A few months ago Square Enix released Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen for DS, an updated version of Dragon Warrior IV - one of my personal favorite NES games. I had some time off recently and decided to indulge myself a bit in some old-school fun. Just to get everything out in the clear, my review of this game is almost definitely biased - the Dragon Quest series provides a huge amount of nostalgia for me.
Here's the short review:
If you think that you'll like Dragon Quest IV, then you probably will. If the idea of playing an 8-bit RPG with some minor updates sounds miserable to you, then you will probably hate it.
If you want more data, then here's the longer review:
The new version of Dragon Quest IV, of one of my favorite games as a small child, is pretty much exactly what a remake should be. The graphics are completely redone (and in 3D), but keep the same feel as the original. There are lots of bright and vibrant colors, and a wide range of characters, monsters, and environments. Just like most of the games I actually enjoy on the DS, the stylus isn't used at all. Neither is the microphone input or anything else funky. Just screen real estate.
The controls are very much streamlined when compared to the 8-bit version, updated to take advantage of some of the advances in video game interfaces that have happened over the past fifteen or so years. In addition there are more modern conveniences that didn't really exist in the olden days, such as the ability to QuickSave instead of hoofing it all the way back to a King whenever you need to take a break.
The gameplay is much faster paced than it was on the NES. I don't have comparison data, but I'm pretty sure that the experience levels have been adjusted to provide a more easily accessible experience. Dragon Quest IV isn't as much of a grind as it could be, and a very small amount of dedicated leveling is required - at least compared to the NES version. The combat is also fairly simple RPG fare, consisting mainly of attacking, item use, and choosing from a variety of spells and skills - but not nearly as tedious as it was in the original version.
The translation is also completely redone, which is always something that RPG nerds go crazy over. I didn't find anything offensive about it personally, but things are much different in the new DS version. The olde english is mostly out the window, and each different worlds in the game adopts an exaggerated real-world accent. One chapter you'll be hearing everything in a crazy Russian tone, and the next chapter you'll be exposed to French or Scottish. This will either be seen as charming or infuriating, depending on your point of view.
Speaking of chapters, one of the coolest things about Dragon Quest IV (and a major innovation at the time) is the chapter system. A brief prologue introduces the hero of the game, and then the main protagonist disappears until the fifth chapter - some fifteen or twenty hours later. The chapters in between are used to introduce the supporting cast, who all unite in chapter five to team up with the hero to take down the evil in the world.
Each chapter has a different feel. In the opening frame you play as an aging castle knight named Ragnar, trying to rescue lost children. Later on you'll meet Princess Alena, desperate to escape the safety of her castle in search of adventure. The most original chapter sees Torneko Taloon building up an inventory in an attempt to become the world's greatest merchant. You can do things the old fashioned way and search through caves and towers for treasure to sell, or you can focus on buying and selling - flipping your current inventory through markups at your store in search of big profits.
In addition to the upgrades discussed, there's a decent amount of additional content. There's an additional chapter after the main story is over, and a large bonus dungeon to explore. There's a new character for your party with some cool abilities, and some tough new bosses at the end game. There's plenty here to keep you going for a really long time. This was all engaging enough for me to complete pretty much everything, but your mileage may vary.
That's about it. If you're into this sort of game, then I would highly recommend it.
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Good for a collector like me
The box came sealed and with no dents or punctures. Good for a collector like me.
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Do not buy from here
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 23, 2016
