PixlBit

One of Atlus' best and most recent original series that isn't Shin Megami Tensei or Trauma Center.

One series from Atlus that completely caught me by surprise recently was the Etrian Odyssey series on the DS. As a person who enjoys strategy titles and retro-inspired elements in games, the Etrian Odyssey games piqued my interest as both concepts are present.

For those unfamiliar, Etrian Odyssey is an old-school inspired RPG that includes a number of unique elements that set it apart from the crowd. One of those features lies in your party organization.

The game gives you free reign over what character classes are in your party. Because not a single class in the game is perfect enough to survive by itself, you must assemble a team that supplements each team member's strengths and weaknesses. Since you have free reign over what your party consists of, it will allow you to assemble the "perfect team" by experimenting with different class combinations. If it fails you are always allowed to create new characters without any major consequence, in fact the game encourages you to do so, as you unlock other classes as you progress in the game. Naturally there is some consequence, but a small amount of grinding will set your team right as your new member quickly catches up to its comrades.

The DS touch screen is also used in an appropriate way. Since many old school RPGs had labyrinths and no map system, players ended up drawing their own maps on a piece of paper or in a notebook. I actually remember doing that in the old King's Quest games on PC whenever there was a complex labyrinth. The Etrian Odyssey series retains this element via the touch screen and the game’s robust map tools.

With a combination of various icons, players are able to draw the map and mark memorable landmarks or treasures in the labyrinth. Even if you die and have to traverse through each floor again, all your created map data will be retained after death. This makes navigation quick and easy, and also cues you to avoid dead ends, hazards, and instances of inevitable death.

This element allows the game to challenge players, and offers the same high level of difficulty found in its predecessors. When you beat a powerful boss or pass through a challenging floor that has many traps or FOEs (powerful enemies) it’s extremely rewarding, even moreson than your average RPG title. I remember passing through many ominous huge orbs of doom, surviving, and feeling great afterwards for making it through.

The game in general has a lot of great qualities which is typical of internally developed Atlus titles. Along with that, the game is well-polished, offers a distinct graphical style, and a catchy soundtrack.

Unfortunately, also like most Atlus titles, the Etrian Odyssey series has a niche audience and is no more than a tiny blip in the massive DS library. I really feel like it’s a series that shouldn't be missed especially if you grew up with really old PC RPGs. The game bridges that experience with new RPGs as it incorporates a number of more modern enhancements.

Even though the series isn’t the next Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, I think it's great that Atlus plans to continue it with the recently announced Etrian Odyssey 3. While the Shin Megami Tensei series will always be the company's primary series, series like Etrian Odyssey and Trauma Center prove that Atlus can create new and unique series that achieve the same pedigree of their heavy-hitter.