Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King Standard Edition - Nintendo 3DS
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Description
Features
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
What's Included
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Key Specs
- EditionStandard Edition
- ESRB RatingT (Teen 13+)
- ESRB DescriptorsFantasy violence, Mild blood, Mild language, Simulated gambling, Suggestive themes, Use of alcohol
- Compatible Platform(s)Nintendo 3DS
- Software FormatCartridge
General
- Product NameDragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
- BrandNintendo
- PublisherNintendo
- Model NumberCTRPBQ8E
Game Details
- EditionStandard Edition
- GenreRole Playing
- Game FranchiseDragon Quest
- Game SeriesVIII
- MultiplayerNo
Certifications & Listings
- ESRB RatingT (Teen 13+)
- ESRB DescriptorsFantasy violence, Mild blood, Mild language, Simulated gambling, Suggestive themes, Use of alcohol
Compatibility
- Compatible Platform(s)Nintendo 3DS
- Software FormatCartridge
Other
- UPC045496743727
Customer reviews
Rating 4.8 out of 5 stars with 435 reviews
(435 customer reviews)to a friend
- Pros mentioned:Portable
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
For King and Country
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King was already an incredibly JRPG standard back when it came out on the PS2. And while the game also released on mobile devices a few years back, this new 3DS version aims to breathe new life into the game that already had a well packaged experience. In this whimsical world of silly monsters, Dragon Ball Z look alike characters by the same creator, and surprising darkness in the plot, Dragon Quest VIII takes you on a fun journey across the globe in search of a mad Jester who leaves despair in his wake. Along the way you meet fantastic characters fleshed out by great writing and voice acting that goes well with the world design and cell shaded art style. And unlike the days of RPGs gone by, you are no longer a huge character the size of towns on a small world map, but expecting in a world to scale. The gameplay is definitely standard turn based combat, but it's refined here to perfection. There's no complicated mess of menus, but it's also full of enough abilities and spells that there is a lot to learn and master. Now beyond the base of the game which this version builds upon are a host of new features new to the 3DS. You new a new ending to choose from as well as new post game content. There's also 2 new playable characters that you recruit to expand the party from the set 4 to 6. The party members even had roles in the existing game so they don't feel shoe horned into the plot. Beyond that there's also the new camera focused side features and side quests, as well as smaller additions here and there. For example in the original game when you leveled up and used skill points acquired at each level you would never know what skill you would get next unless you went online or used a guide. However now not only can you save skill points, but it easily displays your progress for the next skill and even gives you an idea of where it will go from there. All of these changes combined with the new portability greatly make up for the loss in graphical power, and orchestral score which are lost from the PS2 version. If you are a fan of RPGs though I can't recommend this game higher. It's polished to an incredibly level, and it's just a smile (and some tears) all the way through. It still cracks me up when you encounter an enemy that caught you by surprise. You're expecting to take that hit which you may or may not be ready for and... It licks itself, or rolls around on the ground! Dragon Quest is full of silly characters, monsters, and a whole lot of puns. But it uses this tone to lure you into a false of security. Because the stories that these characters deal with are not so light hearted and will grip you to the end!
I would recommend this to a friend - Pros mentioned:Graphics, Remake
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A DQ Classic!
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.The long-running Dragon Quest Japanese Role Playing Game series has rarely disappointed. From the original NES Dragon Quest to Dragon Quest 6 on the Super Famicom , the series saw enough tweaks to storytelling, gameplay and mechanics to keep it fun and interesting while still retaining a cohesive feel and vision. With Dragon Quest 7 however, the series started to feel a bit stale. Released on the Playstation several years after the visually stunning and cutting edge (at the time) Final Fantasy VII (and a year after Final Fantasy IX which pushed the system to its limits), DQ 7, while in 3D, still resembled the older games with low-res short, blocky character art and pixelated towns and overworld., while the gameplay was pretty much the same as it ever was with little to make it stand out. In addition, the game was a slow-burner, taking quite a long time with introductory scenes before the game truly began, which did not help considering the overwhelming length of the game to begin with. Dragon Quest VIII on the other hand, exceeded expectations with a game that was visually impressive, with cel-shaded characters and a vibrant, colorful full 3D world with gorgeous vistas. The game still graced us with the classic Dragon Quest gameplay, but battles moved at a fast pace and the newly added voice acting (a first for the series), along with myriad books to be found (which contain the usual DQ humor in the form of very short stories, anecdotes and recipes for crafting) added to the immersion and enjoyment. This 3DS port is excellent, and aside from the cel-shaded character outlines being gone, it is close to the original Playstation 2 release. The loss of the cel-shading makes the game seem a little less vibrant, but it is still quite a feat that they were able to port this over to the 3DS. Navigation of menus is quick and smooth and there is no slowdown while moving your party around. *Note: some of the issues with Dragon Quest 7 were improved in the 3DS port which includes updated artwork in line with the remakes of DQ 4, 5, and 6 for the DS, and a streamlined intro which helps get you into the action sooner. I haven't finished it but it is an excellent remake and I recommend it.
I would recommend this to a friend - Pros mentioned:GraphicsCons mentioned:Voice acting
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Still a classic after over a decade.
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Dragon Quest VIII is a wonderful game. Whether you're a series veteran, or just simply peeking your head in to see what the franchise is all about, Dragon Quest VIII has something for everyone. I was a little worried going in that it wouldn't hold up to the original PS2 version, but I'm happy to report that it does, and it does so wonderfully. Though texture resolutions aren't as detailed and sharp, environments are still detailed, colors are still vibrant, and, most importantly, the characters are just as expressive as ever. There are some draw-distance issues where things just pop into view that can be somewhat distracting, but they're never game-breaking, and usually only happen when roaming the overworld. It's disappointing that the 3DS got short-changed on the soundtrack, however, considering the original PS2 version featured a fully-orchestrated soundtrack. The 3DS version contains a MIDI soundtrack, and while it is very high-quality (along the same lines as the previous 3DS entry, Dragon Quest VII), it's still rather disappointing, considering the Japanese release still contains the original music. It's not a deal-breaker, and if this is your first time playing the game, then you probably won't even notice. The voice-acting sounds a bit muffled coming through the 3DS' sound channels, but I got used to it really quick, and it does not hamper the actors' performances. There are also some very nice quality-of-life improvements here, including on-screen enemy encounters (meaning no more random battles other than when sailing the ocean), and, my personal favorite, the ability to speed up animations during battle, which makes grinding go a lot faster. Dragon Quest VIII is still a gem after all these years, and if you're a newcomer to the series, this is the PERFECT game to discover what this whimsical franchise is all about.
I would recommend this to a friend - Pros mentioned:Graphics, PortableCons mentioned:3d
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Portable Version
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I got the PS2 version of Dragon Quest VIII several years ago, but never completed the game. I was excited to get this portable version of the game since I spend a lot of time commuting on the metro and I mostly play games on the go these days. The DS version is a great port of the original. Graphics are nice and cut scenes are still voice acted. No 3D in this game though. Definitely worth checking out for RPG fans or fans of the Dragon Quest series.
I would recommend this to a friend - Pros mentioned:Graphics, Portable
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Surprising and Awesome Port
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.This is just a brief review of the port and not the game itself. The game itself needs no introduction. This is THE definitive Dragon Quest installment. The 3DS port of this game is (despite those early previews) awesome. It sports a stable frame-rate and a colorful adaption of the PS2 original. It's definitely a 3DS game, make no mistake, but I'm happy to say that the graphics, sound, and overall presentation were successfully translated into a beautiful new version of the game. Aside from a revised (some might say nerved) soundtrack (to accommodate a smaller game file size), everything is intact from the original. Of course, the game's newfound portability really wins the day, allowing you to grind (no more random encounters!) whenever and wherever you like. What a great game, and I'm happy to say ... what a great version of this game. A+
I would recommend this to a friend - Cons mentioned:Voice acting
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great port of a classic JRPG
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I played this game multiple times in its PlayStation 2 release, and curiosity got the better of me for the 3DS release. I hadn't played the game in nearly 10 years, and I had to know how it translated in its port. I'm really impressed -- a few corners had to be cut, but for the most part, it's the PS2 classic in handheld form. It looks and runs great. I found myself sucked right back into the game's world. Dragon Quest VIII shines by giving you a wonderfully charismatic cast of characters (with voice acting that's pretty decent overall) without piling on too many faces. There's joyful music at every turn, and most enemies take a turn for the silly. Having a mascot resembling a small blob of goo with a cute face, Dragon Quest is a series that almost never takes itself seriously (except when the opportunity in the story arises.) The story is pretty linear and cut-and-dry, but this is one of those rare RPGs where I didn't mind the story taking a backseat. Everything else -- characters, gameplay in and out of battle, music -- carries the game much further than story alone. And in the wake of some more recent JRPGs, a bad (or otherwise overwrought) story can do more harm than good. The 3DS version of the game adds a little content to entice people who've already played the PS2 version. Camera mode (complete with cheesy purikura stickers and effects,) a new dungeon I've yet to see, and two new playable characters. I've noticed some other quality of life improvements as well, namely, being able to quick save anywhere in the world (plus the always-useful suspending of 3DS games), the alchemy pot is easier to use now, and you've always got a map ready on the lower screen. I've gotten a surprising amount of mileage out of camera mode. There's a new NPC in the game that gives you challenges to take pictures of specific landmarks, plus the fun of simply creating a photo log of your journey. Final Fantasy XV recently did this a little better, but it's still a clever idea put to good use. Negatives are pretty minor. The soundtrack is downgraded to a MIDI arrangement (apparently, from the original Japanese release of this game) and is mixed too high over the voice acting. Fortunately, this can be fixed in the settings (I set the music down to "2" out of "5") and the MIDI tracks sound plenty good. The voice acting quality is hit or miss. Certain areas of the game are a pain to slog through, now that monster encounters show up in the world -- namely, narrow hallways where it's difficult to get past enemies without fighting them. There's only a few areas like this, though. Controlling the camera with the New 3DS C-nub is a pain, but this applies to any game that uses the awful C-nub. If you don't have a New 3DS (or just don't like using the C-nub,) you can still control the camera with L+R and the D-pad just fine. I mainly use L+R to rotate on the X-axis so I don't have to take my thumb off of the circle pad for movement. Dragon Quest VIII is a great, great game (GGG.) One of my favorite JRPGs of all time (my personal favorites, in no particular order: Tales of Phantasia, Persona 3, Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, Dragon Quest V and VIII, Final Fantasy III, VII, and X.) Any JRPG fan should pick this up, even if you've already played it on PS2 -- you know it's worth revisiting! I went in with a little buyer's remorse, since I still own the PS2 version and a PS2 to play it on, but this game's worth it. Here's to hoping we get more Dragon Quest on the Nintendo systems in the future.
I would recommend this to a friend - Pros mentioned:Graphics, Portable
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great On the Go RPG
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Eversince I heard this was coming to the 3DS I waited. Let me say I'm very pleased with everything the art style, music, gameplay, story and most of all portability.
I would recommend this to a friend - Pros mentioned:Graphics, Rpg
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Classic RPG
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Great story, graphics and classic RPG gameplay! If you're looking for an RPG like classic Final Fantasy, look no further!
I would recommend this to a friend
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