All gaming developers start with the dream of having multiple world-famous titles under their belts, and few RPG developers have experienced success on the scale ofAtlussince its inception in 1986. The Japanese developer has consistently put out high-quality releases for the gaming public to consume with itsShin Megami TenseiandSoul Hackersfranchises. Creating captivating spin-offs from original franchises is no mean feat, butAtlushas crafted a winning formula with its widely-acclaimedPersonaseries. The recurring nominations of Atlus' productions for gaming awards are no coincidence, as its releases are highly rated by the public and critics alike.
Thelatest release from Atlus,Soul Hackers 2, deviated from the norm of excellence expected from the developer, enduring some mixed reviews, but every developer is bound to have some hits and misses along the road. Having so many successful games comes with a catchment, as the umbrella of a few successes tends to block out other content of the same developer from seeing their day in the sunlight. Atlus has a few sleeper franchises lurking in the shadows that could pique the interests of gamers if given adequate exposure.
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Etrian Odyssey
Not an adventure for the faint of heart, gamers that seek an easy-going time on their consoles will not findEtrain Odysseyfriendly. Moving through the dungeons in this game is a hardcore experience requiring lots of grit, so the fan base is composed of highly motivated gamers. Thedungeon crawler RPGseries has sold about 1,500,000 copies since its first installment in 2007. Atlus has put out six titles and two remakes of theEtrian Odysseyseries, with two spin-offs in the form ofEtrian Mystery Dungeon.Etrian Odysseyis a wonder for gamers with an affinity to exploration, as players must create new maps of each floor of the labyrinth by themselves, just likein Wizardry.
The map creation could prove to be quite the task as there are 25 floors in the Yggdrasil Labyrinth. There’s plenty to explore for completionists, with over 70 side quests available in the first edition ofEtrian Odyssey. Completing the game can take the average gamer anywhere between 40 and 60 hours and demands lots of strategies and forward-thinking to progress through the levels. Players must create a balanced, versatile team to face a host ofchallenges thrown at them by the Yggdrasil Labyrinth.
Etrian Odyssey 2maintained the core elements of its predecessor while modifying a few features like the Boost system, replacing it with the Force system. A new town, classes, and storage facilities were added to the sequel to give gamers an enhanced experience. The additions paid off, withEtrian Odyssey 2attaining high ratings across critic platforms.Etrian Odyssey 3didn’t fare as well in the market after its release in 2010 due to its difficult learning curve and theevolution of the RPG genre, but gamers are a loyal bunch, and diehard fans of classic RPG gameplay remained loyal to the franchise.
Therelease ofEtrian Odyssey 4in 2012marked a rebound for the franchise, as the game racked up tons of positive reviews among fans and critics for its improved visuals and design. This change came as a breath of fresh air to the franchise as it marked a shift from the monotony of the first threeEtrian Odysseygames and presented a more user-friendly entry point for gamers to get into the franchise. Atlus releasedEtrian Odyssey 5in 2014, building on the positive trajectory from its predecessor with its expanded character creation. The final installment of the series,Etrian Odyssey Nexus, received the best reception from fans upon its release in 2018. Gamers who are up for a dungeon-navigating challenge can give this franchise a try.
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Dragon’s Crown
WithDragon’s Crown, Atlus showed its range in the RPG gaming category by creating an action game. The2D fantasy gametasks players with choosing the role of an adventurer to retrieve the Dragon’s Crown before enemies get the chance to take possession of it. Players can choose an avatar from six character classes; Fighter, Dwarf, Wizard, Amazon, Elf, and Sorceress.Dragon’s Crown’s acclaimed gameplay features elements of stealth, fight-or-flight, and espionage, and the art style is truly something to behold. However, the game also endured a few criticisms for its underdeveloped plot and exaggerated character designs. The positives outweighed the shortcomings, and Atlus recorded sales of over 1,000,000 copies ofDragon’s Crownby 2017.
Growlanser
Another underrated series from the house of Atlus isGrowlanser, a tactical RPG series set in a fantasy worldunder threat from an ancient evil.Growlanseris considered a successor to theLangrisserseries and received six mainline editions.Growlanser 2was the point of major exposure to the gaming industry for the franchise, and it drew positive reviews for its enthralling storyline. The most commercially successful game from theGrowlanserfranchise -Growlanser Generations- wasn’t a mainline edition but a combination ofGrowlanser 2: The Sense of JusticeandGrowlanser 3: The Dual Darkness.Growlanser Generationswas the only North American release of these games and featured improvements from their Japanese counterparts with Auto-Battle features, enhanced voice acting, and a gallery of artwork.
Asides from the games covered in detail here, Atlus has a few other franchises likeCatherine,Hamster Paradise,Kids Station, andKunio-kun Nekketsu Collectionfor gamers to try their hands on.Personaand otherShin Megami Tenseititles may have stolen the spotlight for their brilliance, butAtlushas a range of obscure games yet to be explored by the majority of the gaming public.
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