Support NeoGAF

[meltingparappa]

So what level was everyone when fighting the final boss? Looks like my party will be in the40-42 range when I get there

Early 40's should be absolutely fine for the final boss, especially if you have a backup healer if things get rough. That's of course, assuming he doesn't kill your healers over and over. Just make sure to

Spoiler

kill the hands first, around the same time if you can

or else it's really easy to run out of MP.

Meanwhile, in my late 40s, I can't reliably even make it to the post-game boss. Must be some sort of midlife crisis metaphor.

 

[ghibli99]

Wow, does each round of the

Spoiler

fashion show

really need to take this long? Charming and fun to watch the first time, but this is starting to get old.

 

[Easystride]

Just beat the game, and I have to say I loved it. I am totally biased since the Dragon Quest series is my favorite, but this game hit all the right notes for me. The soundtrack may become one of my favorite DQ soundtracks, but I don't think I can put it above Dragon Quest 7. If I had one irrelevant nit pick, it would be that the case spine is a different style than IV and V, but that doesn't bother me at all.

I'm going to be going through some minor Dragon Quest withdrawals until Yuji Horii is ready to reveal some Dragon Quest X media.

 

[Oxx]

It's funny how we have had 4 mainline/remade Dragon Quest games in the last few years and we're still not satisfied.

I can see there being a bit of a wait for X, though.

 

[meltingparappa]

I think I've given up on the postgame. Its satisfying to finally have all the best equipment, but to beat the final beastie requires some awe-inspiring grinding, or an amazingly planned party.

But just like when I was finished with DQ9's post game, I am suddenly hungry for more dragon quest. I guess DQM2 (was it any good?) or possibly DQ Victory Road (if the load times are cleaned up) are next. A friend has a copy of DQ7 I could borrow, but I am so spoiled now with the speed and presentation of these DQ remakes. Is it at all economically feasible for them to use the same engine for a 3DS port? Every single one of these seemed like such a financial struggle to release state-side, but DQ9 did so relatively well.

In a world where companies act on what is probably a poor business decision, a 3DS DQ7 using a lot of DQ9 assets would be glorious.

 

[ghibli99]

It's funny how we have had 4 mainline/remade Dragon Quest games in the last few years and we're still not satisfied.

It's like when you finish any really fun game, though... there's an emptiness left there that you want to replace with something similar. I felt this way after finishing DQ8 most recently... although I had DQ9's postgame to keep me occupied, it didn't make the wait for DQ6 feel any shorter.

 

[KarmaCow]

Wow, does each round of the

Spoiler

fashion show

really need to take this long? Charming and fun to watch the first time, but this is starting to get old.

Yea I caved in and checked a FAQ for the minimum points needed because I did not want to sit through it multiple times per level.

 

[Regulus Tera]

OMG the town theme is so cheerful <3

Going back to DQVII sprites after DQIX makes them feel fresh again.

 

[rpmurphy]

Just got to the Clearvale vignette... man I'm all choked up inside. ;_;

 

[lucablight]

This remake has one glaring fatal omission even bigger than the lack of monster recruiting (relatively speaking). Why did they remove the

Spoiler

doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo voice that was present in the SNES version of the slimopolis and fashion contest music theme?

I am very indignant about this.

 

[Almyn]

30 hours in now and it still feels like I have a decent chunk left. I have just finished up

Spoiler

the snowy town, Which I have forgotten the name of. I think I have done a few things out of order though, As I already have the legendary shield and helm.

I've uncovered 99% of the map so I am interested to see where it goes from here.

Spoiler

I was actually really surprised when I discovered Weavers Peak in the real world. It never occurred to me that the town would exist there also. It's been my favourite moment so far.

This game has really grabbed me in a way that I wish DQIX had. I've been playing this every moment I can, In fact I put down DQIX to play this and I was only a few hours away from finishing it. IX did everything I wanted it to, But sadly it just didn't click with me in the same way the ds remakes have.

 

[Lindsay]

Boy am I sick of the castle theme! Did the mini-medal place and abbey really need to use it? There's a ton of regular castles an places using it as-is. Its burned into my ears @_@;

Anyhow I just dropped big baddie

Spoiler

#4 an gotten my Peggy Sue powered up

! Whats the likeliness I can finish the game before tomorrows up? The end seems like its coming into sight but I'm sure more grinding will be needed before then.

 

[Oxx]

I really hope this gets delivered tomorrow.

I had to spend my time playing B-rank dross like Half Life 2 and Super Mario Galaxy 2 this weekend instead of quality Dragon Questing.

 

[TEJ]

I'm going to buy this game next week. In DQ7 you can screw yourself over if you don't use specific classes. Is this game like that?

 

[Cactus]

I'm going to buy this game next week. In DQ7 you can screw yourself over if you don't use specific classes. Is this game like that?

Well, if you try to beat the game with four dancers, then you'll probably have screwed yourself over. The class system is pretty much identical to VII, so if you make bad decisions, you'll pay for it.

Edit: Although, you can always grind class levels, just like VII, so you can never really screw yourself entirely.

 

[Lindsay]

I'm at what I assume to be the final two towns & shops now without about 200,000 gold saved up. Should I go wild getting fancy new equipment?? Its now or never!

 

[ElFly]

Where the fuck is Amos and his stupid town.

I remember getting him relatively early in the quest, yet I am wandering the world solving quests and no hint of him.

edit: motherfuck, I missed him like 10 hours ago.

 

[ghibli99]

I'm going to buy this game next week. In DQ7 you can screw yourself over if you don't use specific classes. Is this game like that?

I think DQ8 is far worse if you decide to go down a weapon or skill tree that sucks... that could mean a LOT of LMS grinding to make up for it later, which is a serious pain and timesink. Doesn't help that they get sooo cheap with the skill points later too.

It's so much more forgiving in DQ6 using a combination of Whistle and hit-all spells/skills. Even if you make a bad decision, before you know it, you'll have mastered the best classes and then feel like you need to change to a weaker class just to get the combat credit for 'em.

 

[rpmurphy]

Where the fuck is Amos and his stupid town.

I remember getting him relatively early in the quest, yet I am wandering the world solving quests and no hint of him.

edit: motherfuck, I missed him like 10 hours ago.

His town is be accessible by the Providence, on the continent west of Arkbolt.
If you told him about his state before getting him cured, I think you're out of luck.

 

[ElFly]

His town is be accessible by the Providence, on the continent west of Arkbolt.
If you told him about his state before getting him cured, I think you're out of luck.

Yeah, I just checked a map.

I've played this game a good four times and still forgot it.


edit: I don't think it's easy to fuck yourself up with the jobs, unless you on purpose select stupid stuff like an all merchant team. As long as you grow a diversified team, you should be all right.

A bigger danger is actually ignoring all trades abbey and go without jobs during all the game.

 

[RiderKairuu]

Currently stuck

Spoiler

at the Underkeep, I four of the panels and that middle section is still dark

I even bought the guide but it didn't help me much in that area.

 

[KarmaCow]

Currently stuck

Spoiler

at the Underkeep, I four of the panels and that middle section is still dark

I even bought the guide but it didn't help me much in that area.

After you run around the lit floor, you should see stairs on the bottom of the screen. Take the shortest path to it (from the right side) because if you go too far up you'll fall down.

 

[RiderKairuu]

After you run around the lit floor, you should see stairs on the bottom of the screen. Take the shortest path to it (from the right side) because if you go too far up you'll fall down.

I'll give that a try. Thanks!

 

[Raw64life]

Put about 10 hours into this game this weekend. I finally beat Murdaw when I decided to give my hero the Staff of Ghent which effectively gave me 3 healers. Then went to the Abbey and just like in every other DQ that has a job system (and I know I'm in the minority here), I hate it. Fortunately I looked at a FAQ before assigning classes because I was all set to make Hero a Paladin until I figured out that he can't be a Hero class with a Paladin; it has to be a Gladiator, or almost any other second tier class other than a Paladin. But then I want to see what a Paladin is like so I make Carver a priest and it makes my heaviest hitter a lot weaker. Great. Then I make a guy a mage and his HP gets damn near cut in half. He's pushed to the brink of death nearly every turn of every fight, and I found it to be such a severe handicap when fighting bosses that I had to go back and remove his class to just to beat them. A complete and total exercise in frustration that I wish wasn't in an otherwise excellent game.

Although I just had to spend way too much time looking for Glacos Cave as King Poseidon clearly says that the cave is to the east when it's actually to the west. After 15 minutes of searching every pixel east of the castle I caved and looked at a FAQ.

 

[Revolution number one]

When is this coming to australia? I won't play DQ 9 till I've beaten DQ 6

 

[lucablight]

When is this coming to australia? I won't play DQ 9 till I've beaten DQ 6

DQ6 is better than DQ9 so you would be taking a step backwards.

 

[Hours Left]

So, to my (pleasant) surprise, it turns out they actually did do new artwork for Amos for the DS version. Sadly, all I've been able to get though is this screen grab of it...

Does anyone have a clean (and hopefully HQ) version of his new art?

 

[JustAnotherOtaku]

I really hope this gets delivered tomorrow.

I had to spend my time playing B-rank dross like Half Life 2 and Super Mario Galaxy 2 this weekend instead of quality Dragon Questing.

It's terrible, it forced me to start Inazuma Eleven and Pokemon Black/White is out on Friday so I'm faced with the awful situation of having three amazing RPGs (and Okamiden soon!) to play before the 3DS launch, to give the DS a good send off

But yeah, I want to sink untold hours into this today so come on postie!

Spoiler

He doesn't usually show up until 2:30, so that limits those 'untold hours' ;(

 

[ghibli99]

Put about 10 hours into this game this weekend. I finally beat Murdaw when I decided to give my hero the Staff of Ghent which effectively gave me 3 healers. Then went to the Abbey and just like in every other DQ that has a job system (and I know I'm in the minority here), I hate it. Fortunately I looked at a FAQ before assigning classes because I was all set to make Hero a Paladin until I figured out that he can't be a Hero class with a Paladin; it has to be a Gladiator, or almost any other second tier class other than a Paladin. But then I want to see what a Paladin is like so I make Carver a priest and it makes my heaviest hitter a lot weaker. Great. Then I make a guy a mage and his HP gets damn near cut in half. He's pushed to the brink of death nearly every turn of every fight, and I found it to be such a severe handicap when fighting bosses that I had to go back and remove his class to just to beat them. A complete and total exercise in frustration that I wish wasn't in an otherwise excellent game.

I started to build my Hero as a Paladin too, and after putting some time into it, I looked in my guide and saw that it didn't count towards the Hero class, so I just finished out the first tier I was working on and then started on Warrior/Martial Artist. For Carver, since he's basically just a tank, I made him a Gladiator too. He hits so hard now you feel bad for some of those cute monsters. LOL I built two Sages out of Milly and Nevan, and I have Ashlynn and my slimes mastering everything else. I didn't like the huge hits to HP, etc. when switching my tanks to magic classes, but oh well, them's the breaks... I would say wait until later when you're higher level, and if you want to make them magic users in order to get the 2nd tier classes, do it then. Much easier since you'll have more HP to spare.

 

[Risible]

I'm escorting

Spoiler

the prince and oh boy, I can see why people complain about it. That little fucker runs one more time and I'm going to figure out a way to lead him to his doom.

 

[ghibli99]

I'm escorting

Spoiler

the prince and oh boy, I can see why people complain about it. That little fucker runs one more time and I'm going to figure out a way to lead him to his doom.

Haha! I thought it was pretty funny... I think it only happens like 3 times, so it's not that bad.

 

[PataHikari]

I think DQ8 is far worse if you decide to go down a weapon or skill tree that sucks... that could mean a LOT of LMS grinding to make up for it later, which is a serious pain and timesink. Doesn't help that they get sooo cheap with the skill points later too.

This is false, any skill tree can win the game.

 

[ElFly]

So, to my (pleasant) surprise, it turns out they actually did do new artwork for Amos for the DS version. Sadly, all I've been able to get though is this screen grab of it...

Does anyone have a clean (and hopefully HQ) version of his new art?

Oh, I was just gonna ask for this.

Amos' party talk is generally cool.

 

[ghibli99]

This is false, any skill tree can win the game.

I never said you couldn't win... it's just that some weapons are so obviously lacking in effectiveness compared to others. Then again, people talk about not having to grind in DQ games, and that's never been the case for me. I'm relatively casual when it comes to my RPG playing... DQ9 being a recent exception.

 

[Hyunkel6]

I completely screwed the Amos quest, and my other save is from 2 hours ago.

Spoiler

Is he worth recruiting? And any other missable characters?

.

 

[ghibli99]

I completely screwed the Amos quest, and my other save is from 2 hours ago.

Spoiler

Is he worth recruiting? And any other missable characters?

.

No and no

Spoiler

(the other 8 recruitables are slimes)

... I did the same, and will do things "right" whenever my next playthrough happens.

 

[devenger]

Sorry for the interruption, quick newbie question.

About to order this or DQ9, just wondering what the hardcore questers thought.

Edit: MeltingParappa has a nice breakdown up above, thats the kind of thing I was looking for.

 

[ghibli99]

Sorry for the interruption, quick newbie question.

About to order this or DQ9, just wondering what the hardcore questers thought.

In terms of sheer content, DQ9 could keep you busy for a year or more and you would still have not seen everything. I've called it the best money I've ever spent on the DS. I think there are folks here who have pumped 4-500 hours into it, making my 250 hours seem like nothing in comparison.

DQ6, on the other hand, is really a treat for those folks who have played the rest of the series, having waited for a proper translation for over a decade and a half. I love the wonderful graphics, music, story, and the more traditional approach to your individual party members.

There's any number of pros and cons for both... I guess it depends on what you're in the mood for.

 

[devenger]

I've only played VIII on Playstation and one of the originals back in the day, SNES I guess. So yeah, the story resolution is not a big issue for me.

I just finished Chrono Trigger and was looking for something to get lost in, sounds like 9.

thanks

 

[ghibli99]

I just finished Chrono Trigger and was looking for something to get lost in, sounds like 9.

And lost in it, you will be. Have fun!

 

[Lindsay]

Done in 37:25! Knowing when and where to get vocations and using a guide in my eventual replay will shorten the time drastically I'm sure! I only died once and that was to cheap insta-death (speaking of which I HATE Silhouettes!) and for once didn't grind at the final boss lair (ended at levels 40~42). All in all this wasn't as long or hard as people made it out to be which I think is a good thing cause I enjoyed it all the same!

Party chat in this game was the best of the best! It made me want to have every character with me all the time aside from Nevan since his chatting wasn't much ta write home about. The story was great and I like how all the loose ends revolving around NPCs ya met throughout the game all got tied up by the end. Vocations were also great since ya kept what ya learned and alot of which cost 0 mp which made for good baddie bashing!

I've played 5 outta 9 DQs now but this'll be my last one for a long time since X nor any more remakes will hit DS/PSP/PS3. I liked 'em all but only one can come out on top! So without further ado here's the customary DQ ranking! VIII > V/VI > IV > IX ! Can't say which is better between V & VI. V had the better story though VI's was no slouch plus it has better party members!

Now I wonder where the bonus dungeon, 12 mini medals, and 13 monsters I haven't found are...

 

[meltingparappa]

A guide said that you need to be in late 60's to beat the bonus dungeon (though that was based on the SFC version). At LEAST metal king slimes are super easy to farm (whistle outside of the prison of sorrow, have everyone spam hatchet men, if he flees and other monsters are still alive, use the sands of time).

 

[ghibli99]

A guide said that you need to be in late 60's to beat the bonus dungeon (though that was based on the SFC version). At LEAST metal king slimes are super easy to farm (whistle outside of the prison of sorrow, have everyone spam hatchet men, if he flees and other monsters are still alive, use the sands of time).

Excellent advice... I'll have to store this one in the memory banks.

 

[thebagofsand]

Just mastered the Warrior class for the hero and switching him over to a Merchant just to see what it has to offer. Hope I'm not wasting my time.

 

[Oxx]

Finally I have DQVI. And on the same day that Radiant Historia arrives, too.

 

[ghibli99]

Just mastered the Warrior class for the hero and switching him over to a Merchant just to see what it has to offer. Hope I'm not wasting my time.

Why not just start on the Hero class? Merchant is kind of worthless unless you're going to work him up to Ranger, at which point there are a few worthwhile skills.

 

[thebagofsand]

Why not just start on the Hero class? Merchant is kind of worthless unless you're going to work him up to Ranger, at which point there are a few worthwhile skills.

Yeah the Merchant class has been pretty useless so far. Only reason I picked it is because Carver was still a Martial Artist and I don't really like the idea of having two of the same classes in my party at the same time.

 

[ghibli99]

Yeah the Merchant class has been pretty useless so far. Only reason I picked it is because Carver was still a Martial Artist and I don't really like the idea of having two of the same classes in my party at the same time.

Gotcha... you could always have the folks in your wagon building up the other classes if you're curious about what they offer.

 

[meltingparappa]

Thief's skills are actually reasonably useful, including the ability to use padfoot underwater to cut down the encounter rate while exploring. Luminary is generally worth grinding dancer and gadabout for, but I didn't bother with monster master/merchant much. It was far more beneficial to have a semi-permanent wagon member learn healing spells given the choice.

 

[Lindsay]

A guide said that you need to be in late 60's to beat the bonus dungeon (though that was based on the SFC version). At LEAST metal king slimes are super easy to farm (whistle outside of the prison of sorrow, have everyone spam hatchet men, if he flees and other monsters are still alive, use the sands of time).

Will have ta remember that for a later time. Haven't done bonus dungeons in any DQ (except maybe IV?) so I'ma save them for replays.

Thief's skills are actually reasonably useful, including the ability to use padfoot underwater to cut down the encounter rate while exploring. Luminary is generally worth grinding dancer and gadabout for, but I didn't bother with monster master/merchant much. It was far more beneficial to have a semi-permanent wagon member learn healing spells given the choice.

Ya and a good wagon healer is Sage Healie w/Omniheal! It was very useful and always kept in the wagon cause its the only party members that learns that spell that I noticed! My Luminary saved my teams butt from the final boss. 6 of my guys got killed and I was left really hopeless! Looking through her magic anticipating death I happened across Kerplunk(?) Dance and was like holy moly! Yes! Kill yourself to revive everyone else please!! ^_^;