Dragon Quest Megoothread

[Nickakyoin]

DQ XI is a such joy to the eyes. I beat the vanilla version on PS4 and played S with the Steam version thanks to the demo. I'm tempted to buy it to experience it again...buuuuuuut I do have so many other DQ to return first, obviously.

I love the DQ series but some of them take me forever to beat. I think I played DQ7 on 3ds off and on for about a year before I beat it. I finally finished Act II of DQ XI after owning that for a super long time. I dont' know what it is about these games, I just seem to play these for a bit then come back to them at a later date to finish them. But I do enjoy them.

If you wanna play the shortest DQ the play game number 1 (also incoming shortly with the remake). I don't know how much the HD-2D version will be, but the original one if you know what to do takes maximum 4 to 5 hours to beat LOL.

Honestly both you mentioned are notorious to be the longest games of the franchise. DQ XI took me 80 hours to beat with the true ending.

 

[Jayonnaise6105 Jayonnaise6105]

Honestly both you mentioned are notorious to be the longest games of the franchise. DQ XI took me 80 hours to beat with the true ending.

I was 100+ hours easily on the Switch version of XI S, although I sometimes like just grinding for a bit in RPGs hehe

 

[Aziamuth]

Man, I love, love, LOVE Dragon Quest. It's my favorite series ever. Time for me to ramble.

• Dragon Quest I holds up very well in its own unique way.
• Dragon Quest II, unfortunately, is one of the worst RPGs I've ever played. I've read once in an interview that the game wasn't playtested. It shows. On the other hand, I'm very excited about the upcoming HD-2D remake. It could be its final chance to be good.
• Dragon Quest III is a timeless classic deserving of its status. Give a try to the HD-2D remake if you ever get the chance!
• Dragon Quest IV... I wish I liked it more. It's good, but it's very lacking on replayability.
• I have no shame in saying that Dragon Quest V is one of the best RPGs of all time. It's just that perfect.
• Dragon Quest VI is highly underrated. The job system is very fun, albeit simple, and the narrative is surprisingly good. I wish more people learned to appreciate this one. It's not without flaws, though.
• Dragon Quest VII is one of the few Dragon Quest games I can't recommend, and I don't even think it's bad. It's just a game that you can't rush. Take your time, as if it was an anime series, and you'll get more enjoyment out of it. Very excited for the Reimagining as well.
• Dragon Quest VIII is my favorite thing of all time and I don't see it changing ever. I could gas it for hours.
• Dragon Quest IX is one of the best co-op games ever.
• Dragon Quest X is one of the few MMO I don't despise. I just wish it was more convenient to play in Europe.
• Dragon Quest XI, despite my problems with it, is a great example of a modern game that hasn't lost its soul.
• The Builders subseries is amazing, ESPECIALLY the second one. The first one has annoying progression on its story, but it's great for building.
• The Monsters series is amongst the best monster catchers ever, with the exception of Caravan Heart, which is a horrendous game overall. I think Joker 1 is a bit boring though.
• The Slime MoriMori series is fine. Only played the second one.
• I couldn't tell you about the Torneko spin-offs yet.
• Treasures is very middling, but a treat if you're in for some fanservice.
• The Heroes series is, frankly, not that interesting. It's all about the interactions between the characters, but that's it.
• We don't talk about Infinity Strash. Ever.
• And less about the gachas.

 

[Tonberry]

Cool new countdown art:

 

[lytrid]

Now that the remakes are out, what do you think?

I'm playing through DQ1 HD. It's nice, but it feels like a different game to me. With all the added story and cutscenes a lot of its simplity is gone. That was the defining trait of DQ1 which made it stand out from the rest. The remake plays closer to every other Dragon Quest. I know I could just ignore the world map and turn off the objective marker, but it still wouldn't quite be the same. I also think the bad NES graphics and barebones story gave it more of a sense of wonder. It lets your mind fill the gaps.

Oh well, still a good game. Don't take this as a complaint.

 

[Dyne]

Now that the remakes are out, what do you think?

I'm playing through DQ1 HD. It's nice, but it feels like a different game to me. With all the added story and cutscenes a lot of its simplity is gone. That was the defining trait of DQ1 which made it stand out from the rest. The remake plays closer to every other Dragon Quest. I know I could just ignore the world map and turn off the objective marker, but it still wouldn't quite be the same. I also think the bad NES graphics and barebones story gave it more of a sense of wonder. It lets your mind fill the gaps.

Oh well, still a good game. Don't take this as a complaint.

Honestly I agree with every single thing you said.
Although I did turn off the objective marker.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Now that the remakes are out, what do you think?

I'm playing through DQ1 HD. It's nice, but it feels like a different game to me. With all the added story and cutscenes a lot of its simplity is gone. That was the defining trait of DQ1 which made it stand out from the rest. The remake plays closer to every other Dragon Quest. I know I could just ignore the world map and turn off the objective marker, but it still wouldn't quite be the same. I also think the bad NES graphics and barebones story gave it more of a sense of wonder. It lets your mind fill the gaps.

Oh well, still a good game. Don't take this as a complaint.

Less is more.

 

[lytrid]

Mixed reviews on Steam for DQ 1-2 HD. A lot of Japanese negative reviews pointing how DQ1 was butchered, especially when it comes to its battle balance.

Meanwhile the English reviews are mostly positive. Gaijins love remake slop!

 

[Tonberry]

Mixed reviews on Steam for DQ 1-2 HD. A lot of Japanese negative reviews pointing how DQ1 was butchered, especially when it comes to its battle balance.

Meanwhile the English reviews are mostly positive. Gaijins love remake slop!

Feels kind of interesting/refreshing to actually see wildly varying opinions on a DQ game.

I thought 11 was pretty lukewarm, safe and basic compared to a lot of DQ storylines but since it was so many peoples’ first foray into the series you hardly saw anyone being allowed to criticize it. It’s become one of those series where ”nothing is ever bad” and every game is near-impossible to criticize.

I’ve been hiding from much of the impressions of 1-2 HD as I can’t play it yet, but it seems like a lot of people are appreciative towards the changes to 2, but less so towards the changes to 1, so I’m very excited to try them out for myself soon.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Dragon Quest 1 got added story bits but let's be honest: DQ1 is too basic for a JRPG in 2025 and while it can be accepted in 1986 I think the one-on-one battles and lack of story outside of rescuing a princess and getting artifacts to enter the final dungeon is what makes it feel outdated in more than one way.

Even subsequent RPGs from 1987 - 1988 got more to offer.

A lot of Japanese negative reviews pointing how DQ1 was butchered, especially when it comes to its battle balance.

In which way? The protagonist is too OP? I always felt like the game became trivialised once you grind more for better equipment and magics.

Also I guess that many Japanese players are also traditionalists that don't always accept changes for a classic.

Meanwhile the English reviews are mostly positive. Gaijins love remake slop!

It doesn't prove anything I think. Japanese also could review negatively something that is actually good.

but it seems like a lot of people are appreciative towards the changes to 2, but less so towards the changes to 1, so I’m very excited to try them out for myself soon.

DQ1 seems to be "untouchable" from many?

 

[Tonberry]

DQ1 seems to be "untouchable" from many?

I think so, but I also kind of feel this about DQ in general, at least in the west.

It’s massively more popular than it was even a decade ago but there’s been this kind of mentality in the fanbase that everyone discovered DQ on their own and it’s their little old-school RPG secret, so it’s always been pretty hard to talk about the things you maybe don’t like about the games because the entire brand seems kind of ”sacred”.

Aside from the few games that have the ”this one is worse so it’s safe to talk shit about it” branding, like 2, 6 and 7.

 

[elehayyme]

I have some lovely memories of DQ I (although I remember it as Dragon Warrior on the NES) when I was a kid. It was also a game that my mom at the time wanted to try and she's not a gamer at all -- she wanted a way to bond with us.

Too bad Rambette was taken down by some slimes never to be seen again.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

I know that Ys 1 basically got remade with Ys Eternal which had some slight changes compared to the PC-88 (and PC Engine) release (especially with a new starting village being added).

Perhaps Squarenix didn't do it well.

I still love that cutscene exclusive to the GBC release

 

[lytrid]

In which way? The protagonist is too OP?

Surprisingly, it's the opposite. The original DQ1 was balanced with 1v1 battles in mind, but now you get multiple opponents most of the time. The protagonist wasn't buffed to compensate for this change so they can easily finish you off before you even made your first move.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Surprisingly, it's the opposite. The original DQ1 was balanced with 1v1 battles in mind, but now you get multiple opponents most of the time. The protagonist wasn't buffed to compensate for this change so they can easily finish you off before you even made your first move.

Oh... But then again isn't DQ1 one of the easiest entries?

Also there are spells for multi hits.

I do agree that being alone is a handicap.

 

[lytrid]

Oh... But then again isn't DQ1 one of the easiest entries?

Also there are spells for multi hits.

I do agree that being alone is a handicap.

Aren't they all easy? Aside from this one, I guess. I just pick my battles more carefully and gain exp off easier encounters.

Multi-hit attacks deal damage to groups of the same monster (Slime A, Slime B, Slime C). You could have a separate group of Skeletons next to the Slimes though - an example of an unlucky scenario.

 

[Tonberry]

Aren't they all easy? Aside from this one, I guess. I just pick my battles more carefully and gain exp off easier encounters.

Multi-hit attacks deal damage to groups of the same monster (Slime A, Slime B, Slime C). You could have a separate group of Skeletons next to the Slimes though - an example of an unlucky scenario.

Are there any boomerangs in the new DQ1?
Those were always nice to have as a backup as they hit all enemies regardless or groups.

 

[lytrid]

Are there any boomerangs in the new DQ1?
Those were always nice to have as a backup as they hit all enemies regardless or groups.

They exist, but I find them too weak to be useful.