Once upon a time there was a little game called Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord. It was one of the first RPG’s for the home computer. Graphics were simple line graphics, but it was a challenge to play due to the fact you had to hand draw your maps with pen and paper. I kept a notebook of graph paper with each level fully mapped out and notes as to where I found key objects. Since the game as played in 1st person view (you never saw your party of characters, they were just names, stats, spells and equipment) I had to count out every step and them draw my hallways and rooms counting them out on the paper.

Now it is 2007 and the folks at ATLUS have brought that same style of game play to Nintendo DS with Etrian Odyssey. EO takes full advantage of the DS by allowing you to create maps of your journey on the lower touch screen. You can draw hallways, rooms, mark important spots and even write notes. No pen and paper required! The upper screen is where all the action happens.

Welcome to the town of Etria, a small town on the edge of the Yggdrasil Labyrinth. This is where your adventure begins and you will spend quite a bit of time getting to know the locals, since this is the only town you will visit. Like Wizardry there is one dungeon and one town. Sounds a bit slim compared to most RPG’s these days. However this is one big dungeon! But this is not a dank cavern of stone and brink carved by a mad wizard looking to trap the foolish adventurer. This labyrinth is a beautiful lush forest maze filled with monsters, treasure and more!

Build your 5 man party with 9 different classes to choose from. Fighting classes include the Protector, Landsknecht, Dark Hunter and the Survivalist. Medics provide your healing power, Troubadours inspire your party and the Alchemist does your nuking. There are two unlockable classes, the Hexer and the Ronin. Try different combos of class to find which fits your style of game play. Also once you finish the game, play it again with an all new party (and less mapping required).

All said and done I am really enjoying Etrian Odyssey. Partially due to the retro style play and the unique mapping system. However it also gets props for beautiful dungeon design, haunting music and re-playability. With all this going for it Etrian Odyssey is not for everyone. If you don’t mind doing some work while playing your RPG (mapping, making notes and lots of selling of items found in the labyrinth to get money, since the monsters don’t carry gold) then you are prepared to delve into Etrian Odyssey. If this sounds too much like work, then this might not be the title for you.

I will be update you all once I get deeper into the dungeon and give you an idea how my party is working out (I have already ditched one member and replaced him to get more melee power).

Now I am off to catch the buzz on E307 on G4.

Prof. Venatus, Retro Styling Dungeon Delver