Overview- Critic & User
Reviews - Videos &
Screenshots
News- Codes
& FAQs - Gameplay
Controls - Similar
Games
Answers
Bundles
Critic & User Reviews
IGN Review of Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard
Without a doubt, Etrian Odyssey is one of the most unique and bold game designs we've seen on DS since its launch. In a generation of gaming where people are talking about the "death of hardcore," and where Wii Sports is enough to topple Microsoft's killer 360 library, it takes serious guts – and impressive execution – to not only attempt something made directly for the most aged and traditional gamer type, but to do it well. Mini-maps are commonplace now days, with auto saving and easy "repeat from checkpoint" gaming basically escorting players from beginning to end like an interactive movie, rather than an actual challenge. That's not the style of Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard, and as our industry starts to lean more and more towards the new "everyone's a gamer" philosophy, we're realizing more that if you are in fact traditional in taste, there are only a few key games that truly aim specifically towards you. Etrian Odyssey is without a doubt one of those games.
Etrian Odyssey is a DS-exclusive property, but its design can be traced back to the very beginning of RPG origins. Using the touch screen as blank canvas, players need to not only explore through level after level of dungeons in a first-person, random battle supported, classic fashion, but also draw their own maps – with as much, or as little detail as they see fit – to help them chart their progress. Rather than some of the newer map-based DS games like Final Fantasy IV or the ever-popular Castlevania series, Etrian Odyssey puts that role in the hands of the player instead, so if you get lost, killed, or forget the location of a key item along the way, it's your fault. Every nuance of EOII's design is built specifically for the hardcore gamer, so whether it's the brutal random battles, the insanely difficult bosses, the team balancing (that again, is all up to you), or resource management, you'll feel like you're being pushed in Etrian Odyssey II.
As with the last game, players are given free reign over the lands of Etrian Odyssey II almost from the very start of the game, minus a preliminary mission to test their skills. Rather than climbing into the depths of a dungeon this time around, Heroes of Lagaard sends gamers on a quest to climb an ancient and magical tree that is said to contain unspeakable treasures; specifically, a cup of life that gives anyone who possesses it extraordinary power. For the most part though, the core EO experience remains as is, with towns being no more than a few backdrops and character portraits with a quick menu system, and dungeons a mix of twisting turns and branching paths that house dangerous beasts. Players can head to the shop to grab new equipment, create new guild members at any time – now with a few new classes to make use of, as well as originally "unlock only" classes available from the start – sell supplies to unlock new items in shops, divvy up skill points at every level, and lick their wounds with a quick stay in the inn.
And while most of the gameplay is the same this time around, we found ourselves really enjoying the experience much more this time around. Maybe it's because we're familiar with the game, and know just how tough it can be, or maybe it's because of the new features added to make the experience a bit more user-friendly. In reality, it's probably a mix of the two. Yes the game is still brutal, and yeah, anyone not ready for a traditional RPG experience is going to get their but kicked, and maybe even need to restart the game to "do things right" the second time around, but when it gets down to the grind – which is what classic dungeon crawlers are all about – Etrian Odyssey II is a much more enjoyable experience. Bosses now show up on maps well in advance, the random battle meter in the bottom right of the top screen is back, and very helpful once again, but there are other small aspects that help break up the monotony, and stop players from retracing their steps over and over.
The map system is now easier to use, complete with a "follow me" button that lets you draw and move on the fly without managing the map's location all the time. Warps now make retracing your steps through the mystical tree much easier, as you can basically head back to town and warp back every 10 levels, and equipment management is much easier, as your map now drops from play when entering the village, freeing up some much-needed space for stat displays for each character. It was a pain to drop into the shop and not know exactly how many of each item was needed, but now it's as simple as selecting an item, and flipping through each character with the L and R buttons to see who needs upgrading, and who is set with their current equipment. The game is just as hard as it ever was, but it's easier to play now more than ever.
The inclusion of Force Skills and even more general stat-tweaking and upgrading really makes Etrian Odyssey II a superior package to its predecessor, but it also comes at a bit of a price. Players that know their team and really think ahead when creating the best group possible will be able to master their classes, distribute their points well, and make the most out of each level. For those that rush through it though, or players that don't know RPG's too well, Heroes of Lagaard could potentially be more difficult than the original. If you can't grasp the idea of leaving a tougher boss behind for later, running for your life when the evil FOES are stalking through the halls, or using a much-needed warp wire to get out of a bad situation before it gets worse, Etrian Odyssey will kick the crap out of you. This game does not pull punches.
As for the audio/visual package this time around, Etrian Odyssey's design remains pretty much unchanged, though the music is well done, and some of the game's effects and lighting are stronger this time around. You'll find more diverse enemies (which means more crisp, clean, 2D portrait art), more variation in the dungeon – or tree – levels, and some stronger attack effects for magic casters and force skills. It's got the same core design, which means low animation, and strong traditional style, but it's also a visually pleasing DS game despite it's classic approach.
©2008-06-18, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Etrian Odyssey is a DS-exclusive property, but its design can be traced back to the very beginning of RPG origins. Using the touch screen as blank canvas, players need to not only explore through level after level of dungeons in a first-person, random battle supported, classic fashion, but also draw their own maps – with as much, or as little detail as they see fit – to help them chart their progress. Rather than some of the newer map-based DS games like Final Fantasy IV or the ever-popular Castlevania series, Etrian Odyssey puts that role in the hands of the player instead, so if you get lost, killed, or forget the location of a key item along the way, it's your fault. Every nuance of EOII's design is built specifically for the hardcore gamer, so whether it's the brutal random battles, the insanely difficult bosses, the team balancing (that again, is all up to you), or resource management, you'll feel like you're being pushed in Etrian Odyssey II.
As with the last game, players are given free reign over the lands of Etrian Odyssey II almost from the very start of the game, minus a preliminary mission to test their skills. Rather than climbing into the depths of a dungeon this time around, Heroes of Lagaard sends gamers on a quest to climb an ancient and magical tree that is said to contain unspeakable treasures; specifically, a cup of life that gives anyone who possesses it extraordinary power. For the most part though, the core EO experience remains as is, with towns being no more than a few backdrops and character portraits with a quick menu system, and dungeons a mix of twisting turns and branching paths that house dangerous beasts. Players can head to the shop to grab new equipment, create new guild members at any time – now with a few new classes to make use of, as well as originally "unlock only" classes available from the start – sell supplies to unlock new items in shops, divvy up skill points at every level, and lick their wounds with a quick stay in the inn.
And while most of the gameplay is the same this time around, we found ourselves really enjoying the experience much more this time around. Maybe it's because we're familiar with the game, and know just how tough it can be, or maybe it's because of the new features added to make the experience a bit more user-friendly. In reality, it's probably a mix of the two. Yes the game is still brutal, and yeah, anyone not ready for a traditional RPG experience is going to get their but kicked, and maybe even need to restart the game to "do things right" the second time around, but when it gets down to the grind – which is what classic dungeon crawlers are all about – Etrian Odyssey II is a much more enjoyable experience. Bosses now show up on maps well in advance, the random battle meter in the bottom right of the top screen is back, and very helpful once again, but there are other small aspects that help break up the monotony, and stop players from retracing their steps over and over.
The map system is now easier to use, complete with a "follow me" button that lets you draw and move on the fly without managing the map's location all the time. Warps now make retracing your steps through the mystical tree much easier, as you can basically head back to town and warp back every 10 levels, and equipment management is much easier, as your map now drops from play when entering the village, freeing up some much-needed space for stat displays for each character. It was a pain to drop into the shop and not know exactly how many of each item was needed, but now it's as simple as selecting an item, and flipping through each character with the L and R buttons to see who needs upgrading, and who is set with their current equipment. The game is just as hard as it ever was, but it's easier to play now more than ever.
The inclusion of Force Skills and even more general stat-tweaking and upgrading really makes Etrian Odyssey II a superior package to its predecessor, but it also comes at a bit of a price. Players that know their team and really think ahead when creating the best group possible will be able to master their classes, distribute their points well, and make the most out of each level. For those that rush through it though, or players that don't know RPG's too well, Heroes of Lagaard could potentially be more difficult than the original. If you can't grasp the idea of leaving a tougher boss behind for later, running for your life when the evil FOES are stalking through the halls, or using a much-needed warp wire to get out of a bad situation before it gets worse, Etrian Odyssey will kick the crap out of you. This game does not pull punches.
As for the audio/visual package this time around, Etrian Odyssey's design remains pretty much unchanged, though the music is well done, and some of the game's effects and lighting are stronger this time around. You'll find more diverse enemies (which means more crisp, clean, 2D portrait art), more variation in the dungeon – or tree – levels, and some stronger attack effects for magic casters and force skills. It's got the same core design, which means low animation, and strong traditional style, but it's also a visually pleasing DS game despite it's classic approach.
©2008-06-18, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved