Dragon Quest

[Solo]

Anyone a fan of the Dragon Quest series? I like a few of the old ones; I haven't played 7, 8, or anything past 9.

I remember enjoying the original when I played it on GBC, but I don't remember much about 2. 3, however, is one of my all-time favorite games. Everything about that game is just so massive and epic.

4 was decent, but it was a real bummer that they cut Party Chat out of the English DS version. I might've liked it better otherwise... but I did think it had some really great characters (like Solo, as you can tell from my username and avatar... hahaha), and the villain had a really great motivation to do all the terrible things he did. The way all the storylines converged in Chapter 5 was really neat.

5 is my second favorite, behind 3. I played only the DS versions of 4, 5, and 6, by the way. But I LOVED the Party Chat in 5; especially when your character is grown up and he and Prince Harry return to Whealbrook; you can really get a sense of Harry's remorse (hope I didn't spoil anything). I was so drawn in by this, and I loved Sancho as well. I thought the "shrine" music for 5 was the best in the series, and I remember just listening to it at the Heaven's Above abbey for what seemed like hours.

Never have I been so conflicted about a choice in a video game as I was when deciding who to marry in DQ5. I chose Bianca for her storyline connections, though Nera was cute as well. As for Debora, well... it might've been interesting.

I wasn't that crazy about 6. I mean, I thought the story was very interesting (and also very moving in certain parts), but as for the game itself, it was just a little too "hardcore" for my tastes. I had to level up for hours and hours and hours to stand a chance against the final boss, and that wasn't fun.

The next in the timeline that I played was 9. I didn't like how different it was from the others, even though I thought the concept of playing as a fallen angel and communicating between ghosts and living people was quite intriguing. And the plot did become very epic toward the end. But what really revitalized the game for me was the discovery of the Legacy Bosses. I can't tell you how I freaked out when I found Baramos and heard his music from DQ3. I grinded like MAD in all the different classes to get tons of stat bonuses for all my characters so I could stand a chance and get all the heroes' clothes from the past games. It was really fun getting the clothes of past DQ characters, as well. Most often in the game, I dressed for style without actually giving my stats a second thought. BD

So, does anyone else have a bit of an affinity for the Dragon Quest series?

 

[Cadh20000]

I've been playing since before you it sounds, I started with the original English port of the game for the NES titled "Dragon Warrior".

Love those games, still have the first 2 for the NES too! ^_^

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

Well, I only played 8 and 9, but I would say that they are really awesome...

I like the psyche up system on 8 coz the charaters really turn into "super saiyan" mode when at full tension... hahaha

 

[Solo]

I like the psyche up system on 8 coz the charaters really turn into "super saiyan" mode when at full tension... hahaha

Yeah, 9 had that too. Gotta love Toriyama...

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

though 8's visual for the full tension is far better IMO... the best thing I like in 9 was the job system...

 

[Samsonite]

The Dragon Warrior (quest) series on the NES is fantastic. The remakes for the Nintendo DS are far too easy and that's makes them unenjoyable for me. I don't see the point in playing a game where you really can't lose a battle. The originals were very hard and the level grinding made it fun for me. Dragon Warrior 3 is my favorite of the original series of 4 for the NES.

 

[Eschaton]

The Dragon Warrior (quest) series on the NES is fantastic. The remakes for the Nintendo DS are far too easy and that's makes them unenjoyable for me. I don't see the point in playing a game where you really can't lose a battle. The originals were very hard and the level grinding made it fun for me. Dragon Warrior 3 is my favorite of the original series of 4 for the NES.

Man, brutal old-schoolness at its finest is the NES Dragon Warrior game.  I only played but never beat the first one.  The series hasn't been the same.  Picked up IX, but it was such a JRPG that I eventually put it down.

In hindsight, though, I can't tell if all the required level grinding was bad design or deliberate padding.  Possibly a mix of both.

 

[Solo]

The Dragon Warrior (quest) series on the NES is fantastic. The remakes for the Nintendo DS are far too easy and that's makes them unenjoyable for me. I don't see the point in playing a game where you really can't lose a battle. The originals were very hard and the level grinding made it fun for me. Dragon Warrior 3 is my favorite of the original series of 4 for the NES.

I tried playing the original NES Dragon Warrior, but I simply could not stand how you could only see one square in front of you when inside the dungeons (WITH a torch!)... they made that far better in the GBC version.

I know what you mean about difficulty, though. I felt that way about the remakes of FF1+2 for the GBA (Dawn of Souls). The bonus content did not make up for the utter butchering they did to those games... I didn't play the NES Dragon Warrior games, so I don't know what I missed there.

However, I will say that the hardest task in all of gaming, for me, is to defeat Divinegon within 15 turns in the GBC version of DW3. I still have not done it, to this day.

 

[Samsonite]

Man, brutal old-schoolness at its finest is the NES Dragon Warrior game.  I only played but never beat the first one.  The series hasn't been the same.  Picked up IX, but it was such a JRPG that I eventually put it down.

In hindsight, though, I can't tell if all the required level grinding was bad design or deliberate padding.  Possibly a mix of both.

The first Dragon Warrior for NES is so frustratingly hard that it's such a joy to finally beat the game. That game requires a lot of patience to play. I always see tonnes of copies of it at secondhand stores and flee markets.

I used to love the level grinding when I was a kid. I played Dragon Warrior 3 until I leveled up everyone to level 99 just to see their stats.

I tried playing the original NES Dragon Warrior, but I simply could not stand how you could only see one square in front of you when inside the dungeons (WITH a torch!)... they made that far better in the GBC version.

I know what you mean about difficulty, though. I felt that way about the remakes of FF1+2 for the GBA (Dawn of Souls). The bonus content did not make up for the utter butchering they did to those games... I didn't play the NES Dragon Warrior games, so I don't know what I missed there.

However, I will say that the hardest task in all of gaming, for me, is to defeat Divinegon within 15 turns in the GBC version of DW3. I still have not done it, to this day.

Dragon Warrior was not a kind game to the people who played it. It was the worst when those torches burned out.

I had to google Divinegon. I never played the Game Boy Colour version of Dragon Warrior 3.

The Final Fantasy remakes for the DS really disappointed me. I didn't care for the bonus content either. And, they were too easy.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker for the DS was kind of fun.

 

[Solo]

I had to google Divinegon. I never played the Game Boy Colour version of Dragon Warrior 3.

Oh, man, it's the best. Tiny Medals, Monster Medals, the Pachisi board games ( BD ), Divinegon's wishes, the personality test and books to change your personality... plus the enemy animations, which in my humble opinion were VERY impressive for the GBC!

I remember how I used to make new files just to take the personality test over and over again to see what kinds of characters I could make. Some of those questions were pretty intrusive. "Is it wrong to be attracted to your friend's lover?"    And the scenarios you'd find yourself in! A suicide tower? Being turned into a hideous beast and wiping out an entire village, even a mother who pleads for you to not harm her only child? And Ponny's fiancé, the poor sucker! You had to let him know that she didn't care about him anymore since she became a star. Or you could just duck out of the theater and be awarded a cowardly personality (I think)... Then there were the brothers in the desert: "Should I leave him to die or take him and risk both our lives?" I could go on.

I would make countless party members at Ruida's Tavern, giving them different combinations of seeds to see what personalities they would develop. And then I would strip them of their default equipment and make some money!

I played through the game again recently, so these memories are pretty fresh. Ah, DW3... one of my favorite games ever. I love the world (especially the world map music) and the freedom it gives you. A true masterpiece! I do believe it was the best-selling game in Japan for a very, very long time, too... at least the best-selling game in the Dragon Quest series.

Anyone heard of the policy that Enix adopted, of releasing new DQ games only on Sunday? Because any other day, everyone would skip work to buy them...

 

[Chaos Avian]

My first DQ game was 8 and that was what really got me into RPGs. 8 I found was so darn amazing and the extra HHNNGGHH factor was that the art was done by Akira Toriyama, my personal favorite artist~ I have played a few of the older ones and it's a really tough decision, but it has the be 5. It was just soo powerful and well done. Seeing your father killed in front of your very eyes, captive as a slave for 10 years, reunited with your childhood friend (if you choose Bianca. Oh god the 3 wives choice~<3), finding out your wife is bearing your twins and that you're the heir of the Gotha Kingdom, the tragedy of what happened when you were born happens again and your son is the long sought Zenthian hero. Did I mention that is was refreshing that the MC for 5 was a Healer by trade and not a swordsman? And monster recruitment? YES!~

As for DQ9, it felt like a major let down compared to the rest. It was significantly shorter (I felt), and it was EASY. That was my major gripe, the concept was great but took WAY too long to get good. The first half was a fetch quest pretty much, and parts of the story I found underwhelming. The class system was great and the alchemy pot was broken if you knew to look in the right places and a fair bit of grinding xD The legacy bosses had me screaming like a little girl when I first discovered them, Baramos? YES. Heck I even remember the first time I fought him I got a Co-op de Grace (SOUL ASYLUM IS EPIC.)

How do you guys feel about 10 being an MMO? Personally I'm not too happy about it :/

 

[Solo]

I have played a few of the older ones and it's a really tough decision, but it has the be 5. It was just soo powerful and well done. Seeing your father killed in front of your very eyes, captive as a slave for 10 years, reunited with your childhood friend (if you choose Bianca. Oh god the 3 wives choice~<3), finding out your wife is bearing your twins and that you're the heir of the Gotha Kingdom, the tragedy of what happened when you were born happens again and your son is the long sought Zenthian hero. Did I mention that is was refreshing that the MC for 5 was a Healer by trade and not a swordsman? And monster recruitment? YES!~

Where I failed to capture the full range of greatness in Dragon Quest 5, you have succeeded. Thank you.

 

[Touchfuzzy]

4 will always be my favorite, but its more because of nostalgia than actually thinking its the best GAME of the bunch. I played 1-4 as they came out on the NES, and liked them all, but 4 was the game that made RPGs my favorite genre.

Personally, the remakes are good. The remake of IV isn't so much easier as it is FASTER. The battles go by faster, so grinding is quicker, allowing you get to sufficient level much faster than in the original. And anyway, the DQ games were never specifically that hard, outside of a few instances, unless you consider having to do a bit of grinding "difficulty". Having replayed the NES version of DQIV after playing the DS version, there isn't really that much difference as far as difficulty.

V is a great game, mostly because the story is well done,

Spoiler

especially the passage of time, and the part where you are turned to stone.

As far as games though, I think 8 and 9 are the best from a non-nostalgia perspective. I could go into why, but I'm actually on some prescriptions that are making me drowsy atm so I'm just going to stop here for now.

 

[Chaos Avian]

When you get time Touchfuzzy I'd like you to go into DQ9 as I do find it hard to love especially when compared against DQ8.

 

[Samsonite]

Oh, man, it's the best. Tiny Medals, Monster Medals, the Pachisi board games ( BD ), Divinegon's wishes, the personality test and books to change your personality... plus the enemy animations, which in my humble opinion were VERY impressive for the GBC!

I remember how I used to make new files just to take the personality test over and over again to see what kinds of characters I could make. Some of those questions were pretty intrusive. "Is it wrong to be attracted to your friend's lover?"    And the scenarios you'd find yourself in! A suicide tower? Being turned into a hideous beast and wiping out an entire village, even a mother who pleads for you to not harm her only child? And Ponny's fiancé, the poor sucker! You had to let him know that she didn't care about him anymore since she became a star. Or you could just duck out of the theater and be awarded a cowardly personality (I think)... Then there were the brothers in the desert: "Should I leave him to die or take him and risk both our lives?" I could go on.

I would make countless party members at Ruida's Tavern, giving them different combinations of seeds to see what personalities they would develop. And then I would strip them of their default equipment and make some money!

I played through the game again recently, so these memories are pretty fresh. Ah, DW3... one of my favorite games ever. I love the world (especially the world map music) and the freedom it gives you. A true masterpiece! I do believe it was the best-selling game in Japan for a very, very long time, too... at least the best-selling game in the Dragon Quest series.

Anyone heard of the policy that Enix adopted, of releasing new DQ games only on Sunday? Because any other day, everyone would skip work to buy them...

If the original Dragon Warrior 3 had all those extras and bonuses I'd have spent another 10,000 hours playing it as a kid.

I remember when I was in grade 6 and Dragon Warrior 3 came out, I couldn't stop playing it. We had a school dance held during regular school hours one day and instead of going to it I just took off and went home to play the game. My teacher called my house because people noticed I was missing.

I played Dragon Quest 5 for the first time on an emulator back in the day and when it was rereleased on the DS. That one was pretty good. I liked being able to have monsters join your team.

I bought Dragon Quest 9 for the DS and was disappointed on how easy it was. I never got very far in it before I gave up and sold it.

 

[Touchfuzzy]

I'm still confused that anyone ever thought DQ was a hard series. Especially hard from the beginning, which is being implied by the "I quit IX early on because it was too easy."

Beginning of 9 isn't hard but it's challenges eclipse any of the challenges from the other DQ games. Seriously, legacy bosses at a decent level will trash perfectly equipped maxed out characters if you dont think smart.

The challenge in most of the other dq games is "well better level a couple more times".

 

[Solo]

Beginning of 9 isn't hard but it's challenges eclipse any of the challenges from the other DQ games. Seriously, legacy bosses at a decent level will trash perfectly equipped maxed out characters if you dont think smart.

Estark was the worst. In order to get the Zenithian Leotard ( :  ) you had to level him up to level 69 (that means fighting him at LEAST 69 times, probably more if you struggle with him or repeat levels to get all the other equipment he can give you). As if that weren't bad enough, by then he can act three times per turn, including his all-consuming fire/ice breath attacks and that UNGODLY Gigagash. That's just cruel...

It's a good thing his music and battle arena are so awesome.

I got really lucky and got the Aliahan Headpiece from the Headwear Fair on DQVC, so I didn't have to fight Zoma up to level 69 (or more than once just to get him in my bestiary, actually). By the way, they totally should have used his speech from the GBC version. Here's the comparison:

DQ9:

"Hero! Why do you struggle to live? My joy is thy destruction. My beauty thy death! Come forward then; and die in peace!"

DW3 on GBC:

"Hero! What drives you to struggle so for the sake of life? Destruction is my joy. There is no greater beauty than the dying. Come, you shall breathe your last within my arms!"

...And prior to that, declaring himself to be the Destroyer of All, and declaring you to be his sacrifice, he commanded his subordinates to shower him with your suffering and despair.

<3 Zoma  AND his music! So epic.

 

[Chaos Avian]

Everything encapsulating Zoma is just flat out epic~ Music, feel, design, HHNNGHH~<3 I do know DQ isn't a hard game overall, (Atlus RPGs is where the hard is ) but DQ9 felt somewhat disjointed from the rest and was consistently easy. Though I do agree whole hardheartedly about the Legacy Bosses. They WILL tear your ass out if you aren't prepared xD

When you can take on Zoma with 2 party members, you KNOW you're king xD

 

[Touchfuzzy]

I think the thing about DQIX is it made grinding something you didn't have to do until postgame. And I actually thought that was an improvement over the previous games. (Though I think its something they have consistently gotten better about, 8 didn't require much grinding either).

Also, that is something about DQIX that I really liked: There WAS a postgame.

 

[CWells]

The only one I ever played was 8 or 7 for the PS2. Probably 8 then. I got a bit annoyed at its slow pace and was overjoyed when something finally happened halfway through the game to help me understand what it was I was actually doing. It encouraged me to play it through and finish the game at least. But other than that...nah, I didn't care for it so much. Not bad just...I don't know. I didn't care so much.