DQ vs FF

[Del Murder]

Please don't quote every single post in the conversation when you are quoting each other. It's unnecessary.

[Wolf Kanno]

I generally despise getting into "definition wars" but after double checking, you are actually wrong about a few of them. Innovation is defined as bringing forth something new, Progress is building upon something established and groundbreaking is defined as moving in a new direction from the normal path.

Of those three definitions, I still stand on my feeling that XIII has only shown us progress rather than real serious innovation. Course we've only seen a tiny glimpse of XIII and neither of us can say for sure how XIII will truly utilize its technology. It may surprise me but overall, I've only bared witness to a really pretty game, and I stopped caring about graphics ten years ago when VIII came out.

I may seem to have a negative bias but it probably stems from the game's rather bland (imo) world designs. Its world really feels recycled and also feels like its trying to relive the last awesome moments of the PS1 and 2 generation. I don't say this as fact, just my opinion coming from my observations of the information given to us. The plot sounds interesting but when every trailer feels like I'm watching a trailer for another Hollywood "no-brains needed" action flick its hard not to be a bit skeptical. At least AC had the decency of giving the illusion of having a real plot in between the over the top wire-fu.

[MrNash]

I would say that the DQ has always taken a back to basics approach to the series proper (I'm not looking at games like Rocket Slime, Torneko, etc, in this argument). The core series has always clung onto tradition computer RPG conventions from battles where you simply choose between melee attachs, spells, and items to use, following quests and story archs in a fairly linear manner, and storylines that pit the player against a particular demonic big bad at the end of the game.

Final Fantasy, on the contrary, has always tried to do something different in each new game. The stories are never interconnected from one major FF to the next. The battle systems have constantly evolved, especially from FFVII to present. Square has tried tossing in several different mini-games, and prides itself on constantly trying to push a console to its limits in terms of graphics.

I just look at the two series as being opposite sides of a coin. DQ has stuck to core RPG dynamics, never trying to veer too much from them. This has given the series a much more nostalgic, old school flavor. Meanwhile, FF is constantly trying to do something new, representing a far more progressive approach to the genre.

As long as someone unfamiliar with either series doesn't go in expecting features or design principles more common in one game than another (ie. playing DQ and expecting a FF experience, or vice versa), they should come away entertained. I've always liked both series simply because they take such different approaches to JRPGs.

[Depression Moon]

good to see this back up and I was wondering if DQ is even out yet and will Square try to advertise their DQ series as much as FF because I think if they want to be successful, DQ X needs to come to PS3.

[Bastian]

I've never played any DQ. However, I remember seeing screenshots for VII back in the day and thinking "wow! this looks more my style than the recent FFs . . ." and vowed to get in on DQ fun.

I still haven't.

But now that I've read that IV, V, and VI are a trilogy and are all being remade for the DS, I'm gonna start! And try VII and VIII and especially IX when it comes out.

I, II, and III don't look so fun though . . .

[Yar]

I just started playing DQIV this week and I actually like it quite a bit. Hopefully I can finish it, unlike all the other Dragon Quest games I own.

[Laddy]

I love Dairy Queen. Oh wait...

I've played DQ III, IV, V, VII, and VIII. They are all good, but are a bit generic compared to FF, with its multiple settings and tweaks to gameplay.

[Edge7]

Like, with Final Fantasy, I feel like I can do a lot more planning ahead because each game (after the first one) has a unique combat system, and other perks. Dragon Quest feels a little dated (I only have DQV DS, so that's biased), but it has a certain charm. The only real way I can get far in that game is by level grinding and some dumb luck. In Final Fantasy 6, I used different runics and taught different spells to prepare for boss fights, only leveling up when necessary.

So yeah, I like FF's strategic elements, but I like Dragon Quest's simplistic, back to basics approach with a lighter approach to story telling.

[Momiji]

Well, if it wasn't for Dragon Warrior/Quest being my first RPG ever when I was a kid, I probably wouldn't have gotten into Final Fantasy at all, so I can thank it for that.

I had a phase where I was absolutely obsessed with Final Fantasy, and that phase has long faded. I still play Dragon Quest games though, a lot more than I do Final Fantasy games.

Overall, I'd have to say it's a tie at the moment.