Dragon Quest VIII Review

Dragon Quest VIII, is a great game , however it obviously hasnt torn me from runescape... I will break this review up into sections: Well, this is my first review on this site so I'll do my best. My relationship with DQ goes back to my early teen years with the first DW on the regular nintendo. Needless to say, I have played all of the games, including 5 and 6 through emulation, and this game blows them all away. While I love every DQ game there is, I can't even express in words how amazing playing this gameis. Dragon Quest VIII, is a great game , however it obviously hasnt torn me from runescape... I will break this review up into sections:

Graphics: 10/10

It floored me to see Gamepro magazine give the graphics on this game a 4 out of 5. Are you frickin crazy???!!!! These are the most gorgeous graphics I have ever seen for an RPG and it sets the tone of this series PERFECTLY with the cell shading. Final Fantasy X style graphics could not have captured the DQ atmosphere like the cell shading does, and it is the best cell shaded game ever! Hands down, the game is absolutely gorgeous and you will be doing your eyes and vision a favor by looking at it.

Music: 8/10

The music for this game is very good and very DQish. There really is no complaints that I can give except that many of the tunes repeat a lot. The battle music is always the same as is the music in certain other situations. The music in itself is very good and typically upbeat and lighthearted.

Sounds: 10/10

Typical fare here as the DQ series always retains many of it's sound effects. The classic level up tune is there along with many others. The big addition to this game is the voice acting. I was VERY concerned about this when I heard about it because a DQ game with voices did NOT seem to go together. Man was I surprised, however, when I heard them. The voice acting is VERY VERY good in this game. No complaints whatsoever in regards to the voices.

Control: 9/10

Everything in the game flows very naturally EXCEPT for item maintenance in the menu, which can be a pain at times. Other than that, moving around the world, camera control, battles, and everything else is very smooth and not overly complicated. Especially with the battle system. The battle system is actually FUN and leveling up can be enjoyable instead of a nuisance. Almost all of the monsters have weird skills and actions that they do and most of them are hilarious. The first time I saw the puppeter "tell an exciting tale" I laughed my as* off. While some may find the battle system overly simplistic, I actually find it quite refreshing. Battle systems like FF8, SO3, etc. were such a pain it wasn't even fun to me. It is nice to just relax and have some fun.

Extras: 10/10

There are many new additions to this game with the alchemy pot, monster arena, notorious monsters, new casino games, etc. That, along with old things like mini-medal collection, monster encyclopedia, and hidden chests, make for a plethora of fun things to engage in besides NPC chat and battle. Also, the day/night aspect, which is in many other DQ games, really adds to the flavor too. Expect to see even more old enemies from past DQ games which adds a to the nostalgia quotient. Haven't seen the lethal gopher or horned rabbit in a while, although they have new names in this game.

Overall: 10/10

Whether you've followed the DQ series in the past or are brand new to the game, there is something for everyone. This game should appeal to almost all RPG players, except players who are dedicated to complex battle systems and story lines. While the story line is good, it's not going to be made into a play on broadway. Overall, it is a masterpiece and should finally bring popularity into the states. Hopefully all future DQ games will be of this quality. If you haven't picked this game up yet, do yourself a favor and get it now. In my opinion this is the best RPG to date.

Written By: Hogie hutt
Edited By: Ultima Cow
Coded By: marth558