Japanese RPGs have come a long way in America, mostly after Final Fantasy VII for the PlayStation kicked down the door in 1997 and paved the way for mainstream success for the genre in the US. However, most gamers on this side of the pond would be surprised to learn that even the mighty Final Fantasy series ranks second in sales to the long-running DragonQuest series over in Nippon.
The first game in the DQ series appeared here as Dragon Warrior (the title Dragon Quest was removed thanks to trademark dispute with an American company for a pen and paper RPG) for the NES, and was followed by the next three games in the series. After that DQ5 and 6 appeared on the Super Famicom, which is the equivalent of our beloved Super NES on these shores, however, American audiences were denied the chance to play these after software developer Enix closed down it's American branch. Years passed, and after Final Fantasy whetted American appetites for these kind of games, DQ reappeared in 2001 on the PlayStation in America with the seventh game of the series, titled Dragon Warrior VII. The game received praise for it's challenge and story, but somewhat lacked thanks to a dated-looking presentation featuring a mix of 2D sprites and 3D dungeons. When Final Fantasy creators Square and DQ's Enix merged two years ago, fans hopes were raised, believing that such an infusion of cash and talent would help lift the profile of the DQ series on these shores. Last fall, their wishes came true, as the latest chapter came our way for the first time with its real moniker intact, Dragon Quest VIII.
DQVIII is a monster of a traditional Japanese-style RPG. When I finished it, I clocked in just a shade over 96 hours. I can tell you it has been a very LONG time since I felt compelled to spend so much time with one specific game that didn't involve the words 'street' or 'fighter' or 'halo'. The story is simple but very engaging, and bucks the modern trend of an epic ensemble cast featuring dozens of characters, it follows four heroes and one very dark villain. Personally I prefer this approach, I felt much more emotionally invested in my small band of rebels than had I juggled a baker's dozen of different folks.
There are some very cool twists and turns, and the voice acting is actually quite excellent, which is normally a bone of contention for fans of this sort of game. Given the quasi-medieval setting, the well-written dialogue and British-accented voiceovers work very well. The epic orchestral soundtrack soars perfectly along with the dubbed dialogue, and while most hardcore gamers would like an option for subtitles, the original Japanese release had NO voice-overs whatsoever (the dialogue appears solely as text), so this is a non-quibble.
Graphically, DQVIII's presentation is really something. This is the first DQ game entirely in 3D, and features character designs from Akira Toriyama, who is the world-renowned talent behind the various Dragon Ball anime series and the legendary Square SuperNES fan favorite Chrono Trigger. They did a flat-out amazing job capturing his artistic style, creating cel-shaded 3D models for every monster, villager, and main character in the game. This is the first 3D game that really feels like a 2D classic, enough pizazz for the picky casual gamers yet with the soul the hardcore players pine for.
In terms of gameplay, it's hard to describe. It really feels like something from a time capsule, think vintage 1990's SuperNES role-playing with a very cutting edge coat of paint. That may sound like an insult, but it really isn't. This is just one of those games that reminds you why you fell in love with this hobby in the first place. What's in that next town? What's in that treasure chest? What's on the basement floor? DQVIII comes across like GTA's chemically stable Japanese cousin; the sense of freedom and exploration will leave you wide awake for long hours scouring every nook and cranny of the enormous virtual world Square/Enix has created here. The battle system is pure old-school with traditional turn-based menu battles fused with a skill system where you spend points to boost each character's skill traits when they level up.
The real thing that separates DQVIII from everything else is the sheer polish applied. We live in an age where most games are churned out in less than a year, and if they don't come out correctly the first time, games get updated with patches, etc. The DQ series has had eight titles in 20 years, these games are crafted over a period of years and each one is greeted with near-religious fervor in Japan. Every nuance of this game just screams love, from the dungeon layouts to the towns to the hundreds of hidden items, special monsters, the (shhhhhh) secret dungeon you gain access to when you...oh, you'll have to wait to find that one out. Heh.
If you ever loved ANY Japanese RPG, grab DQVIII. Nearly a hundred hours later, you'll be reminded why this became your hobby, and you'll be totally grateful for the unbelievably fun journey they've assembled.
Dragon Quest VIII
PlayStation 2 DVD-ROM
One player
Role-playing
SquareEnix
or Register