Games you are playing

[negzee]

I find it difficult to see anything clearly in that video.

[Weeaboolits]

Otomedius Excellent.

[Yoonah]

[Twat]

Anyone else like the classes from Etria a lot more than those from Armoroad?

What I was so repulsed with when I first saw EOIII was just how shōnen'd-up everyone seems to be, speaking from the character concepts and their respective art. The only starter class that really seems vaguely extravagant and unorthodox in EOI is the Dark Hunter... which is justified by the niche they fit. They are very intriguing and have a strong contrast from the other characters, which alone is enough to add just enough spice to the mix. They are built around a simple concept (read: S&M) that is easy to grasp. No one really seems to be super powerful or decked out from the get go. The only character of unnatural qualities that stands out is the Hexer, but with how they are unlocked and not inherent (until EOII), it is justified. Everything is just very generic for a fantasy adventure, which is fitting for a game that is very generic in nature.

Then you have these characters in EOIII with super spiky armour, scarves erupting into prismatic fire and... whatever in the Yggdrasil's name the Zodiac is supposed to be. The only characters in EOIII that does not seem super ridiculous and unnatural is the Buccaneer, Gladiator and I guess the Prince to a lesser extent. While something like the Monk is very basic, it just never sat well with me. Aside from the three classes I mentioned, none of them really appeal to me much at all. The way the character art is more detailed (and more ridiculous), does well in reflecting the design direction.

In short, while I feel pretty cozy with royalty being able to substitute a bard in improving the guild's morale and giving them orders, and I am okay with the Gladiator replacing the Landsknecht (who is kind of difficult to balance with the changes to the Ronin in EOII), I liked the original characters a lot more. The Shogun feels like an evolution from the Ronin, so they are also fine in my book.

Though I suppose some people just found the basic nature of EOI to be boring and they rather have something NEW AND EXCITING. This is fine. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. While I liked the improvements to control, navigation and map-making, I honestly like EOI and II much more than the third instalment. In general EOIII feels more modern than EO I and II, for better or worse. There is a reason why I never picked up EOIII on release, and my assumptions in how things would handle were more or less correct. If they just built another direct sequel and made some of the same universal improvements and had a better level of class balance, it would have been a much more enjoyable experience, for me.

I am hoping that, should Etrian Odyssey 3DS ever come to fruition, it is either a remake as theorized, or at least makes changes in a direction that I can better appreciate. Even if it turns out to be what EOII was to EOI (a more direct sequel), I will be less sour about trying it out than how I was with EOIII. Since, in terms of mechanics, EOIII was mostly an upgrade over EOII (though I honestly prefer Force Skills over Limit Skills). This might all come across as a random blurt, but I have just recently begun a new file on the first game and I have never felt this comfortable with the series in a long while. No better place than this forum than to talk about it, right?

[Kimiko]

I see what you mean. Yes, the classes from EO3 look more extravagant. Maybe it's because most of them appeared in two games, but the classes from EO1 and EO2 seem to have more personality/charisma. The Farmer, Monk and Princess classes don't seem so bad though, as does the Shogun class (because of its late appearance).

[Wolkenritter]

[Twat]

[Skele Von Mann]

Wasn't that the point of well, FARMers nya~?

[Twat]

They can be built entirely around combat skills. The problem is the skills are all ineffective for one reason or another, which mostly boils down to enemy status immunity. On the other side of the fence they have some nice exploration skills, yet for some reason they gave Monarch March to the Prince... which is honestly the only exploration skill you need.

There is also no reason why Farmers have to be weak. I can understand if a rather robust Gladiator who has spent her entire life under rigorous training is stronger than a Farmer, but farm work (at least back in the day) is hard work, and it should show. With all of these cool and interesting weapons that are completely unique to the Farmer class, it is just such a shame that they get nothing out of it.

It only gets worse with the subclass system. Even if you like a few of the Farmer skills, they work much better on someone like the Wildling. If Farmers had better strength, they might be able to get away with a physical-oriented subclass for when their tricks stop working.

[Maxine MagicFox]

I still have yet to beat EO3. There's something about it that doesn't quite appeal to me. :\ There's no compulsion there to finish it. EO1 on the other hand I still feel the need to pop it in every once in a while. EO2 was good as well and I would probably play again except that the final stratum got kinda ridiculous and off-putting.

EO1 was just so mysterious. EO3 just doesn't even have the same beauty of the previous two games. I absolutely HATE the current stratum I'm in. -_- Stratum 1 was fine, but as I go further down it's getting worse.

I think I also hate the classes that I've got. They just don't feel as balanced as the previous two games. In EO1 you might have had a harder time of the game, but you could still pick whatever class you wanted and manage to get through. In EO3 I feel I've fucked up royally with my team in some way and it's really pissy me off. I NEVER had to level grind in the previous two games and it's upsetting me that I've had to do so a few times now.

It's been a while since I've picked up EO3. I'll probably do so again soon. Maybe I've just not been in the mood for it.

[SirthOsiris]

I got to the last stratum of EO3, then got Disgaea 2.

Needless to say, it's been hard getting back.

I think I feel the same way as all of you. While I love some mechanics and designs of EO3, at the same time it doesn't feel as mysterious as EO1, or the classes as tight as EO2. Maybe it just seems like there's less damage dealers and more technicals; maybe it being more varied is the problem, and trying to keep classes you want despite someone else doing things better, including subclassing (my ninja is a battery, and hoplite with cloning sounds more useful), sticks at the back of your mind.

Disgaea 2:


EDIT: Oh hey, someone here said they're playing Fate/Extra? How's that coming along? Thinking about picking that up sometime since I'm a sucker for Type-Moon (and this Caster).

[scy]

EO3 is probably the most balanced among the classes.

So ... yeah.

[Weeaboolits]

I really liked the classes in EO3 (particularly Princess, Arbelist and Yggdroid, male yggdroids are so damn cool), although I do miss the old ones (and no class will ever replace the medic in my heart), since it's supposed to be far away from the settings of the first two games (namely a more tropical climate out at sea), it only makes sense that the style should be a bit different.

Also, EO3 doesn't really start until subclasses become available, I dunno how far you are.

[Twat]

[Kimiko]

Uhm, I wasn't talking about the classes' utility or balance, but only about their subjective appeal as characters to fantasize your own story around. As long as any somewhat reasonable combination is playable (i.e. can finish the story), balance and such are not very important to me at all. I'll leave that for the folks who seek a different kind of fun.