Etrian Odyssey

Etrian Odyssey, released in Japan as Sekaiju no Meikyuu (世界樹の迷宮, Sekaiju no Meikyū, literally "Labyrinth of the World Tree"), is a 3D dungeon crawler role-playing video game by Atlus for the Nintendo DS.

Gameplay

Drawing comparisons to titles such as Wizardry and The Bard's Tale,Etrian Odyssey challenges players with exploring and mapping a vast dungeon. Players navigate through the dungeon in fixed increments. Time passes only when an action is taken, causing movement, random encounters, and combat to all be entirely turn-based. The game uses a first-person view to present the dungeon using a combination of relatively simple 3D computer graphics for environments and single-frame 2D sprites for enemies.

Etrian Odyssey requires that players maintain their own map by annotating (with the stylus) a small map displayed on the DS's touchscreen. The player is free to map accurately or haphazardly. However, the player cannot draw their own symbols, and must instead use the game's limited set of pre-designed symbols. The game also limits the number of symbols that can be used for each level map.

Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan

Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan, originally released as Sekaiju no Meikyū IV: Denshō no Kyojin (世界樹の迷宮IV 伝承の巨神), is a dungeon crawler role playing video game developed and published by Atlus for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the sequel to Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City and the first in the Etrian Odyssey series to be released on the 3DS.

Story

For centuries, the tree Yggdrasil has been a constant presence in the lives of the people of Tharsis. It looms on the horizon, visible from everywhere in the city. But its roots are in a far-off land where no one has ventured until the Outland Count of Tharsis sponsors an Explorers Guild to reach Yggdrasil and discover its secrets. As a player, you are the latest explorer arriving in Tharsis on an adventure to seek your fame and fortune.

Gameplay

The gameplay remains similar to the first three games, with some minor differences. There is now a new overworld in the form of the sky, which the player can roam around with using an airship, which gains the ability to fly at higher altitudes as the game progresses. The FOEs in the overworld are generally much stronger than those in the dungeons. Also, dragons periodically roam the overworld, and will instantly knock out the entire party if the player's airship comes within their attack range, usually, but not always, causing a game over. Also, enemies are now represented by moving 3D models rather than the static 2D sprites of the previous entries.

Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard

Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard, released in Japan as Sekaiju no Meikyū II: Shoō no Seihai (世界樹の迷宮II 諸王の聖杯), is a role-playing video game by Atlus for the Nintendo DS. Heroes of Lagaard is the sequel to Etrian Odyssey and is followed by Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City.

Story

Within the Grand Duchy of High Lagaard, a crisis has suddenly caused renewed interest in a floating castle which resides high in the clouds overhead. According to the available research, it can be reached by traversing a forested maze, the Yggdrasil Labyrinth, composed of many levels. In an effort to obtain the mythical "Grail of Kings" said to be kept in the floating palace, the Duke of High Lagaard is now recruiting adventurers in order to explore the labyrinth and discover exactly how to reach the castle. The player takes the role of the leader of one such guild of adventurers.

Gameplay

Etrian Odyssey II requires players to slowly make their way up the trunk of a massive magical tree in order to reach a floating castle at the top while completing smaller quests along the way. The tree is represented by a series of vertically stacked levels which are explored one at a time with frequent return trips to town in order to rest and resupply.