Support NeoGAF

[ScOULaris]

Just got it the other day and played a couple of hours into it. I have to admit that I am a little underwhelmed by this one when compared to the genius of DQV and DQIX. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy a traditional romp through any Dragon Quest game, and I plan on giving this one a chance to get interesting. The first two hours, however, have felt a little stale.

Did anyone else feel this way about the beginning of the game? If so, does it get better? I'm mainly referring to the overarching story being lackluster.

 

[ExtraKr1spy]

Difficulty spikes up after you get the boat.

The regular enemies aren't too bad but sometimes you get a shit load of them to fight. I've fought a few mini bosses and they've come close to killing me a few times(especially my mage and priest who are outfitted with the best available gear). Level 23 average so I dont know if I should grind or start unlocking more of the jobs.

 

[Loto]

Just got it the other day and played a couple of hours into it. I have to admit that I am a little underwhelmed by this one when compared to the genius of DQV and DQIX. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy a traditional romp through any Dragon Quest game, and I plan on giving this one a chance to get interesting. The first two hours, however, have felt a little stale.

Did anyone else feel this way about the beginning of the game? If so, does it get better? I'm mainly referring to the overarching story being lackluster.

I thought the first 2 hours were interesting, granted I didn't know what was going on. I'm 8 hours in and really dig the story

 

[ElFly]

Just got it the other day and played a couple of hours into it. I have to admit that I am a little underwhelmed by this one when compared to the genius of DQV and DQIX. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy a traditional romp through any Dragon Quest game, and I plan on giving this one a chance to get interesting. The first two hours, however, have felt a little stale.

Did anyone else feel this way about the beginning of the game? If so, does it get better? I'm mainly referring to the overarching story being lackluster.

The beginning of the game is pretty slow, yes.

This game, and VII even more, get really good once you unlock dharma/all trades abbey, which doesn't happen until a good chunk of hours.

 

[Crazymoogle]

DQVI is definitely more of the old-school Dragon Quests where you get a rails plot followed by opening up into a "go whereever" larger quest. But the jobs system is good so I can't complain.

Also, damn you Prince Howard!

 

[brandonh83]

I almost bought this yesterday despite the fact that I won't have anything to play it on until my 3DS arrives. Just seeing a Dragon Quest game I don't own sitting in a store shelf...

 

[gblues]

I almost bought this yesterday despite the fact that I won't have anything to play it on until my 3DS arrives. Just seeing a Dragon Quest game I don't own sitting in a store shelf...

Buy it now. Even though Nintendo is publishing, the distribution problems documented in this thread suggest it will have a very short print run and it'll be as hard to find as DQ5 is now. Buy it while it's in stock. It's certainly worth the $34.99! And hey, if you never play it, you can flip it on Ebay for twice as much.

 

[Oxx]

It has been a while since I have imported a DS game. I'm not sure how long it usually takes to arrive. I think it has been a week since they said it shipped.

 

[traveler]

So I'm late to the whole Zenithia trilogy party. I haven't actually purchased DQ6 yet. In fact, the only one I have purchased is 5. I saw it used in a Gamestop today for $35 and remembered hearing something about it being rare so I went ahead and picked it up. I have a few questions regarding the whole saga.

1) Is it necessary or even beneficial to play them "in order?" Like I said, I only have V right now but I plan on playing all 3 anyway and I wouldn't mind waiting two days or so for Amazon to ship IV here if there are story beats that make more sense in the context of a chronological playthrough.

2) Do I need to get DQ6 now? I checked online after I got back and saw that my suspicions regarding DQV were correct, but it appears DQIV is relatively easy to get. Was DQV an anomaly or should I expect DQVI to sell out as well?

3) Do I need a guide for anything in any of these? I'm accustomed to running into all kinds of stupid crap in Square JRPGs (i.e. the Zodiac Weapon in FFXII) and I definitely am a bit of a min-maxer but I'd really like to avoid using a guide if possible.

Thanks in advance.

 

[carlo6529]

I walked into two different walmarts to pick this game up, and neither of them had it.

 

[rpmurphy]

Man, the one thing I miss most about DQ9 in this game is the touch screen control to move around. My thumb hurts playing on the DSi D-pad for so long.

I think I overleveled my team inadvertently due to playing it slow and exploring everywhere before progressing through the story events. Plus with the equipment from the first casino, my team is a tank!

 

[brandonh83]

Buy it now. Even though Nintendo is publishing, the distribution problems documented in this thread suggest it will have a very short print run and it'll be as hard to find as DQ5 is now. Buy it while it's in stock. It's certainly worth the $34.99! And hey, if you never play it, you can flip it on Ebay for twice as much.

Good points. I still need to get DQ5, regardless of how much I might have to pay for it.

 

[ghibli99]

1) Is it necessary or even beneficial to play them "in order?" Like I said, I only have V right now but I plan on playing all 3 anyway and I wouldn't mind waiting two days or so for Amazon to ship IV here if there are story beats that make more sense in the context of a chronological playthrough.

2) Do I need to get DQ6 now? I checked online after I got back and saw that my suspicions regarding DQV were correct, but it appears DQIV is relatively easy to get. Was DQV an anomaly or should I expect DQVI to sell out as well?

3) Do I need a guide for anything in any of these? I'm accustomed to running into all kinds of stupid crap in Square JRPGs (i.e. the Zodiac Weapon in FFXII) and I definitely am a bit of a min-maxer but I'd really like to avoid using a guide if possible.

Thanks in advance.

1) I played 5 then 4 and now 6, and I've enjoyed them all, regardless of order. It's not like 1 and 2, where there are direct links between the game worlds. My memories of 4 and 5 are admittedly a bit blurry, though, so the more seasoned vets may be able to answer this better.

2) With Nintendo publishing 6 (and substantial online promotion based on all the websites I've been seeing it on), there shouldn't be the supply problems of 5.

3) No. I'd use them maybe later in the game to make sure you covered everything, but nothing you'll be doing on your own is like the ridiculousness of something like FF10-2. I have the official guides for several of them, just because I like having the artwork and maps. I rarely use them for actual gameplay.

 

[Wichu]

It's interesting reading of people having problems getting hold of IV and V on here. I found a second-hand copy of both about a year ago for £14 (IV) and £15 (V); I only had £20ish on me, so I bought V. Found IV a few months later for £8. Good times. Or are they a lot more common in Europe than the US?

I'm going to be waiting for the EU release of VI, as the majority of my games are in European cases (including my 3 DQ games), and I want it to fit in. Besides, I still haven't beaten IV (on the second chapter) or V (on the giant boss

Spoiler

Bjørn the Behemoose

) yet, so I'm not going to rush in to a new one just yet

 

[rpmurphy]

1) Is it necessary or even beneficial to play them "in order?" Like I said, I only have V right now but I plan on playing all 3 anyway and I wouldn't mind waiting two days or so for Amazon to ship IV here if there are story beats that make more sense in the context of a chronological playthrough.

The story and worlds are independent of each other, but there are nonessential references to 4 and 5 in the game, notably for the ending regarding Zenithia (but you'll realize it when you end up playing the other games).

 

[ghibli99]

It's interesting reading of people having problems getting hold of IV and V on here. I found a second-hand copy of both about a year ago for £14 (IV) and £15 (V); I only had £20ish on me, so I bought V. Found IV a few months later for £8. Good times. Or are they a lot more common in Europe than the US?

Not sure about Europe, but far fewer units of 5 were shipped in the US than 4. I think it was only like 60k? 4 is easy to find and can still be ordered/purchased through retailers.

Much of it comes down to individual luck, too. Some people have found them in bargain bins, and others have come up empty everywhere. It also depends on how much people are willing to pay. If you can spend more than MSRP, they're pretty easy to find, but if you are looking for a deal, your opportunities are greatly diminished.

 

[Oxx]

I played V just a couple of months after finishing IV and I didn't notice many links at all.

If anything I'd recommend playing IV before the others because it lacks party chat... And you would miss it after V and VI.

 

[Johnas]

Just got the ability to

Spoiler

go underwater with the ship

, right at 20 hours in. I've done some dawdling, and got temporarily stuck at one point for a while.

The game continues to deliver. The individual mini-stories have been pretty cool, nothing mindblowing but interesting, and unique to this DQ.

No offense to DQIX, but it's really great to be playing this older type of DQ again. The Zenithian trilogy is a really strong set of DQs.

 

[ghibli99]

No offense to DQIX, but it's really great to be playing this older type of DQ again. The Zenithian trilogy is a really strong set of DQs.

Agreed, and I'm constantly reminding myself how lucky we are to be playing these games in English. If not for the DS games, I probably still would've been a groundless DQ hater.

 

[Johnas]

Agreed, and I'm constantly reminding myself how lucky we are to be playing these games in English. If not for the DS games, I probably still would've been a groundless DQ hater.

I'm really glad we got these. I remember my astonishment at the initial announcement (similar to Mega Man 9, then 10). I have loved the series since the very first game on NES way back in '89 (?), and I had kind of assumed the series was done here after VIII released. I was one of those bitter fans back when IVr on PS1 got revealed, then canceled.

Also, just found the

Spoiler

Ultimate Key

! A pivotal moment in any DQ.

 

[Lindsay]

Ohhh you stupid game giving me my 3rd party member but not letting her gain exp & level up when she permenantly joins right afterwards anyway... >.<

 

[Erekiddo]

I know there's no concrete order as far as story goes, but can any of you recommend an order to play them so I'm not bummed out by missing features? (as in, playing Persona 3 after playing Persona 4)

DS versions, I mean. 4, 5, 6, 9.

 

[YourMaster]

I know there's no concrete order as far as story goes, but can any of you recommend an order to play them so I'm not bummed out by missing features? (as in, playing Persona 3 after playing Persona 4)

DS versions, I mean. 4, 5, 6, 9.

I'd say it doesn't really matter much. But if you will play all four of them I would recommend starting with 4 and playing 4, 5 and 6 in the correct order. 9 you can do afterward or somewhere in between the trilogy.

 

[JKTrix]

I know there's no concrete order as far as story goes, but can any of you recommend an order to play them so I'm not bummed out by missing features? (as in, playing Persona 3 after playing Persona 4)

DS versions, I mean. 4, 5, 6, 9.

In that case, definitely 4 first (no Party chat).

 

[Easystride]

Ok, I am about 15 hours in and I just got a certain item. I have one question.

Spoiler

Is there anyway to navigate the bottom of the ocean easier? It seems like I am just guessing where to go since there is no map of the ocean floor, and the random battles are quite frequent.

 

[turnbuckle]

My only complaint so far is that the random encounter rate seems to be ratcheted up a bit. Thank god battles are a breeze. So much nicer than the slow pace of Dragon Quest VIII and IX. The enemies look much better here than in IX and the soundtrack is better.

I haven't bothered to set foot in the casino yet. Running the chicken prince through the trials cave (or trying to, the little runt keeps running from me).

 

[Johnas]

Ok, I am about 15 hours in and I just got a certain item. I have one question.

Spoiler

Is there anyway to navigate the bottom of the ocean easier? It seems like I am just guessing where to go since there is no map of the ocean floor, and the random battles are quite frequent.

Spoiler

Padfoot (thief's skill) seems to make the encounter rate normal, that is, similar to the overworld. As far as I can tell, there's no map, you just have to explore. I have found two specific underwater locations so far. If you want, I'll give you a hint, just ask.

 

[Easystride]

Spoiler

Padfoot (thief's skill) seems to make the encounter rate normal, that is, similar to the overworld. As far as I can tell, there's no map, you just have to explore. I have found two specific underwater locations so far. If you want, I'll give you a hint, just ask.

Spoiler

Alright, thanks for the information. I didn't even think to use padfoot. I'll just explore. I guess it will be a good way to get some job levels. Such a vast ocean though :O

 

[rpmurphy]

Just got it the other day and played a couple of hours into it. I have to admit that I am a little underwhelmed by this one when compared to the genius of DQV and DQIX. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy a traditional romp through any Dragon Quest game, and I plan on giving this one a chance to get interesting. The first two hours, however, have felt a little stale.

Did anyone else feel this way about the beginning of the game? If so, does it get better? I'm mainly referring to the overarching story being lackluster.

VI is definitely not as narrative-driven as V.

However, I think that the strongest point of VI is player-driven discovery, which I find is pretty well done in the first part of the story. The two world system opens up a lot of little plot elements that are actually relevant to the main story progression. It benefits to spend the time to explore and talk to NPCs in both worlds, since those little bits of information helps to discover other information about the characters, the world, and the story. I find this to be fascinating in a different way than in V where rather I'm fed the story in a fairly linear fashion.

 

[ghibli99]

Also, just found the

Spoiler

Ultimate Key

! A pivotal moment in any DQ.

Sweet! Can't wait to get this as well.

 

[Loto]

Do the vocations effect your stats when you level? For example the Martial Artist gives a -50% MP bonus. Does that mean every time I level I am getting 50% less MP?

 

[MooMoo]

Do the vocations effect your stats when you level? For example the Martial Artist gives a -50% MP bonus. Does that mean every time I level I am getting 50% less MP?

The way I think stats work in this game is that you have an overall base stat that increases at a fixed rate (maybe with some randomness) and then the vocations just subtract or add from this base stat. So it would just be -50% MP from this base stat; you're never permanently losing stats just because you choose one vocation over another.

Finally got to changing vocations in this game and I'm completely in love with this game. As much praise as DQ9 gets, I really do like these classic remakes a lot more. DQ9's weak overarching storyline and the grindy nature of maxing out vocations was sort of a turnoff. I did manage to crack out 100+ hours on it though and enjoyed it for what it was. I'm hoping DQ6's story comes full circle by the time it's end game. The only thing I'm disappointed with this game is the lack of TNT boards.

Also yay for finally having my account validated! It sucked being a lurker on these forums without being able to say anything D:

 

[Loto]

The way I think stats work in this game is that you have an overall base stat that increases at a fixed rate (maybe with some randomness) and then the vocations just subtract or add from this base stat. So it would just be -50% MP from this base stat; you're never permanently losing stats just because you choose one vocation over another.

Finally got to changing vocations in this game and I'm completely in love with this game. As much praise as DQ9 gets, I really do like these classic remakes a lot more. DQ9's weak overarching storyline and the grindy nature of maxing out vocations was sort of a turnoff. I did manage to crack out 100+ hours on it though and enjoyed it for what it was. I'm hoping DQ6's story comes full circle by the time it's end game. The only thing I'm disappointed with this game is the lack of TNT boards.

Also yay for finally having my account validated! It sucked being a lurker on these forums without being able to say anything D:

I see so if during Martial Artist im losing 50% MP, I switch to another vocation I get that MP back?

Welcome! =)

 

[john tv]

I see so if during Martial Artist im losing 50% MP, I switch to another vocation I get that MP back?

Welcome! =)

Yeah, the vocation bonuses are applied to your base stat and only take effect when you have the vocation equipped.

 

[Tiktaalik]

Mr. Barkington! NOOOOOOO!

 

[ghibli99]

Didn't even go to Alltrades until I was like level 28, so thank goodness mastery is based on number of battles like DQ7. Feels good so far.

Basically free-wheeling it at the moment, just exploring the world. Love that sense of discovery in these games!

 

[Emotions]

been playing the game almost the whole afternoon... great game.. love the music , the graphics, everything about it!!

 

[turnbuckle]

Didn't even go to Alltrades until I was like level 28, so thank goodness mastery is based on number of battles like DQ7. Feels good so far.

Basically free-wheeling it at the moment, just exploring the world. Love that sense of discovery in these games!

Based on battles but if you are too high a level for the monsters that character won't get credit towards mastery. Found this out the hard way (again)

 

[ghibli99]

Based on battles but if you are too high a level for the monsters that character won't get credit towards mastery. Found this out the hard way (again)

Yeah, one of the NPCs warns you of this at the Abbey, and I was also prepared for it after recently playing 7. The threshold for what counts is pretty forgiving, though... battles that I thought were going to be too weak were still counting towards my totals.

 

[djtiesto]

Is there a "Whistle" command in this game? Really helped with DQ7 job mastering...

Also my only complaint so far - the encounter rate seems a bit higher in this one than the others.

 

[turnbuckle]

Is there a "Whistle" command in this game? Really helped with DQ7 job mastering...

Also my only complaint so far - the encounter rate seems a bit higher in this one than the others.

Yup whistle is in the game.

Other annoying issue - enemies get a high frequency of preemptive strikes. Easily 3-1 or higher ratio to player preemptive strikes.

 

[Chairhome]

I hate the Alltrades tease early in the game. "If you go east of here, Alltrades Abbey is there!"... hours later, still no job changing :-(.

I'm only about 5 hours in. I spent a lot of time at the casino though, so my actual real play time is about 7 hours... I saved everytime I got a jackpot at the casino, then reloaded if I lost it all (cheating, i know). But I got Carver and my hero with the best equipment from there, so I'm happy :-D

 

[meltingparappa]

Worth noting to anyone who plays this game the first time is that there is an optional party member whom you can miss out on, depending on what you do.

Semi-spoilers, but

Spoiler

when you meet someone named Amos, by GOD take the advice of the towns people and don't tell him about his "fate" until you first go and get an item to help him out.

 

[Crazymoogle]

Just FYI, the AI advantages from tactics are still there too, so it's worth setting strategy for everyone. It's annoying how much MP your mages/priests will spend in "Focus on Healing" mode, but it bails you out of a lot of conservative play in dungeons and versus bosses, plus if you're just levelling they even have the balls to use stuff like Thwack regularly.

<3 Staff of Ghent with AI mode: free heals!

 

[Hobbun]

Did they dump the

Spoiler

T’ n T’ boards? Nothing drove me nuts more than those boards. I have not found them fun at all. Getting all the way to the end and falling in/getting teleported to the beginning. Augggh!

 

[Johnas]

Worth noting to anyone who plays this game the first time is that there is an optional party member whom you can miss out on, depending on what you do.

Semi-spoilers, but

Spoiler

when you meet someone named Amos, by GOD take the advice of the towns people and don't tell him about his "fate" until you first go and get an item to help him out.

Yeah, I learned this the hard way. It's my first time to ever play the game, so I wasn't sure whether or not it would really have repercussions either way. Reminded me of the scenario in DQVII near the end of the game with the guy and his pet monster.

Did they dump the

Spoiler

T’ n T’ boards? Nothing drove me nuts more than those boards. I have not found them fun at all. Getting all the way to the end and falling in/getting teleported to the beginning. Augggh!

Correct, those are not in this game. I guess I'm just lucky, I've played through DQV three times and never really gotten frustrated by those.

Just got the

Spoiler

method of flight

, another critical DQ moment. Nearing the end, it seems.

 

[Cactus]

Worth noting to anyone who plays this game the first time is that there is an optional party member whom you can miss out on, depending on what you do.

Semi-spoilers, but

Spoiler

when you meet someone named Amos, by GOD take the advice of the towns people and don't tell him about his "fate" until you first go and get an item to help him out.

Well, I screwed that up. I'm guessing I missed my only chance to

Spoiler

recruit him?

 

[Crazymoogle]

Yeah. But it's not like

Spoiler

Amos

is critical to the story; I don't think it's worth going back to old saves...

 

[Hobbun]

Correct, those are not in this game. I guess I'm just lucky, I've played through DQV three times and never really gotten frustrated by those.

Just never liked the complete randomness with them. Get all the way just before the end and game over!

Just got the

Spoiler

method of flight

, another critical DQ moment. Nearing the end, it seems.

How far are you into the game hour-wise?

 

[Johnas]

How far are you into the game hour-wise?

31 hours, but I'm currently tying up some extra loose ends before I go to the final boss.