Game #16 – Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
Publisher: Square-Enix
Developer: Level-5
Platform: DS
Outside of Japan, Dragon Quest has always been considered a lesser RPG, at least considerered to the other Square-Enix RPG series that we all know and love. And it's a damned shame too, because Dragon Quest has always been much more consistently fantastic, and what better example than Dragon Quest IX.
What makes DQIX work is its mixture of old-school JRPG tropes and game design with elements of more modern RPG design. Sure, you have the tried and true turn based adventuring, but there's also the addition of a “tag” mode, similar to Monster Hunter. You can team up with other players to gain additional items, giving the game much more of a social edge than other RPGS out there.
It's also coupled with the charm that's always made Dragon Quest work. Sure, there are puns a plenty, character designs by Akira Toriyama, fantastic music...all of it still works. You could argue that the game itself is traditional and therefore it sucks...but in all honesty, it's still an incredibly satisfying experience.
Really, in a year where the DS is kinda on the slide and the hype for the 3DS is constantly building, you can't find a better portable RPG experience on the DS than Dragon Quest IX.
Homer, maybe you know, with your multifarious connections in the gaming business.
Are the DQ's localized by an Australian company? Reason I ask is, in Rocket Slime and in DQ4, they make frequent use of Australian slang that is pretty deep (stuff that only an Aussie would know). In DQ4 they kept it to one region (down near Riverton), but in Rocket Slime it was throughout the game.
Matter of fact, I don't even know if there are any localization houses down here!
Yeah, the multiple dialects in DQ seesm to be a trend. I guess they just consult some australian they know for those parts.
Only DQ I've ever played is the original Dragon Warrior. Doubt I'll ever pick up another one anytime soon, although I have entertained the notion of grabbing DQVIII every now and then.