Red Scarlet
Member
Oh, I think you could save in the town you got the boat in the remake and not the NES version.
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Dragon Quest appreciation thread
- Thread starter Aeana
- Start date
CajoleJuice
Member
Red Scarlet said:
I kind of agree that 6/7's job system isn't great. It teaches a lot of skills that tend to become useless, and the only real jobs worth mentioning for the most part are the advanced jobs (or the hybrid skills, in 7's case). Whenever they get around to remaking these, they'll probably make the jobs level up faster at the least. But, the whole debacle I had my first time through 6 (where I mastered the wrong advanced job for the hero, so I had to go grind a new advanced job) led me to abusing the system in 7, which wasn't fun in terms of providing a challenge, but was fun in terms of feeling like I'd put on cheats without actually doing so.
Like pretty much all the DQs I've played, 7's story/scenario is pretty cool, though. The whole theme of undoing the mistakes of the past, and the big plot twist at the end of I think the first disc are pretty cool.
But nothing in the series can touch DQ5's story... it's just so epic. 3 comes close, but 5 is like a videogame form of an epic poem. I have to say that it ended kind of abruptly, in my opinion, but it's still a huge (and fun) scenario.
I'm not as big of a fan of 8 as I am 1/2/3/5 though. I still haven't played 4, but that's probably up there somewhere when I do play it, considering all the love it gets. Anyway, something about 8's scenario didn't feel very fresh to me, so I didn't enjoy the journey as much. I mean, I still liked it a lot, but I feel like if you only played DQ8, you're missing out on a lot that the series has to offer. It's kind of middle of the pack, although the skill system is fun and the gameplay is good. For once in a DQ game, the scenario felt like it was a little bit too long, though, and I don't remember as many good characters or different little stories/scenarios in towns like in the rest of the series. 6 is pretty guilty of this too, but I like the dual worlds system so much that even if stuff falls into a pattern of "go here, learn about the town, now visit it in the dream world," the actual little stories have some variety.
The thing about 1/2 is that, while they feel very basic, it still feels fun to explore the worlds and it feels like an accomplishment when you beat the games. It probably doesn't have the flash or the appeal of a lot of more modern jRPGs, but the games are fun to me largely because of how open-ended they are. There's a point in both (and in 3) where your quest expands to allow you to approach the sub-objectives before you head on out to the main boss's lair however you want. And while I'm not totally sold on the original version of DQ1, the remakes keep most of the difficulty (although it's toned down so players weaned on the easy playstation RPGs could manage it) and modernize the games so that the only thing that will feel "antiquated" is the graphics. But graphics are not really what the series has been about (aside from awesome monster designs and DQ8).
Like pretty much all the DQs I've played, 7's story/scenario is pretty cool, though. The whole theme of undoing the mistakes of the past, and the big plot twist at the end of I think the first disc are pretty cool.
But nothing in the series can touch DQ5's story... it's just so epic. 3 comes close, but 5 is like a videogame form of an epic poem. I have to say that it ended kind of abruptly, in my opinion, but it's still a huge (and fun) scenario.
I'm not as big of a fan of 8 as I am 1/2/3/5 though. I still haven't played 4, but that's probably up there somewhere when I do play it, considering all the love it gets. Anyway, something about 8's scenario didn't feel very fresh to me, so I didn't enjoy the journey as much. I mean, I still liked it a lot, but I feel like if you only played DQ8, you're missing out on a lot that the series has to offer. It's kind of middle of the pack, although the skill system is fun and the gameplay is good. For once in a DQ game, the scenario felt like it was a little bit too long, though, and I don't remember as many good characters or different little stories/scenarios in towns like in the rest of the series. 6 is pretty guilty of this too, but I like the dual worlds system so much that even if stuff falls into a pattern of "go here, learn about the town, now visit it in the dream world," the actual little stories have some variety.
The thing about 1/2 is that, while they feel very basic, it still feels fun to explore the worlds and it feels like an accomplishment when you beat the games. It probably doesn't have the flash or the appeal of a lot of more modern jRPGs, but the games are fun to me largely because of how open-ended they are. There's a point in both (and in 3) where your quest expands to allow you to approach the sub-objectives before you head on out to the main boss's lair however you want. And while I'm not totally sold on the original version of DQ1, the remakes keep most of the difficulty (although it's toned down so players weaned on the easy playstation RPGs could manage it) and modernize the games so that the only thing that will feel "antiquated" is the graphics. But graphics are not really what the series has been about (aside from awesome monster designs and DQ8).
Erdrick
Member
Dragon Quest is still by far my most sentimental series and I simply love returning home when each installment somehow makes it to a language I can understand. (English)
Since being enticed by Nintendo Power's DW insert in the Nov/Dec 1989 issue, I took a chance and rented DW on a cold, cold day in January of the new year.
Admittedly, I was unimpressed by the game when I saw it on commercials, and when I first saw, fought and killed my first slime ("WTH? Why does this look like I am fighting a blue Hershey's Kiss?") I was hooked on RPG's forever.
Later on, the epic battle to get Erdrick's Armour from that damned Axe Knight at level 14 in Hauksness... The grinding to get the best possible equipment at each new town, from finding out there was a place to buy keys and explore more, to when I finally found the Princess after dueling with the Green Dragon guarding her.
Yeah, it's archaic now, and it's cliched as hell, but I don't care. for my 12 year old self, this was as epic as anything else beforehand.
Later on, when DQ2 came, I was floored by how much BIGGER everything was. The inclusion of the multiple party members was something unheard of before for me as well. Being able to revisit Alefgard was a nice bit of fan service. (I HAD to see what was in the Dragon Lord's castle and it was pretty cool what was there.
Upon beating that game... the long wait began. Nintendo Power had a huge DWIII preview/walkthrough and it was a huge tease for me, as I would eventually not play the game for like... half a year after reading that. When I finally got my hands of DQIII, it was heaven. Having played the prior games, it was like an old friend back with some new stories. For me, DQIII is my favorite since it ties up the original trilogy perfectly. When I neared the last area of the game I was pretty suprised. (Well, not as much as I would have been had I not been semi-spoiled by NP's preview of it.) This game is still my fav. DQ game today and I often replay the GBC remakes just to get that feeling back that I had when I first played it.
DQIV... I knew about it since I read about it's insane release lineups in an issue of GamePlayers back in May 1990. It was the first DQ game that really had a solid narrative and a story that eclipsed all previous games combined. While still keeping the DQ feel intact. While many were onto the Snes and FFII/IV at the time, I was still hooked on the Casino in DQIV. I was kind of floored by the actual inclusion of some animations in battle. (The Kingslime? Woah. Necrosaro? Holy...) The day/night cycle was used real well here too, having been introduced in the prior game. When I beat the game in January 1993, I was all set for when DQV would hit the SNES over here.
But it never did. For the next 8 years or so, I looked in envy of the release of DQV and VI while I lamented the loss of Enix America and was just really deprived of DQ. I always remember a letter from an old gamer who was about 60 or 70 and was imploring anyone to bring over DQ5 and 6 before he died, as he longed to play them in a language he could understand. I hope he got to play the later releases, provided he did not pass away...
In 1998, I discovered an anime import store around my area and what did I find? DQ symphonic CD's. Listening to DQI&II's music with an actual live band was insanely heavenly sounding for me. I looked for more music and I was never dissappointed by what I heard.
Then, from an unlikely source, DQM came here for the GBC from Eidos, of all companies. When I first found a copy for sale, I discovered that it was held for someone else. I offered the clerk 100 bucks. (What can I say? I was really desperate for a new DQ game in english) I eventually ordered it online and man, was nostalgia everywhere. (Considering that you revisit many classic scenes in DQ games in DQM, it was further amplified.)
When the DQ1&2 remakes hit on the GBC, I was elated. Sure, they were not the SNES ones, but hey, they were still vast improvements on the originals. (I still like the NES names better, but that's just me. The games are still classics no matter the terms.)
The Torneko MD game that was suprisingly brought to us in English was a nice diversion and it was a sharp contrast to the Chocobo variant that Square fostered upon us earlier. I love Rogue-likes and this combined with the DQ name, was a given sale for me.
In November 2001, after picking up both versions of DQM2 on the GBC, and having been in gaming bliss with the DQIII remix that summer, DQVII returned to consoles in NA and...
It looked horrible. But you know what? It was still the same DQ that I grew up with and while this one took much longer to get going, it was certainly long and well worth the money. I played this like mad for most of that year and the early half of 2002. Honestly though, it was the first new DQ game that I played that I was less than impressed with. I think it was just too long. I also could have done without the emberassing CG, but hey, I don't look badly on the game overall. I certainly do not hate it, and in fact I have very sentimental memories attatched to this game. It was one of the greatest times of my life back than, and DQVII certainly added to that fact.
The biggest tease of all, was the ad for DQIVr coming to the PS in NA.
Which, as we all know, never came. I still remember that day I loaded up the GIA and saw the headline. "DQIVr cancelled for NA release" (Necrosaro Wins)
Arrrrrgh... It was Enix America's closing all over again. Being denied DQ games after I had been given so much hope... It really saddened me. No DQM3: Caravan Hearts either...
Then... upon months of silence, Enix bought Square and became Square Enix. I was super happy for this, because now there was some actual money that could be put into DQ games for ads and whatnot to get it popular or at least released again in NA.
DQVIII (And was actually called "Dragon Quest" here) came and it literally kept a smile on my face for most of the time playing it. I was amazed that while it looked utterly fantastic and was essentially all the characters and worlds coming to life on my tv, it was still...
The same. It was like being back home for being away for so long. The added bonuses for us in NA like the superb voice acting and the lovely Symphonic ST in our version, not to mention the care that went into retooling the menus and portraits and battle anmations. Unlike DQVII, it had a much better story in my opinion and I loved the simple 4 character system that allowed me to build up my characters without having to grind for a certain job skill and whatnot.
Overall, DQVIII is my favorite DQ game just below DQIII. I am glad that it sold much better than the previous release and as well it should have. There was no excuse for people to call it ugly or outdated visually or audio-wise. The subtle connections to prior games really did it for me too. Lots of bonuses and things to do after completion really added replay value. The 2nd ending was just... possibly the best ending in any DQ for me.
Last fall, I was treated to the Slime spinoff game on the DS, Rocket Slime and it was, while easy and aimed at a younger audience, still one of the best and most unique games on the DS. (The DQ Swords tank "A Revolution is coming.... Wii!!!" nice puns.) Easy to beat, but it was just so full of charm and really, there is nothing else like it out for us here in NA.
When DQ9 was announced for the DS of all things, I was shocked, but since I knew DQ was never really about hardware power, and as long as the 3 main men behind it were involved (Horii, Sugiyama and Toriyama) I had and still have no reason to worry.
Now, DQ in NA looks pretty good. Yeah, we did not get the Yangus spinoff game, but I can deal with not getting a spinoff that was more dungeon crawl than true RPG. DQM: Joker, DQIX and DQ:Swords (I am really hyped for this one, actually. It looks fantastic.) on the Wii are all coming out in English eventually, and I am still looking forward to revisiting whatever world that Horii and co. have in store for me and all other DQ fans.
There's a reason I go under this name, and as you have read, it's just because DQ has affected my gaming tastes to the fullest extent. it made me the gamer I am today. FF is great and all, PS is the best Sci-Fi setting RPG series ever, and Suikoden is as epic as they come in terms of story and politics on a smaller scale...
But DQ is where it's at for me, and it likely always will be.
Since being enticed by Nintendo Power's DW insert in the Nov/Dec 1989 issue, I took a chance and rented DW on a cold, cold day in January of the new year.
Admittedly, I was unimpressed by the game when I saw it on commercials, and when I first saw, fought and killed my first slime ("WTH? Why does this look like I am fighting a blue Hershey's Kiss?") I was hooked on RPG's forever.
Later on, the epic battle to get Erdrick's Armour from that damned Axe Knight at level 14 in Hauksness... The grinding to get the best possible equipment at each new town, from finding out there was a place to buy keys and explore more, to when I finally found the Princess after dueling with the Green Dragon guarding her.
Yeah, it's archaic now, and it's cliched as hell, but I don't care. for my 12 year old self, this was as epic as anything else beforehand.
Later on, when DQ2 came, I was floored by how much BIGGER everything was. The inclusion of the multiple party members was something unheard of before for me as well. Being able to revisit Alefgard was a nice bit of fan service. (I HAD to see what was in the Dragon Lord's castle and it was pretty cool what was there.
Upon beating that game... the long wait began. Nintendo Power had a huge DWIII preview/walkthrough and it was a huge tease for me, as I would eventually not play the game for like... half a year after reading that. When I finally got my hands of DQIII, it was heaven. Having played the prior games, it was like an old friend back with some new stories. For me, DQIII is my favorite since it ties up the original trilogy perfectly. When I neared the last area of the game I was pretty suprised. (Well, not as much as I would have been had I not been semi-spoiled by NP's preview of it.) This game is still my fav. DQ game today and I often replay the GBC remakes just to get that feeling back that I had when I first played it.
DQIV... I knew about it since I read about it's insane release lineups in an issue of GamePlayers back in May 1990. It was the first DQ game that really had a solid narrative and a story that eclipsed all previous games combined. While still keeping the DQ feel intact. While many were onto the Snes and FFII/IV at the time, I was still hooked on the Casino in DQIV.
I was kind of floored by the actual inclusion of some animations in battle. (The Kingslime? Woah. Necrosaro? Holy...) The day/night cycle was used real well here too, having been introduced in the prior game. When I beat the game in January 1993, I was all set for when DQV would hit the SNES over here.But it never did. For the next 8 years or so, I looked in envy of the release of DQV and VI while I lamented the loss of Enix America and was just really deprived of DQ. I always remember a letter from an old gamer who was about 60 or 70 and was imploring anyone to bring over DQ5 and 6 before he died, as he longed to play them in a language he could understand. I hope he got to play the later releases, provided he did not pass away...
In 1998, I discovered an anime import store around my area and what did I find? DQ symphonic CD's. Listening to DQI&II's music with an actual live band was insanely heavenly sounding for me. I looked for more music and I was never dissappointed by what I heard.
Then, from an unlikely source, DQM came here for the GBC from Eidos, of all companies. When I first found a copy for sale, I discovered that it was held for someone else. I offered the clerk 100 bucks. (What can I say? I was really desperate for a new DQ game in english) I eventually ordered it online and man, was nostalgia everywhere. (Considering that you revisit many classic scenes in DQ games in DQM, it was further amplified.)
When the DQ1&2 remakes hit on the GBC, I was elated. Sure, they were not the SNES ones, but hey, they were still vast improvements on the originals. (I still like the NES names better, but that's just me. The games are still classics no matter the terms.)
The Torneko MD game that was suprisingly brought to us in English was a nice diversion and it was a sharp contrast to the Chocobo variant that Square fostered upon us earlier. I love Rogue-likes and this combined with the DQ name, was a given sale for me.
In November 2001, after picking up both versions of DQM2 on the GBC, and having been in gaming bliss with the DQIII remix that summer, DQVII returned to consoles in NA and...
It looked horrible. But you know what? It was still the same DQ that I grew up with and while this one took much longer to get going, it was certainly long and well worth the money. I played this like mad for most of that year and the early half of 2002. Honestly though, it was the first new DQ game that I played that I was less than impressed with. I think it was just too long. I also could have done without the emberassing CG, but hey, I don't look badly on the game overall. I certainly do not hate it, and in fact I have very sentimental memories attatched to this game. It was one of the greatest times of my life back than, and DQVII certainly added to that fact.
The biggest tease of all, was the ad for DQIVr coming to the PS in NA.
Which, as we all know, never came. I still remember that day I loaded up the GIA and saw the headline. "DQIVr cancelled for NA release" (Necrosaro Wins)
Arrrrrgh... It was Enix America's closing all over again. Being denied DQ games after I had been given so much hope... It really saddened me. No DQM3: Caravan Hearts either...
Then... upon months of silence, Enix bought Square and became Square Enix. I was super happy for this, because now there was some actual money that could be put into DQ games for ads and whatnot to get it popular or at least released again in NA.
DQVIII (And was actually called "Dragon Quest" here) came and it literally kept a smile on my face for most of the time playing it. I was amazed that while it looked utterly fantastic and was essentially all the characters and worlds coming to life on my tv, it was still...
The same. It was like being back home for being away for so long. The added bonuses for us in NA like the superb voice acting and the lovely Symphonic ST in our version, not to mention the care that went into retooling the menus and portraits and battle anmations. Unlike DQVII, it had a much better story in my opinion and I loved the simple 4 character system that allowed me to build up my characters without having to grind for a certain job skill and whatnot.
Overall, DQVIII is my favorite DQ game just below DQIII. I am glad that it sold much better than the previous release and as well it should have. There was no excuse for people to call it ugly or outdated visually or audio-wise. The subtle connections to prior games really did it for me too. Lots of bonuses and things to do after completion really added replay value. The 2nd ending was just... possibly the best ending in any DQ for me.
Last fall, I was treated to the Slime spinoff game on the DS, Rocket Slime and it was, while easy and aimed at a younger audience, still one of the best and most unique games on the DS. (The DQ Swords tank "A Revolution is coming.... Wii!!!" nice puns.) Easy to beat, but it was just so full of charm and really, there is nothing else like it out for us here in NA.
When DQ9 was announced for the DS of all things, I was shocked, but since I knew DQ was never really about hardware power, and as long as the 3 main men behind it were involved (Horii, Sugiyama and Toriyama) I had and still have no reason to worry.
Now, DQ in NA looks pretty good. Yeah, we did not get the Yangus spinoff game, but I can deal with not getting a spinoff that was more dungeon crawl than true RPG. DQM: Joker, DQIX and DQ:Swords (I am really hyped for this one, actually. It looks fantastic.) on the Wii are all coming out in English eventually, and I am still looking forward to revisiting whatever world that Horii and co. have in store for me and all other DQ fans.
There's a reason I go under this name, and as you have read, it's just because DQ has affected my gaming tastes to the fullest extent. it made me the gamer I am today. FF is great and all, PS is the best Sci-Fi setting RPG series ever, and Suikoden is as epic as they come in terms of story and politics on a smaller scale...
But DQ is where it's at for me, and it likely always will be.
Red Scarlet
Member
CajoleJuice said:
I'm dead serious though. There was a new (to me) commercial for it last night on Comedy Central and it said PG-13.
CajoleJuice
Member
I know, I saw it tonight. :/Red Scarlet said:I'm dead serious though. There was a new (to me) commercial for it last night on Comedy Central and it said PG-13.
Red Scarlet
Member
Pre-ordained karma for your hatred!
Son of Godzilla
Banned
:lolRed Scarlet said:
I suppose this is obvious, but I hardly see MP2, SotN, and DQVII as a litmus test for whether or not someone enjoys games.
Red Scarlet
Member
Those are the topics I remember you posting in, we probably post in different topics most of the time, so those are what I know. You seem so angry a lot!
I'd make an animation of Death Pisaro's transformation, but it'd take forever to download that part of the game. I did make a 3 part youtube video a long time ago though, if you're curious, Ancestor.
I'd make an animation of Death Pisaro's transformation, but it'd take forever to download that part of the game. I did make a 3 part youtube video a long time ago though, if you're curious, Ancestor.
Son of Godzilla said:
It's nearly as good a three-game litmus test as any, isn't it? DQ being the consistently technically-surpassing soul of JRPG and SotN a fusion of the high points of platform and action-RPG while being exemplary of 2d art and modular music, while Prime covers the basis of free-roaming gaming.
As for the topic at hand... DQ is a series that shouldn't -need- an appreciation thread, but it's great that it has one. I remember NP losing my subscription card and never getting me DQ1, only to buy it off a friend of a friend a couple years later. I remember nearly a decade of my youth spend exploring DQ4, less concerned with the ending or with efficiency and more wandering the world looking for non-levelgrindy ways through the depths of Aktemto. I remember over a hundred hours in DQ7 even before personal issues stopped me, exploring all the small individual stories, and I'm still working my way through 8 and 5 both, having more fun with the journey than with the destination. I can't think of many other games that give that feeling, never mind whole series.
Aeana said:
Definitely. Due to the accessible play and plot, rather than chasing after fashionable complexity or plot tropes, it's one of the series that really surpasses time. Unless, of course, yo're one of those people who has an antifetish for random battles, I guess. :lol (I wonder how'd they react to random-"There's an enemy in this tile that represents a couple hundred square miles! MGS by it in realtime!"?)
Son of Godzilla
Banned
This is hardly the thread for this, but no. I've got nothing against the genres they represent, but the specific games are plagued with problems.Mandoric said:
I'd say my biggest grevience with DQVII is that it's essentially a SNES game that was released at the end of the PS' lifespan. "Classic" the style may be, but it's more than a few years outdated.
Son of Godzilla said:
Graphically, perhaps. I thought the graphics style worked pretty well, though, myself. It seems like it's meant to emulate the 2D style, but with a rotatable camera.
Could it have looked better? Yeah. But the development time for the game was something like 4 years, if I remember right. It wouldn't have looked so bad, compared, had it come out earlier.
Erdrick said:
Same here, I haven't forgotten that letter (in NP if I remember correctly)....truly a sad story...chances are he never got the opportunity to play them in english ( I just played them myself a year ago, and that's thanks to fan translations).
Your entire post was very well written; if I weren't so lazy I would've posted something similar.... the one game I haven't played is 4 (since I was waiting for that remake) and it just looks so dated on the nes that I haven't been able to start it....funny thing really, the last DQ on nes looking worse than the earlier games.
My favorite would be 7, with 6 and 8 close behind...7 just clicked on all cylinders for me (except graphics of course) the music was excellent, plot as well, the whole putting the world back together epicness of it all...its the one I've spent playing the most (around 73 hours with the bonus dungeon) (while DQ8 took around 43 hours with extras, for comparisons sake).
I'm ashamed of not replaying these games, at least some of them, "summer of DQ" style, but decreasing time available for playing, plus an increasing backlog have made it near impossible....
Now if only SE would start translating games in a more timely manner...it'll be x-mas by the time we get DQ joker, and well into 2008 by the time swords arrives (it's not like there's a lot to translate if the games anything like the DQ kenshin tv game); way to not get it out in time for the holiday season
Red Scarlet
Member
I remember the Nintendo Power review that said DW4 looked worse than 3.
If you like the games, don't let the graphics stop you from 4, it's a really great entry in the series. As long as you can tolerate the AI (which can be turned off with a game genie code, but it makes the game a lot easier), if you like the DQ games, 4 is definitely worth the eyesore. The tiles are a bit brighter, and maybe that makes them look less detailed. I remember agreeing with NP when they said that. Monsters look just as good or better in 4 than 3, imo.
If you like the games, don't let the graphics stop you from 4, it's a really great entry in the series. As long as you can tolerate the AI (which can be turned off with a game genie code, but it makes the game a lot easier), if you like the DQ games, 4 is definitely worth the eyesore. The tiles are a bit brighter, and maybe that makes them look less detailed. I remember agreeing with NP when they said that. Monsters look just as good or better in 4 than 3, imo.
While i never got around finishign DQ7: (how often is it possible to delete 70hrs save games by accidents?) i did like it quite a lot.
Out of DQ 1-3 & 7-8 it is my favorite DQ up to now. I love the job system and the world
especially how alot small details intervene with each other.
In comparison i find DQ8 rather boring though it is also a good game.
Out of DQ 1-3 & 7-8 it is my favorite DQ up to now. I love the job system and the world
especially how alot small details intervene with each other.
In comparison i find DQ8 rather boring though it is also a good game.
hmm.... actually seeing the screenshots side by side, there doesn't seem to be much of a difference
heck, maybe the NP review subconsciously affected my view of the graphics; but i agree that the tiles and colors in town areas in particular just seem too bright(when i played the game;its not noticeable in those screenshots).
I will eventually play it, there's no doubt about that, but I'll wait until those supposed DQ remakes that are coming soon get announced (year of DQ and all that).
heck, maybe the NP review subconsciously affected my view of the graphics; but i agree that the tiles and colors in town areas in particular just seem too bright(when i played the game;its not noticeable in those screenshots).
I will eventually play it, there's no doubt about that, but I'll wait until those supposed DQ remakes that are coming soon get announced (year of DQ and all that).
Night_Trekker
Member
I love Dragon Quest. I hope the tried-and-true old-school formula never dies. Random battles included.
GhaleonQ
Member
You know, I often make fun of those who like the games deemed "bad" in a series. However, apart from IV, VII is the Dragon Quest game that I really like. VIII, on the other hand, is 1 of only 3 games that I've returned (well, resold, after I beat it). Does this make me a bad person or somehow incompetent?
Magicpaint
Member
soulhouf said:
Amazing game, improved on the original in every way.
Great thread Aeana, thanks for helping me through DQVr, and I can't wait for IX!
<3 DQ.
I will admit to never playing through more than like 25% through a DQ game. The only ones I've played are dw1 and dq8.
One thing I didn't understand about dq8 is how the tension thing works. I've played a lot of final fantasy games so I mostly just chose attack a lot and died. I might pick up dq8 again before the end of the year, but I'd like to figure out how tension works.
From what I understand it's just a temporary attack increase? How much does it increase your attack by? Does it last for multiple attacks or only work once? Why is it better to raise tension and then attack than it is to attack twice?
One thing I didn't understand about dq8 is how the tension thing works. I've played a lot of final fantasy games so I mostly just chose attack a lot and died. I might pick up dq8 again before the end of the year, but I'd like to figure out how tension works.
From what I understand it's just a temporary attack increase? How much does it increase your attack by? Does it last for multiple attacks or only work once? Why is it better to raise tension and then attack than it is to attack twice?
AdmiralViscen
Banned
I picked up that guide-but-not for DQ8 yesterday as a result of this topic. I will give the game another go after I finsih FF8.
usea said:
It tells you the percentage increase you get whenever you use it. The psych up lasts for one attack, but you can stack it -- use the ability multiple times, increasing your strength higher and higher each time, and then use the attack.
The benefit is that a lot of times it's strategically better to do a lot of damage in a single round versus smaller attacks spread out. If you're dealing with a creature that uses lots of guarding or defensive buffs (which you can erase with proper spell usage), there's definitely an advantage to storing up a bunch of power and unleashing it at once. If you combined psyching up properly with offensive buffs, it's even better. And if you pile up tension and then use an offensive technique, it can be a good way to save MP in a long fight -- use one technique with a supremely high strength versus using a bunch of techniques, at MP cost, with lower strength.
usea said:
The attack increase is exponential. It's usually not better to raise your tension once and then attack, but it is better after that. The multiplier is something like 1.7, 3, 5, 7.5 for each level of tension. So it becomes worth it ever so slightly after you raise tension twice, and then even more after that. There are also some abilities that attack more than once, and I believe the tension bonus is applied individually to each attack.
AdmiralViscen
Banned
What are the recommended skill point distributions for the characters in DQ8?
This sounds amazing.
This sounds amazing.
AdmiralViscen said:
Most proficiencies in DQ8 are good. You can't really go wrong with any of them, as long as you stick to one or two and don't try to spread your points out too much. I personally like boomerangs and spears for the hero, axes for Yangus, whips and some staff skill for Jessica, and swords and some staff skill for Angelo.
I did some level grinding in DQ8 just to try out different skills (instead of starting a whole new game) and yeah, you can make just about any build work. You just need to focus on one skill at a time first. Spreading your points out is bad, not to mention if you wait to build up a second skill tree you can then raise it up pretty fast because you'll get more skill points each level. I think the only real exception I found to the "any build can work" thing is Angelo, but only in the sense that I don't think his Charisma skills are that great past the first 5 or so. Any weapon focus is fine. You get him just late enough (though still way early in the game) that you'll have a good handle on what you'd want to build his skill points for ahead of time anyway, though.
RevenantKioku
PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS oh god i am drowning in them
Random thoughts:
3 does look better than 4. Sorry, but the character sprites in 4 just look bad.
5r looks really good. Can't wait to delve into it.
If you don't like 7, go **** yourself.
3 does look better than 4. Sorry, but the character sprites in 4 just look bad.
5r looks really good. Can't wait to delve into it.
If you don't like 7, go **** yourself.
Magicpaint
Member
Oh definitely. Especially if you're a fan of Pokemon.djtiesto said:
AdmiralViscen
Banned
djtiesto said:
DQM shit on PKMN R/B
Tyrone Slothrop
Banned
DQ8 was one of the most brilliant and addictive games i've ever played. anything before that is just way too archaic for me.
i sludged through 7 and ... i guess it was alright because i put a lot of time in it but in retrospect i dont know if it sticks out in my mind as a well made game. and it looked god awful. may as well just made it 2d
i sludged through 7 and ... i guess it was alright because i put a lot of time in it but in retrospect i dont know if it sticks out in my mind as a well made game. and it looked god awful. may as well just made it 2d
Magicpaint
Member
Eh what?Tyrone Slothrop said:
soulhouf said:
S-E, Bring this one to NA please!!!
**** yes, I wish. Or even a GBA version of the Snes quality one. I want this game to have a U.S. release because it is awesome.
While we're at it, it would be nice to be able to play through DQVI since there's not even a fan translation for the japanese .ROM.
Tyrone Slothrop
Banned
Magicpaint said:
well DQ8 was "archaic" too in a lot of ways. but i think by finally giving the series its graphical edge you really got more immersion. i think it was the first rpg i legitimately felt like i was traversing about some fantasy world
i should also add i enjoyed DQ6 for its time but not near enough to the extent i did 8
i'm annoyed that the localization process for viii (apparently) extended the in-combat load times of the original - a shame since it's overall an amazingly localized game.
the big dangerous overworld, safe towns, and exploration dynamic that used to be so standard in rpgs was relatively rare last gen, and viii did such a fine job. i almost wish the teleport spell wasn't in there (if they had a "save-and-quit anywhere" option (ala: BoFragon Quarter) i'd be all for eliminating the teleport - getting lost is substantially less scary when you've got the magical escape route at all times)
how hard is it to track down vii in stores? some old-gen rpg goodness might make surveilling the new-gen landscape for the best system wait a bit more bearable.
the big dangerous overworld, safe towns, and exploration dynamic that used to be so standard in rpgs was relatively rare last gen, and viii did such a fine job. i almost wish the teleport spell wasn't in there (if they had a "save-and-quit anywhere" option (ala: BoF
ragon Quarter) i'd be all for eliminating the teleport - getting lost is substantially less scary when you've got the magical escape route at all times)how hard is it to track down vii in stores? some old-gen rpg goodness might make surveilling the new-gen landscape for the best system wait a bit more bearable.