Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City
Score: 87% ESRB: Everyone 10+ Publisher: Atlus Developer: Atlus Media: Cartridge/1 Players: 1; 2 - 5 (Ad Hoc) Genre: RPG
Graphics & Sound: Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City is at odds with itself. It's a big, complex game, but with few moving parts. The core formula sticks to a simple premise - explore a multi-floored dungeon in search of adventure - though you'll easily spend hours tinkering with all the game's bits and pieces. The Drowned City doesn't push the envelope with its visuals, but still looks good. The main highlight is the stunning character art. (If you can track down the pre-order artbook, it's worth it). When building your team, you can choose from a number of portraits. They have no bearing on your character, though the option is a nice touch and makes things a little more personal. There's little in the way of animation, though there are a few flourishes within each dungeon. Overall, the visuals help set the stage for your adventure and that's about it. Music is enjoyable, but not particularly memorable. Then again, I'm not sure that I want something catchy considering the amount of time spent on each dungeon floor. After two hours of the same tune, that's the last thing I want to have running through my head.
Gameplay: Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City is a first-person dungeon crawl. It's the sort of game few developers make anymore, a distinction that allows it to stand out among the DS's library of RPGs. Gameplay is split between exploring underground dungeons and sailing the waters around the complex. Your main job while exploring dungeons is to map each level out. You can draw walls, mark off paths or leave notes for yourself. The tools are incredibly simple to use, and I encourage you to map out every nook and cranny of the place. Each floor is huge (some can take an hour or more to explore), and you'll visit them multiple times. Floors are loaded with treasures, but you're going to need every bit of experience if you want to make it through to the next floor. If The Drowned City has any flaws, it's the amount of repetition. There isn't much going on in terms of mechanics; the game sticks to a few well-designed components. It can get dull, though this sort of goes with the territory. Once you have a good idea of what the dungeon holds, you can always switch to "Auto." It takes some control from your hands, but helps speed up duller moments. Still, a few more quests wouldn't be a bad thing, if just to offer a goal while grinding. Taking to the seas offers a similar, yet completely different experience. You're still looking for treasure and mapping areas out; though your travel time is limited by how much food you're carrying. It's a small, but important distinction. Aside from rare items and a few quests, the real reason to set sail is the money. It's probably one of the best ways to fill your coffers and equipment isn't cheap. There's also a co-op component, though it's limited to battling bosses. It's not a total wash, but isn't as fully realized as it could have been. The story never gets deeper than telling you to "just explore," which is just enough to get you started without bogging you down with long, drawn-out story sequences. There's a story here, though it's just enough to get your imagination's gears cranking; the rest of the story is really up to you. How do you tackle each dungeon? What monsters do you choose to go after? Much of what happens is based solely on your choices. The story asks for players to give themselves over to what's going on, but doing so makes for a more rewarding experience overall.
Difficulty: Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City is not an easy game, and makes few overtures towards trying to attract players who aren't willing to take a few knocks on the head. There are a few tools and tricks around to help make certain tasks easier, though expect a rough time when it comes to core gameplay. You can't save in dungeons and, as is the case in most roguelikes, you lose your equipment if you die. It's a harsh penalty, but that's sort of the point, so it's hard to slam the game. The idea is to force players to think, rather than just take random actions. Gameplay doesn't ask a whole lot, nor does it try its best to overload you with cumbersome details and mechanics. You're going to die - a lot - but every setback is a learning moment. It'll take a while to get everything down, but doing so is worth your time.
Game Mechanics: Beyond a few tweaks (and the sailing), the class system is probably the game's biggest shift. Every class has been redesigned. They stick to familiar archetypes, each plays differently than you'd first expect. Newcomers won't have a hard time adapting, but veterans will have to rethink their strategies. Starting out with five player-created characters starts the game with a big handicap, but like everything else, it's a learning moment. The ten base classes are balanced and all useful, though it takes time to figure out how to use each class to it's fullest. It's tempting to grab "familiar" power classes like Monks or Gladiators, though don't overlook out of place classes, like the Prince and Farmer. Both are weak in combat, but provide incredibly useful benefits. The Prince, for example, comes with an arsenal of cheap buffs as well as the ability to heal everyone at the end of combat at no cost. This is a big deal. The great thing about the class system is there's no "wrong way" when building a party. Some combinations don't work as well as others, but you're not punished for wanting to try something different. Experimentation is encouraged. The only "wrong way" is thinking of your party as five individual characters rather than one fighting group. Even useless abilities can blossom into a powerful weapon when paired with the right support abilities from party members. The class system gets even better once you unlock the option to dual class. Characters retain their first class's stats, but can learn another class's skills. It's a great way to fill in holes you may have missed when creating your party. Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City won't appeal to everyone. If you're looking for a fast-paced experience, this isn't it. If, on the other hand, you're looking for an RPG you can dedicate a lot of time to, you'll enjoy it.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
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