Honestly, I can kinda see that now that I beat DQ III and am past the mid point of IV. Still, experiencing the games in the proper order really appreciate them for what they are. Had I written this review from the perspective of someone who had already played III before, Id probably be less enthusiastic about the game, knowing what the series can be. But even so, if what is widely considered the weakest game in the franchise is still a very solid game, then I think that's indicative of the overall quality of the series

Right now, I'm hooked. Almost done with IV and the DQ bug gives no sign of running out in the near future, so I'll keep playing them till I drop! (or I run out of games, which might be soon, since I'm waiting for DQ VII and VIII to come out for the 3DS this year)