Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight

Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight
Developer(s)	Atlus
Publisher(s)	Atlus
Artist(s)	Yuji Himukai
Composer(s)	Yuzo Koshiro
Series	Etrian Odyssey
Platforms	Nintendo 3DS
Release date(s)	JP 20141127November 27, 2014 NA 20150804August 4, 2015 EU 20160212February 12, 2016
Genre(s)	Role-playing

Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight, originally released in Japan as New Labyrinth of the World Tree 2 The Knight of Fafnir (新・世界樹の迷宮2 ファフニールの騎士, Shin Sekaiju no Meikyū 2 Fafuniiru no Kishi), is a role-playing video game developed and published by Atlus for the Nintendo 3DS. It is part of the Etrian Odyssey series, and is a remake of the Etrian Odyssey II. It was released in Japan in November 2014, in North America in August 2015, and in Europe in February 2016.

Gameplay

There are two modes, Classic and Story which was first introduced in Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl. Classic mode is the same as other entries, with custom characters and maps. Story mode has an expansive story with preset characters, cutscenes and voice acting, but the players will have to draw their own dungeon maps just like in Classic Mode. The game also contains three difficulty settings: Picnic, which allows for easy gameplay; Normal, which allows for moderately difficult but manageable gameplay; and Expert, which allows for the toughest gameplay possible.

Scenario

In Classic Mode, the ultimate goal of the player is reach the floating castle, where the Holy Grail is said to reside. The Holy Grail is said to cure any illness and to grant immorality. In order to reach the floating castle, the player must advance higher into the tree-maze known as the Yggdrasil Labyrinth.

Story Mode includes and expands upon the Classic Mode scenario. In Story Mode, the initial goal of the player is to help Princess Arianna perform a ritual within the maze-like ruins of Ginnungagap. However, the player and Arianna have yet to understand the true purpose of the ritual, and events do not proceed as they had initially expected.

Characters

In Classic Mode, the player may choose and customize their party. The player may choose each party member's class, sex, name, and color scheme. These characters are blank slates, leaving their personalities mainly to the player's imagination.

In Story Mode, the player can choose the name and personality, through branching dialogue, of the main character, who serves as the player's avatar, but the character's appearance, sex, and class are predetermined. The identities and classes of the rest of the player's party are also predetermined.

The player's party initially consists of the main character and his partner and friend Flavio. They are both orphans raised by the Midgard Library and have spent most of their lives together. Flavio is social but is often anxious or hesitant; nevertheless, he is loyal and will follow the main character wherever he goes.

The Midgard Library assigned the pair with the task of escorting Princess Arianna, the daughter of the Duke of Caledonia, through the ruins of Ginnungagap in order to perform a ritual that has been performed for generations. The player meets Arianna early in the Labyrinth, and she joins the player's party. Arianna was sheltered for most of her life, making her a "fish out of water" who is prone to misinterpreting the environment and events around her. In addition, she is a self-professed "scatterbrain" who does not behave or react the way one would expect in a given scenario. Nevertheless, she is dauntless, outgoing, and eager for challenges. Arianna is also deeply committed to virtue and nobility.

While escorting Arianna through Ginnungagap, the player encounter Bertrand and Chloe, who are also exploring the ruins. They also join the player's party. Bertrand, who is often called "old man", is laid back and prefers lazy approaches to problems. Chloe is anti-social, deadpan, and does not shy away from stating what is on her mind, often critiquing or mocking others. She also loves meat but hates vegetables. The pair are relatives who have long been in each other's company. Despite Bertrand's outward laziness and indifference and Chloe's anti-social tendencies, they are connected to each other.

Other characters

Other characters include:

• The Duke of High Lagaard – The ruler of High Lagaard and the father of Princess Gradriel. He has fallen ill, but his daughter Gradriel and his Prime Minister are concealing this fact in order to prevent the Duchy from falling prey to those who would seek exploit the situation.
• Princess Gradriel – The daughter and heir of the Duke of High Lagaard. She seeks the Holy Grail in order to heal her father and prevent any crises that might arise from her father's illness or death. A character sharing the same name and appearance served as the chief protagonist of Princess Crown, another game developed by Atlus; thus, the appearance of Gradriel in Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight can be considered a cameo.
• Dubois – Regina's father and the Duke's Prime Minister. He grants tasks to the player on behalf of the Duke and Princess Gradriel.
• Regina – Dubois' daughter who aspired to desires to open a restaurant. Initially, she is serious, easily irritable, and seeks to operate the restaurant in order to prove herself and spite the expectation of her parents and noble heritage. As the game progresses, she learns to be more personable and cooks out of passion rather than a desire to prove herself.
• Hanna – Quona's mother and the proprietor of Flaus Inn. She is friendly and possesses a lot of confidence in herself and her daughter.
• Quona – Quona's daughter. She is shy but nevertheless seeks to learn how to perform her mother's duties and help manage the inn.
• Abigail – The kindhearted daughter of the proprietor of Sitoth Trading. She manages her father's shop.
• Cass – The proprietor of Stickleback Bar. Outwardly, he is greedy and often speaks about money, but he has a soft and forgiving side.
• Marion – The master of the Explorers' Guild. She helps register guilds and guild members.
• Artelinde – A member of Guild Esbat.
• Wilhelm – A member of Guild Esbat. He is deeply loyal to Artelinde and initially has little tolerance for interference from the player.
• Canaan – Leader of the birdfolk.
• Hrothgar – A member of Guild Beowulf. Along with Wulfgar, he provides assistance to players early in the game.
• Wulfgar – A wolf and member of Guild Beowulf. Along with Hrothgar, he provides assistance to players early in the game.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score Aggregator Score Metacritic 82 of 100 Review scores Publication Score Famitsu 9, 9, 9, 9 of 10 IGN 7.3 of 10 Nintendo Life Polygon 8.5 of 10 Hardcore Gamer 4.5/5

Critical reception for Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: Knight of Fafnir has been positive

Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold sold 59,531 copies in its first week of release in Japan.

External links

• Official website