How are those Dragon Quest games?

[Kumo]

I was wondering about the quality of the DQ series on PS2 and DS, and I was hoping that I could get some recommendations on what games to start with considering I've never played any of them before. Let me know about gameplay, story, fun factor, etc.

[Madame Adequate]

I hate them. I find them unbelievably dull and uninventive. However, I have not played VIII, which did look like it might have done things in a way I much prefer.

[Flying Mullet]

I love them, but then again I grew up with them so I've enjoyed watching them evolve and mature. I just picked up DQ IV for the DS and plan to enjoy playing it through over the holiday. I enjoyed the original on the NES so I have high hopes for this game. As for DQ VIII, I greatly enjoyed that one as well. The series places a lot of emphasis on open exploration and finding key items as opposed to speaking with NPCs to fire events, which I've always found fun.

[Bolivar]

You should start with VIII on the PS2, no question. It's the most accessible one, you don't need to go into menus to do everything, plus you get to actually see your characters on the battle screen. This may all sound confusing if you haven't played the others, but just trust me, it's tighter.

Just overall VIII is a great starting point because it's accessible and it gets you familiar with the art style. Like a spoon full of sugar, it makes the medicine go down. After that, the game is just beautiful both graphically and artistically, they really brought Akira Toriyama's artwork to life. Even if you're not a Dragon Ball fan it's great.

After that you might want to try the DS remakes. IV is incredible and shows you that Dragon Quest was maybe a bit more innovative than it gets credit for.

So yeah, DQ is great, this thread probably belongs in general square enix, and you owe it to yourself to play the originator of the "J"RPG genre.

[Shoeberto]

I haven't played many, but what I have played were super bad about requiring you to level grind just for forever. If you don't mind stuff like that you'll probably dig them.

[Rase]

I have only really played VIII, and that one is definitely worth a try. While certainly in the older mindset of "you're gonna need to grind a few levels to stand a chance", it's beautiful graphics, quick and fun gameplay, and just general feeling of fantasy make it a joy to play.

[Bastian]

I'd never played DQ, but when VIII came out I thought it looked fun. But then I totally forgot about it.

But six months ago while shopping for a different used game and not finding it, I saw viii and bought it.

I loved it. It was more challenging than FF (definitely requires level grinding) but enjoyable. Yet, I stopped playing it when ff:cc:eot came out . . . and haven't gone back since . . .

[JKTrix]

I actually prefer DQ to FF. DQ5 is one of my favourite games period. Can't wait for 6.

I might even recommend getting into 4 and 5 for DS before 8. 8 is a little different, more long-winded than they are. It's also right in the middle of the current 'trilogy'. Go with the classics!

[NeoCracker]

DQ V on the DS is easily the best, albeit the final boss was a big letdown, the rest of the game being quite hard, and then him being beat by me half assing the last fight.

VIII is awesome as well, though I hated IV.

[McLovin']

Only played 7 and 8 and loved both.

[Rostum]

I've only played VIII, and I wasn't a huge fan, even though I love to grind in MMO's. Though I loved the art direction of it.

I can only recommend that you at least try it out and see for yourself.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

DQIV employs a rather unique structure in that the first fifteen hours of the game are broken up into chapters focusing on just one or two heroes in their own isolated parts of the world, with significantly different tones, settings, and play styles. They only overlap in minor ways until the final chapter, when the main hero comes into play and gathers them all together to oppose the unifying force that's been antagonizing them all along.

DQV simply hosts an incredibly effective narrative, following the hero from his boyhood in the care of his father, then through numerous horrifying hardships, and finally finding love and building a family of his own. It's elegantly minimal (the hero himself never talks, after all), but it remains one of the best-told stories in any RPG.

[Kumo]

Well I was thinking of getting a few more games on the DS, so I'll definitely look into those, and with PS2 games getting harder to find, I'll try to pick up 8 as well. THanks for the tips!

[crazybayman]

Yep, as most people here said, DQ VIII on PS2 and DQ IV.

And instead of just buying DQ IV for the DS right away, you could download an NES emulator and the Dragon Warrior IV ROM to give it a try (it was Dragon Warrior here in North America before falling in line with Japan and being called Dragon Quest).

Anyways, DW IV was probably my favorite game on the NES. It was WAY ahead of its time. I loved how they broke it all into chapters, then united all the characters with The Hero in the final chapter.

Little stuff like, if someone in your party dies in battle, and you have the cart, then the next character in line in the cart jumps in to take over. Awesome.

[Momiji]

The first game in the series (released in the US as 'Dragon Warrior') is one of my all-time favorite games.

I have DQIV for DS (as well as II and III on an emulator), but I haven't played those much yet, aside from DQIV, which I'm in the 3rd chapter of.