Video Games : Etrian Odyssey (Nintendo DS)

Rating: - real hardcore rpg
i just bought etrian odyssey for ds. I am a big fan of JRPGs and have quite a few in my collection on all gaming platforms.

This is a real hardcore rpg as it is quite difficult and challenging. It is turn based. Dont want to spoil the game by telling a lot about it as in my view many reviewers spoil the fun by telling about each and every part of the game.

In short, real good rpg for those who want a challenge especially those who enjoy snes type of old school rpgs.

It is a big game around 100 hours or more if u take on optional quests as well, only downside for me is that the game hasnt got a in game clock so one cant tell exactly how much game time one has consumed.

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Rating: - Hardcore Retro Gaming Comes to the DS
I've had Etrian Odyssey about a year now on US import. I have to confess to loving the game. Essentially the game is a first person RPG with random turn-based combat ala Final Fantasy / Dragon Quest. At its heart it is very traditional, you move through dungeons returning to town to heal and buy new goods. You control a team of five characters chosen from up to eight classes. These vary from the standard swordsman and mage to the more interesting Ronin and Hexer.

The game, however, is played from a first-person perspective moving a square at a time like an old fashioned Hero Quest adventure. Though the game controls seem restrictive, they are essential to understanding what makes Etrian Odyssey - you move a square at a time because you have to draw all the maps yourself on the touch screen. This is not only essential to finding your way around increasingly convoluted mazes, but is often required to complete missions.

Designed by the same team behind Trauma Centre, this game also has a quite lovely retro look (you might recognise a couple of characters too). On the downside there is no plot and very little pretence at one either.

This game will appeal most to those who remember spending days playing RPGs on the NES / SNES, relying on relentless level grinding, punishing difficulty, drawing your own maps on graph paper, and turn based combat. Those who do can expect 50 hours + of retro RPG joy. Etrian Odyssey does not hold your hand and makes no apologies for what it is. As a result it is only ever going to have a small audience, but thank the gods for that.