I've been with this series since it's inception into North America in 1989. (Ok, I started playing DW on my NES in January 1990, so a few months after the NA release.) I played and saw it ignored by the general populace as DWII, III (My personal favorite. The twist at the "end" still makes me shiver at the genius of it's placement.) and IV. When Enix attempted to translate DQV and failed, I was sad. When they attempted DQIV and failed, I was saddened some more. When Enix shut down (along with Square) in North America, it was a horrible day for RPG's here. So, I suffered trhough 1992 until 2000 in January with NOTHING DQ-related at all. When DWM hit for the GBC then, I was in heaven. Screw FF (Not really, I just hold DQ higher, as I started with it before FF.) I was home again... All the music and sounds were the same. Even the DQV and DQIV elements were familiar to me as I had read a lot about them even though I was denied them, being unable to comprehend Japanese.
When Enix returned, I was overjoyed. Especially when I heard that more DW was coming. DWI&II and Torneko were bought by myself and I loved them both. DWI&II was a pure joy to play. Just to see what was changed, and what remained the same. I loved it.
Then DWIII, my pride and joy of the whole RPG genre hit. The remake for the GBC was and still is, my favorite game of all time. I just love it. I love levelling. I love fighting the enemies. I love the music, the sound and the way everything LOOKS. I played the hell out of that. The new bonus stuff was really cool too.
DWM2 hit, and I picked up both versions and I liked what I played. Lots more to do in terms of monster creation and breeding. Like Pokemon, but with a DQ twist.
When DWVII hit in November 2001 for me, I was unsure what to make of it. After all, a true DQ game finally returning to consoles that was not a remake or spin off? Had it been 9 years since a new DQ for me? Yes. I loved it. I love the pacing, the ease of just exploring and again, the music sticks with me. It's a different tone from FF. Sure, you fight demons and stuff like FF, but DQ has always seemed a bit more... personal to me.
Shift to march 2002 and I hear that DWIVr for the PS has been cancelled. (As I stare at the back of the DWVII manual... coming in 2002 indeed...) I hear that DWVII sold pitifully and I hear other ominous news.
Enix buys Square. They merge. I think this is good, finally, with Square's marketing know how, DQ can get the push it needs to return to NA and finally succeed.
(Sorry about the little rant here, it's late and I am tired, but I do have a point to all this.)
Whatever S-E needs to do to make this series be a commercial success in this market, I want them to do it. If that means changing the menus and adding voices, getting rid of old archaic sounds and making the visuals something that is past 1996 PS graphics...
So be it.
I'm as "Old school" (I hate that term...) as anyone here. If this is what has to be done, I'll deal with it. I think the changes are or will be for the better. I've grown up with DQ in my life. Now DQ has to grow up with me.
DQ is like home for me. The sounds, music, character style and even method of storytelling all makes me remember my early days of cutting my teeth on RPG's. I can really understand what Japanese users mean by when they say "DQ is like an old friend." and the like.
I love the DQ series like no one else, and you better believe that I will be picking up this and any other DQ game that EVER comes my way in a language that I can understand. (English.) I appreciate them and it's rare enough to see them localized. I don't want to lose DQ in english ever again.
So, to anyone who remotely likes RPG's...
Please buy it. If not to enjoy what will be one of the best experiences you will receive from any game, then to support the great-grandfather of the Japanese-style console RPG. It's trying to evolve while keeping it's heritage still intact.
Not an easy thing to do with all the competition these days...
So, Square-Enix...
I'm waiting patiently for DQVIII. Just do a good job localizing it and actually make it possible for me to buy it. That's all I ask.
P.S. John tv, Did you work on the translation for DWM? I am pretty sure I saw your name in one of the games ending credits. I know you're a huge DQ fan like me, so I was not suprised when I saw your name there. I just do not remember which one... Maybe DWVII?
DQ8 is more than modern enough to suit today's RPG fans, IMO. The new menus and voices and such only serve to make it an even better game than it already was in Japan. I really can't wait. In fact, I'm not gonna play the Japanese one anymore -- I'll just wait and play it in English now. It's so much better now, I can't see myself going back.
