Release Date: August 31, 2017
Another spin-off in the popular series of dungeon crawlers, Etrian Odyssey, developed by Spike Chunsoft. The player assumes the role of an adventurer, who helps an unfamiliar woman in reaching the roots of the Yggdrasil tree, which is told to hide a gate to the world of gods.
Etrian Mystery Dungeon 2 for 3DS is the second spin-off to the popular series of classic dungeon crawlers Etrian Odyssey. Just like its predecessor, released in 2015, the game is based on gameplay mechanics of the Japanese series Mystery Dungeon, born in 1993. The series has been developed by Japanese developer Chunsoft (currently part of Spike Chunsoft company). The Mystery Dungeon IP is not very famous among western players, excluding the biggest jRPG fans. Thus far, the most recognizable games included in the IP are the ones licensed on popular series, such as Pokemon (there have been several Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games).
Etrian Mystery Dungeon 2 is not directly connected to the previous installment. The game’s protagonist is an adventurer, who meets a strange girl during one of his expeditions. The stranger reveals that she must reach the roots of Yggdrasil tree at all cost, which are said to be hiding a gate to the world of gods. The hero decides to help her. Using the nearby town as his base of operation, he sets out for a quest to find the legendary place.
Etrian Mystery Dungeon 2 introduces no essential changes in gameplay. Compared to the previous installment, players get several new character classes and a variety of new skills and items. The events are presented in an isometric view. The player explores dungeons and fight enemies in turn-based battles. It is noteworthy that both heroes and monsters perform their actions at the same time. This means that when you move from one field to another, the enemy may be performing the same action.
You take under your command a team of four adventurers, whom you can hire and replace in the town. The dungeons they explore are generated procedurally. As the heroes gain experience, they learn new skills and class-based special abilities. Upon dying, characters go back to the town, however, they also lose the entire equipment and gold they carried.
Etrian Mystery Dungeon 2 for 3DS uses the same 3D engine as the original Etrian Mystery Dungeon. Therefore, the game offers colorful, eye-pleasing graphics with unique character design typical of the Etrian Odyssey series.
Platforms:
Nintendo 3DS
Developer: Spike Chunsoft
Publisher: Atlus
Age restrictions: none
