Topic: Etrian Fans. (I have Questions.)

Hey guys, so today I discovered that there are more demo's in the Shop than what is in the Demo section of the shop.
So I was going through all the RPG's to find out which gave demos. I downloaded a played a lot of stuff today.
Anyways, I downloaded Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl and also IV, the latter which I have yet to play. I didn't think much about this. I had watched videos in the past and decided pretty firmly that these games were not for me. I have learned that for me, that was a big mistake.

I played all the other games I downloaded prior to Millennium Girl and honestly, when I started the game up I thought for sure I would be turning it off in a few minutes tops. I couldn't have been more wrong. Over 5 hours later I was still playing the demo. "The Demo." "5 hours." I looked at the clock and was like, wait, I been playing this that long?
So I closed up my system and hit the net. I had to find out what all was in this series, what have I missed.

So here is my what I have learned and correct me if I am wrong: (Some questions to follow.)
There were 3 games on the DS.
Number 4 came out on the 3DS.
Millennium Girl is a remake of the first one with added story elements.
There is a remake of part 2 coming out this summer, which has been out in Japan since last year.
There is a crossover game coming out in about two weeks, which I am still trying to figure out what that is.

1) Do I have that correct?
2) Am I missing anything?
3) Anybody following the news overseas and know if they are remaking 3 as well? (Just going to buy the remakes for all 3 if that is the case, otherwise I need to pick up the DS version of 3.)
4) Considering what I said in number 3, do fans regard the remakes as something you could play in lieu of the originals, or are the originals considered something you should play regardless?
5) (EDITING IN) Do I need to play these in order? Or is each game its own thing?

I am sure I have more questions, but they aren't popping right now.
I can't believe I missed an entire "series". I could understand if I missed a game, happens all the time. But it is crazy to me that I missed an entire series that has been going on for years. That said, I got a lot of games to play. I am actually excited.

Thanks in advance. If you read all that I am grateful.

1) Yes, that is all correct.

2) The crossover game is part of Chunsoft's Mystery Dungeon series. The main series isn't very available outside of Japan, but Shiren the Wanderer did get a Wii release in North America. It's alright. The most well known Mystery Dungeon games in the west though would be the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games, which I've never played. All of them, to my knowledge, are roguelike RPGs (tile-based random dungeon exploration).

3) No word on Etrian Odyssey Untold 3, but Etrian Odyssey 5 has been announced for 3DS.

4) There's a classic mode in the remakes if you want the experience of the originals, so yes, they can replace the DS games.

5) EDIT: Yeah, each game is its own thing. The main difference between each game is mechanic refinement.

Thanks a lot for the reply.
Nice heads up on 5. I just watched the announcement trailer. Can't understand it, but it makes me happy regardless. lol

I will play wait and see on 3 then. I have 2 to play now anyways.

Caviar answered most right, so I'll just share the ones I have opinions on:
4) Honestly, Etrian Odyssey 1 was my favorite until IV came out. I really disliked Untold for some really annoying gameplay things. Grimoire Stones, only one save file: I'm looking at you. However, the new EO games bring so much to the UI that I can't recommend the original to most. If you're looking on the authentic experience, go with the original. If you can't stand a little unwieldiness, get the remake.

5) Each game is on its own. EO IV and Untold are the best starting points for most.

@CaviarMeths summed things up pretty nicely.

There's really no reason to play the original games over the remakes. Not only do the remakes have updated graphics and remixed music, (with an option to play the original soundtrack as well if I'm not mistaken), but they also come with a Classic mode that replicates the original game.

There hasn't been any announcements of a remake for the third game yet, but I think it's pretty likely that it will be made. If you don't want to wait for that though, the third game isn't too expensive and has aged better than the first two games, so it's still worth picking up.

On point 5, IV is my first EO and I don't think I'm missing anything story wise having not played the other games. Almost finished the plot, it's a fun game. There can be frustrating parts, I put it down for a month at one part, came back, and everything seemed to fall into place.

Thanks again guys. I will probably just play the part 1 remake then, IV and when it comes out, the remake of part 2. If there is time in between I will grab 3. If not I will grab it after.

Just watched some reviews on youtube of millenium girl and etrian IV - I couldnt see myself playing it... I would get lost drawing those maps

The maps draw spaces you've been on for you.

@Grawbad Also, Persona Q is basically an Etrian Odyssey game with much more story.

@Grawbad

One difference between the DS original and Millennium Girl is that they have completely different maps. Each floor basically has the same concept as the corresponding floor in the original, but the actual tiles and walkways have been rearranged.

Another difference (and one I didn't like) is that the post-game boss in Millennium Girl is much harder than the original. OK, it was always rock hard, but I found you need to be quicker in the remake, which basically means farming very rare skills on the Grimoire Stones (new to this game). What this means is, at least in terms of defeating the very last boss, your chance of success is linked to much more random events this time round.

At the end of the day though, the remake has so many advantages over the original, I would just stick to what you are doing. Hopefully you'll get to play remakes of II and III, and IV is the by far best RPG on the 3DS.

Welcome to a truly great series.

Really? And I thought I would have to use the stylus and draw them myself

Now that changes a lot - don't know if I will try it out, though - too many games I have yet to play...

It highlights squares you've been on. It doesn't fill in walls, objects, or places of interest.

Every EO game has filled in at least the floors as you walk. I know Persona Q has a mode that fills in walls as well, so I wouldn't be surprised if EO games going forward have that as an option.

BTW, if anyone is looking at getting Etrian Mystery Dungeon, Crunchyroll has a preorder bundle on sale for the next 2 days.
http://www.crunchyroll.com/store/p/163711/Crunchyroll-Exclusi...
Comes with the first-print edition (game, box, mini OST, 28-page artbook), 5 free DLC quests, a T-shirt, and a random mystery item. All at $40, which is what the game costs by itself.

This is how I felt prior to getting it. TRY THE DEMO'S. Download them and see for yourself if you have a change of heart as I did.

Drawing the maps makes me feel differently about the game that I thought it would beforehand. I felt like I was exploring. Finding things and marking them on my map. Its not like every step you take you must draw a line. I run around a bit and then trace the walls and note things I find like pathways I can't access currently and things like that.

It still may not be for you, but I can tell you this, I felt the same way prior to playing it.

And to everyone else, thanks again.

Thanks!

Still I am kinda prejudiced here... Maybe I will download the demo and see for myself

The demoes are literally the first 10 hours of each game, up until you go to the second floor (btw, the first stratum always seems to take the longest...). Really no reason not to play the demoes if you're curious.