Developer: Arte Piazza
Publisher: Square Enix
System: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Release: February 17, 2008 (NA); February 20th, 2008 (EU)
Trailer: http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/23521
Yes, party talk is in.
Dragon Quest 5 was originally released for the Super Famicom in September, 1992. It was the first Dragon Quest game to be released for Super Famicom, and is the second entry in the Zenithia trilogy, which includes 4, 5, and 6. After years of waiting, this DS version marks the game's first release outside of Japan.
Dragon Quest 5 differs from the earlier games in the series because it places a heavier emphasis on the plot, which some people may be relieved to hear. The story follows a young boy from the time of his birth, through his boyhood and on into manhood. Along the way, he'll have to choose a bride and have children of his own.
This game also brings monster recruitment to the series, which many believe was the inspiration for Pokèmon. Along his journey, the hero will come across many monsters who will want to join his group and fight alongside him. They can gain levels and wear equipment just like human party members. While extremely helpful, this system isn't completely required, but I do hope that those who are apprehensive about it will give it a fair shot.
This is my personal favorite game in the series, so I hope everyone trying it for the first time really enjoys it!
Publisher: Square Enix
System: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Release: February 17, 2008 (NA); February 20th, 2008 (EU)
Trailer: http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/23521
Yes, party talk is in.
Dragon Quest 5 was originally released for the Super Famicom in September, 1992. It was the first Dragon Quest game to be released for Super Famicom, and is the second entry in the Zenithia trilogy, which includes 4, 5, and 6. After years of waiting, this DS version marks the game's first release outside of Japan.
Dragon Quest 5 differs from the earlier games in the series because it places a heavier emphasis on the plot, which some people may be relieved to hear. The story follows a young boy from the time of his birth, through his boyhood and on into manhood. Along the way, he'll have to choose a bride and have children of his own.
This game also brings monster recruitment to the series, which many believe was the inspiration for Pokèmon. Along his journey, the hero will come across many monsters who will want to join his group and fight alongside him. They can gain levels and wear equipment just like human party members. While extremely helpful, this system isn't completely required, but I do hope that those who are apprehensive about it will give it a fair shot.
This is my personal favorite game in the series, so I hope everyone trying it for the first time really enjoys it!
- Brilliant score composed by Koichi Sugiyama, including two pieces performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.
- Embark on a journey that spans the life of a boy, from his birth up through manhood.
Story snippet from the back of the Japanese PS2 box
In long ages past, there reigned a great lord of darkness.
Driven by evil desire, he sought to transmute into the perfect being.
But lo, the descendant of the great hero still lived amongst the sons of man.
The dark ambitions of the great lord were severed, and peace reigned once more over the land.
And so it is that hundreds of years have passed.
A father and son are making a journey across the land.
Why does this father continue on this laborious journey?
Where have all the descendants of Zenithian blood gone?
This, my friend, is where your adventure begins... - Quick and strategic turn-based battle system.
- Recruit over 60 different monsters to fight along side you in battle. They can gain levels, learn new abilities, don equipment, and some can even speak with you. For those of you who have played the Super Famicom version, the number of recruitable monsters has more than doubled, and two new monsters have been added to the DS version -- jailcats and archdemons:
and
- Participate in several sidequests and minigames.
- Collect mini-medals and trade them to the Medal King for special rewards you can't get anywhere else.
- Play games at the casino in order to earn tokens to purchase items you can't find elsewhere.
- Collect knick-knacks from around the world and put them on display in your very own museum.
- Play sugoroku at many different locations and earn special rewards. Sugoroku is a dice game -- you are given a limited number of die rolls, and your objective is to make it to the end of the board. Along the way, you may find treasure, shops, traps, or even battles. Once you reach the end, you're usually rewarded with several treasure chests. If this sounds familiar, that might be because thsi game is also featured in Dragon Quest 3 Reprise, and it's called "Pachisi" in the English GBC release.
- A brand new minigame exclusive to the DS version, called 'Bruise the Ooze' (I think), which is kind of like whack-a-mole with slimes.
