In addition to a steady stream of top-quality games, the 3DS' RPG library is filled with the sort of lifetime achievements most consoles can only dream of: a hat trick of Monster Hunters, two to four Fire Emblems (depending on your perspective), scores of Shin Megami Tensei titles, and enough Etrian Odysseys to field a curling team. Now add to this list the fact that North American and European gamers have had the good fortune to experience not one but two mainline Dragon Quest games in the space of six months, with Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King following hot on the heels of last year's phenomenal Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past. Like its predecessor, this is an absolute classic that's been lovingly reimagined for the 3DS, and is an unmissable treat for RPG fans.
True to its title, Dragon Quest VIII opens with royalty in a pickle. Cursed by the dark magician Dhoulmagus into the bodies of a squat green troll and a horse, respectively, King Trode and Princess Medea are in serious straits at curtain up. Left with these unfortunate new bodies and a castle in ruins, their only hope is to somehow track down Dhoulmagus and break the spell, so with the help of Yangus — a hulking cockney club-wielder — and our fearless, voiceless, nameless Hero, they set off to find the wicked wizard and put a stop to his evil tricks once and for all.
It sounds like a simple setup, but Journey of the Cursed King's story isn't exactly as it initially appears, and a constant succession of intrigue, complications and fresh faces continues to delight and surprise across the entire adventure. It hits on plenty of familiar fairy-tale beats, but always in a new light — European lore filtered through a Japanese perspective — and it certainly helps that the characters are well-drawn and likable. Jessica in particular is one of the more memorable heroines of recent RPGs, and we loved learning more about the whole cast's lives and motivations as the narrative unfolded.
One thing that stands out immediately in Dragon Quest VIII — especially in contrast to its predecessor — is its impressively snappy pace. You'll take control of your character within thirty seconds of the start screen, fight your first battle soon after that, and be well and truly off on the adventure after just a single night's rest. While we genuinely enjoyed the slow-build in Dragon Quest VII, the running start of this sequel is infectious; it also makes it significantly easier to jump in here even if you've only recently wrapped up Fragments of the Forgotten Past, as you won't feel like you're spending ages in low-level limbo before getting to the real deal. Even if you're not coming directly off of that game, it still feels quick — learning fast-travel magic less than two hours in cuts manual backtracking to a minimum, and story beats are chained close together, so you're never left wondering where to go or what to do next.
For the most part, the 'what to do' in Dragon Quest VIII follows the series' trademark formula: you'll lead your party over a fully 3D world map, traveling between towns, outposts, dungeons, and ports, meeting new characters and helping them through trials and tribulations, and defeating all manner of monsters, foes, and bosses in turn-based combat along the way.
Those battles are no longer randomly encountered, as they were in the PS2 original; instead, all enemies are now visible on-field, and you can (usually) avoid them or run headlong into combat as you see fit. It's a welcome change, and — along with the fact that weaker enemies will actively run away from you as you level up — makes traversing already-explored areas much more fun. It's also smartly balanced to avoid under-leveling, with dungeons and other monster-heavy locales usually featuring tight corridors where avoiding battles becomes more difficult.
When you do find yourself facing off against a foe, you'll find a familiar turn-based battle system that's intuitive, quick and fun. You'll pick each of your party members' actions before starting a turn, and can choose between several standard commands: you can Attack, cast magical Spells or Abilities (some of which consume MP), Defend to reduce damage, or use items in your characters' individual inventories. You can also change up your formation to place party members in either the vanguard or rearguard for improved attack or defense, and issue orders for teammates to follow instead of micromanaging their moves — as in many Dragon Quest outings the combat here is enjoyable precisely because of its easy-to-grasp nature, and we love it for that.
Dragon Quest VIII does add one additional wrinkle to that formula in the form of the 'tension' system, which lets your character spend their turn getting 'psyched up' to raise their tension level. You can do this up to four times, and a higher level of tension exponentially increases attack power, so that a single blow after three turns of tension-building can deal five or six times as much damage as a regular attack. It's a fun option that adds some extra strategy to battles, and it's particularly useful in longer boss fights; having a character sit out a few rounds to power up — while protecting them in the meantime — creates a great risk/reward setup that reminded us favourably of Bravely Default's give-and-take battles.
Once you fight enough of these battles to level up, your characters will also earn Skill Points that you can use to customize their growth and Abilities in simple skill trees. You'll get a certain number at each level, and you can distribute them as you see fit; each party member has paths to upgrade their skills in three weapons, as well as bare-handed combat and a character-specific trait, like 'Humanity' for Yangus or 'Courage' for the Hero. These make for a great addition not only because they open up new combat possibilities and the fun of planning long-term team strategies, but also because they're presented with all the charm and whimsy that Dragon Quest does best. Yangus doesn't just get a 'Stun' skill, for instance; instead, he learns the 'Underpants Dance', a beautifully-choreographed, boxers-enhanced performance capable of shocking the sensibilities of puritanical monsters across the land.
In fact, that's a thread that runs throughout Dragon Quest VIII as a whole; mechanically, it's wonderful — polished, refined, and a joy to play — but people love Dragon Quest for more than its gameplay alone, and it's easy to see why when playing through this eighth episode. Part of it is thanks to the palpable sense of scale; the massive but fully-explorable world map means that distances between villages and landmarks feel significant, with the landscape changing subtly from valley to valley.
It also helps that once you reach a new destination each feels appreciably different from the last — every town has its own unique layout and they're all a joy to explore, with covered bridges, pretty central squares, water features and lookout points that seemingly exist just for fun all making appearances in various villages. Even building types across towns are noticeably distinct; instead of cookie-cutter churches, for instance, each hamlet's house of worship is unique, from small stone chapels to soaring cathedrals, while inns, shops and houses are all similarly singular.
Then there are the set pieces — from running tall-sail ships to controlling small woodland creatures and riding some unexpectedly awesome land mounts — which pop up organically and never fail to raise a smile. The entire journey is pervaded by a genuine feeling of adventure and discovery, and there's an infectious confidence in the game's world-building; we were continually excited to see what would pop up next, and there's a real sense that life goes on in-game beyond your party. Dragon Quest VIII manages to feel like a true epic without relying on complicated mechanics, system bloat, or an overly-expansive map — this is perfectly paced, perfectly proportioned RPG gaming at its finest.
It's similarly well-written, with fun, clever dialogue that puts the series' love of wordplay and puns front and centre. Dragon Quest VIII is still old-school enough that most of your way-finding will be done by talking to townsfolk, rather than following a pin on a map, and it's a testament to the localization team that this never becomes tedious — shooting the breeze with NPCs is an enjoyable reward for reaching a new town, rather than a Simon's Quest-style stumbling block to overcome on the way to your next objective.
The other payoff from each new area visited is, of course, getting to see more of the world in Dragon Quest VIII's brilliantly colourful graphical style. Though in many ways it's a step down from the PS2 original — some textures and models seem worse off, and the characteristic cel-shading isn't as apparent here — it still looks fantastic on its own merits, brimming with colour, contrast, and charm. The only disappointment is the total lack of stereoscopic 3D — this is a 2D experience through and through, and that's especially unfortunate after seeing how much the effect added to Dragon Quest VII's recent remake.
That omission aside, however, the presentation shines; Dragon Ball legend Akira Toriyama's character designs give the game a uniquely timeless look that transcends 'anime art', while smooth, characterful animation gives the impression of a Saturday morning cartoon come to life, with plenty of brightness and whimsy throughout. That's especially apparent in the enemy designs, with creatively silly combinations — like the unruly pepper pairs Capsichums, b-boying Dancing Devils, and Robin Hood-like Fencing Foxes — alongside the everblue Slimes making your foes feel straight out of a storybook rather than a Monster Manual.
Dungeons and town are equally thoughtfully designed, indicative of a welcome wider attention to detail. Try to use the fast-travel 'Teleport' skills indoors, for instance, and instead of a simple warning message or a disembodied scolding, your hero will fly confidently skywards, only to smack his head and return to earth unsuccessful. And though many RPGs feature a day/night cycle, we were impressed by the implementation here; you can watch the sun or moon move slowly through the sky in both the overworld and towns, and at the moment of the switch — which determines when shops are open or NPCs are available — a short, seamless cutscene draws your attention to the hand-off between the two. These little touches — alongside many others, like visible equipment on your party and patches of grass swaying in the overworld — make Dragon Quest VIII's world feel so much more believable, inviting and alive.
That said, perhaps the single most memorable part of the presentation is the music. Dragon Quest's signature symphonic style is alive and well here, and this may be one of the strongest scores in the entire series; from the playful capriccio of market town tunes and inspiring overworld airs to the brass-fronted bombast of battle, each piece is memorable and unique, and well-deserving of a listen even outside the game. Several classical reference points — especially Handel and Tchaikovsky — strongly underpin rhythmic and melodic motifs, but taken as a whole, it's a distinctively 'Dragon Quest' sound.
There's also a welcome variety here; not all towns and villages have the same themes, and aside from a few standbys — like overworld exploration and battles — repeated tracks are well spaced out, so that you'll never feel like you're listening to the same three or four tunes on repeat as you travel the globe. Unfortunately — as with Dragon Quest VII — the Western release features (high quality) MIDI arrangements instead of the orchestral recordings present in the Japanese 3DS version. It's a sad loss — especially considering the symphonic nature of the score — but far from a deal-breaker; the synthesized soundtrack still emerges as one of the highlights of the game.
We were equally pleased with the voice acting, which goes a long way towards bringing Dragon Quest VIII's world to life; most important story dialogue is voiced, and it adds an enormous amount of personality to the proceedings. The English dub is excellently delivered, and helps to present a softer take on the series' trademark eye-dialected dialogue, where characters 'speak' in accents through non-standard spellings; there are still several over-the-top continental accents, but various British Isles dialects are done quiet well — especially Yangus' easy cockney cant.
Part of what made last year's Dragon Quest VII release on 3DS such an impressive effort was the sheer gulf between the original and the remastered version — going from a top-down 2D title on the PlayStation to a fully 3D world on Nintendo's handheld made it feel almost like a different game. Since Dragon Quest VIII started life on the already-3D PS2, this remake is admittedly less of a sea change, but its updates are no less noteworthy, and it gives returning players plenty of reasons to dive back in after Dhoulmagus.
Aside from the excellent addition of having two fan-favourite NPCs — Red and Morrie — become playable party members, perhaps the most notable of these changes is a faster pace throughout. A new fast-forward option lets you speed up battles, Bravely Default style, without sacrificing either control or the excellent animations; coupled with the lack of random encounters, that makes backtracking and getting from place to place much less of a chore, and the result is a much snappier game.
Dragon Quest VIII on 3DS also makes plenty of quality-of-life improvements that help it feel right at home on its new portable hardware. There're the usual suspects, like a quick-resume feature and being able to save at any time, but also less obvious tweaks, like characters now fully regaining HP and MP on level-up, which helps cut down on backtracking during commute-sized play sessions. Having the full world map visible on the bottom screen is great for way-finding, and a useful touchscreen quick-menu gives easy access to things like Teleport and party chat — the latter is also an excellent, in-character way to remember where you're supposed to be headed after an extended absence.
The controls are equally well-suited to the 3DS; movement is smooth and responsive, and cursor memory in battle menus — a big upgrade from Dragon Quest VII — makes complex sequences of nested commands much faster to pull off. There are still some frustratingly old-school conventions at play — like having to manually manage individual inventories when buying and equipping weapons, armor, and accessories — but overall, it's a friendly system.
The right-stick camera control of the PS2 original has been well-adapted here too, with the shoulder buttons swinging the view left and right, a short tap of both recentering the camera behind your Hero, a long press of the pair toggling a first-person view, and the D-Pad filling in to adjust up/down alignment. The C stick on New 3DS models also does camera duty, though we played on an old 3DS and had no issues.
Far and away the best reason to replay Dragon Quest VIII on the 3DS, however, is the new camera mode introduced in this remake. By pressing 'Start' at any time during the adventure, you'll pull up a full-screen viewfinder and be able to snap away any way you like. You can rotate the camera 360°, zoom in or out, add or remove characters, and pose your party members before clicking the shutter, with even more options in post-processing, including filters, stickers, borders and captions.
To say we enjoyed our in-game photography time would be an understatement; it was a highlight of the journey, and we wish it was a standard feature in all RPGs. It really adds to the sense of adventure and wonder as you explore; each time we'd spot a new village after cresting a hill, catch a glimpse of a neighbouring continent from the coast, or come across particularly interesting architecture in a dungeon, it felt perfectly natural to pull out the virtual camera and take a snapshot.
Even better, you can take any photo in your album and set it up as a 'postcard' to exchange with other players, over both StreetPass and SpotPass. We loved putting together cards of our best and/or silliest scenes and sending them out into the ether, and getting greetings back in return. There's plenty of incentive to share, too, with new decorating options to unlock as you exchange more cards. There's even a new quest chain that involves filling an album of photo requests for a Mr. Cameron Obscura — a wonderfully enjoyable Pokémon Snap-style challenge that doubles as a scrapbook of your journey.
And while that might sound like a bit of a distraction from the main adventure, it's only one among many; Dragon Quest has developed a penchant for scenic routes and side-quests over the years, and VIII is no exception. Along with seeking out new angles for your photo assignments, you'll be able to comb the continents for hidden Mini Medals, drop some serious time (and cash!) at well-outfitted Casinos, mix and match materials to craft powerful items and equipment in the Alchemy Pot, and recruit teams of monsters to challenge the Monster Arena. There really is a massive amount to do, and while the main journey is more than enough to entertain, we loved how much there was to dive into on the side.
Conclusion
Dragon Quest VIII is something special. It tells a lovely story with memorable characters in a captivatingly colourful style, features fun combat and a beautiful world to explore, and — most importantly — sparks a true sense of adventure and wonder throughout. This isn't just one of the best RPGs on the 3DS, it's one of the best RPGs full stop — and one of the best Dragon Quests to dive into for the uninitiated. Perfectly paced, well written and superbly scored, it's a trip worth taking for any RPG fan, and the updates in this 3DS remake — from faster battles and on-field enemies to a fantastic photography mode — make it a worthwhile return journey for veterans. A true classic.
Comments 119
Really looking forward to this one. Sadly, with soooo many rpgs releasing at the end of january and the fact that I already played the PS2 original, I won't be playing this one for quite a while. Stuff like Kingdom Hearts, Tales of Berseria and Digimon World simply have priority. Just gotta figure out which of those has priority over the other two ...
Dagnam 3DS and its must have RPGs...
Wow, that's a thick chunk of text! I might have to give this a go... despite being a big RPG fan & also a huge Akira Toriyama fan I've never actually played a Dragon Quest before.
Maybe it's slime time?
Excellent game and excellent review.
One note: there is 3D in the game, but only in the bestiary (at least in the japanese version, it should be the same here).
Haven't had a 10 day-ahead review for quite a while. Looking forward to this one!
Wonderful game. I played the original on the PS2 and I will play it again on the 3DS!
I agree with the welcomed speed increase. Fragments of the Forgotten Past was excellent but between the poorly-planned menus and frustrating quest triggers, it was painfully slow.
@Dezzy - I think the editors wanted to get this review out early so that it would not be lost in the hype around the Switch that is going to drop later this week.
This will be a day-one purchase for me. It will end up going straight onto the backlog pile, but since I signed the petition for localization I feel duty bound to buy it.
Who's 'we'?
@Dezzy Embargoes on retail games are funny beasts...
I got into the series on 3DS with DQ7. Loved it, and I don't like many RPGs. VERY excited to play DQ8. Got it pre-ordered from nintendo.co.uk, and it comes with some lovely extras.
I don't know if I want to get this game, to be honest. The only DQ games I have beaten are the original (on NES) and Dragon Quest Heroes on PS4. I played II, III, and IV on NES and VII on 3DS and I couldn't even get into them, especially the latter since by trying it out, I would know what I would be up against in VIII in terms of gameplay, which is (personally) too...um, simple for me to grasp onto.
-I want to see how much EXP my characters have left to level up, but I have to go to the Church to find out about that This is 2000 now and why oh why oh why do I always have to return to the Church for each time I want to find out where my party is at in EXP? Pokemon and even the Mario RPGs allowed me to do this and those games started back in the 90's.
-I want to take out enemies individually, but seeing as I can only select them in a bundle and the fact that characters attack whatever enemies in that pile randomly, it just flatout annoyed me. I mean, what if a couple monsters were left standing in battle and one of them was close to biting the dust, only to have that same monster cast some powerful spell to wipe out my party while my party paid no mind to taking out that weakened monster first? In RPGs such as Final Fantasy, they allowed me to individually select which enemies I want a character to go up against.
I don't want to pass up on this game, but the super-simple nature of the series' battle system turns me off.
@RatKing64
Seems the Switch might have something to do with it. It's the publisher that dictates it though, not the media.
Never got a chance to finish the PS2 version. I am so happy this has come to a portable (and the 3DS no less).
I tried to get into the game with the original PS2 version, but it didn't work out.
I'm giving it another shot though, so hopefully it will work out better this time, at least the godawful load times that plagued the PS2 version should be void now.
Wow, I can't wait to get this. Unfortunately I still haven't touched the post-game in Moon, I'm in the process of playing through Yokai Watch 2, and just started back up on Hyrule Warriors Legends. It may be a challenge finding the time to play everything.
This reads more like a 10/10. Why does Pokemon Sun/Moon get a 10 but this doesn't?
Still one of my favorite DQ games. Not sure if I'll triple dip though.
Pre ordered on Amazon. I love Dragon Quest games. I get annoyed when I can't loot in other games. There's always a ton of grinding, but it never feels like a chore in DQ.
Welp, I was hoping to save my money until the Switch arrives but looks like I'll be shelling out another $40 for this.
I don't have a 3DS but this is a day-one purchase for me....I just want to watch....
@GoldenGamer88 High-five for Digimon World!
I'm also looking forward to DQVIII, but likely won't get to it for a while.
This game deserves a 10.
I'll buy the PS2 version instead (because of the censorship).
Cannot wait! My all time favourite game!
My body couldn't be more ready!
This will be my second DQ game (after the mobile port of DQ1). It seems to be a fan-favorite, so I'm eager to try it out.
Well that settles it, this is the one I'll get. So glad I held back on getting VII
Don't do this to me NL. I don't think my heart can contain so much excitement without exploding. Only three days before the Switch presentation and price reveal and only ten days before release date of DQ VIII. I can hardly breath and butterflies must have a party going wild in my stomach.
Pre-ordered . 35euro on Amazon with free post to Eire. Can't wait!
I remember playing Dragon Quest 8 back in 2008 and it took over my life (130 hours well spent)... I'm wondering if I should let that happen again. Though I wonder why the 3D doesn't work despite being fully featured in DQ7 remake... I'm guessing it's no different on N3DS?
I've always liked DQ, specially V and IX, but to be honest Toriyama's drawing style always put me off, I just can't. Every character looks ugly ._. or a DBZ copy paste.
Great review, brought back a lot of great memories. Seems like they took an already awesome game and made it even better - no random battles, world map, photo mode. Don't think I'll ever have time to replay it, but I'm telling my kid to get it when he's done with Sun.
With the Switch launching soon the release of this game would be a great time for a 3DS price cut. (OK maybe Poochy would be better.) 2DS can live out the rest of its life as $79, that's cheap enough, but XL has been $199 since launch, even if it is New. That would look like a lot next to a $249 Switch. $129 3DS, $169 XL.
@kotag High 5 for IX I need that so badly on my 3DS, too bad I didn't get the original DS catridge (I played it through emu because I never had DS, I upgraded to 3DS from GBA SP and PS2 lol), the game is so damn expensive now, twice than regular 3DS game @_@ I wish 3DS was able to emulate DS games so I could purchase it on eshop
This is gonna be my first DQ game
@cheonsacz I totally understand your excitement... so many amazing games to look forward to and they're only round the corner too. ;-; Hype-ernova!
I preordered, but I won't actually play this for years, if ever. My backlog is currently sitting at 194 games, and that doesn't count three more that I bought on eBay that have shipped but not arrived. Also, I stalled 10 hours into DQ V, and need to finish off V, VI and VII before I actually play VIII. At least the PS2 original was already in my backlog, so I'm just shifting systems instead of adding to the backlog.
Never finished my PS2 version because I was too scared at the time of the monsters, I'll definitely be getting this because of the extra features although I'll go back and finish the PS2 one sometime as I still have it.
This is one of the finest JRPGs I played. I was entranced playing it on the PS2.
@cheonsacz I just checked eBay [for IX], there are used copies for some very decent prices.
Never played a Dragon Quest game. Wanted to try 7, but was put off by the length. My time is limited. Any estimates on how long this one takes to get through?
@chiptoon 71-120 hours depending. So still pretty lengthy like all good RPGs should be.
@MadameSpuki Thank you :3 The first half of 2017 is going to ruin me financially XD
@LemonSlice Yeah I did too the problem is the shipping to where I live is kinda expensive and most of the sellers are USA based while I'm in Europe. Thanks for the tip though, eBay is definitely better than local store where the price ranches from $40 to $80 (including tax)
Have my copy preordered. Can't wait to dive in but it will have to wait until I'm done DQ7 and 7th Dragon III Code.
@MadameSpuki Hi. On 3DS, DQ VII is a port of the PSOne game and VIII is a port of the PS2 game which seems like the reason why only VII features stereoscopic 3D. I doubt the newly-announced XI will be in 3D but I wish it was. Big new releases are foregoing stereoscopic 3D altogether (Hyrule Warriors Legends, Pokemon Moon, Dragon Ball Fusions, DQ VIII). We know the reason is to make way for higher res graphics but still, tell me how there are many beautiful games that include it and now it is not so much?
I already have the PS2 version, but I'm glad more people will get to enjoy this gem.
It's almost out and i have barely touched DQ7.. never gonna have time to play all these RPG's, have like 10 other ones on the 3DS alone that i havent played through yet.
@ollietaro I thought DQ7 for 3DS was a remake? I never actually played it on PS1 since it never came to Europe. DQ8 is more complex looking so I understand why that might be so. If XI is being specially made for 3DS it's more likely it will include some 3D but you're right. Sadly everyone seems to neglect the 3d capibilities these days despite games like Majora's Mask 3D and Monster Hunter clearly showing how it's done. (And they look amazing in 3d)
I never tried the Dragon Quest series until the DQ7 remake came to the 3DS and I loved it. It made me purchase IV, V, and IX for the DS on Ebay. I have 8 pre-ordered and I'm excited to try it since most people consider it to be the best game in the series.
Kind of stuck with the PS2 version and IX for the DS right now, as I've played the whole series chronologically during the last years. As soon as I wrap the original up and finish IX, I'll jump in the 3DS remakes. I'm buying it on the 20th though, to support the series.
@MadameSpuki My bad. Yes, they are remakes. Yes, Monster Hunter looks amazing in 3D. I think Pokemon is setting a trend. To be truthfully honest, 3D in both 3DS Style Savvy games hurt my eyes and I could play Monster Hunter for longer in 3D. In Fashion Forward, with the 3D depth slider all the way up, every smooth edge becomes jaggy and the depth is not that deep (It's deeper in Trendsetters) so I definitely notice a dip in 3D depth and quality with newer 3DS games. I guess they figure it's at the end of its run so why bother trying and also it allows for higher res graphics so why not? We might even see more games (ports, remakes, new ones) for 3DS now that stereoscopic 3D can be taken out of the picture. With DQ XI being made in Unreal Engine for PS4, the 3DS version will look noticeably downgraded in comparison and even worse if they implement 3D but I wouldn't mind if they did a 3D-in-New-3DS-only like Hyrule Warriors Legends.
Gun shy with the 10's it seems. Don't be afraid to use it if it deserves it.
"best RPGs on 3DS... best RPGs full stop"
That's reaching in to 10 territory...
I'm on the fence about it. I'd love to play it on the go and play as the new characters but the needless censorship is a no no. I completed the original and was a great experience.
It looks fun. I've still not got to go the end of the story in VII, so I can't see myself getting this anytime soon.
ugh. I JUST downloaded Xenoblade Chronicles 3D two days ago.... Was looking for a pick-up JPRG to get back into. This seems tempting as well, which one should I invest my 100 hours into first....??
@GameOtaku I suppose the remake is intended for people who missed out on the original. I think they censored the game so it's more favorable to the younger audiences. (which doesn't detract from the fact that it's an amazing game)
@rjejr With you on the 3DS price cut. You didn't go low enough though. I stayed with family on Thanksgiving night — almost didn't — and missed a chance at two $99 3DS and then I was scrambling daily for a deal and only got one New XL for ~$150 after sales (on several items, I just choose to count the savings on the other items towards the 3DS ).
$119 for New 3DS and $149 for New 3DS XL. In the US, it should keep New 3DS continually in stock at that price, too. None of this limited here and limited there. The thing is, it's value hardware now. The screen screams to the owner, "I am from the past!". The games are fantastic though.
Aside: Guess what? Metroid Prime Federation Force is great! The chibi bobblehead characters were the only misstep. Everything else about it (except the cramped size of the controls on every 3DS game) is fun and stays true to other Metroid games. Major mistake going with the chibi forms of the characters. I think it could have been salvaged in the minds of fans if it didn't have those. I even bought a second copy so my kids and I can play co-op — would've been 3 player if I'd gotten that $99 black friday deal . I feel like I live in this alternate world from everyone else where Nintendo Land, Star Fox Zero and Federation Force are really great games. Star Fox the least of them and too short, but still.
Anyway, The more I think about it the more I think 3DS is going to be around for more than another year. The Switch is too big for kids.
@ollietaro I will say I'm a fan of the stereoscopic 3D effect but only when it's done well. (where there's lots of depth and runs smoothly) but now that the 3DS isn't the developers main focus like it was in 2013, games will increasingly lose the 3D effect. I think it will make new releases easier to release if 3D is cut entirely. I just hope we get more depth options on New 3DS since it's more powerful.
Not QUITE as excited for this one as I was VII, as that game NEVER came out in Europe on any format before, but will still pick this up when I see it for under £25. Came close to pre-ordering with Amazon as it's £26.99 for Prime members.
@DanteSolablood yeah this was my first DQ since the NES original. I bought dq8 for ps2 and was blown away. The music, dialogue and gameplay is all top notch.
@Moon If you enjoyed 7, you will LOVE 8 as it's a vastly better game in just about every way.
@Nintendam I would say Xeno although they are both amazing. Xenoblade 3D is SOOOO good though.
I think this is the best DQ ever made!!
Wow, this review made me go from considering a buy to a definate, day one buy. I played the ps2 version back in the day (still have it somewhere) and I remember enjoying it a lot but a few problems in it had me frustrated. From this review though it sounds like they fixed all those plus some! After the recent DQ7 became boring and repetetive about 30 hours in, I was hesitant to get this one but I forgot how much better of a game ot is in general. Should hold me over till BotW!
I absolutely adore the PS2 original - it's one of my favourite games ever. I've decided against buying this though because I have so many other games to play and there are so many other games coming out that are more interesting to me. This also appears to be quite a visual and audio downgrade compared to the original, which is a shame.
@MadameSpuki
It's rated T, not E. It's supposed to cater to an older demographic.
@GameOtaku Yes in North America. I know that in Japan, the game was changed so it would cater for younger audiences. (It's at the lowest age rating there, now) It's rated T in NA & 12+ in Europe but only because of comic violence. I guess that doesn't matter so much.
Not a single mention of load times?
A few hands-on videos I saw earelier in the week displayed load times of about five seconds before AND after battles, during which the audio was totally silent, plus equally long loads when transitioning to the world map. If true in the retail release, surely that deserves a mention/caution somewhere?
Ugh I want this but I wish there was an option for it on the Switch. Since I plan on getting the Switch, it's tough to justify spending anything on the 3DS
@Morgan19 Do you have any idea what your playing here?
Was there any reason given why the music of the Western versions is not on par with the Japanese version? I've asked this before, and I've yet to receive an answer concerning it. Does it have to do with text-space limitations?
(Such a shame about the complete lack of stereoscopic 3D (I wonder if that's due to actual space limitations or if they've just intentionally downgraded development to the 2DS, as with PKMN Sun and Moon). Normally, this would make me abstain from buying, altogether, as that seems to indicate laziness by the developers...but so much other fantastic work has been done otherwise that I guess I must support this despite the very unfortunate missing utterly unique visual effects.)
@River3636 I assume you mean "you're", but... huh? I don't follow whatever you're trying to say.
Check out the video here, and the lag/pause before and after battles is painfully apparent, absolutely moreso than other RPGs: https://youtu.be/fqq9ZVbAh1s?t=25s
@aaronsullivan The Switch is too big for kids, too expensive, and you can't keep it in a Nerf case b/c of the toaster design.
Good luck on Nintendo keeping anything in stock. They didn't make enough NES Mini, they didn't make enough $99 New 3DS, they aren't going to make enough Switch. They have 2DS at the low end and after one last 3DS push for Poochy and Yoshi I'm expecting slim stock for awhile, maybe until June for graduation gifts. Nintendo is a 1 focus pony, and that focus starting Thursday is Switch.
I do like your prices better than mine, but we're talking about a company that sold Wii U for $299 this holiday. Well sort of sold it, don't think I saw an ad for it.
I'm on day 6 of a head cold, sorry so mundane. Going to go play FFXV for an hour and go to bed at 9. Need to build up a sleep reserve for Thursday, I will stay up until it's over, for better or worse.
Ive played all the dragon quest games 1-9, and this is hands down the best one. The 4 characters are awesome and really grow as the game goes on, and the sheer amount of things to do make it so fun to explore. I enjoy final fantasy vi more, but I definitely put the most hours into this one.
Pre-bought a couple weeks ago cant wait. Amazon is offering 33.99 to Prime members.
It'll be some time before I pick this one up, but I intend for it to be my first DQ game! This review seems to reinforce the fact that I'm in for a fun (albeit long) haul.
No 3D... sigh! I know, I know, it's not a big deal and I'm still looking forward to getting it but... never mind.
@Arngrim I would bet you have RPG's on other systems as well you want to get too. Im still backed up to the Playstation 2
@Nomad is there no 3D? Dragon Quest VII has the 3D. Im still getting but if it has no 3D I will be pretty bummed about it.
@Nin10doh thanks and yikes!
Will I end up missing out on any content if I don't get the game right away? Like with the tablets in DQ7 that are only available for a couple weeks at a time.
@invictus4000 Thanks man. I have heard it's absolutely amazing, and I even watched my brother play a very small amount while I visited him once about 5 years ago. I didn't pay much attention but what I did notice was how epic the music was. Shame we don't get the orchestrated music, but oh well! Pure hype! I still need to finish 7, though...
Im actually thinking no 3d might be a Deal Breaker for this purchase. Im going to actually cancel my order and pick up something else. I love the 3d too much. I have the ps2 version and beat it. So I think thats that.
Too many games! Sounds excellent though!
@Morgan19 If I wanted a snot-nose editor, I would of asked for one. The lag time is not that bad. Have you forgotten the PS2.
@River3636 Are you part of the NL staff? If yes, your behavior is abhorrent. If you're not, why do you care if I question a review or not? Seems like you're getting bent out of shape for no reason.
@Morgan19 Clearly snot is still dripping from "YOU"RE" nose. Have you played this game before? Are you always this snippy. You can question the review all you want. What do you feel attacked or something?
@Morgan19 @River3636 Can it, please, you two. Ask yourselves whether this issue is worth the grief.
@Morgan19 I'm kidding. I just love this game. I hope you have a good day. I am abhorrent right now. It has nothing to do with you, your, you're.
Day one for me
Man PS2 ports seems to have problem with the 3D feature on 3DS, Tales of the Abyss did as well. Seems to me the only one that is lucky enough to have got the job done is Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater. Leave it to Hideo Kojima to do what Namco Bandai and Square Enix failed to do.
I was very excited, but stopped reading the review when I reached the bit about "2D through-and-through"; as the 3DS presumably winds down I want its last hurrahs to be in, um, 3D. I am the rare individual who never turns the scaler off and these late-life omissions remind me just how much I will miss the effect on the Switch. I have been compiling a shortlist of PS2 backlog games and this just moved onto it.
still playing fragments (my first dq game) but i will pick this up for sure, 3d or not
@Mainsaile I was going to buy Dragon Quest VII but have just learned no 3d. Its a deal breaker for me. I have it on Playstation 2 so I will go back to that if I want to play it now. I will wait for something else on 3ds. I cancelled my pre-order from Amazon last night. So bummed no 3d
@Windy DQ VII does have 3D. It's VIII that doesn't. You mentioned VII not having 3D?
I've been wanting to get into the DQ series for years and will be starting with this. It's a little annoying that it's coming out just before RE7 and not that long before Zelda, but that's the way it goes!
@ollietaro yeahy mistake DQVII is awesome with the 3d. I cancelled my pre order and pre ordered Switch with Zelda can't wait! I cant be bummed enough the 3ds seems to be going out with a thud lately with a few great games released which dont include 3d. Hopefully the Monster hunter will have it and would be an awesome way for the system to go into the sunset. The 3ds is definately Monster Hunters system.
@StephenYap3
Dragonquest 8 is in a whole different league than the other games in the series.
@Cerebralbore101 So...
-Am I finally able to find out how much EXP my party needs to level up without having to return to a Church?
-Am I finally able to truly individually select which monsters I want a member to attack as opposed to the party attacking a randomly-selected target in a group of monsters in the same species?
@StephenYap3 Yes to both of those! You'll love it
@cheonsacz While I found the fifth game (on DS) pretty pricy - around 35-40€ for a used copy -, the IX was the easiest to find with the IV and was only 12€ (with box, manual, shipment fees). Priceminister has it as "under blister" for 19€.
Note: I'm living in France.
@StephenYap3 Thank Level-5. There is a big gap between what Dragon Quest was originally and a bit later, and what Level-5 made when they got their hands on the brand name (VIII, IX).
@Rei Tax and the shipping cost is the main problem though. It's like paying double the same price
@cheonsacz Sirry, I didn't thought that custom fees were so high since you said you were located in Europa.
@StephenYap3
It's been a while but I think so. To be honest, DQ8 is simply a must play JRPG. Just as much as Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6.
@Rei Well every country's taxes (vat) are different. And tax is way higher in Europe than for example in USA or Asia. It sucks, but we can't do anything about it. I'm not giving up tough. I'll save after getting Switch first (or maybe not if the insane price of the games won't drop lol)
@cheonsacz Good luck then. I did not know how lucky I was when I buy my games or books from Germany, the UK or Belgium at an interesting price.
@Rei I often purchase from UK stores as they tend to have good prices and often free shipping to overseas. Envy my friends that moved to UK. But sadly lot of things are not purchasable even in UK (mostly Japan and Korea only stuff) and percentually, I always see more of US sellers than those Europe based, on sites like Amazon and eBay. Which only shows that in terms of market, USA still holds the crown.
You indeed are lucky, even though France is going through very rough times due to all what happened and is still happening, it's one of Europe countries I always dreamed of visiting. Not only because of Paris and the "romantic" approach, but also because of the history (interesting to see Napoleon is considered hero in France, but lot of other countries consider him villain. I find him amusing as a important figure in our human history), cuisine, sights and because France had a huge manga support much earlier than for example my country (czech r.). I always wanted to see what a manga translated to french looks like (in czech language it looks really weird and funny so I prefer reading it in english or korean). It's difficult to learn french, but a beautiful language indeed.
By the way got a chance to try the game today. If it plays as well as it sounds in this first look/review I definitely will consider buying a retail version.
Should keep me busy till Zelda and Switch roll along.
@Windy Yeah Monster Hunter on 3DS was true love for me. That was the best 3D experience for me, hands down.
@ollietaro DQ VII is a complete remake of the PSOne game. 2D to 3D. It's very attractive. I agree with you about these big releases late in the console's life cycle and I'm passing on all 3DS games not in stereoscopic.
@Mainsaile You passed on Pokemon Sun/Moon then? For DQ VIII you can understand why there is no stereoscopic 3D, right?
@ollietaro im not a huge fan of Resident Evil but Resident Evil Revelations had to be the best looking 3d game ive ever seen. I even had fun playing it even though i dont usually go for those types of games.
@Windy I loved Resident Evil Revelations, too. I played both that and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate 99.9% of the time with 3D on. Some 3DS games like Style Savvy Fashion Forward use shallow 3D and it's like, what's the point? I turn off 3D b/c it's not worth it so they could have made it like DQ VIII and used the extra resources to make it higher res. I'm sure the Style Savvy demographic cares not for 3D anyway.
@ollietaro The 3d in Dragon Quest VII is pretty decent must be a completely different graphics engine. I hope the last Monster Hunter game at least gets the 3D treatment to send what has become my favorite system ever out with a bang. I've just noticed that the Eshop releases lately have had no 3D and then no 3D for Dragon Quest. It just seems to be getting dropped.
I did not love the Dragon Warrior games on the NES, but this game actually sounds interesting enough for me to Want to play it.
@ollietaro I missed the Pokémon craze by about 4-5 years in the 90's so there's no nostalgia there for me. I admire it from a distance but the free demos have been consistently unconvincing. I did just download yellow to see what I think but, yes, I passed on Sun/Moon.
Is there no 3D because of performance slowdown? In any case I may be softening my stance a bit for this game. The changes make it more appealing than going back to the PS2 version.
@Mainsaile I'm assuming there is no 3D in order to mitigate performance slowdown. I would chalk it up to that rather than laziness on the part of the developer. Usually when 3D is not included, it is to accommodate higher res graphics. That was the developer's stance for the past two Pokemon generations (X/Y and Sun/Moon). Dragon Ball Fusions doesn't have 3D either but it's still a fun game and I can see slowdown happening in the flying sections were they to be in 3D. Flying is smooth in that game so I wouldn't mess with that on account of adding 3D.
@Windy I just hope Fire Emblem Echoes will be in 3D.
Well I picked up Dragon Quest VIII. I got some extra money I wasnt expecting. Popped it in today to play it a bit. Even though there is no 3d I gotta say the colors in the game are eyepopping at first. If your like me
Using 3d pretty much 100% of the time I dont think you will mind here. I was really surprised. The game is
Very clean and has this HiDef look to it. For me im going to enjoy it just fine. BTW if you have a Prime account at Amazon the game is 31.99 including shipping. Excellent deal
I prefer this way more than I prefer 7.
@River3636
Agreed
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