Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard Image

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critics What's this?

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Universal acclaim- based on 21 Ratings

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  • Summary: In the Grand Duchy of High Lagaard, it is said that the Duke is descended from inhabitants of a castle in the sky. When an unforeseen crisis befalls the nation, it is decreed that the first explorer to retrieve the Grail of Kings from that mythical floating palace will be rewarded with wealth and fame beyond imagining. Enter the central city of Lagaard and begin your journey to the clouds. Make the adventure yours - Rediscover true role-playing as you build your party of stalwart adventurers from 12 different classes. From basics like name and sex to advanced settings like combat formation, skills, and spells, every detail is yours to customize. The Odyssey continues - Experience an all-new story, more classes, improved mapping capabilities, new Force Skills, and over 100 side-quests. Chart your progress through the dungeons - Etrian Odyssey's innovative mapmaking tool returns with more options and features. Use the touch screen to map out the halls, chambers, treasures, and dangers of the realms you explore. [Atlus USA] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 17
  2. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. 91
    But it says something about our hobby that even in a week when the biggest-budget, highest-tech game imaginable hits stores, there's a seemingly anachronistic, equally engrossing labor of love available from a minuscule, hardworking crew with just as much heart as Kojima's team.
  2. 89
  3. Etrian Odyssey 2 isn't very ambitious, but it's still plenty of fun. [July 2008, p.88]
  4. Etrian Odyssey II: The Heroes of Lagaard is tough. It is not always fairly tough, it can be frustrating, it can be aggravating, it can make you want to drive your stylus through the DS and throw it out a window. It's also unbelievably fun, quite challenging, and a fantastic game for fun or travel.
  5. This is a specific kind of game for a specific type of gamer - the RPG masochist. But those people are going to love this thing.
  6. 80
    Yes it’s hard, but it’s also very rewarding, and we found ourselves having much more fun this time around with some very helpful warps, balancing, interface changes, and options for customization, but more than anything else this game’s “fun level” is going to depend entirely on who you are, and if this is, or isn’t, your cup of tea.
  7. Infuriating and compelling in equal measures, this is the very definition of niche gaming.

See all 17 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. [anonymous]
    Jun 20, 2008
    All of you gamers raised on games like Halo and Lego Star Wars, don't even try this one. But if you have been looking for a real challenge, you must buy this. Expand
  2. SteveM
    Aug 24, 2008
    Ten, ten, ten, ten. One of the best RPG's I have ever played in my life, and I'm 30 years old. Those afraid of a challenge or who have little patience, move on ahead, this ain't for you. Expand
  3. Tomd
    Aug 30, 2008
    Amazing, this is the only game I have played since I got it. I have tons of console games to play but this game is deep and simple and super challenging. Great! Expand
  4. Sep 1, 2011
    An absolute beauty of a game... This is hardcore RPG dungeon crawling at its best! Also, a BIG improvement on the original!
    Only possible
    let down (not a big one, though) is that in this installment the F.O.E.s (not the big bosses, but the mini-bosses) don't give your characters any experience points, so there is no motivation to kill more than a couple of each kind to get the special item drops... Also, I did like the character art better on the first one, especially the non-playable character portraits. But, overall, it is better than the original!
    Warning: this type of games are an acquired taste... Platformer and FPS gamers need not apply! (Unless you want to try something REALLY different.)