So here goes.
Our review for the day is...
Dragon Quest IV - Chapters of the Chosen
Interestingly enough, there is a very welcome approach to this game. It's done in (dun dada duuunnnn) chapters. You play the chapters of the supporting characters, get a feel for the world at large, before stepping into the whole 'BIG SCARY VILLAIN MUST KILL' phase of the game.
Dual screen plays a great role in making a 256x192 game a 256x384 game. Instead of 'lawl map' on the top screen (or bottom), the game is set up so that the top screen is a great scout to find chests and so on. Of course, if you are so inclined, you could press 'Y' and the map info springs right up. Press it again and a stock list of the town you're in's weapons. Once more for armor. And finally, back to DS.
Touch screen plays absolutely no role in the game whatsoever. At least not that I know of. Cant navigate through the game with it, cant touch icons on the menu, etc. Dont bother scratching harder trying to find something. Does not work.
The gameplay itself is rather nice. The curve of monsters to equipment is ROOOOOOUGH. It screams of MMO grinding - not for exp, but for money to get equipment. The armor is overexpensive, but useful. Weapons - dont even bother. Just run around enough and you'll find a gamebreaking weapon. At least for that chapter. xp
Each region has their own funny accent. In chapter one, everyone had a dwarven accent. WTF? Was it Tolkien-land or something? The next chapter has people with broken Russian accents. It's like they're the kin of Yakov Smirnoff. Lazy developing made the save priest in Soviet Russia break his accent during the regular commands you happen to choose, but when you do anything quest related it springs right back to life. It's awesome.
Using the WFC, you can play pioneer mode, which is basically Sim City Dragon Quest. You choose a plucky pioneer, and someone else somewhere in the world does as well. In 'chance encounters', the city grows! Sweet, huh? Of course, you have to make your way to those people in the game, which may or may not take awhile.
Scattered throughout the game are medals you collect, and if you happen to meet the right NPC, you get rare weapons and armor for the medals you collect. Again, sweet, huh?
Then again, except for those last two paragraphs, this isnt anything you havent heard before, huh? I'm sure there's enough Enix fans who played this game. Huh?!
Oh wait, there isnt. xp
Overall, I find this game a welcome challenge from that other RPG I'm currently playing - Lunar: Dragon Song. That review is another story entirely.
FINAL FANTASY VS DRAGON QUEST
- Battle of the Fours!
- Battle of the Fours!
It's pitched combat between the Hero (that's you, and it's probably T, seeing as it's a guy/girl clad in green), and Cecil! The holy sword and ... another holy sword going at it. They're so evenly matched that it's probably going to end up --
A TIE
Both get the same rating - a 9. These games are like fine wine - they age, and just become all the more valuable.
