The Etrian Odyssey series, known for its quirky dual-screen gameplay on the Nintendo DS and 3DS, sadly faded away with the end of those eras. However, the recent release of the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection brings these beloved dungeon-crawling RPG adventures to a new platform: PC on Steam. This collection encompasses the first three games of the series, offering players a chance to delve into the labyrinthine worlds of the Etrian Odyssey once again.
The Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection stands out because of its distinct design tailored for the DS and 3DS systems. Players actively mapped the dungeons in these games using the touch screen and stylus. The transition to the PC platform might raise concerns about how well these games would play without the original dual-screen experience. Surprisingly, the games adapt to PC, offering an enjoyable gameplay experience without the stylus input.
In the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection, players embark on dungeon-crawling adventures that challenge their mapping skills, strategic thinking, and party management. These games were designed with the DS and 3DS in mind, but the transition to PC has been successful, with the controls and interface adjusted to suit the new platform.
Story and Narrative
In a refreshing departure from typical RPG tropes, the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection takes a different approach to storytelling. Rather than featuring a robust overarching plot, each game in the collection focuses on broad ideas that can accommodate any party and character type. The absence of predefined characters allows players to create their party members, who become the protagonists of their tales.
The narratives in these games revolve around basic premises and a heavy emphasis on dungeon crawling. However, the story truly shines in its player-driven and emergent nature. Throughout your journey, you will encounter events in the dungeons that prompt you to make choices. These choices often have consequences, leading to favorable outcomes or challenging encounters for your party.
For example, in the third game, we stumbled upon a trapped monster and had the choice to free it. We decided to release it, hoping for a reward, only to find ourselves thrust into a fierce battle against its allies. These decisions and actions shape the narrative experience, making it a highly personalized adventure that reflects the battles and incidents your party overcomes.
While the lack of a dynamic plot and many twists and complex characters may be a drawback for some players, the player-driven narrative offers a unique and engaging experience. It's akin to a choose-your-own-adventure, where the story unfolds based on your decisions and actions with your handcrafted party.
In the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection, the focus is on the exploration and challenges of the dungeons rather than a deep narrative experience. The games rely on the players' agency and ability to navigate the dungeons, adapt to unforeseen situations, and make choices impacting their party's journey. Through these player-driven narratives, the games truly shine, offering a sense of ownership and personalization that enhances the overall experience.
Gameplay
At the heart of the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection lies its immersive and addictive gameplay. The games offer a unique blend of dungeon-crawling, mapping, and turn-based combat, providing players a challenging and rewarding experience.
Dungeon crawling is a central aspect of the gameplay, as players explore intricate labyrinths filled with dangers, treasures, and hidden secrets. Each step taken into the unknown requires careful consideration, as the dungeons are brimming with traps, puzzles, and formidable enemies. The sense of exploration and discovery is captivating, with each new area bringing a sense of anticipation and excitement.
Mapping is an essential element in Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection, where players are tasked with charting their progress through the labyrinthine dungeons. The games provide an innovative map-making feature, allowing players to draw their maps on the bottom screen of the Nintendo 3DS or utilize the automap feature available in the PC version. This mechanic adds an extra layer of immersion and personalization as you mark essential points of interest, note enemy locations, and keep track of your progress.
Turn-based combat in the games is strategic and challenging, requiring careful planning and party composition. Each character class offers a unique set of skills and abilities, and it's up to the player to create a balanced party capable of handling the various encounters. Battles unfold in a traditional turn-based format, where positioning, exploiting enemy weaknesses, and utilizing buffs and debuffs are crucial to victory. The depth of strategy in combat is commendable, and battles can be intense and satisfying, especially when overcoming formidable foes or bosses.
Resource management is another critical aspect of gameplay. As you delve deeper into the dungeons, your party's stamina, resources, and inventory space become limited commodities. Balancing healing items, mapping supplies, and equipment upgrades is vital to survival. It adds a layer of tension and decision-making, as players must carefully consider when to push forward and when to retreat to restock and recover.
For players who prefer a more automated mapping process, the automap feature available in the PC version of the game offers convenience without sacrificing the sense of exploration. It provides a pre-drawn map, allowing players to focus more on the other gameplay mechanics and the overall dungeon-crawling experience.
Overall, the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection offers a profoundly satisfying gameplay experience. The combination of dungeon-crawling, mapping, turn-based combat, the strategic depth required in battles, and the importance of careful exploration and resource management keeps players engaged and enthralled throughout their adventure.
Puzzles and Character Progression
While Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection primarily focuses on dungeon exploration and combat, it incorporates puzzles into its design. Although relatively sparse, these puzzles serve as refreshing breaks from the intense battles and add a layer of challenge and variety to the gameplay.
The puzzles in the game range from environmental challenges to deciphering cryptic clues or activating mechanisms to progress further in the dungeons. While they may not be as prominent as puzzle-focused games, their inclusion enhances the overall experience by offering critical thinking and problem-solving moments.
One notable feature in the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection is the FOE (Formido Oppugnatura Exsequens) system. FOEs are potent enemies that roam the dungeons, often acting as mini-bosses. These formidable adversaries are not only challenging encounters but also provide an ongoing challenge and source of tension as you navigate the dungeons.
FOEs are visible on the map and have unique movement patterns, requiring careful planning and strategic thinking to avoid or engage them. Engaging a FOE requires a high-leveled and well-prepared team, making them a rewarding test for experienced players. Successfully defeating a FOE grants valuable rewards, such as rare items or access to previously inaccessible areas, further incentivizing players to tackle these challenging encounters.
Character progression in the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection is a robust system that allows players to customize their party members to fit their preferred playstyle. Players can manually distribute stat points as characters level up, shaping each character's strengths and weaknesses. This level of control adds depth to the gameplay and allows for tailored character builds.
In addition to stat distribution, the games feature a skill tree for each character class, providing a wide range of abilities and passive skills to unlock and improve. Thoughtful team building and skill allocation are crucial for success in battles. Balancing offensive capabilities, defensive maneuvers, healing spells, and support skills within your party is essential for tackling the various challenges that await in the dungeons.
Experimenting with different character combinations and skill builds is encouraged, as it adds replayability and allows players to find their optimal strategies. The character progression system rewards careful planning and thoughtful decision-making, making each party member feel unique and indispensable.
The puzzles and character progression mechanics in the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection contribute to the overall depth and immersion of the gameplay experience. The occasional puzzles change pace and add an extra layer of challenge, while the FOE system adds tension and rewards players for building high-leveled teams. The character progression system allows for customization and strategic decision-making, ensuring that each playthrough feels fresh and tailored to the player's preferences.
Conclusion
The Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection offers an enjoyable and immersive gameplay experience that will particularly resonate with fans of the DS and 3DS era. The dungeon-crawling, mapping, and turn-based combat mechanics provide a deep, strategic gameplay experience that keeps players engaged and challenged.
The game successfully captures the nostalgic charm of the original Etrian Odyssey series while introducing enhancements and quality-of-life improvements. The transition to the Nintendo Switch allows for more accessible and convenient gameplay, especially with the addition of touchscreen functionality.
However, there are some missed opportunities for enhancements in the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection. While enjoyable, the relatively sparse presence of puzzles could have been expanded to offer a more diverse range of challenges. Additionally, although the automap feature caters to players who prefer a more automated mapping process, some may have appreciated a more robust and interactive mapping system.
Despite these missed opportunities, the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection remains a compelling and worthwhile experience for both series veterans and newcomers. The gameplay depth, character progression system, and player-driven storytelling create a captivating adventure that keeps players invested for hours.
In summary, the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection on the Nintendo Switch captures the essence of the DS and 3DS era while providing an enjoyable and nostalgic gameplay experience. Although there are areas for improvement, the game's strengths overshadow any minor shortcomings, making it a must-play for fans of the series and those seeking a challenging and immersive dungeon-crawling RPG.
