Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth

 3DS
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
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  1. Vice
    Oct 18, 2017
    The series, rather than making large structural changes from game to game or adding many additional systems, finds more nuance and complexity in the encounter and level design that was created to hold a great deal of depth, and Etrian Odyssey V—which released this week—is particularly, even for the series, stripped to what it's always been and what it's always been good at.

Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best 3DS Game of 2017
22
#22 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2017
22
#22 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2017

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 41 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 41
  3. Negative: 4 out of 41
  1. night4
    Oct 17, 2017
    6
    First off, I've played all the other EO games.

    V is pretty good, it simply feels like it's missing a few things. I'm missing Link skills,    First off, I've played all the other EO games.

    V is pretty good, it simply feels like it's missing a few things. I'm missing Link skills, I'm missing the Prince(ss)/Sovereign (yes, there's the Shaman, but it's just not the same), and I'm missing a third difficulty level.

    My biggest gripe, though, is the summon line. Only 3 slots? And now most Dragoons want to use at least a slot for Bunkers? I don't like this restriction at all. What if I wanted to use 2 Rovers, a Dragoon, and 2 Necromancers?

    Another minor issue is being forced to spend precious skill points to fish or handle animals, etc. Why not give us extra points *just* for those skills instead of taking away from our combat skills?

    This game just feels like a half step backwards for EO :(    … Full Review »
  2. midipon
    Dec 4, 2017
    5
    Incredibly lackluster and middling Etrian game. They tried to change too much while also going back to its roots, which doesn't make muchIncredibly lackluster and middling Etrian game. They tried to change too much while also going back to its roots, which doesn't make much sense from the get-go. The writing is off-tone for the series as well. It seems to have been written by a below-college age fanfiction writer with phrases like "you see this monkey with what can only be described as a ****
    The music is also very derivative and boring, Koshiro has run out of ideas for this series. The character art is messy and are mostly uninspired, boring-looking headswaps. Battles have too many gimmicks and flat-out the game is unbalanced. All around shoddy design choices.    … Full Review »
  3. Koromaru99
    Nov 6, 2017
    9
    One of the best EO games as well as one of the hardest. Its high difficulty curve makes this game hard to recommend to anyone but to hardcoreOne of the best EO games as well as one of the hardest. Its high difficulty curve makes this game hard to recommend to anyone but to hardcore RPG fanatics who don't mind getting killed by Acorns this is great fun. A large amount of grinding is often required to face each stratum boss, but that is just how Etrian games work. The character customization is at its best, controlling the smallest details of your team is great. Union skills are the latest addition to the series and is probably one of my favorites. It can quickly give you the edge you need in a boss fight. Imagine binding the legs, arms, and head of a boss for three turns and they can't retaliate as you beat the living daylights out of them. There is a Union Skill for that. The story is very thin( which ii what you should expect from an EO game so people can't complain). The true story isn't really revealed until about 40 hours and is fairly generic. The mapping system is as challenging as ever but with a full auto map some of the games frustration is alleviated. But lets be real, if you take away map making EO is no longer EO. The stratums are diverse but due to the fact it takes about 10 hours to reach the next one they can become a little boring towards the end. Yet its great to go from a forest to a canyon and then from a canyon to a graveyard created by a long forgotten war. The graphics are good for a 3ds game, but nothing groundbreaking. The battle system remains the same. You can attack, use a skill, or defend. A new Race feature adds in race skills, which are basically skills only certain race can learn.The races in the game are Earthlain, who are basically humans. There are the Celestrians, who are basically elves. The Therians(my favorite), who look human but have animal ears. They are basically the hard hitters and supporters. Last but not least are the Brouni, who are magical dwarves. Each have unique skills only their race can learn. There are ten new classes, some of my favorites are Rover, Warlock, Dragoon, and Pugilist.
    Pros:
    Excellent Character Customization
    High Difficulty Level
    Diverse Labyrinths
    Great Battle Systems
    Cons:
    Not beginner friendly
    Light on story(not a complaint I have but one the public may have)
    Labyrinths are slow paced and become dull after several hours
    Replay Value:
    Fairly High

    My verdict:
    Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth is an excellent addition to a series famous for its high difficulty, party building, and map making. While this game does not take the series in any new direction, it is still a great homage to old school RPG's and will remind many people of the old days playing games like Wizardry. This game's steep difficulty curve makes this game hard to recommend to anyone but to hardcore gamers you may find solace in this series. Its party building and create your own odyssey feel give this game a D and D feel. 9/10    … Full Review »
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