Was released today, except in English. Google wasn't terribly helpful with bringing up the English translation, but the subtitle should read 'Sentinel of the Starry Skies'.
I'm not sure what it's about yet. I haven't opened my copy. I'm excited, though!
What is the Dragon Quest series?
It is a series of roleplaying games. The series is stupidly popular in Japan, but also relatively popular elsewhere in the world. In the US the games were released under the name 'Dragon Warrior' until 2004 thanks to copyright issues.
Why should I care?
Because they're really, really fun little games, and recently they've enjoyed a resurgence on the DS, with 4, 5 and hopefully 6 being released with updated graphics and, I believe, better translations. 9 is the latest in the series to be released, and it was made for the DS. Previous games in the series have been released for the MSX, Famicom/NES, Super Famicom/Super NES, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and Wii.
But I hate JRPGs and the artwork is horrible!
Believe me, this is what I thought, too. I'm certainly not one for grinding in games (which Japan apparently loves) and the character art style is ghastly. At least, it's ghastly on the covers/in the art books. It actually works rather well on a DS screen. Also, say what you may about the human characters, but the monsters in the games are really quite darn cute.
The Dragon Quest games, however, have managed to worm their way into my affections despite my dislike of most other things JRPG, including Final Fantasy. They're not too difficult, and although a little grinding is required, the battles are mercifully short and the text easily skipped through. The stories are classic rpg fare, but are well told, with a few interesting twists here and there, and a great sense of humour. The sense of humour, actually, is really what carries the games. They are simply
fun.
So where do I start?
Anywhere! The games are all stand-alone, although there are a few very tenuous links to the other games in the series.
I've actually only played 4 and 5, but I really, really loved 5 and would definitely recommend that as a good place to start. I understand many people consider it the best in the series.
Both 4 and 5 are readily available on the DS, and are extremely well-polished:
(Seriously, terrible artwork!)
Hand of the Heavenly Bride is pretty epic. You start off as a small boy and eventually marry, have a couple of children and defeat the threat to your world.
In Chapters of the Chosen you don't actually play as the hero until chapter 5. In the first four chapters you play as other members of your party, and eventually you all meet up and save the world together.
What else is there?
I can't make a Dragon Quest thread without mentioning one of the spin-offs: Dragon Quest: Rocket Slime.
The slimes are the most adorable thing about the Dragon Quest series, and are both monsters you fight and can recruit. Rocket Slime, who is blue, got his very own game, in which he rescues all the other slimes of Boingburg when they are slimenapped by a mysterious enemy.
Seriously, look how adorable he is:
He is just so
happy.
The game is very simple - you use two, maybe three buttons for the entire game - but again, great fun, and it has some fantastic boss battles.
Competition Time!
Okay, so, in order to spread my love of all things Dragon Quest Moriveth & I decided we should hold a competition.
There are prizes!
The winner shall receive a copy of Dragon Quest 9 & Rocket Slime for the DS, and two runners-up will receive copies of Rocket Slime.
How do you enter?
This one is Moriveth's plan.
Since we both enjoyed Rocket Slime so much, we'd love to see what ideas people come up with for a
Fake Dragon Quest Spin-Off.
You don't have to have played the games to enter. Just google and you'll come up with dozens of the monsters, including slimes, used in the Dragon Quest games.
For example:
I don't care how you present your ideas; it can be original artwork, cut-and-paste, anything! Just take a Dragon Quest character and insert them into another game, original or existing, of your choosing. Humour is a bonus!
Spoiler:
To prove my seriousness, behold a cellphone photo of the shrink-wrapped prizes, already bought:
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The hairstyles, Rane, the hairstyles. They differ...sort of!
when asked about the story in their newest release SquareEnix was quotes as saying it was "TO GO EVEN FURTHER BEYOND!" previous installments
In the words of the ancients, one should make his decision within the space of seven breaths. It is a matter of being determined and having the spirit to break through to the other side
I have not played Monsters. Perhaps I ought to...
yes
it's his style
because it's him
Tegan and Sara Appreciation Station | LOOKS GOOD! | Fancy Cat Moustache! :{3
Neither can I...except in the games themselves.
It translates very well to little sprites.
But otherwise...ugh!
Also I am terrible at Photoshop but I was going to do a thing where I took the box art from "Dragon Ball Z budokai tenkaichi 3" and change the name to Dragon Warriors Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3, and then replace the DBZ characters faces with Dragon Quest 5 characters.
how would you even be able to tell the difference
Tegan and Sara Appreciation Station | LOOKS GOOD! | Fancy Cat Moustache! :{3
I can look at DQ's art and think, "Hey, things are going to be alright."
you're not supposed to say it you're just supposed to repost the picture
In the words of the ancients, one should make his decision within the space of seven breaths. It is a matter of being determined and having the spirit to break through to the other side
And it turns out the legendary hero is your son, and your part is to be the father and cause him to be born/protect him.
and then you get owned by a giant booger with a crown on its head
The first installment is what I'm talking about. The one for the gameboy. There is DQM Joker for the DS but it's mildly lackluster for some odd reason. Just not enough pokemon.
Just about to go
You can also find me on Twitter if you want to be inundated with my horrid opinions off the forums, too!
Nobody else compete, so I can win!
That was fun!
But I got bored after reaching the next continent and never finished it.
I'm thinking probably.
edit: i already have the perfect idea
everyone else should just quit now and kill themselves in embarrassment
tumblr twitter old people with tats
satan, check this wishlist's rims out
but I have such a huge backlog and no time hurg
also was there a deadline in that OP that I missed?
Here is my entry
With love,
Kusu
the first image is there because why not and also i was going to have them in the mirthmobile in the background but who cares
thanks to worthless lurker for the idea, even though all he did was post whatever he posted here.
also i just realized that in the second picture it should be 'because I'M' not 'because it's'
tumblr twitter old people with tats
satan, check this wishlist's rims out
picked this up yesterday and it is so good so far
going to die now
I bought DQ5 back in March but I got stuck in some dungeon pretty early in the game and I never went back which sucks since I was enjoying myself.
I also don't like Toriyamas style at all. Neat factoid: This artstyle with their larger foreheads and tiny eyes actually make me queasy if I look at them too long. True story.
Still waiting to see some blackface in DQ9.
Really
Pick up Dragon Quest 8
The color full pictures and words of praise have convinced me to buy a game from the main series.
Is there a story that extends from one game to the next or can I just jump in?
Also, I just got a DSi XL. This thing is awesome and kinda huge.
And don't DQIV and DQV have some sort of online functionality? Or is that just local multiplayer?
Steam
Nope, there are some extremely vague references to some of the games in some of the other games, but that's all.
The world even changes every game.
I'd definitely recommend DQ5, but that's just my personal preference.
No, but we probably should state one!
Like....a week hence?
*Points do not affect your chances of winning**
**But they do affect your chance of me liking you
so now i just have deadly premonition
gonna repair the 360 and play it eventually, but i thought you'd like to know because i was excited