Etrian Odyssey returns with a compilation including the three opuses of the RPG license. Are these remasters really essential? Our test.
There are many legendary RPG franchises. Etrian Odyssey is not the best known, but fans of role-playing games and more particularly of dungeon RPGs have been marked by the three episodes of the Atlus license published on Nintendo DS. Except that since Etrian Odyssey 5, which still dates from 2017 on 3DS, the saga has been somewhat forgotten. Unfortunately, no new episode to get your teeth into for fans, but a compilation named Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection. It includes the three updated dungeon RPGs from Atlus. Is this compilation really worth the detour? That’s what we’re going to see.
Three games in French in the text
First notable element to put to the credit of this compilation, the arrival of a French localization! With us, the first three games in the series Etrian Odyssey were only released with English subtitles. On Nintendo Switch, the games therefore become much easier to access, especially since the French localization holds up perfectly, even if the lines of dialogue are not very numerous.
In effect, Etrian Odyssey clearly does not rely on its scenario and its narration to embark the players. To set the context: the three games place us in the role of adventurers in charge of exploring the Labyrinth of Yggdrasil. Dungeon RPG fans won’t be surprised by the extremely simplistic story ofEtrian Odyssey, but we want to clarify it for those who are not familiar with the genre. The three games stand out above all for their gameplay.
Etrian Odyssey does not give gifts to players
In every episode ofEtrian Odyssey, so there is only one dungeon: the Labyrinth of Yggdrasil. It consists of a large number of floors, five of which form what is called a stratum (a biome, of sorts). Between each stratum, a geomagnetic well allows you to reach the desired level. On each floor, you advance box by box in the first person in particularly simplistic 3D settings. It’s up to you to map each level to orient yourself as well as possible and avoid unpleasant surprises, because there are a lot of them.
In addition to the random encounters typical of RPGs of the era (which can be particularly tricky), special enemies named FOE can torment you. They advance with you in the maze and are much more powerful than classic opponents, seriously increasing the stress. Random events encountered on the map can also catch you completely off guard, slowing your progress or inflicting some penalties. Combat stays true to the DS versions with an option to attack, defend, use items and skills. To get out of it, a good synergy between the many classes offered is essential, in addition to regularly returning to the central hub to collect items and equip yourself as well as possible. Everything is therefore very classic, but this is not a defect. You just have to know where you’re stepping: fans of old-school RPGs that give pride of place to character development and customization will be delighted. The fights will appeal to hardcore turn-based fans ready to overcome the slight lack of depth of the clashes.
Cartography, an obstacle course on Nintendo Switch
Where the compilation is doing less well is precisely at the mapping level, which is particularly tedious on Switch. There is no shortage of tools to embellish the map with all kinds of annotations, but there are so many that it will take you a while to get the hang of it all. Where the stylus greatly facilitated things on Nintendo DS, it’s hard every time you have to perform the slightest action on the map in these Nintendo Switch versions, regardless of the episode ofEtrian Odyssey concerned. Touch mode makes it all a little less of a pain, but it’s still no cakewalk.
On the other hand, nothing to say about the graphic part of the title. The HD character artwork is a pleasure to see and the dungeon textures, while still quite coarse, display a much more pleasing resolution to the eye. Technically, none of the three games in this compilation suffers from the slightest bug or any slowdown. The soundtrack has also been slightly reworked, even if the improvement does not transcend the rather insignificant music of the three opuses either. The sound effects, especially in combat, remain identical to those of the Nintendo DS versions, which is still a bit unfortunate.
In total, each episode ofEtrian Odyssey will occupy you about fifty hours. A substantial lifespan, but which does not justify the extremely high price in our opinion: 80 € on Nintendo Switch. The improvements made to the three RPGs are far too discreet to explain such an excessive price. It’s up to you to see if you’re ready to spend so much to get this compilation.
