Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection review

Designed to harness the abilities of the Nintendo DS, Etrian Odyssey, and its two sequels make their way to a single-screen system. There’s compromise, but not enough to blemish this trio of outstanding dungeon crawlers.

When the Nintendo DS debuted in 2004, it seemed a bit gimmicky. Years of gaming on a single screen made the addition of a second touchscreen seem superfluous. Early efforts like Yoshi Touch & Go and Kirby: Canvas Curse seemed like they were created to flaunt the quirkiness of the hardware rather than providing engaging adventures, which didn’t help things.

Arguably, it was the release of 2007’s Etrian Odyssey that would demonstrate how effective dual displays could be. On the top screen was a first-person view of a dungeon that would sporadically cut away to combat. Meanwhile, the bottom screen allowed players to become amateur cartographers, recording the details of each labyrinth with their stylus in hand. Switching between these two activities, as well as adding vibrantly colored, manga-style art invigorated the oft-drab dungeon-crawling genre.

New Portraits Join the Ranks

But the problem is that Etrian Odyssey, as well as its sequels and remakes, are locked onto hardware that is no longer being manufactured. While Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection habitually splits the Switch’s visual real estate in half, it’s also the most logical way of adapting the original trio of titles onto modern systems. And here’s the thing: if you’re willing to pay about ten bucks for a capacitive stylus, the trio of expeditions that make up the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection are almost as occupying as they once were.

If your fingers are slim, you might be able to enjoy the collection’s cartography without frustration. I don’t have the daintiest of digits and was able to progress with only the sporadically unintended wall, using the eraser tool to remove wayward lines. Switching to a stylus stopped nearly all the mistakes.

If you’re playing in docked mode or are a masochist, you can use a Joy-Con-based interface for map drawing. However, it’s clunky enough to eliminate most of the enjoyment from map-making. As such, you’ll have to fall back on auto-mapping, which discards one of Etrian Odyssey’s core features.

‘Tis Neither Girl nor Knight

On the topic of downsides, these are the original version of the game, rather than the superior Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl and Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight. The latter two titles took the basic framework of their source material. But in addition to party members that you created from scratch, there are also RPG-style storylines built around characters with rich backstories and motivations. Hopefully, Atlus isn’t setting up its most fervent fans for a double-dip.

Fortunately, there are a few advantages to this remaster. Purchase the entire collection digitally and you’ll be privy to two new character portraits for each title. These change from the appearance of Persona 5’s Joker to Persona 3 Portable’s Aigis. Woefully, each new likeness is locked down to one game, so you’ll only be able to play as Teddie in Etrian Odyssey II, rather than the entire collection.

Himukai and Nagasawa Deliver Magnificence

If you’ve tackled Etrian’s expeditions before, you might notice some visual upgrades. Save for some slightly pixelated ground textures, the general increase in visual fidelity is undoubtedly eye pleasing. During sequences such as combat, a map isn’t necessary, the collection enlarges the main window to fill the entire Switch screen. Instead of looking like a grainy relic from the turn of the millennium, the upscaling resembles art drawn at native resolution. Coupled with Yuji Himukai’s (Fire Emblem Heroes, A-Train All Aboard! Tourism) exceptional character designs and Shin Nagasawa’s (Bahamut Lagoon) creatively envisaged monsters, each Etrian entry shines. That’s especially true if you’re lucky enough to own an OLED Switch and can play in a darkened room.

But since these aren’t the remakes, prepare for a dedicated dungeon crawl rather than a robust role-playing game. Etrian Odyssey I, II, and III, are all about party management, as you cultivate a roster of up to 30 adventurers, selecting any five to scout the depths of each game’s increasingly dangerous labyrinths. Periodically, you’ll encounter classic Dungeons & Dragons-style dilemmas, such as opting to rescue a creature who’s caught in a trap. While compassion can produce rewards, it’s also appropriately risky in the Etrian games.

“Ancient and Terrible Nature Warriors”

Players venture into each dungeon with almost no information. Gradually they’ll use each game’s charting tools to construct a map, sketch walls, and drop icons to indicate the locations of doors and items. At first, a protracted pace through each milieu is preferred. Not only will players be confronted by random wandering monsters but Formido Oppugnatura Exsequens (or FOEs) follow preset paths- with a fastidiously drawn dungeon diagram serving as the best defensive measure against these devastating behemoths.

When they see you, FOEs routinely chase you down, making for a thoroughly nerve-wracking experience. Until your party has leveled up, there’s little chance of taking down one of these monstrosities. But in a dose of classic wish fulfillment, your team will eventually grow strong enough to become the hunters, stalking and taking down the once-perilous threat.

Gradually, maps begin to take shape, taming a wild network of enemies and corridors into a precise chart that players can use to navigate. In the process, there’s a pleasing sense of accomplishment in conquering each environment, which feels radically different from the archetypal weakness exploitation that fuels the typical role-playing boss battle.

Conclusion

Know that the remasters of Etrian Odyssey I, II, and III aren’t particularly plot-driven. Whether you’re reconnoitering the Yggdrasil Labyrinth in the first two titles or the sea city of Armoroad in the third, it’s the sense of exploration and party management rather than exposition that drives the series. But revisiting Etrian Odyssey and observing its basic adventuring parties in the first game gradually evolve into a sub-classable guild remains nearly as entrancing as it was during the Nintendo DS’ prime. Just make sure you bring a stylus; the tool is every bit as crucial as an Ariadne Thread.

Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection was played
on Switch with review code provided by the publisher.