About two months ago, I suggested (in this post) that I was quite smitten with the polygonal enemies that are set to appear in Atlus' upcoming Etrian Odyssey IV. Do I still feel that way about the game's three-dimensional baddies after watching the latest trailer (below and here) for this 3DS title, which will hit the streets in Japan on July 5? Without a doubt.
What do all of you think of what you've seen of this latest entry in the hard-as-nails series of dungeon-crawling RPGs that's known in its homeland as Sekaiju no Meikyuu (aka Labyrinth of Yggdrasill)? Are you praying that Atlus localizes and releases it in your particular region, or could you care less about this title's outside-of-Japan prospects?
(Via andriasang.com)
I played a bit of the 2nd one. It was too freaking hard, and the map drawing thing was kinda stupid I thought. I used to have to draw maps when I was a kid, and I don't see the need to go back to that. Also there didn't seem to be any story to compel me, and the style was a tad generic. The polygons are nice here, but I don't think it's enough. Now if they'd make a polygonal SMT Strange Journey, I'd be all over that...
ReplyDeleteI haven't played the second one, warp, so I really can't say anything about it, but I have to say I loved the first one. That said, it's very hard core and I can see how it wouldn't suit everyone's tastes. I really liked the map drawing, BTW, and didn't mind the lack of a real story--exploring a series of dungeons was enough for me.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to play SMT Strange Journey, unfortunately. I keep meaning to add it to my collection, but my attention keeps getting averted by other games...
I think anyone who likes Etrian Odyssey would love Strange Journey. It's a hardcore dungeon crawl, and it's not easy. But it has a lot more variety, and interesting characters to meet. Plus the demon collection and breeding is quite addictive. I did give up before finishing it tho, due to a particular frustrating conveyor belt level, but I still got a ton of play time out of it before that.
ReplyDeleteAh, thanks for sharing more about Strange Journey, warp. I'll definitely have to pick it up at some point, it seems. I don't look forward to encountering this conveyor belt level you talk about, though!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely loving the looks of this! Count me in if Atlus localizes it (which I'm thinking is pretty likely?)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm guessing it's likely, too, Anne--especially since they localized the first three Etrian Odysseys. I'm just hoping they won't wait too long to do so :)
ReplyDeleteKinda agree with Warp. I got one of the previous Etrians (cant remember which). I got bored. It just felt pointless to me - mainly because there just wasn't any story to help propel the game for me. I need a story! hehe
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah I was thinking watching these new vids etc reminds me so much of Strange Journey! I actually finished that game!!
Strange Journey is great! I played a bit of Devil Survivor (and yay the 3DS version will finally come my way soon!!) but I got stuck in Devil Survivor (Jezabel) and quit that game. I was worried I'd encounter similar thing in Strange Journey but I got through it! Also I love the demon system! The fusion was ok (I think Devil Survivor's fusion system is the best, I spent couple hours at a time perfecting my demons LOL) but it is the password system that is brilliant! You can enter passwords for demons people have posted on the net, to make it available in your game. Towards the end I made a party of some super demons :) Which helped me a lot! As it is quite difficult towards the end (also you have 3 paths to follow, meaning at least 3 endings). For the conveyor level, why not look up a walkthrough just to get through it? I think that's what I did - I just wanted to get it out of the way. The level that irritated me the most I think was the one with warp points and you had to go to specific spots to advance the level - I looked that up cos I just didn't want to waste time over it heheh
Anwyays, back to Etrian -- I do like the art style, it looks really nice, and using the artist from Princess Mononoke is just a bonus ;) The creature design is pretty good and presented really well! But apart from that, does it have an actual story this time? I don't mind the map aspect and I noticed the map now shows more details (like enemy movement). Will have to wait and see more :)
(sorry for big comment LOL)
Some additional info has come out:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.siliconera.com/2012/05/01/etrian-odyssey-iv-uses-qr-codes-for-guild-card-exchanges-unlockable-quests
Unlockable stuff in the game with QR codes and StreetPass sharing of guild cards.
I can't decide. I feel like this would be a game I would buy, play for a week, and then give up on.
ReplyDeleteIgor: No need to apologize for the long comment. You should know by now that I appreciate long comments, not hate them :)
ReplyDeleteAs for Strange Journey: Well, I'm *really* going to have to get that one, I think. I've always loved the series, and this one seems very interesting, so I really just have to "get off the pot," as they say.
Oh, and I can understand not being completely enraptured by the Etrian Odyssey games. Like I've said before, they're not for everyone.
That may be true, Justin. Hopefully there'll be a demo for it, so you can give it a go and see if it's a game you'd play through or just a game you'd play for a short time and then toss aside.
ReplyDeleteSoundtrack samples are getting released, pretty good stuff!!
ReplyDeleteEtrian Odyssey soundtrack sample http://tinycartridge.com/post/22293675867/yuzo-koshiro-is-killin-it-with-etrian-odyssey
Thanks, Igor! I definitely like what I'm hearing so far -- of course, I really like Yuzo, so I guess that's not much of a surprise :)
ReplyDelete