In a rather surprise announcement, ATLUS USA have today unveiled their plans to localize and publish Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan – the latest entry in the long-running RPG franchise and the first in the series on the Nintendo 3DS.
Marking the series’ arrival on the Nintendo 3DS, Legends of the Titan introduces a wide range of enhancements and additions, including a greatly improved graphics engine with polygonal enemies and special effects designed to take full advantage of the platform’s unique 3D capabilities. As with previous games in the series, players explore beautiful yet menacing realms – each varied in flora and fauna – mapping their journey along the way using the touch screen and their stylus. No two games are ever the same, thanks to a character creation and party customization system that encourages experimentation and rewards creativity and imagination. Moreover, while Legends of the Titan – built with older hardcore gamers in mind — is still a brutal challenge and not for the faint of heart, a new Casual mode option ensures newcomers to the series and genre need not be intimidated.
Aram Jabbari | Manager of Public Relations and Sales at ATLUS USA
The Etrian Odyssey series is an enduring love letter to a bygone era, a time when the thrill of adventure; the rewards of imagination; and the satisfaction of true challenge could truly transport gamers to another world. While Legends of the Titan continues to be a bridge to that past, the series now enjoys its most technologically sophisticated foray yet. Enemies are rendered in 3D and practically pounce out of the Nintendo 3DS at the player. The areas to be explored and mapped have never been as intricately detailed and memorably vibrant. The wondrous music of Yuzo Koshiro is back, fully orchestrated and as epic as ever. At the risk of sounding oxymoronic, we’re proud to bring our fans the newest, most exciting old school CRPG throwback yet!
In the past, ATLUS USA have released all three other games in the franchise on the Nintendo DS – although given availability in Australia at the time of launch I have personally only played the first one and in a review during 2009 came out with a score of B. While the series would not be to everyone’s tastes – if you are after a challenging game that even requires you to draw your own maps then any game in the Etrian Odyssey series might be up your alley.
The game is set to launch in North America during Early 2013 exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS.
