When Etrian Odyssey debuted on Nintendo DS back in 2007, its multifaceted classes, combat, and use of the touch screen to draw the maps for each level made it a classic and at the same time a tribute to the great dungeon crawlers. From the past. With Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection, the first three chapters of this saga are remastered for Nintendo Switch and transformed into an authentic history lesson about a way of making video games that stands the test of time and only needs a repaint every so often.
Developed by Atlus, the first three chapters of the series represent one of the high points of the DS-era dungeon crawling genre. The evolutions between one title and another (despite a change of direction between the first and second chapter) are clear and have as a clear point of arrival the third chapter, considered by many the best. When they came out, the first Etrian Odysseys were not simple games, but over the years they received more difficulty level customization, making them less demanding. This remastering combines a clear graphical improvement with the modernization of both controls and interfaces to give new life to an experience that does not seem to have aged a day.
In this Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection Review We'll tell you the strengths and weaknesses of these titles (even for those who've never heard of them), the improvements introduced with the remastering, and we'll reason about the decidedly unaffordable launch price of the entire collection and individual titles.
A hymn to the past
There was a time when I Dungeon rastreador, as well as the computer keyboard, was played with pencil and paper to create the most accurate maps possible that documented the enemies encountered, secret passages, and shortcuts to delve deeper into the dungeon. Etrian Odyssey took that system and adapted it to the Nintendo DS touch screen, and this remaster took it a step further by bringing it to the Switch screen. The only difference is that in the two-screen console there was an integrated stylus, in Switch this accessory is not there, so the mapping process is not as intuitive. Atlus has done a good job of mapping controls to the Joy-cons, dedicating the arrows to movement and the analogs to mapping, but it will take a couple of hours of trying before they become intuitive. We used the stylus from an old 3DS and the experience immediately became smoother. Of course, this is possible when playing in handheld mode.
Mapping a layer of the large dungeons that serve as settings for all three games isn't mandatory, but you'll soon realize that not all of your explorations will require you to delve deeper. Often, you'll simply need to gather resources for quests or purchase items that buff a member of your team. Going without fail thanks to the maps you have created to find a specific enemy, a boss or resources to collect will save you a lot of time. From this point of view, the remaster has done an excellent job of modernizing. Mapping tools in dramatic expansion available compared to the original games (especially the first one) and speeding up the process. Choosing to dedicate yourself to this series means embarking on a journey that, in addition to being an adventure with a captivating narrative (especially in the third chapter), is also a lesson in the history of video games. Dungeon Crawler lovers, in fact, will find themselves facing a very solid experience, with many references to the great classics of the genre and very deep character development and resource management.
An abyss, a tower and another abyss
The premises of the three video games in this collection are more or less the same: an abyss has opened in the ground (in the case of the second chapter, however, it is a tower that leads to a mythical city in the sky) and a nearby city has decided to invite adventurers from all over the world to explore it and collect its riches. You you will take on the role of a new guild Newcomer to the city who, level by level, will have to make her way through mazes and monsters to reach the bottom, or the top, of the dungeon. You will start by recruiting six characters, of which you can use five, and who you will have to divide into first and second lines for the combat phases. Each class has bonuses and penalties and is more effective in one position than another: we advise against putting the healer in the front line, for example, but you will have no limits on the type of characters you can select. Do you want to carry five sentinels with you to be almost immortal? No problem, but be prepared to spend many turns in combat, because despite being good at defending these characters, they don't do much damage.
Each character, then, can equip one weapon and three pieces of armor that become increasingly important as each chapter progresses. Where you will have the most possibilities to customize your equipment, however, is in the skills that can be unlocked by leveling up. From meteorites to area attacks to massive healing or spells that put enemies to sleep, the possibilities are many, but leveling up, especially after level twenty, becomes an activity that requires a lot of work. Even on the lowest difficulty levels, the experience points derived from fighting common enemies are very few but, fortunately, there is a game calendar and a day-night cycle. Many mini-bosses come back to life after four days and the main bosses after 14. In the first chapter this is the only function of this calendar, but from the second game onwards the day-night cycle becomes essential for effective progression. .
Value for money
Given the not cheap launch price of these three remasters (80 euros for the Collection and 40 for purchasing each of the three chapters separately) it is important to think about the pros and cons of each option. It goes without saying that if you loved the original chapters for Nintendo DS and want to relive them on Switch, this collection will leave you with a big smile on your lips because the spirit and fluidity of the original titles has been respected, the tools and expanded the available options (especially the first two) and the phenomenal music of the historic composer Yuzo koshiro It's amazing what sounds out of the Switch's speakers. However, if you're "just" looking for a great dungeon crawler, it's best to save up and dive right into the third chapter of the series. The first Etrian Odyssey laid the foundations for the series but, even with the graphical improvements provided by Origins Collection, it is still a fairly limited game in terms of story, possibility of character customization and, above all, extra activities to complete during or after . I have finished the main story.
The second introduces several improvements in the exploration of dungeon floors, in combat and especially in the accumulation of experience, but here too the story leaves much to be desired, so it is not trivial, but neither is it revolutionary. The third chapter, however, takes all the technical innovations of the first two, adds a host of new side activities, and tells a much deeper, multifaceted story with alternate endings and touching, well-written side quests. Contrary to the previous two chapters, in fact, the dungeon that has appeared near the city of Armorroad does not make it more prosperous by attracting adventurers, but rather has destroyed part of the city, causing it to sink and isolating it from the sea. trade that until recently enriched it. Now the city leaders are obsessed with the dungeon and its riches which they want to use to restore Armorroad to its golden age. Etrian Odyssey 3 tells a story of conflict, decay, despair and revenge and is undoubtedly the most complete title (and the one we recommend you try) of the original trilogy released on Nintendo DS.
Conclusions
Tested version Nintendo Switch digital delivery Nintendo eShop Price 79,99 € Holygamerz.com 7.5 Readers (10) 7.6 your voteEtrian Odyssey Origins Collection is excellent news for dungeon crawler lovers who want to rediscover a classic turn-based combat on Nintendo Switch and PC. The feature that requires you to draw the maps yourself may be disorienting for those who have never tried an chapter of the saga, but it will make you feel like true explorers seeking fortune in uncharted territory. The turn-based battles are solid, the classes are varied, and there are plenty of build options to have a team that perfectly suits your playstyle. The main flaw of the Collection is the introductory price of 80 euros, quite high in our opinion, which immediately transforms the three-game package into a product only for those who are fans of the three titles and want to relive them with better graphics. Updated cartographic tools and greater fluidity in exploration. If you are looking for a very solid dungeon explorer and you have come across this series for the first time, it is better that you dedicate yourself only to the third chapter, the most solid of the trilogy.
PRO
- Clear graphic improvement compared to the originals.
- Updated and fluid mapping tools
- Solid combat and storytelling.
AGAINST
- Launch price too high
- Some loading problems in the first chapter remaster
