For The First Time, Etrian Odyssey Has 3D Monster Models

By Spencer . February 22, 2012 . 9:31am

While maps were always in 3D, previous Etrian Odyssey games had hand drawn monsters art in battle.

Atlus made a change for Etrain Odyssey IV, which replaces sprites with 3D models.

Famitsu confirms F.O.E.s will be in Etrian Odyssey IV. These powerful monsters will be visible on the map so you can figure out how to avoid them. Another interesting tidbit is you get to explore Yggdrasil in a hot air balloon.

Etrian Odyssey IV is slated for release on July 5 in Japan.

Read more stories about Etrian Odyssey IV & Nintendo 3DS on Siliconera.

SightTDW
I was really hoping for sprites at first, but looking at that screen there isn’t really any shift in the style. I think I may just be okay with this. Can’t wait for it to get localized.
neetyneety
Yes, I loved the originals on 3DS and all dungeon crawlers in general (still remember some good times from SMT: Strange Journey) so I’ll definitely be picking this up.
also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM5MMqNgUzM

http://myfigurecollection.net/collection/DrakosAmatras DrakosAmatras
I knew someone’s gonna bring up that video sooner or later…

http://www.facebook.com/shawn.dickenson1 Shawn SomethingOtaku Dickenson
Fucked On Encounter

http://twitter.com/ZnTxn Mike
NOW ON 3D, F.O.E.!

http://myfigurecollection.net/collection/DrakosAmatras DrakosAmatras
So Etrian Odyssey finally took 7th Dragon‘s approach, huh. Although considering the DS’ hardware specs, I can understand why 3D wasn’t a very practical choice before to apply to enemy models as well.
qetuo6
Eh…I think I prefer the sprites.

http://twitter.com/nectarsis Byron Brauner
Wholeheartedly agree….not everything needs to be “upgraded”, Atlus knows the fans will buy this ;)
pockystix
I think a cellshaded look would have fit the style better

SetzerGabbiani
The last screen made me think of my namesake’s airship in FFVI. Now I crave an FFVI remake even more…
Oh, and I will be purchasing this as soon as Atlus inevitably announces it. I’ve sunk an untold number of hours into the first 3.
pockystix
3D!? In an Etrian Odyssey game? Blasphemy.

http://myfigurecollection.net/collection/DrakosAmatras DrakosAmatras
Why not? Now the screens will look livelier. A game doesn’t suffer from having some visual flair, right?

OneOkami
I think pockystix is referring to how Etrian Odyssey is traditionally blatantly stylized as a really old-school, tough-as-nails first-person dungeon crawler. Static, 2D, hand-drawn art fits the image of such a game whereas 3D (and i’m assuming animated) models don’t quite fit the image as well.

Exkaiser
It worked well for Tale of the Last Promise.

OneOkami
Oh, i’m not saying there is anything wrong with having 3D models, I’m just saying Etrian Odyssey was made to look like it came out in the 1980s (can’t really say that about Tale of the Last Promise), and as such, 3D models don’t fit that image (which is what I believe pockstix was getting at).
For example, picture The Dark Spire (another game designed to look blatantly old-school) in classic, wireframe mode. Now stick animated 3D models in there. They’d seem out of place wouldn’t they?
Exkaiser
Poor example. A better one would be to picture the modern mode with animated models.
I don’t think that would work, but that’s because of the art style.
Personally, I don’t think Etrian’s bright colors and cartoony character designs are particularly retro, either. No more so than The Dark Spire’s modern art or the 3D models of Etrian IV’s monsters.
I think you have it backwards- Etrian isn’t stylized like a classic Wizardry-like RPG. It’s a classic Wizardry-like stylized with cute characters and pleasant art.

http://myfigurecollection.net/collection/DrakosAmatras DrakosAmatras
I know it’s a call back to retro dungeon crawlers, but it was also a “modern update” to that formula – better music, higher graphic resolutions, etc. So why not also the enemy portraits as well? Besides, the series has already spent 3 games looking like that. Considering it’s their debut on a new console – one with 3D option, too – I think it’s only reasonable for the creators to update their own game and avoid stagnation. Heck, Niinou Kazuya – the director who made the first Etrian Odyssey, who moved on to imageepoch and made the similar 7th Dragon games – streamlined the formula he started within only two games.
Still, it’s not that I don’t understand what you and pocky are saying.

SolidusSnake
These screens look absolutely gorgeous. Etrian Odyssey was always easy on the eyes, so it’s no surprise that it will be even more beautiful on a more powerful piece of hardware.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1769064526 Vivian Mai
I…liked the sprites better. Hopefully they improve on the 3D models some more.
And like we needed confirmation that FOEs were going to be in EOIV.
It’s not an EO game without the FOEs! Though with the 3D, that little orange ball will get closerrrr. And closerrrrrr. And closerrrrrrrrrrrrrr…
Suicunesol
Actually, I think the 3D models look great. :o Seeing the monsters in motion without all of the JPEG artifacts really helps.
http://twitter.com/DanijoEX DanijoEX
At least, I get to see how the monsters look in this one.
Though I would say the sprites would better but I think a change is needed somewhat.
Happy Gamer
I never tried any of the etrian odysseys at all altho i was tremendously interested in them. I think I will try to pick them up from the first game.
As times go by, I tend to sometimes crave a “prehistorical, basic” RPG.
Altho not necessarily prehistoric, I really enjoyed 4 Heroes of Light alot.
It was so incredibly old school yet I loved it. Drawing your own map in EO seems really fun as well.
I missed out so many RPGs at the end of the era of the DS.
such as radiant historia, shin megamin strange journey etc.
anyone suggest some more? im willing to buy em all since I never play my console and wutever time I have i use my handhelds such as an iphone. but no matter what marketing experts say about hand held consoles dying, i honestly don’t consider alot of smart phone games, games…the NDS had specific fun factor attached to it and it was not the touch screen alone.

Exkaiser
If you enjoy the Etrian games when you finally get around to them, give The Dark Spire a try.
Mystena
Add Infinite Space to that list. The gameplay can be a little bit simple and grindy, but the story more than makes up for it.
Dark Spire is a ‘Wizardry’ clone, so if you decide to take the plunge into it, be prepared to fight the RNG with every step.

Exkaiser
Looks like battles take place right on the exploration map now. I’m okay with this!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Daniel-Morandi/100000837836996 Daniel Morandi
The battles will remind of some in Rance 8, they use 3D monster first person battles and 3d explorable stages.
PoweredByHentai
I can’t help but feel kind of divided about this. On one hand, it is nice that they are changing certain aspects of the game for the better. On the other hand, it feels like part of the charm of the game was lost during the transition to 3D. =/

JustThisOne
This might anger some EO fans, but I’m hoping that this is the first step towards a future EO game with third person battle perspective.

Wafflenaut
As long as it’s only the monsters in 3D, then I guess it’s alright. Call me spoiled, but I really like the art style of the human (and sometimes not so human) characters in the Etrian Odyssey series, and was, in all honesty, the only reason I bought the first game.
http://www.facebook.com/Zekushion Dylan Anantha
I just realised, if the enemy’s attacks “pop” out of the screen with the 3DS 3D effect….that would be awesome, like they are actually attacking you instead of your character.
SetzerGabbiani
The enemy designs seem to translate to 3D very well actually. I know some of us are purists when it comes to this type of game, but I think the upgrade will be a net asset in this case. What would really be great would be if we had a choice in how the enemy was displayed.
theworldofnoboundries
Ohh man now F.O.E will come out on 3D forms and kill me.
HELPPPP!!!!! FOE!!!!
Joanna
A part of me is going to miss those sprites but oh the delicious possibilities with 3D models will make up for it~ Getting excited!

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