Dragon Quest IV: The Chosen Ones
Developer: Arte Piazza
Publisher: Square Enix
System: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Release: November 22, 2007 (Japan)
TVCM: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1MFBUEAayF8
TVCM (extended): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX8-iK2p2Gw
Famitsu score: 9/8/8/9
These people hardly need any introduction, but here it is nonetheless:
Designer/Scenario director: Yuji Horii
Prior credits: creator of Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger (scenario), Itadaki Street, Portopia Serial Murder Case
Character and monster designer: Akira Toriyama
Prior credits: worked on every Dragon Quest game, Dragon Ball, Chrono Trigger, Blue Dragon
Music: Koichi Sugiyama
Prior credits: Dragon Quest series, Shiren series, EVO
Art director: Shintaro Majima
Prior credits: Soul Blazer, Dragon Quest 6/3r, Dragon Quest 7/4r, Dragon Quest 5r, Innocent Life
Overview
Dragon Quest 4 was originally released for the Famicom in February, 1990 and then in North America in October, 1992 (as Dragon Warrior 4). It was the final entry in the Dragon Quest series to be released on the Famicom/NES, and the last entry of the series that North America saw until Dragon Warrior 7 in November, 2001.
The game was later remade by Heartbeat for PlayStation, using the Dragon Quest 7 engine, and was released on November 22, 2001. The remake had many new features, including an entirely new chapter, the ability to speak to your party members, and (perhaps most importantly) the option to turn the party AI off. The remake was advertised in the manual of Dragon Warrior 7, but sadly never made it to North America (much to many a fan's chagrin).
The DS version is an enhanced port of the PSX remake, with a completely revamped user interface and some extra features.
Major enhancements
Takes advantage of the DS's dual screens to display a larger view of the towns, the world map or various UI elements.
A completely new UI which has been reworked to accommodate both screens, as well as the addition of new animations for all monsters.
The opening theme is orchestrated, conducted by Sugiyama and performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
The immigrant town has been expanded to allow players to trade their town members via wireless, and send messages and stuff along with them.
Gameplay
Battles
Battles take place in a first-person perspective. Enemies are 2D sprites, placed upon a 3D backdrop. The top screen is used to show each party member's status and their portrait, as well as their AI setting or next action and its target. Commands are chosen on the bottom screen, and each action is detailed in the combat log. If Dragon Quest 8 was your first Dragon Quest game, just imagine how the battle screen looks when you're inputting commands, and that's how battles appear. A new addition in this version of DQ4 is monster idle animations. In the NES version, monsters had no animations at all. In the PSX remake, monsters only had attack animations. Now, in the DS version, monsters are animated at all times, just like Dragon Quest 5r and Dragon Quest 8. As seen above, the background of the top screen also changes colors with the battle scene.
Exploration
Towns are explorable with a full 360 degrees of camera rotation, and they span both screens at once by default. It has been said, however, that you can limit the town screen to just the bottom screen, and display a map on the top screen instead.
The traditional overworld map style of exploration returns in this game, as well. There are multiple forms of transportation available, such as the ship and something else (not spoiling!).
And, of course, there are large 3D dungeons to explore!
Sidequests and minigames
Dragon Quest 4 was the first DQ game to have both the casino and mini medals, so of course both are back in this remake... and both have been upgraded from the original NES game. At the casino, you can play poker, hit the slots, or bet on monsters at the colosseum. The mini medal system has been revamped to be more like the system from later DQ games, where you are rewarded with a prize for obtaining a certain number of medals instead of using the medals as a currency to buy items as in the original NES game. Another big addition to the remake over the original game is Dragon Quest 7's 'immigrant town' system, which allows you to build a town with people you meet all over the world (similar to Breath of Fire 2).
The immigrant town has been expanded in this version to allow the trading of townspeople with other players. When preparing to send a townsperson, you can choose their appearance, a special message for them to speak in their new home, and a special skill (like gardening, carpentry, and so on).
Below are very slight chapter spoilers. Do not read on unless you've already played DQ4, or do not care about these kinds of minor spoilers that you'd find on the back of a game box or in a manual.
Story
Dragon Quest 4 uses a chapter-based story presentation method that remains unique even today. The first four chapters are dedicated to introducing the chosen ones, who are to journey with the hero (or heroine!) in the fifth chapter.
Chapter 1: The Royal Soldiers
The soldiers of Bautland are known far and wide for their bravery. One of these soldiers is Ryan (Ragnar in the English NES version), the hero of this chapter. Clad in unusual red armor, he sets out to perform a special task given to him by the king. Just where will his duties lead?
Chapter 2: Adventures of a Tomboy Princess
The tomboy princess of Santheim is the heroine of this chapter. Discontented with being cooped up inside the castle walls, she sets off on a journey to hone her martial arts skills, accompanied by her father's trusted men, Clift (Cristo) the royal knight, and the mage Brai (Brey).
Chapter 3: Arms Merchant Torneko
Chapter 3 is a unique one. The focus of this chapter is on Torneko, who works as a merchant's apprentice in the town of Lakenaba. His dream is to be the world's most successful arms dealer, and this chapter begins with the first step towards that goal.
Chapter 4: The Sisters of Monbarbara
This chapter stars two young sisters: Manya (Mara), a dancer; and Minea (Nara), a fortune teller. They are about to set off on a journey to exact revenge on their father's murderer...
Chapter 5: The Chosen Ones
The real meat of the game, this is where all of the chosen ones join with the hero in his/her quest.
Hoimin/Healie awaits!
