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Etrian Odyssey / Sekaiju no Meikyuu (Impressions Post #106)

Wandering around the third floor. Chased by the first FOE. Got the **** knocked out of my Swordsman. :S BUT I TREK ON! I really like how my party is starting to feel like it is coming together.
Wait...did the FOE move during battle. OH **** IT DID. This is not good. :S
 
NichM said:
I'd defend the localization, but duckroll seems to be the only one complaining, and if he had his way, no game would ever leave Japan! :lol
Click to expand...

Hey I'm not complaining! Just pointing out that you've added flavor that wasn't in the Japanese game. :)
 
I hate dungeon-crawlers. I hate old school, turn-based RPGs, and I especially hate random encounters.

But I love me Etrian Odyssey. I kept telling myself that I shouldn't buy this game, yet I went on over to Gamestop anyway and purchased it. Luckily I discovered that the game is mad fun (plus the art style is killer).

I originally began with a party that contained a Troubadour, but I found they ended up being more of a waste of space at low levels than a help, so I replaced him with a Survivalist. Hopefully it will help me deal out some more damage; I'll probably come back to Troubadour later on when I can devote some time to getting their skill repetoire unlocked.

Also Nich, I'm sure you don't remember me when I worked there last summer, but very nice work with the manual localization if that was indeed you.
 
I'm using a lot of characters. It takes a while to get everyone up-to-date equip and level wise, but I love having specialist characters.
 
I named them after characters from the MUD I play in. (I've also been keeping the respective players informed of how their counterparts are doing in the game, and if they will soon be replaced.) I have just thoroughly explored the first floor before taking a lot longer nap than I intended. Right now everybody's at level 6. Will venture to lower floors soon!

First party!
Front:
Katiana Dark Hunter
Daishar: Landsknecht
Qui: Protector

Back:
Daishar: Alchemist
Anidori: Medic
 
I can't believe I never found
the hidden passage between the first room of B1F and the first item point
, before. It really makes money runs go far more quickly, now... and it's much safer, so I can take 5 rangers instead of 3+tank! :)
 
Didn't even realize this came out... and I was at Funco yesterday... shit, looks like I know where I'm heading to after work. Though I probably won't play it till I finish FF6Adv and Gurumin.
 
I am out of state on business and somehow convinced the local gamestop employee to sell me the last copy that might have been reserved. Great game so far, I can only imagine how intense the battles get deeper in.
 
Still playing this on and off. Got sidetracked by Pokémon and Front Mission 1st but I'm back in the labyrinth for now.

My party:

Front
Swordman - Kazuya
Ranger - Yuji
Paladin - Chiaki

Back
Medic - Yuka
Alchemist - Isamu

All level 36 and I'm on B11F now. Don't know if I'm overpowered because I've been grinding a lot but the B10F boss was still pretty though. :/
 
This game freaking rules. Just got to the second floor:

Shinra Guild:
Landsknecht - Garnet
Protector - Steiner
Survivalist - Rinoa
----
Alchemist - Vincent
Medic - Cid
----


I'm still getting used to allocating skill points (I haven't figured out which skills are going to be useless and which ones lead to awesome things) but this game freaking rules. The music and art are top notch, and the crawling is super fun.
 
That first FOE was kind of tough... I really didn't go in prepared. My Alchemist got knocked out on the first round. I won via Poison damage and random luck, the monsters was juggling attacks between my Paladin and Warrior which let my Medic keep up with healing (before he was knocked out anyways).
 
You can select a skill you haven't unlocked yet and press A to see the needed requirements.
 
Amazon finally shipped it this morning, should get it tomorrow. I'll be able to play it a little this weekend before I send my DS in for repair (hinge crack) early next week. Glad to hear people are enjoying it.
 
Made it to the third floor last night after finally clearing out all the FOEs on the second. Of course then the first FOE on the next floor destroys me just about the second I set foot in there!
 
FlyinJ said:
How long does provoke/parry work? Is it just one round?
Click to expand...

Parry works for a single turn. I believe Provoke gives you are higher chance of the enemy attacking the user (not sure how long it last for, seem to work pretty well though).
 
RevenantKioku said:
You can select a skill you haven't unlocked yet and press A to see the needed requirements.
Click to expand...


Brilliant, thanks!

Just killed my first FOE :) and it was awesome. Poison helped.

Anyone else putting skill points into their rangers forraging skills (esp chop)? I have a feeling it's going to make getting $ a little easier.
 
I propose that the F.O.E. officially stands for 'Ferocious Orange Enemy'.

When I wake up in the morning I'm going to wonder what the heck I posted. I can tell.
 
jon bones said:
Anyone else putting skill points into their rangers forraging skills (esp chop)? I have a feeling it's going to make getting $ a little easier.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I have a Survivalist that is dedicated towards the field skills. Might make another for the same thing. A bit worthless in battle but having a steady source of income is very important.
 
I have two parties, one for farming money (4 survivalist and 1 medic) and the other to clear maps (1 trobadour, 1 protector, 1 landnsckesth, 1 medic, 1 alchemist).
 
Does anyone know if Medic's Patch Up ability (small healing after battles, no TP cost) is worth upping? Does it affect the whole party or just the Medic?
 
For what it's worth, there are skill trees available here, but they're Japanese. If I get some time, I'll see about making English versions of them.
 
pancakesandsex said:
You can check it in the game why do you need it online?
Click to expand...
Oh, I just haven't received the game yet, so I was just wondering what kind of skills each class would have. It'll be a non-issue in a few days, so no big deal.
 
DevelopmentArrested said:
So what's your guys first impressions/quick review out of 10 so far?
Click to expand...

I would give it an 8/10.


Pluses: The classic gameplay is there. It's even fun mapping. Really nice graphics, too, for the 3d part (although I wonder if there are any other environments other than forrest). Seemingly lots of small unique events, although most of this seems to be finding fruit (which may or may not be good to eat). Clever way to justify new equipment. The FOE system is neat.


Minuses: Dorky class names (I dunno if they were afraid of using the usual D&D terms/tropes. But "Protector" instead of "Paladin", "Troubadour" instead of "Bard", "Landsknecht" instead of "Fighter", "Survivalist" instead of "Ranger", "Medic" instead of "Priest" or "Cleric"); questionable use of the word "Guild" (it's used to describe your adventuring group), the monster graphics are probably worse than the original Bard's Tale (even that had animated monsters, IIRC); monster variety isn't great - only 3-4 critters per floor (contrast that to say, Valhalla Knights, where you sometimes fight 5 different creatures per battle)

I also would have liked to have seen 6 characters in your party, not 5. You miss out on using some classes this way, although I guess they'd have had to rebalance the game.

The interface could use a bit more work. It can be a pain to have to assign skill points to several characters when you level up, because you can't easily cycle though them. Selling stuff in a store is a pain - they should have gotten rid of the "Okay, you have sold it. Press A" message after "Do you want to sell this?"


Most of my issues are nitpicky, it's a lot of fun. I really do think they cut corners with the monsters/graphics, though. Even if they wanted to save time, they could have mixed up the monsters a little. Like take the Treerat. They could have painted foam around it's mouth, and call it "Rabid Treerat". Put it a tye die shirt and call it "Stinky Treerat". etc. Do small variations like that 3-4 times per monster and it makes combat a lot more interesting
 
trancejeremy said:
I really do think they cut corners with the monsters/graphics, though. Even if they wanted to save time, they could have mixed up the monsters a little. Like take the Treerat. They could have painted foam around it's mouth, and call it "Rabid Treerat". Put it a tye die shirt and call it "Stinky Treerat". etc. Do small variations like that 3-4 times per monster and it makes combat a lot more interesting
Click to expand...

My bet is that they ran into cartridge space limitations more than anything.
 
trancejeremy said:
the monster graphics are probably worse than the original Bard's Tale
Click to expand...

etrian-odyssey-screens-20060901032349353.jpg

versions_apple2_screen2.gif


It's a close one.
 
trancejeremy said:
Selling stuff in a store is a pain - they should have gotten rid of the "Okay, you have sold it. Press A" message after "Do you want to sell this?"
Click to expand...
Y button helps selling greatly.
 
Ordered. I should avoid this, given that I haven't finished Wizardry on the PS2, but I'm a sucker for a dungeon crawl

I ordered it from buy.com for free shipping, then they promptly charged me for shipping. ****ers.
 
Aeana said:
If you highlight an item on the sell menu and press Y, you'll be prompted to sell all of that item you have at once.
Click to expand...

You know what's funny. When I was clicking through every one, I was thinking "You know, they should ask you if you want to sell all or single".

This game just keeps getting better!

Is there a way to bulk-purchase items, like health potions?

Also, what is "TEC"? Some weapons/items give you a + TEC bonus, and I have no idea what it is.
 
pancakesandsex said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkYj_RQx0rM

nichm that needs to be subbed and put on the main site :P
Click to expand...
That video's hilarious! You only get the joke if you've played the game, though :lol

The original flash version can be found here:
http://iosys.tv/flash/IOSYS_foe.swf

foedeervw2.jpg


The Encounter with an F.O.E.

Walking straight ahead I meet an FOE.
There's a fuzzy orange thing coming, it's an FOE.
OMG, it's noticed us! It's an FOE!
We're out of TP and it's an FOE!
We're in the middle of fighting a boss and there's an FOE! (Get lost!)
OMG, my paladin's dead! It's an FOE!

"WTH is going on here?! My party got wiped because of an FOE!"

There's more and more of them, those FOEs.
I made a mistake, there's an FOE.
They're reviving, those FOEs!
I forgot to buy some threads, there's an FOE!

FOE! FOE! FOE! FOE...!

There's a horn sticking out, it's an FOE.
Ouch, that curse really hurts, it's an FOE.
I open a door and there's an FOE!
Every 3 days I meet an FOE!
"Onii-chan! Get away, that's an FOE!"
Big bro and I are going to go body building!

"Well, isn't this FOE in high spirits."

Saitama, Saitama, FOE.
"Eirin, Eirin" FOE! (Eirin means forest management).
Dossun Dossun FOE.
Doman, seman FOE.

"Hahahaha! Here comes another monster!"
"And it's none other than the FOE."
 
trancejeremy said:
questionable use of the word "Guild" (it's used to describe your adventuring group)
Click to expand...
Wow, talk about nitpicks. It's a perfectly valid use of the term (which was around long before MMOs latched onto it):
guild /gɪld/ –noun
1. an organization of persons with related interests, goals, etc., esp. one formed for mutual aid or protection.
Click to expand...
 
mmm... i tried taking on the first boss with a lv 12 party
bad move! it totaly trampled me like one of those super secret disgaea bosses
anyway the game is pretty good,sometimes it get unfair (enemy concentrating all of your attack on one of your single guy for example) and the music is kind of bland but that's about it...
i like how getting new item unlock new stuff in the shop
 
Aeana said:
etrian-odyssey-screens-20060901032349353.jpg

versions_apple2_screen2.gif


It's a close one.
Click to expand...

Well, yeah, if you post screenshots from the crappiest looking Bard's Tale

Here's a red dragon from the C-64

TheBardsTaleDragon.jpg


Maybe it's not better, but it's not much worse, and it's animated, unlike (AFAIK), the one in Etrian Odyssey (which was largely my point, no animation of the monsters, just still images)
 
FlyinJ said:
You know what's funny. When I was clicking through every one, I was thinking "You know, they should ask you if you want to sell all or single".

This game just keeps getting better!

Is there a way to bulk-purchase items, like health potions?

Also, what is "TEC"? Some weapons/items give you a + TEC bonus, and I have no idea what it is.
Click to expand...


should tell you in the manual.
you DO have the manual, right?
 
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