The recent more mainstream level of success enjoyed by thePersonaandShin Megami Tenseifranchises is a bit of a surprise for longtime fans who have enjoyed these more niche JRPG series for decades.Persona 5proved to be a bit of a cultural phenomenon and many players' introduction to the series, paving the way for a new entry in the series that served as its progenitor,Shin Megami Tensei. With fan appreciation for Atlus' RPG catalog at an all-time high, it’s the perfect time for the developer to reintroduce theEtrian Odysseyseries. Further, the recent release of theEtrian Odyssey Origins Collectionseems like the perfect catalyst.
TheEtrian Odysseyseries traces its origins back to the Nintendo DS and it’s another niche RPG series that made good use of the handheld’s twin screens. What is a deceptively simple dungeon-crawler on the surface gives way to an engaging series of labyrinthine floors and an addictive cartography mini-game embedded into the core gameplay. Instead of just traversing floor after floor of a massive dungeon, players are also responsible for mapping out each level using the touch screen. TherecentEtrian Odyssey Origins Collectionupdates the cartography for controller functionality as well as touch screens and establishes that there’s life in the series yet, even without the use of a second screen.
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Etrian Odyssey Could Follow a Trend Established By Other Atlus Projects
The last game to release in theEtrian Odysseyfranchise wasEtrian Odyssey Nexusfor the Nintendo 3DS, which means it has been roughly 5 years since the last series entry. It’s possible that the release of theEtrian Odyssey Origins Collectionwill pave the way for a second collection that packages the trilogy ofEtrian Odysseygames that released for the 3DS. IfAtlus' track recordis consistent across all of its properties, the releases of these collections might indicate that a new title in the series is on its way.
The release ofShin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturneon Nintendo Switch accompanied the announcement ofShin Megami Tensei 5’s long-awaited release window. Further, the ports ofPersona 4 GoldenandPersona 5 Royalto Switch and Xbox presaged the announcement ofPersona 3’s remake and thePersona 5 Tacticaspin-off. While it hasn’t been confirmed or announced by Atlus yet,comments from theEtrian Odysseydevelopment teamduring the live stream for theOrigins Collectionindicate that a new title in the series is a possibility and will use feedback from fans who played theOrigins Collectionto guide its development.
What an Etrian Odyssey 7 or Franchise Reboot Could Entail
WhiletheShin Megami TenseiandPersonaserieshave always been considered more niche compared to other JRPG juggernauts likeDragon QuestandFinal Fantasy,Etrian Odysseyis perhaps one of the most niche series in Atlus' catalog. Comparing the sales ofPersonaacross the entire franchise paints a dire picture forEtrian Odysseyin terms of its existence as a priority for Atlus, with only 1.9 million units across the franchise compared toPersona’s 18 million. A discrepancy this wide points to the need for Atlus to make some critical changes to theEtrian Odysseyformula if it’s going to return for a new audience.
The core gameplay doesn’t need to change, however.Etrian Odyssey’s unique “dungeon-crawling-meets-map-making” gameplay is what makes the series special, so the question is how Atlus could update the series for modern hardware and bring it in line withPersonaandShin Megami Tenseiin terms of its appeal. One of the most obvious candidates would be to have the next entry in the series (reboot or otherwise) replicate theeye-popping visual style ofPersona 5, complete with its incredible UI and menu design. TheOrigins Collectionalready affirms that theEtrian Odysseyseries works on a controller, so hopefully the success of its release will present cause for a new title in the franchise.
Etrian Odyssey Origins Collectionis out now for Nintendo Switch and PC.
MORE:Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection Features Persona and Shin Megami Tensei DLC
