orbs that chase you around the map. Tangle with one of these unprepared, and you will die. No questions asked. That's just the sort of thing Etrian Odyssey likes to do.

This is a game that will never yield an inch, requiring plenty of trial and error for even a modicum of success. The unforgiving, old school gameplay is its own reward though. And for those who long for the good old days of PC RPGs, Etrian Odyssey is rewarding indeed.

Etrian Odysseywas built from the ground up for a special kind of player. The patient sorts, the ones who can spend hours mapping its tangle of twists and turns. They are the ones who can see the simple beauty of the design, whose central tenet is "go forth and discover."

The need to reach the next floor is the carrot that Etrian Odyssey dangles, but even something so simple as that isn't always easy. There are plenty who will give up when they run afoul of an F.O.E and die, or realize how much work they have to put into their party to even be remotely successful. But there are plenty of others who will relish the challenge.

If you're not sure which group you fall into, you owe it to yourself to find out. Etrian Odyssey is surely not for everybody, but for those who understand it best, it's pure gold.

 

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