Smashboards

If you mean DS as in literally the DS (non-3DS games), EOIII. I prefer EOII's classes and class system, but EOIII has amazing, amazing music, more choice, and some slightly-less-dumb quests.

I see. Thanks. I meant DS as in DS, yes. It's actually because one music someone else sent me ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFR3TM_iP_I ) I figured I should probably give the series a second try.

Though if you ever pick up a 3DS EO, do get EOIV. Everything the series has done, IV has done amazingly. Best classes, beautiful music, and a lot of side dungeons to explore. It's a little shorter than the others, but still has absurd length compared to everything but the most lengthy RPGs/sims. Also, Atlus has sales for it all the time which is always nice.

^ Was writing that before I got your second message.

Anyway, music is certainly enough reason to get into the series. EOIII in particular has the best battle theme. The one you linked shows up later on in the game. This is the one you start with:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1EvL8wuRNc

That sounds very good. Yuzo Koshiro is so talented.

Oh that is right, EO is an Atlus franchise. There is like two Atlus sales every month, so maybe I will pick EO IV instead. Length is not a big concern for me as long as I am not paying $60 for the game hehe.

I strongly encourage it for a number of reasons.

EOIV is the first game of the "new gen" EO. They kept the core gameplay ideas behind like the bare-bones story, brutal difficulty, and exploration-heavy design in tact. But they made many improvements that are awesome, such as being able to see what an FOE is before you fight it, and skill trees that allow you to have fun without having to wait until like level 50.

It also balances the simplicity of the class design from EOI&II, with some of the fun flair of EOIII. So you get really simple class concepts, with just a little more crazy possibilities for those that don't want them. Also I won't spoil anything but EOIII has a system that makes you feel like your class decisions hardly mattered which always sucks because personally I find meaningful decisions to be important.

I am not one of those "OMG GRAPHICS PLS" people but, since EO is a series all about exploration, I find the increase to graphical quality really helps to convey a little more immersion and allowed for more creative labyrinth designs, without taking away those times where you need a little imagination.

Lastly and arguably most importantly, music. I would never say orchestrated music is superior, but generally when a new EO game came out, all a lot of people wanted was the arranged OST. Starting from EOIV, the base ST is basically the quality of the arranged version of previous entries.

Anyway, I apologize for my tangent. :D There's plenty that they did so right with EOIV. Not that I think any of the previous entries are bad, but they do have some "Uh... really?" moments that I can't say I'll ever miss.

Haha alright, you convinced me to pick a 3DS title instead. Now I just have to wait for the next ATLUS sale. Is EO one of these games having a balanced party is 100% essential, btw?

For the main game, you can definitely clear it without a Fortress and Medic, the tank and healer class. For what it's worth, all the EO games have a crazy post game where you'll certainly need a tank. However, if you later decide to get into that (I didn't), EO has a system where it's simple to replace a character with an enhanced recruit, so you don't need to worry about it.

So in short, you do not. Some sensibilities, of course, like if you have a team of squishies, and you don't have a Fortress, you'll want at least a Landsknecht or Dancer in-front. Not impossible without her, but will make it much easier. On the other hand, I hear people having fun with five Runemasters (mage archetype), so what do I know~

Ok ok, thanks for the answers. Last question (I think). I heard the 3DS EOs have more developed storylines in comparison to the DS ones. Is that so?

The story integration increased throughout the series, bit by bit. EOIII and EOIV are pretty close. EOIV probably had more of a story, but IIRC it was less involved in the sense EOIII had you make some tough decisions. Regardless, EOIV's story is certainly more developed and the characters felt more consequential. Don't want to spoil anything, though I was emotionally-engaged for the first time in the sense.

EOUI and EOUII are the only other 3d entries, barring the spin-off. EOU is the first to add a Story Mode, to create a JRPGish experience for those that want it, but the Classic Mode is just as thread-bare as EO1, as the EOU games are basically remakes with the added Story Mode.

EOUII isn't out yet, so I can't judge. That said, since it has the same Story Mode/Classic Mode setup, I assume it will be the same.