Megalosaro
Banned
you don't have to go through the offline section again if you want to try a different race.
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Dragon Quest Community Thread: Come in! Would you like a Puff-Puff?
- Thread starter Jucksalbe
- Start date
PumpkinSpice
Banned
The entire game seems to just be a mess from the backside, from the sprites, to the programming, to the entire way the scenarios are written. No wonder it took so long to make, kinda surprising it didn't take longer. The famous "script binders" photo is actually Hori's scenarios for the game written and drawn by hand, which was then handed off wholesale to be implemented by Heartbeat. This process was explained for DQ6 in a kids book; pretty crazy they thought this was a good way to make a game. I hope their process has improved since then.
Oh that's cool. Guess I'll load it up again at some point and nosey around the other races then.
Woah, I've never seen this (children's book) before and it's absolutely wild. Thanks for sharing! Also absolutely insane about that wall of binders.
I like the Pukoripos and the Ogres the best. The races look to me like the helpers of a bad dude in DBZ, which is neat.
Yeah, it's an interesting read, I like the vibe of the creators' office spaces. Wish I could spend my day drinking coffee flavored milk and drawing maps.
Megalosaro
Banned
Yeah, I really liked that book. I can't believe I haven't seen it before.
Purple Cheeto
Member
How do you access this? As a programmer (and someone currently playing through the game) I'd totally be interested in this.
Using information from The Cutting Room Floor it gives you the addresses and hex values to change in the game (the address for the NA version is the long string of numbers "800F2518", and the hex value needed is the first two numbers in the next set "01"). To do the actual changing of values, you can use an emulator like no$, which has incredible debugging features which allow you to quick jump to addresses and change hex values on the fly. This can be applied to any of the Super Nintendo games as well, Dragon Quest III in particular has a great debug menu.
Alternatively, you can use the listed cheat device on the actual hardware and go to it that way on your television.
EDIT: I should mention that Vamphuntr gave an important link. When I first tried this, TCRF method said to use Select, when it was actually L2 as it's shown on Woodus.
EDIT2: A few pointers as well. While you can access the debug menu at any time, certain options are only available by going to certain debug rooms from the menu. For example, a debug battle can only be entered by first going to the debug map. Game > Debug Map > Debug Battle. It was a bit confusing when I first tried it right from the start of the game, only to find certain options weren't doing anything, despite them being selectable.
KiTA
Member
7's development time was crazy, but even crazier was the supposed reason -- as the story goes, a Japanese gaming rag had a mole in Armor Project or Heartbeat or what have you, got basically the entire plot of the original DQ7 leaked to them, and decided to publish it all. Hori supposedly scrapped huge swaths of it and started over.
It is nice to hear confirmation that the meme about that huge wall of binders being DQ7's script wasn't true. I can buy it being design docs, mockups, storyboards, and scripts. But that many binders of just scripts? There just isn't that much text in DQ7.
This is interesting. Was the overall scenario essentially the same before it was scrapped?
Ever since the NA release of DQ8, when people continually insisted that you couldn't beat Dhoulmagus without Angelo knowing multiheal, I've taken great pleasure at beating him at lower and lower levels. Truth is, I've never had multiheal when I fought him, although the first time through the JP version, I believe he was level 29 and on the cusp of learning it. This time he was level 23, with my highest leveled character being 26. I think I've done it lower than that, but I can't recall. I've always wanted to try a full-on low-level game, but I think it'd be really trying to my patience. Solo hero was good enough for actual challenges for me, and that took a long time getting everything prepared for each boss.
I've personally never tried solo hero playthroughs of DQ2, 6, or 7, but I'm sure they're all doable. The reason why it works is mainly because DQ games are all designed to be beaten at a fairly low level. Most of them you beat with levels in the 30s, if that. That leaves a whole lot of room for overpowering a single character through the game. For example, I was able to beat DQ3r with a solo hero at level 48, even though I'm usually only around 32 when I beat it with a full party. I have beaten DQ2 without the prince of Samaltria though, because of the thing where you can get him out of your party for good.
Of course, every DQ game has been beaten at "minimum level" too. You can actually read reports about those at Ultima Garden. The only game I've ever done this for is DQ5, personally, and it took an incredible amount of retries to get through some parts. You're really at the mercy of the RNG. Most bosses in DQ games follow set patterns, with different stuff they can do at each step of the pattern. Like [Attack] -> [Attack, fire breath] -> [laugh/waste turn, freezing wave, charge up] -> repeat. Stuff like that. So sometimes it comes down to lucking out with which thing they do at each step of the pattern.
Of course, every DQ game has been beaten at "minimum level" too. You can actually read reports about those at Ultima Garden. The only game I've ever done this for is DQ5, personally, and it took an incredible amount of retries to get through some parts. You're really at the mercy of the RNG. Most bosses in DQ games follow set patterns, with different stuff they can do at each step of the pattern. Like [Attack] -> [Attack, fire breath] -> [laugh/waste turn, freezing wave, charge up] -> repeat. Stuff like that. So sometimes it comes down to lucking out with which thing they do at each step of the pattern.
I always felt bad that the first time I beat DQ8 I didn't beat Dhoulmagus's both forms in one go. Always surprised me that dying and coming back he was already waiting in the second form.
Yeah, you can just continue the game without him. There's even special dialog in the game if you do it. It only works in the remakes though.
Purple Cheeto
Member
Have you watched DreamBoum speed run DQ8? I haven't watched much of his runs but I'm curious as how low of level he accomplishes stuff.
I'm almost back to where I was in DQ7 the first time I tried playing it,
the Underwater City.
Got really lucky and beat rank S of the monster arena with my usual team of Talos/Steropes/Octurion on the first try. Usually takes a couple of tries. I never enjoy those battles, but I enjoy the monster teams too much not to do it all as quickly as possible. Plus it's nice to get the hero spear and dragon robe right after beating Dhoulmagus, considering how strong they are.
That sucks. I guess you should be able to do the last boss fight again pretty fast. But I don't remember how long the ending was (and unskippable, probably?).
Did you ever have problems with other games with HD Loader? I was looking into using that sometime, because I don't really trust my PS2 drive to hold out.
Did you ever have problems with other games with HD Loader? I was looking into using that sometime, because I don't really trust my PS2 drive to hold out.
Oh, that's a shame. I never did the post-game stuff in any of the DQ games except IX, it's something I should probably go back and do at some point, I've heard that it's generally worthwhile.
There are specific games with issues in HD Loader, but there's a new project called Open PS2 Loader that has much better compatibility and works with games that don't work with HD Loader, like VP2 and Suikoden 5. I wasn't using it for DQ8 for some dumb reason, I dunno why.
At least 8 has some additional story in the post-game quest, so I guess that one's worth it.
PumpkinSpice
Banned
Started my first playthrough of DQ7 remake back in May. 61 hours later...
61 hours is actually a new record for me for DQ7. First time through it was 110 hours, next 85 hours, then 65 hours, and now just 61 hours.
Edit: Also Orgo Demir was wayyyyy easier in the remake. I only had to make 1 attempt at him, and only bothered getting one of the special armour in the last dungeon.
61 hours is actually a new record for me for DQ7. First time through it was 110 hours, next 85 hours, then 65 hours, and now just 61 hours.
Edit: Also Orgo Demir was wayyyyy easier in the remake. I only had to make 1 attempt at him, and only bothered getting one of the special armour in the last dungeon.
Purple Cheeto
Member
DRAGON QUEST 7 SPOILERS.
Been busy but I forgot to post last weekend. I finally got
to join my party in DQ7. Its kind of crazy how huge the gap is in time between when
. It also seems like in the chapters that come after that my party started talking again (outside of party chat). There was honestly like 10 hours where I felt like none of my characters said anything directly to an NPC (okay I think Maribel called someone an idiot once).
Also
I almost think this game has too many good usable items. I've got the Bless Staff, a Sage Staff, a Wind Staff, a Thunder Staff, a Pixy Sword, a Bounce Sword, a Fire Claw, an Ice Claw and the Wonder Rock. I almost never have to case Healmore or Increase.
The skill and job system in this game is kind of crap though. Having lots of jobs is cool, but I feel like most of the skills are repeats or just less effective than attacking or using the Fire Claw right now.
Been busy but I forgot to post last weekend. I finally got
Melvin
Keifer leaves and Melvin joins
Also
its kind of crazy how quickly you get Aira, after Maribel leaves. Especially compared to the gap between Keifer and Melvin. The game definitely feels easier with 4 party members.
The skill and job system in this game is kind of crap though. Having lots of jobs is cool, but I feel like most of the skills are repeats or just less effective than attacking or using the Fire Claw right now.
Purple Cheeto
Member
Sorry. 
I honestly don't know why I keep doing that.
I honestly don't know why I keep doing that.My brother wanted to play some Batman game on the PS3 so instead of playing Ni No Kuni I hooked up the PS2 instead and played Dragon Quest VIII all night last night! I've only completed it once before when it first came out, but I'm cheating and looking up skill lists in order to optimise my skill point usage.
I keep reading that Thin Air is amazing in this game, is it? I put points into humanity with Yangus early on to unlock Heal for him and I was blindly putting points into sword for Hero but I'm going to invest in spears and axes for when I start meeting metal slimes/LMS etc (I'd rather just EXP grind against those and enjoy the story more this time around)
I keep reading that Thin Air is amazing in this game, is it? I put points into humanity with Yangus early on to unlock Heal for him and I was blindly putting points into sword for Hero but I'm going to invest in spears and axes for when I start meeting metal slimes/LMS etc (I'd rather just EXP grind against those and enjoy the story more this time around)
SpaceBridge
Member
Started DQ6 today. I've had the game since release but never had the time. Any spoiler free tips or impressions? I'm jonesing for a grand but charming adventure.
Biggest tip I can give is to resist grinding, because the class system is designed such that only battles of "equal power or greater" count toward class progression. You can outgrow areas pretty easily.
Fortunately, there are a couple of places in the game where the battles always count no matter what level you are, so you can't screw yourself up permanently.
PumpkinSpice
Banned
The EXP curve in Dragon Quest games makes grinding really dumb in almost every game, except when you're stuck on a boss. Why grind for 3 hours to earn 3000 experience when you'll be getting that much in 5 mins a few hours later?
But, but....they always taunt you with weapons you can't afford yet.
It's interesting, but there are always some weapons that are worthwhile and many that are not in each DQ game, and it stays relatively constant across games. I guess once you have a lot of experience with the series, it's easier to tell. It's the only RPG series I know of where I feel really safe in going for certain equipment and sticking with it for a while. Not just weapons, either. Like, if I come across a dragon shield or a magic shield, I probably keep that equipped for a very large portion of the game instead of upgrading to something with more defense.
It's a good thing. It forces you to think more about your equipment.
But I'm also so used to just buying the newest stuff that's there because of how many other series handle it, that it usually takes me a bit to take a step back and come to the conclusion that maybe I might not need everything.
But I'm also so used to just buying the newest stuff that's there because of how many other series handle it, that it usually takes me a bit to take a step back and come to the conclusion that maybe I might not need everything.
PumpkinSpice
Banned
Yeah you need to be really careful with equipment. Also never buy new equipment for minor increases, only for big jumps within your budget.
I think we've figured out why everyone says these games require grinding. Buying all the new equipment every time you reach a new town is something I stopped doing as soon as I started playing RPGs that weren't developed by Squaresoft.
Now of course I've gone the other way and hoard my money in the most miserly way possible. Maybe if Kabuff or Oomph or Rakukaja weren't so potent I'd learn my lesson but these days there's too many other ways to get around having the best equipment for everyone. Also the feeling you get when you find a treasure chest with the same sword you just spent 20000G on is almost physically painful.
Now of course I've gone the other way and hoard my money in the most miserly way possible. Maybe if Kabuff or Oomph or Rakukaja weren't so potent I'd learn my lesson but these days there's too many other ways to get around having the best equipment for everyone. Also the feeling you get when you find a treasure chest with the same sword you just spent 20000G on is almost physically painful.
Equipment in DQ games often has special effects that are more important than what's reported on the general strength increase number thingy. For example, magic shields reduce magic damage, dragon shields reduce breath damage, same for dragon armor. Falcon sword hits twice, boomerangs hit all enemies, whips hit groups, and so on. Many weapons and some armor have effects when you use them as items in battle, the power shield being the most infamous piece of armor for this and the lightning staff being a great attack item in battle.
I think these things in particular are what go ignored far too often in these games. Some people play DQ8 without ever using boomerangs on the hero and that boggles my mind because it's just so much less smart.
I think these things in particular are what go ignored far too often in these games. Some people play DQ8 without ever using boomerangs on the hero and that boggles my mind because it's just so much less smart.
Purple Cheeto
Member
The other thing you learn as you play lots of DQ games is that that 2 point defense upgrade that you can't afford isn't worth the 30 minutes of grinding it will take to get it.
I also am found of holding on to equipment that provides spell resistances and such. Magic and breath attacks always seem to do more damage than enemies physical attacks, so any way you can negate that damage the better off you will be.
I also am found of holding on to equipment that provides spell resistances and such. Magic and breath attacks always seem to do more damage than enemies physical attacks, so any way you can negate that damage the better off you will be.
I like to think of grinding in DQ as being a self-correcting difficulty level.
If you're good at the game, and you simply run from one town to the next, the game rewards you by making itself harder. If you're not good at the game and you get killed and sent back to town, the game backs off a bit and makes itself a little bit easier for you. The penalty for not being good is having to waste your time grinding, so there is always some encouragement to get better (and you can learn while you grind, so it's not a straight-up waste of time). And no matter which path you choose (hard and fast or slow and easy), it's never permanent. You can push forward aggressively or you can stop and grind the roses, and the game constantly minimizes the effect of what you did, constantly shifting your game back towards the middle ground of difficulty. If you over/under level your characters, you don't need to do the opposite to bring the game back to normal (although you can if you want), the game will stabilize it's own difficulty, all by itself.
I'm not fond of games that try to do the opposite, and penalize grinding. Skill is rewarded with a broken-easy game, and failure is rewarded with a broken-hard one. It doesn't give either kind of player what they're really looking for, it just says that there's only one way to play the game, and anyone who doesn't play the way the devs wanted can screw off and go play something else.
So I've been playing DQMJ2 and I'm progressing through the game okay but I'm still a little confused on synthesizing
I've currently got a Green Dragon, Great Sabercub, Noble Gasbagon and Bodkin Archer. I was thinking of making an Abyss Diver but I'm not sure if it's even good. It's Rank B, though.
Oh and I just finished Unshore.
I've currently got a Green Dragon, Great Sabercub, Noble Gasbagon and Bodkin Archer. I was thinking of making an Abyss Diver but I'm not sure if it's even good. It's Rank B, though.
Oh and I just finished Unshore.
bagandscalpel
Member
I was glad that each class of weapon in DQ8 was kept up to date as you progressed in the game. So even though swords would vastly overpower the boomerang you could get for the Hero at the same time, the boomerang still had that mob-clearing utility which made it worth keeping it around.
But Heroes are supposed to use Swords! Seriously though, I'm always shocked by people who don't understand that Boomerangs and Whips are some of the best weapons in DQ. Hitting multiple enemies at once without having to use MP? Hell yeah!
DQ1 will be coming out in English for mobile devices in September. With other games to follow in the coming months.
Polygon also mentions that DQ7 would be harder to port due to the amount of text in the game. Not sure if that's editorial or SE's producer speaking as the article doesn't specify.
So it seems DQ7's size is a problem regardless of platform!
EDIT: A bit of clarification courtesy of Game Informer who quote the mobile producer, Noriyoshi Fujimoto, as saying a mobile version of DQ7 is currently "technically impossible" due to its size. Seems it's a wonder the game was ever released in English in the first place!
Polygon also mentions that DQ7 would be harder to port due to the amount of text in the game. Not sure if that's editorial or SE's producer speaking as the article doesn't specify.
So it seems DQ7's size is a problem regardless of platform!
EDIT: A bit of clarification courtesy of Game Informer who quote the mobile producer, Noriyoshi Fujimoto, as saying a mobile version of DQ7 is currently "technically impossible" due to its size. Seems it's a wonder the game was ever released in English in the first place!
Well, the fact remains that DQ7 is announced for smartphones, and has been for a long time. If it's impossible then they certainly made a mistake. With that said, I find it hard to believe that DQ7 is a bigger game in a technical respect than DQ8.
http://www.jp.square-enix.com/dqsp/
http://www.jp.square-enix.com/dqsp/
KiTA
Member
So Square Enix is now openly discussing the possibility of Dragon Quest 7's 3DS port being localized:
http://www.siliconera.com/2014/08/3...est-vii-3ds-west-arent-sure-itll-sell-enough/
This is a huge step forward, I think. Before they were openly shutting any and all mention of DQ in the west -- period. I'm guessing the mobile games were successful enough that they're timidly considering the idea that DQ has a fanbase in the West. Bravely Default's success in the West might also have had something to do with it.
http://www.siliconera.com/2014/08/3...est-vii-3ds-west-arent-sure-itll-sell-enough/
This is a huge step forward, I think. Before they were openly shutting any and all mention of DQ in the west -- period. I'm guessing the mobile games were successful enough that they're timidly considering the idea that DQ has a fanbase in the West. Bravely Default's success in the West might also have had something to do with it.