Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard Critic Reviews

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.

It's simultaneously sadistic and marvelous.

Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard is everything you loved about the original, except even better.

This is a game that only a dedicated few will enjoy, but those players will find a game that’s as deep, rewarding, and fun as they come. Etrian Odyssey II is the very definition of a “cult” game.

Etrian Odyssey 2 isn't very ambitious, but it's still plenty of fun.

Ultimately, Etrian Odyssey II lives up to its predecessor while including several incremental improvements that make the gameplay smoother.

This sequel feels like the original game on expert mode - and that's a good thing.

Etrian Odyssey 2: Heroes of Lagaard is for hardcore RPG fans only. Those looking for a challenging title that will deliver 40 to 70 hours of gameplay will not be dissapointed.

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.

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.

Even without a story to speak of, Etrian Odyssey II does exactly what it was meant to do: It provides a ridiculous level of challenge coupled with weeks, if not months, of classic gameplay to an audience who still desires that sort of thing.

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.

This shining example of old-school design infused with new-school wisdom completely destroyed my expectations and delivered a supremely polished and challenging adventure that only grew more rewarding the further I went.

While an obvious attraction for the older RPG fan, Etrian Odyssey II will also appeal to anyone looking for a rewarding pocketful of portable exploration and combat.

Etrian Odyssey II's brutality and grinding is initially off-putting, but push on and you're in for an intense, rewarding experiences.

Infuriating and compelling in equal measures, this is the very definition of niche gaming.

For out money, however, the battles are all too often a test of patience rather than an examination of your ability to strategise efficiently.