Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Etrian Odyssey places you in the role of an intrepid explorer arriving in the frontier town of Etria, where rumors of a mysterious labyrinth draw adventurers from across the world. From the very start, you’re tasked with creating a guild of up to nine unique characters drawn from classic fantasy archetypes—ranging from stalwart Knights to nimble Ninjas and mystical Arcanists. Crafting the right party combination demands strategic foresight, as you can only bring five members into the labyrinth on each expedition.

Once your party is assembled, exploration unfolds in first-person, turn-based fashion. Movement is grid-based, and every step forward, backward, or to the side counts as you delve deeper into the twisting corridors. Encounters with over 125 distinct monsters can spring at any moment, making each decision—from advancing too eagerly around a corner to choosing which path to pursue—a potential life-or-death gamble.

One of Etrian Odyssey’s signature mechanics is its map-drawing system. The Nintendo DS’s dual screens are put to ingenious use: the top screen presents the 3D dungeon environment, while the bottom screen offers a blank grid where you chart your progress with the stylus. You sketch walls, doors, staircases, treasure chests, and even mark dangerous foes or hidden resources—every annotation means the difference between a safe return and an unexpected party wipe.

Resource management is equally critical. Supplies like herbs, healing items, and lanterns must be purchased in Etria before setting out, and you can only save your game back in town. This structure turns each expedition into a high-stakes venture: wander too long without enough provisions, and you risk falling prey to the labyrinth’s denizens or losing your hard-earned experience points. The thrill of pushing just one more floor before retreating is a constant lure.

Finally, the rotational party system allows you to rotate characters in and out of your active lineup between forays, providing opportunities to experiment with different class synergies and tactics. Whether you’re carving narrow chokepoints with a Highlander’s mighty ax or lighting up the halls with elemental spells, the depth of customization and planning cements Etrian Odyssey as one of the most engaging dungeon-crawlers on its platform.

Graphics

Etrian Odyssey’s visuals embrace a charming, hand-drawn aesthetic that highlights both its strategic underpinnings and its fantasy setting. On the upper screen, the 3D corridors of the labyrinth feature textured stone walls, flickering torchlight, and detailed monster models that pop against the dim environment. Though the hardware is modest by today’s standards, the art design uses shading and perspective to convey genuine tension as you turn each corner.

The lower touchscreen transforms into a blank canvas for your map, but its look is far from sterile. The grid overlay is crisp, and selectable icons—from treasure chests to footstep markers—are colorful and intuitive. Whether you’re sketching a network of spiral staircases or highlighting a cluster of venomous beasts, the map screen remains responsive and visually coherent throughout long play sessions.

Monster artwork between battles and in the bestiary deserves special mention. Each of the game’s 125+ creatures is illustrated with a unique pose, conveying personality and threat level. From burly golems to ethereal banshees, these illustrations add narrative flavor to every encounter and serve as a visual record of your adversaries.

Etria itself is rendered through charming town sprites and NPC portraits that reflect the frontier’s rugged optimism. The contrasting palette—warm wood tones in the guild hall, cool grays underground, and radiant golds for treasure—imbues the world with life. Small touches, like flickering lanterns in the tavern or animated shopkeepers, reinforce the feeling that this is a bustling hub of eager adventurers and merchants.

Even on older hardware, Etrian Odyssey manages to be both functionally clear and artistically engaging. The dual-screen interplay and thoughtful UI design turn what could have been a dry, paperwork-like exercise into an immersive, visually rewarding experience.

Story

At its heart, Etrian Odyssey is propelled by the simple yet potent narrative of exploration. Etria, a small town on the edge of civilization, becomes the focal point of dreams and ambitions when a sprawling dungeon is discovered nearby. The game doesn’t overwhelm you with lengthy cutscenes—instead, it encourages you to write your own saga as you map out uncharted floors and confront ever-greater perils.

Each layer of the labyrinth presents its own thematic identity—mossy caverns, crystalline chambers, and ancient ruins—hinting at a lost civilization and the forces that once shaped the underground network. While the overarching plot remains minimalistic, environmental storytelling fills the gaps: fragments of old murals, scattered relics, and cryptic notes suggest a deeper mystery awaiting your party at the dungeon’s heart.

Interaction with town NPCs further enriches the narrative tapestry. From the grizzled guildmaster who offers cryptic advice to the eager yarns of fellow adventurers swapping tales in the tavern, these moments lend texture to the world outside the labyrinth. Every new recruit has a backstory you can customize, fostering an emotional tie to your guild’s triumphs and tragedies.

Although Etrian Odyssey’s focus is squarely on player-driven exploration, its story elements cleverly reward persistence. Discovering a hidden alcove may yield an artifact that unlocks new quests, and deciphering ancient texts can reveal shortcuts or hazards you might otherwise overlook. This interplay between story tidbits and gameplay incentives keeps the mystery both tangible and personally meaningful.

In the end, the narrative strength of Etrian Odyssey lies in its ability to make you the architect of your adventure. Every map you draw and every monster you defeat becomes a chapter in your guild’s chronicle—a story you’ll eagerly recount with fellow RPG enthusiasts.

Overall Experience

Etrian Odyssey stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of classic dungeon-crawling RPGs, modernized with a unique map-making mechanic that turns every excursion into a strategic puzzle. Its balance of risk and reward, combined with robust character customization, ensures that no two parties or playthroughs feel the same.

Prospective players should be prepared for a game that demands patience and careful planning. The learning curve can be steep, particularly for newcomers to turn-based combat or grid-based navigation. Yet, overcoming these challenges is supremely satisfying—especially when you pinpoint the route to a hidden treasure trove or narrowly evade a lethal trap thanks to your hand-drawn map.

Replayability soars once you’ve conquered the original labyrinth. Alternate class lineups, self-imposed map constraints, and New Game+ modes invite you to refine your tactics and explore previously unreachable floors. Fans of deep customization will relish experimenting with party roles, skill trees, and equipment loadouts.

Finally, Etrian Odyssey’s blend of resource management, emergent storytelling, and tactile engagement with the DS hardware creates an experience that’s both retro in spirit and refreshingly original. Whether you’re a veteran dungeon-crawler or a newcomer seeking an RPG with genuine strategic depth, this title delivers hours of immersive exploration and cartographic satisfaction.

In sum, Etrian Odyssey is a must-try for anyone yearning to chart unknown realms, outwit fearsome monsters, and craft a personal saga that unfolds one gridded square at a time.

Retro Replay Score

7.3/10