Etrian Odyssey -Origins Collection-

So, you’re an adventurer in the town of Etria, and there’s this massive, mysterious dungeon called the Yggdrasil Labyrinth right outside. Your job? Map it out, fight monsters, and uncover its secrets. You create your own party from scratch, picking classes like the tanky Landsknecht, the healing Medic, or the damage-dealing Alchemist. The deeper you go, the crazier the monsters and loot get. Oh, and there’s a big ol’ tree at the center of it all, classic RPG vibes!

Etrian Odyssey -Origins Collection-

Etrian Odyssey

This game is brutal. Like, “forgot to save and got wiped by a FOE? Not my problem. Start over”. But that’s part of the charm I guess. The mapping mechanic is genius, you draw your own maps on the touchscreen, which makes you feel like a real explorer. The class system is solid, but it’s not super balanced (looking at you, Hexer). The story is minimal, but the atmosphere's cool. It’s all about the grind and the thrill of discovery.

Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard

This time, you’re in the kingdom of High Lagaard, and there’s another Yggdrasil Labyrinth to explore. The setup’s similar: create a party, map the dungeon, and uncover the truth about the tree. But there’s a twist, you’re also competing with other guilds to reach the top first. New classes like the Gunner and War Magus spice things up, and FOEs (those big, scary roaming monsters) are even more intimidating.

Now, Etrian Odyssey II is like the first one but polished. The classes are better balanced, and the new additions like the Gunner are fun to play. The story’s still not the main focus, but the rival guilds add a bit of flavor. The difficulty is still sky-high, but the game feels more fair. The mapping is as satisfying as ever, and the soundtrack slaps. If you liked the first game, this is more of the same but better.

Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City

Now we’re in Armoroad, a coastal city with a sunken labyrinth beneath the ocean. This time, the Yggdrasil Labyrinth is underwater (kinda), and there’s a whole nautical theme going on. You’ve got new classes like the Monk and Zodiac, and a branching story with multiple endings. Plus, there’s a sailing mini-game where you explore islands and fight sea monsters. Yeah, it’s a bit different.

This is the point where the series starts to experiment. The story is more involved, with choices that actually matter, and the new classes are super fun to mix and match. The sailing mini-game is hit-or-miss, some people love it, others find it tedious. The difficulty is still there, but it feels more accessible than the first two games. The atmosphere is top-notch, with a melancholic vibe that fits the underwater setting. It’s a great way to cap off the DS trilogy.

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