Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard

"If you're only going to explore one labyrinth this year..."

Let's face it, if you own a DS, it doesn't matter how picky you are because you're always going to have too many games to play. Even if you limit yourself to relatively new games with 9.0+ ratings, you're still biting off more than you can chew (even if you love to eat). It's for that reason that gems like Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard don't get the attention they deserve. So rather than getting lost in a library of great games to play, I'm going to recommend that you get lost in this fantastic Labyrinth.

To the credit of the public's ignorance, Etrian Odyssey II targets a specific crowd of people. And in a world where a series like Final Fantasy can thrive, it's hard for franchises with contrasting attributes (like a balanced battle system) to share the spotlight. It's that balanced battle system that makes this game so good, so let's talk about what I mean when I say "balance".

This game has no hero. You build a guild from scratch choosing five characters from a group of twelve very distinct classes. The Protector has all but one skill associated with taking damage while the Hexer dedicates itself to inflicting status ailments on the enemy. Of course, the customization doesn't stop there. Each class has several skills for you to invest skill points into (you'll gain one every time you level up), and this is where your creativity can really shine. That's because there isn't one ultimate attack which you make an obvious deposit of skill points into. No, instead all skills are worthy contenders for your skill points.

Finished picking a team? Let's put them to use! EOII has your customized band of warriors exploring one giant labyrinth. Sounds like you're going to need to make a good map for yourself. Atlus has you covered. EOII gives you all the tools to do this and the DS gives you an extra screen to use those tools. Fortunately all this is very functional with the stylus and is a worthy alternative to becoming a real-life Tingle for people who love filling in maps.

If you're on the ball about whether or not you should try this game, you can get a pretty good idea of what you're in for within the first 10 minutes. Keep playing to experience some of the deeper customization decisions you will have to make and exploring the clever retirement system.

Pros:
Refreshing difficulty
No exploits
Sleek menus and interface

Cons:
Side quests offer very cheap rewards
Some repetition

Closing Comment:
I've spent a lot of time with games about creating your own team. FF: Tactics, Gladius, Pokemon, I've played them all. The unfortunate thing about these types of games is that you only come to realize the exploits and imbalances once you've invested a great deal of time into them. I've played the hell out of EOII. I've memorized stats and explored the boards. That's why it's refreshing to see that my final party is still unique, and the same goes for the other high level players. Not just the classes, but the skills. Other than one class that becomes underpowered later in the game, there is no consensus on any kind of ultimate set-up. Bravo, Atlus.

Final Score:
8.8 / 9.0

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/20/09

Game Release: Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard (US, 06/13/08)