The Etrian Odyssey games haven’t become cult favorites simply by making cartography cool again. No, the classic RPG formula (borrowed from Wizardry and its ilk) is just one facet of the series’ longevity. What impresses me most after three years and a sequel is how its creators are still able to create worlds brimming with wonderment and verisimilitude by doing exactly what old-school games were great at: dropping you in a vast world and leaving you alone to discover all its hidden secrets.
Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City easily re-captures the familiar aesthetic of its predecessors thanks to its immersive locales and throwback soundtrack (composed by Yuzo Koshiro of Ys and Actraiser fame), but this time around, it’s been streamlined and revamped to instill a newfound sense of vitality. While the second game felt more like an expansion pack than an entirely new adventure, Etrian Odyssey III takes the tried-and-true, first-person RPG formula and refines it into the most approachable game in the series yet.
