The epic Etrian Odyssey series gets another outing on the 3DS with this classic slice of JRPG excellence from developer Atlus.
Before we start, let's get any potential confusion out of the way first Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight for the 3DS is actually a remake of Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Laagard for the Nintendo DS. For Etrian Odyssey veterans, that means you're getting the DS version but with spangly 3D features, new dungeon layouts and better graphics plus system improvements.
You'll also enjoy a new Story Mode with a cutscene-driven plot that features a new character class, Fafnir, which allows you to transform into a demonic form during battles while adventuring through the ruins of Ginnungagap and the Yggdrasil Labyrinth. For purists who prefer their Etrian games story-less (as has been the tradition in the past), a Classic Mode is available that strips out the plot and focuses purely on the action.
For noobs, you'll most likely be wondering what on earth we've been talking about but fret not. In a nutshell, the series is a Japanese dungeon crawler that sees you venturing through said dungeons in the first-person, fighting FOEs' (foes geddit?) in turn-based combat and drawing out the maps of each dungeon on the bottom screen using your stylus. While the latter might sound about as appealing as a bowl of head lice, it's actually a strangely addictive pastime that genuinely adds to the exploring experience (though if you just plain hate it, you can always select the automap' feature and crack on).
And cracking on will reveal easy-to-access gameplay with some engrossing roleplaying elements. The best are the Grimoires Stones these are dropped by vanquished FOE and can be assigned to each character in your party, meaning you can change their skill sets instead of them being fixed forever. It's a refreshing change from having to select your class at the beginning of a traditional RPG and that's it you're stuck with that class' skills and no, you can't change your mind. (Hello, most Western RPGs!)
Whether you're a veteran or a newbie, Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight adds up to be an engrossing JRPG that offers enough new twists for those who fell in love with the series way back in 2007 plus the kind of gameplay that will see newcomers fall head over heels as well. Plus you get the chance to run your own in-game restaurant. No, really. Now how can you possibly resist?
Published: 06/08/2015
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