I wish we were getting a new Shiren the Wanderer title rather than Etrian Mystery Dungeon

Or a new Chocobo no Fushigina Dungeon game. Or a new Torneko no Daibōken adventure.

Both of which, admittedly, would have required at least a bit of (uncharacteristic) interest and action on the part of Square Enix, but the point still stands.

So, why have I gone from being blown away by Etrian Mystery Dungeon's unveiling to wishing the folks at Spike Chunsoft (or whichever developer is crafting this 3DS roguelike) had endeavored to make a new Chocobo no Fushigina Dungeon, Torneko no Daibōken or Shiren the Wanderer title instead?

For starters, I'm feeling a bit burned out on the Etrian Odyssey franchise at the moment. Or maybe you could say I'm burned out on the idea of the Etrian Odyssey franchise? Because, honestly, although I spent a good number of hours playing through the majority of Etrian Odyssey IV earlier this year, I haven't played or even bought any of the series' other entries since then. I guess all of the recent releases and announcements--Etrian Odyssey Untold I and II, Etrian Odyssey V, even the spinoff of sorts that is Persona Q--have taken a toll on me and my interest in this otherwise appealing IP.

Another reason I've cooled on Etrian Mystery Dungeon in the last few days: I'm skeptical as to how it's going to measure up to past Mystery Dungeon efforts. That's mainly because it seems likely that this title won't feature permadeath, something that's generally considered a series staple, although I'm also sort of stumped as to whether leading four, rather than just one (or sometimes two), characters through this game's labyrinthine dungeons is going to be an interesting change of pace or an annoying impediment. (Oh, and before anyone asks, yes, I know players won't fully control all four party members in Etrian Mystery Dungeon, but leading them around still may prove awkward.)

All that said, I'm very much looking forward to getting my hands on this game and giving it a thorough once-over--even if I end up being disappointed by it. In fact, I've already pre-ordered a copy of it.

Are any of you also itching to play Etrian Mystery Dungeon? If so, why?

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the Nintendo DS' release: 10 of my favorite DS games

Rather than refer to the following titles "my 10 favorite DS games," I've decided to call them 10 of my favorites. That's because I love so many DS games that choosing absolute favorites would be like choosing a favorite ... beer? Candy? Diva?

Actually, I think I'd have a far easier time selecting and writing about a favorite candy than I would settling on 10 titles I consider to be my all-time favorite examples of the DS' wonderfully varied game catalog.

As such, you may want to take the following list with a giant grain of salt--or, rather, you may want to read it knowing that if I were to update this post tomorrow, and the next day, too, and then again the day after that, each iteration likely would include a few unique entries.

For this exact moment in time, though, I can somewhat confidently state that the games discussed below are 10 of my favorites for the now-10-year-old Nintendo DS system.

Daigasso! Band Brothers--You know how I mentioned in last Friday's post that I wasn't all that impressed with the early-2004 reveal of the DS? The one part of Nintendo's DS reveal that did impress me was this game. Sadly, it never made it to our shores, so I wasn't able to experience it until a good couple of years after its Japanese release. Was it worth the wait? I sure think so. Mind you, it's a very basic rhythm game--although calling it a "music" game may be more accurate. Regardless, I think Daigasso! Band Brothers' simplicity is a big part of why I enjoy it as much as I do.

Dragon Quest IX--I was pretty sure I was going to like this one before I ever got my hands on a copy of it. It just looked like something I would enjoy, if that makes sense. And you know what? Not only did I enjoy it, but I fell in love with it and played it until I'd wrung every last ounce of enjoyment out of it. (I believe I put just over 80 hours into it before calling it a day, but don't quote me on that.) I know some folks who are long-time fans of the series were a bit disappointed by this entry, but it captivated me completely with its engaging battles and touching storylines.

Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime--Do you want to know why I ignored Rocket Slime, a game that's been called a classic from one end of the Internet to the other (whatever that means), until a couple of years ago? Because I didn't like how it looked, for starters. Also, I didn't much like the idea of its gameplay. I guess I wanted it to be a more traditional RPG, a la its "mainline" namesakes. Boy, was I an idiot. I know I suggested earlier that it would be impossible for me to set aside a single DS game as being my absolute favorite, but if I were forced to engage in that kind of tomfoolery, it's quite likely Rocket Slime would be one of the top contenders for that title.

Etrian Odyssey--I was a late comer to this DS title, too, although that had nothing to do with me initially finding it unappealing in any way. Instead, it had to do with the fact that for some time new copies of it were pretty pricey. It finally got a reprint a couple of years ago, though, which caused prices to drop to far more acceptable levels, and that's when I jumped on board. It quickly earned both my admiration and respect thanks to its demanding gameplay and delectable soundtrack.

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light--If I were forced to pick a favorite between this game and Dragon Quest IX, I'm honestly not sure which one I'd go with in the end. That said, I prefer most what's found in The 4 Heroes of Light--battles, graphics, overall art style, story, soundtrack (this last one's kind of a toss up, admittedly), chief among them--to the same elements that are showcased in Dragon Quest IX. Two noteworthy exceptions: the latter title's optional quests and visible-from-the-overworld enemies. So, I guess you could say I consider both games to be standouts in one way or another.

Shall We Do It? (Etrian Odyssey IV)

I know I exclaimed a couple of days ago that I'd come up with a new name for this particular column, but I've since had a change of heart. "Let's Do It" is a nice enough alternative, but it's too straightforward--and kind of boring, too.

As a result, I'm sticking with the original "Shall We Do It?"--although I am going to tweak how I use it from here on out. Basically, I'm going to simplify the headers I write for these posts. The new ones will be a bit less fun than the old ones, I guess, but they'll also be a lot less wordy and awkward.

Anyway, enough about that. You clicked on this post so you could read all about my on-going shenanigans with Etrian Odyssey IV, right?



I'd originally planned to talk about two other 3DS games--THE "DENPA" MEN 3 demo and Rusty's Real Deal Baseball--in this post, by the way. Unfortunately, the "DENPA" MEN 3 demo that was supposed to hit the North American eShop late last week was postponed until May 8 due to "technical difficulties" and it's been so long (about two weeks, I think) since I last booted up Rusty's Real Deal Baseball that I can't think of anything to say about it.

So, we'll stick to Etrian Odyssey IV and Etrian Odyssey IV only in this installment of "Shall We Do It?" Which is just as well, because I've spent more than 40 hours with this 3DS dungeon-crawler so far and, as such, I have quite a lot to say about it.

For starters, I probably should share that I've just gained access to the title's fourth "land," known as the "Cloudy Stronghold." It's taken me about 12 to 15 hours to conquer each land so far, which most Etrian Odyssey lifers probably would consider a laughably slow pace, but I like to piddle around while playing games like this.

Anyway, here a few thoughts on the journey so far:

The soundtrack is sublime--All hail Yuzo Koshiro, the man responsible for this game's delightfully varied set of tunes. Honestly, I've yet to come across a track I don't like, although the standouts for me at the moment are the jaunty, flute-filled Tharsis theme and the shimmering, guitar-laden song that serves as the backdrop of most, if not all, of the fourth land's dungeons.

It surprises me how much I'm liking the animated enemies--Back when this game was announced, I was unimpressed that it would be the first entry in the Etrian Odyssey series to feature animated enemies. The static ones found in the first game were more than enough for me. Or so I thought. Now that I've seen a good portion of this game's polygonal baddies in motion, I have to admit I find them mightily impressive--and I far prefer them to their immobile predecessors.

The airship-traversed overworld is a remarkably nice addition--This is another element that I originally eyed with a healthy dose of suspicion. How much could an overworld really add to the Etrian Odyssey experience? Turns out, it adds quite a bit. I'm especially fond of the hunting-and-gathering aspect that's tied to the animals, birds, fish, fruit and veggies that can be harvested while flying around each land and then either sold for cash or traded for swag.



One final, positive comment about my experience with Etrian Odyssey IV so far: I love how, pretty much without fail, a new "land" opens up just as I'm about to become burned out on the current one. If only the folks responsible for Bravely Default had been so keen on or aware of the importance of pacing in such games...

(Speaking of Bravely Default, I'd like to add here that I'm very much enjoying the fact that Etrian Odyssey IV has an almost nonexistent story. Sometimes you just want to battle your way through a game like this, you know?)

Have any of you spent any time with Etrian Odyssey IV? If so, please feel free to share your own thoughts on this 3DS dungeon-crawler in the comments section below.

See also: previous 'Shall We Do It?' posts

Screw the haters, I'm excited for both Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (3DS) and Persona 4: Dancing All Night (Vita)

Would you believe that I completely forgot that the folks at Atlus were supposed to make an announcement related to the Persona series yesterday until I woke up, checked NeoGAF and saw the news that Persona 5 will be released for the PS3 sometime next winter?

Granted, that the company's main announcement would revolve around both Persona 5 and the PS3 enter "foregone conclusion" territory long ago, so that may have had something to do with it.

Anyway, note the placement of the word "main" before "announcement" in the sentence above. I worded things that way because, as you've probably already heard, before Atlus revealed Persona 5, it revealed two other Persona-related spin-off titles (in addition to finally sharing a summer release date for the PS3 release of Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold, aka the sequel to 2012's Persona 4 Arena.)

One of those spin-off titles will be Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, an Etrian Odyssey-esque RPG starring chibi-fied characters pulled from Persona 3 and 4. Here's a teaser trailer for the game, which will hit Japanese store shelves (both actual and virtual) in June:



As surprising--and strange--as Persona Q's reveal was for most of the Interwebs, the following reveal was even more so.



Yes, the trailer above really is for a Persona-based rhythm game, called Persona 4: Dancing All Night, that's being made by the same folks (Dingo) who brought the world the Hatsune Miku PSP titles.

Oh, and it'll be released for the Vita--again, in Japan--next autumn.

I don't know about you, but I'll certainly be picking up some version of Persona Q next year. Should I add a Vita to my collection in 2014, I'll likely also buy a copy of Dancing All Night, as it looks and sounds far too wacky and wonderful to pass up if given the chance.

Are any of you planning to purchase any of the games mentioned throughout this post? If so, which ones--and why?

Five favorites: North American DS box art

As much as I'm enjoying my 3DS systems and games at the moment, I can't help but feel a bit misty-eyed about the recent passing of their 3D-less predecessors. So, I thought I'd perk myself up a bit by penning a post about five (more) of my favorite pieces of DS box art.

Because I highlighted a handful of Japanese DS box arts in this previous blog post, I thought I'd focus on North American examples in this one. Look for a post about my favorite European DS box arts to be published late next week.

1. Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime--You really can't go wrong with a piece of cover art that features the ever-adorable Dragon Quest slime, can you? That's not the only reason I like this one, though; I also like its bold use of color and its depiction of abject chaos.

2. Electroplankton--I've often been accused of being a bit too minimalist when it comes to home decor and other such things, so I guess it isn't exactly out of character for me to say I like this experimental game's rather austere box art.

3. Etrian Odyssey--Would you believe this has long been my favorite piece of DS cover art? I think that's mainly due to the fact that it's seemingly designed to look as though you're peeking into the pages of a most adventurous novel.

I'm still liking the looks of Etrian Odyssey IV

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 don't know about you, but I think the animated, polygonal enemies in Etrian Odyssey IV look pretty darn awesome

I have to admit, I was more than a bit skeptical when I read that Etrian Odyssey IV would include animated, polygonal enemies rather than the static, hand-drawn ones that have appeared in every other Etrian Odyssey release.

After watching the following trailer for this soon-to-be-released--on July 5, in Japan--3DS title, though, I'm feeling much less apprehensive. Actually, I'm feeling pretty darn excited about the game at the moment--in large part because the aforementioned animated and polygonal enemies look pretty awesome to these eyes.



What do all of you think? Did the trailer above serve to pique your interest in Etrian Odyssey IV?

Regardless, here's hoping this Atlus-made RPG makes its way to Australia, Europe and North America sooner rather than later--so all of us Etrian Odyssey fans can once again scratch our dungeon-crawling itches.

(Via andriasang.com)

If you, too, like stubby arms and legs, you're sure to love Atlus' Nora and the Engraving Studio

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I'm a complete sucker for game characters with stubby little arms and/or legs.

As such, it should not be a surprise to hear I'm really looking forward to the upcoming DS RPG, Nora and the Engraving Studio: The Witch of the Misty Forest--an Atlus-published game that will feature the following stubby-legged girl:

Another reason I'm looking forward to this "slow-life RPG": It's being made by some of the folks responsible for the Etrian Odyssey series.

For more on the currently-Japan-only Nora and the Engraving Studio: The Witch of the Misty Forest, check out this trailer or this post over at andriasang.com.

I've got Dragon Quest on the brain

I know that's probably hard to believe considering two of my last three posts have been about Etrian Odyssey and not the latest entry in Yuji Horii's Dragon Quest saga.

The fact is, I am a bit obsessed with Etrian Odyssey these days. (You would be, too, if you gave it a go.) At the same time, though, I'm eagerly (and impatiently) awaiting my copy of Dragon Quest IX. It's going to be quite interesting to see which game ends up winning the battle for my affection and attention.

Anyway, in an attempt to make this post about more than my boring blatherings, here's a compilation Japanese Dragon Quest TV commercials:



I'm particularly fond of the Dragon Quest IV ads that show up around the 1:00 mark. The second one, featuring the guy with the Flock of Seagulls 'do, is my hands-down favorite, despite the fact that it doesn't make a lick of sense.

(Via tinycartridge.com/post)

F-O-E! F-O-E! F-O-E!

If you had asked me a week ago which game I'd rather play, Dragon Quest IX or Etrian Odyssey, I'd have gone with the former without skipping a beat. Today, I'm not so sure--which says a lot about my (so far limited) experience with the latter.

Speaking of which, I've now spent enough time with Etrian Odyssey to fully appreciate the horror that goes by the name of FOE (or Foedus Obrepit Errabundus, which supposedly is Latin for "the vile, wandering one sneaks up"). Before I played it, I couldn't understand why so many gamers feared these creatures, which serve as the DS dungeon-crawler's mini-bosses. Now I do.

I also understand why the following YouTube video has received so many hits.



By the way, if you're like me and you have Etrian Odyssey on the brain, you may want to pre-order Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City. Folks who pre-order the game (at, say, Amazon.com)--due out on Sept. 21--will receive Forests of Eternity, a 60-page art book that contains concept art pulled from the series.

Sweet mystery of life at last I've found you

If you've seen Young Frankenstein, you know which scene I'm referring to in the headline above. If not, may I suggest watching the following clip before continuing on?



So, which sweet mystery of life have I discovered? Why, Atlus' dungeon-crawling DS RPG, Etrian Odyssey. (The original, not the 2008 sequel.)

I bought this Kazuya Niinou-developed title (used, of course) ages ago but, as is all too often the case for me these days, I played it for a few minutes and then promptly put it away--until I returned from vacation early last week.

Well, I've been playing it ever since. Sure, it's not for everyone, but I can't get enough of item-and-loot-gathering grindfest.

Sadly, it's likely going to fall by the wayside again after my copy of Dragon Quest IX arrives in a few days. I won't leave it for long, though--it's too captivating and compelling for that.

See also: 'Two down, one to go' and 'I'm going to buy Etrian Odyssey III just so I can play as this character'

I'm going to buy Etrian Odyssey III just so I can play as this character

I mean, who wouldn't want to play as a butcher-knife-wielding milkmaid?

Don't you just love how the pinky finger of the hand holding said butcher knife is flared like it would be if the little lass was enjoying a cup of Earl Grey tea?

Anyway, Etrian Odyssey III: Visitor from Star Ocean will hit store shelves in Japan on April 1. Hopefully it'll be released in other regions shortly thereafter.

See also: 'Ahoy, mateys! Another Etrian Odyssey 3 trailer has surfaced'

(Via famitsu.com)