One of, if not the best RPG on the DS.
When it comes to DS games, Etrian Odyssey is a diamond in the rough. It has an amazing storyline with plot twists any RPG fan can get truly sucked into. Characters and their personalities are totally up to you, as you create your own guild and venture into the unknown. The game fully utilizes the touch screen as you mark your own map with every twist and turn you take in the monster filled labyrinth of the Yggdrasil tree. Old school RPG gamers will find this game immediately captivating and nostalgic.

The only problem I can foresee is with new, younger gamers that play more linear, instant action focused games, as they may be turned off by the game's seemingly slow unraveling of the plot, not truly appreciating the wonder of exploring the Yggdrasil labyrinth one tiny step at a time.

There's also MANY quests and missions to undertake, so you'll always have something to do, with even more post-game events and quests. So, if you are longing for an RPG with a true sense of wonder and accomplishment, then this game is for you.

Etrian Odyssey
The game's storyline is basic at best. The people of Atria has discovered a seemingly bottomless dungeon known as the Yggdrasil labyrinth, and have sent out requests for adventurers to map it fully. As one of these new adventurers, you form a party of five to explore and eventually conquer it for fame and glory. Do not expect this to be at all easy, however. Every option in Etrian Odyssey's difficulty level is set on "Very Hard", with no apologies given. Managing resources, fighting battles and planning each character's growth all have deep and long-lasting implications. With nine different classes and only five slots, there's an almost infinite amount of class combinations to take into the field. Each class boasts its own distinct features. The Bard, for instance, does hardly any damage, but makes up for it with various songs that either boost the party or help defend it. Battles are turn-based, and gamers input their entire group's actions before seeing the results. There is minimal animation in Etrian Odyssey, so do not expect flashy attacks or gorgeous sound effects to accompany battle, although what is available does a decent job. These battles are tough, as weapon and armour upgrades are few, while monsters grow stronger at much faster rates then the party itself. Death is a constant threat right from the start, as monsters are intelligent enough to focus on and kill characters, unlike other RPGs.

As if worrying about monsters were not enough, you also need to take charge of making your own maps. Players need to map out each level by moving around and uncovering terrain on an initially blank map. Mapping is done using the touch screen. As players explore, they have to make sure they accurately draw the floors, walls and event locations - or risk getting lost. While mapping is easy and quick, it does grow tiresome. It is also difficult to switch between two different ways of holding the console - either one- or two-handed - without causing wrist strain. This is not a game you should play while standing inside a moving public transport. Etrian Odyssey is the sort of niche title you would recommend to those who want to stretch their dollar value. With so many options available, and so many ways to win (or lose), the game easily lasts beyond the 60 hours it says it needed to beat the last boss. If loot, not story is preferred, there is nothing better.

Etrian Odyssey
Great old school dungeon crawler.