Generally speaking, a new game from SquareEnix is cause enough for any self-respecting RPG fan to rejoice. But I get the feeling that Dragon Quest VIII might not be everyone's cup of tea.
While contemporary offerings in the genre have pushed the envelope in one way or another, DQ8 features a design philosophy that might be categorized as "slavish devotion to old-school principles." From the loading screen onwards I fought the sinking feeling that I'd already played a different version of this game before. I mean, stop if you've heard this one already: four adventurers — a nameless hero, a brutish thief, a cavorting templar, and a flirtatious spellcaster — save the world from an evil magician, fighting countless random battles along the way. Sound familiar?
What the game does have going for it is a cohesive and charming sense of style. Akira Toriyama (of Chrono Trigger fame) adds his unique aesthetic to even the lowliest of creatures, which really helps to capture a feeling of storybook fantasy. Additionally, the U.S. version boasts added voice acting and a revamped orchestral score, both of which are worthy of praise.
Personally, I can't stand wading through hordes of tough enemies while methodically working my way to the next boss — it just feels like work to me. For better or worse, I think Dragon Quest VIII may be among the last of its kind.
Dragon Quest VIII is rated T (Teen) by the ESRB for Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, and Simulated Gambling.
Article comments
1 - ARI
UMMMMMM Never played it