like this

i'm sorry youre not doing too well :,( hope you start feeling better soon........

i will say, it was probably a bit much to play this RIGHT after i finished EO4.......... with both combined i'm at ~180 hours STRAIGHT of Etrian Odyssey 😅 and i'm not even done yet. but, i'm still glad i chose to play 2U

my original plan was to knock out Artelind first and then use paralysis/binds on Wilhelm to stop him on the turn he's supposed to wipe your party, but the game doesn't allow it :/ his Force boost never ends

NARRATIVELY i kind of like it actually, it's a desperate last stand. but gameplay wise is feels kind of limiting,, one of the best things about EO's combat is figuring out creative soluations, but there is very little you can do here except "Hit Hard and Fast" or "Use Perfect Defence"

i'm still enjoying the labyrinth itself too, i like ice puzzles and the ones here were pretty good/engaging. i liked them better than the 2nd Stratum, where it was pretty easy to brute force past stuff on the upper floors........ the damage tiles barely hurt lol

the 2nd Ginnungagap boss was WAY easier. easier than the 1st floor boss, even.

i did some transforming and you're so right

actually using the Force mechanic would probably help. but i haven't needed it so far, so........ 🤷‍♂️ whatever maybe i'll try it out on the 2nd Stratum boss

????? while i was typing this out, i was still on the cafe menu, and suddenly a little voice skit played out???????? not just a quip or two, it was whole Thing. i didn't know there could be extra stuff like that just from waiting around on the menus WTF

honestly though, i'm glad,, feels like i got to skip the early game suffering gauntlet......... lol.

and when fighting the Stratum boss, i don't think it ever knocked anyone's health own below half. didn't do any grinding, just came in well prepared, i guess. obviously, things are gonna get harder as i progress, i'm just surprised.