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Dragon Quest VII 3DS Releases on September 16, 2016 in NA

Really disappointed that I won't be able to support the series in the West with these upcoming games (VII, VIII, and Builders). Dragon Quest is one of my favourite series, but I've fallen on hard times and simply can't afford to shell out for 3 titles, especially with the prices in Canada.

Hopefully everyone has a great time with VII next week (although I've heard the remake's a bit iffy)!

Sorry to hear that you have fallen on hard times. Don't think this remake is supposed to be iffy though, minus a controversial change or two like the puzzle dungeon at the beginning. I hope things get better for you so you can make your own call on that soon.

I've never played any DW/DQ game before, reading the thread seems its a good game. Can anyone tell me if this game is similar to other rpg series? Graphics/trailer-wise, I'm getting a yokai watch vibe, and I couldn't finish that game (always put me to sleep). Thinking of getting it along with PW6 this month.

Thanks

It's very much a traditional RPG, like the early Final Fantasy games, but DQVII has a lot of story and gameplay depth ala later FF titles at the same time.

Minus monster classes as a vocation in this game, not remotely like Yokai Watch or other monster battling sims I can assure you.
 
That's ridiculous. I don't understand why they would switch out the OST, it makes no sense to me. Licensing reasons?? Synth is so much worse, ugh.

I would assume it came down to a cost factor, earlier in the interview they talk about how there were other features like the "the story so far" functionality that they thought about removing for the localized version, being good ol cheapy Square Enix..

Would have been nice to get a real answer (I dont personally care, but its interesting) I'm sure he just doesn't wanna get in trouble.
 
I'm in for two copies since my wife is also a Dragon Quest fan and there's no point in fighting over a single cartridge. :)

It will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine.
 
That's ridiculous. I don't understand why they would switch out the OST, it makes no sense to me. Licensing reasons?? Synth is so much worse, ugh.
Synth tracks are full, while the orchestra versions end sooner.
So we're getting more of the great music, just at a very slight loss of quality.
 
It's very much a traditional RPG, like the early Final Fantasy games, but DQVII has a lot of story and gameplay depth ala later FF titles at the same time.

Minus monster classes as a vocation in this game, not remotely like Yokai Watch or other monster battling sims I can assure you.

Oh awesome, might preorder then. Thanks!
 
It has VA. They showed a video at the end of the DQVII panel @PAX for those who stayed after the Q&A session.

Music is not orchestrated and graphics don't look hot (compared to PS2).

I was there, and adding to this, I'm going to quote myself from reddit to share more insights:





And as I said above, they showed some DQ8 footage as well.

I can confirm:
  • There is VA (They showed the intro, where only the King and Yangus speak, they sounded like the PS2 voices)
  • There is no orchestrated music
  • Expect graphics downgrade next to the PS2 version, but if you have never played this game, do yourself a favor and pick it up

I'm disappointed that the western version of Dragon Quest VIII on the Nintendo 3DS doesn't have an orchestrated soundtrack. Although it's very much unlikely the case, I'm still holding onto a tiny glimmer of hope that I can be proven wrong.

But I'm happy there's English voice acting in the western version of Dragon Quest VIII on the Nintendo 3DS. However, I wonder if the new cutscenes would have English voice acting or the new cutscenes would be left without English voice acting.
 
Eeeeeeh, I can hardly tell the difference. So he's not wrong there.

I wish I had your ears. Dragon Quest music is at it's best when played by a live orchestra.



If you are going to go with synth. You might as well make it good by using an Electone for vintage! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S88iZMW01Ok
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPmcYT3uVSA


DQVIII uses likely recordings of the PS2's SPU. Which sounded terrible.

The orchestral recordings sound phenomenal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkZu8xj3lvs

Normally i'm ok with sampled soundtracks. But DQ is an execption. Especially since it (VII and VIII)already has a live soundtrack available for it in an existing release.

Can't tell the difference? They assume their users are all idiots.

It's about as insulting as using crappy sampled midi soundtracks for the iOS/Android releases when every single DQ game has numerous live orchestral recordings of basically every piece of music ever made for main line games that should be used instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4-bFQKbU2A
DQVII's crappy MIDI soundtrack for the western release sounds equally as robotic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS3lvaIr5Z0
Just pisses me off soo much.
 
I think it's a new midi soundtrack for DQ VIII since the song they used in the trailer doesn't sound like the iOS version (or the 3DS one).

I also think we're not getting the orchestrated soundtracks due to some licensing jargon that prevents them from leaving Japan ... which is in line with the original intentions of the company, i.e. not localizing the games.
 
Does VIII have the awful interface from the phone version? I'll still get it either way as long as it has the VA
 
Does VIII have the awful interface from the phone version? I'll still get it either way as long as it has the VA

Do you mean the classic DQ menu? I like that interface. I mean, yeah it's awful, but I can't imagine DQ any other way.
 
What are the chances that we will see a DQ8 patched US/EU version from the homebrew community so that it includes an orchestrated soundtrack by the way? Pretty high I assume?
 
What are the chances that we will see a DQ8 patched US/EU version from the homebrew community so that it includes an orchestrated soundtrack by the way? Pretty high I assume?

CFW + symphonic soundtrack injection is fair game I suppose. I know there're people working on it but we'll have to see once 7 drops
 
Ok. This is getting ridiculous.

I'm happy we're getting these, but why are they half-assing the music?

A real shame.
 
Yeah, I don't know. I was forgiving of the VII change since the midi versions already sounded pretty good so it wasn't as big of a loss. If they're using the PS2 midi for VIII then that's a very noticeable downgrade. Ugh.


Let's just hope they use the 3DS versions which sound much better than the orchestrated tracks we got for the PS2.
 
I feel like DQVIII will still have a shot at including the orchestrated music, given the response to DQVII dropping it. I'd miss it more in VIII where my only experience with the game is the U.S. PS2 version and countless hours of studying to the soundtrack in the years afterwards.

That said, I still expect to be disappointed.
 
I'm still flip flopping between whether or not I'm keeping my DQ7 pre-order. I have no doubt it'll be a great game but the sheer size of it makes me anxious. I'm in Canada so the prices are a little higher but I put in a pre-order during a deal...so...I don't know.
 
I feel like DQVIII will still have a shot at including the orchestrated music, given the response to DQVII dropping it. I'd miss it more in VIII where my only experience with the game is the U.S. PS2 version and countless hours of studying to the soundtrack in the years afterwards.

That said, I still expect to be disappointed.

I'm not sure why anyone thinks that SE actually wanted to switch out the music at all. Making that change obviously involved more work and, with it, more development costs.

It's clear that there's a licensing/contractual issue preventing them from using the orchestral score, and I don't see the rights holder (the composer, presumably) relenting on VIII by the time it's released.

With that all said, while I empathize with you music folks, the only point you'll make by not buying VII is that the West doesn't want Dragon Quest games at all.

Support the series, buy the games, but give them hell via social media about the music.
 
Another thing guys, the panel was not even 1/4 full.
I was like 5 mins late, I rushed, but when I got in I was amazed at how empty it was :(
To put things into context, even the World of Final Fantasy panel (a FF spinoff for younger audiences) was a 100% full. And don't get me started on the FFXV one, you had to be there 1 hour early to have a shot.
I think there's really very few of us.
I'm not trying to be apocalyptic here, just pointing out what I saw. Let's stay loud and loyal guys.
An important thing to note about the panel attendance though: the panel wasn't listed in the printed PAX guide, and it wasn't even on the official PAX mobile app schedule until ~24 hours before the panel happened. The only way you knew the panel existed is if
  • you saw Nintendo tweet about it like a month ago (the only reason I knew about it)
  • you re-checked the app for new panels during the show (which few people would do)
  • you happened to pass by the theater and see it listed on the sign
  • you heard about it from someone else (probably the only reason my friends knew about it)
 
That's a pretty bullshit excuse they gave for switching the soundtrack to midi over orchestrated...I'm still getting this though.
 
Just a quick question. About how long is this game. I've not played a long RPG in a while but really want to play this. Isn't the original ps1 game notoriously long?
 
Just a quick question. About how long is this game. I've not played a long RPG in a while but really want to play this. Isn't the original ps1 game notoriously long?

Yep, well over 100 hours. Check out howlongtobeat.com.

It's not for everyone just because of the length.

If you want a short DQ, get DQ5. That's less than 30 hours.
 
I can't wait for VII.

Somehow gotta finish Cold Steel One AND Two first. About 18 hours into 1...

Someone help me.

(I have an hour each way train commute so I get some good time in there, and I play in bed at night before I fall asleep)
 
I'm not sure why anyone thinks that SE actually wanted to switch out the music at all. Making that change obviously involved more work and, with it, more development costs.

It's clear that there's a licensing/contractual issue preventing them from using the orchestral score, and I don't see the rights holder (the composer, presumably) relenting on VIII by the time it's released.

With that all said, while I empathize with you music folks, the only point you'll make by not buying VII is that the West doesn't want Dragon Quest games at all.

Support the series, buy the games, but give them hell via social media about the music.

For the record, I have every intention to buy both VII and VIII. My post was only indicating that VIII is still a ways off and there exists the chance that the negative feedback will be received and have a positive impact. But again, I'm not expecting that either.
 
Can someone give me a quick summary of the music situation for DQVII and DQVIII? I'm kinda confused here.

Dragon Quest 7:
Original PS1: PS1 midi
3DS remake JP: orchestrated music, cut down tracks, audible flutist huffing
iPhone/Android port of remake: new midi of much higher quality than the PS1 version
3DS remake international: same new midi as iPhone version.

Dragon Quest 8:
Original PS2 JP: midi
Original PS2 international: orchestrated, derived from a soundtrack CD recording
iPhone/Android Unity remake: midi
3DS remake JP: new orchestrated
3DS remake international: midi

Sincerely, the midi is pretty good, this isn't a big deal, and I'd even say an improvement at least in the case of DQ7.
 
^cheers.

The DQVII orchestrated version sounds terrible but I'm a bit bummed out about DQVIII, especially since I'm not that hot on the game to begin with. Oh well.
 
I can't believe how close this is. I finally work a job where I can play games on the clock (only if it's completely dead/there is nothing to do/etc) so this is going to make those 10 hour shifts feel much better.
 
Got this pre ordered. Cannot wait but...is it ever REALLY hard to find outt where you are meant to go, like you've finished a little storyline in a town or something and suddenly its "Where do i go now"? Also is it really meant to be like 100 hours long? Sounds insane.
 
Got this pre ordered. Cannot wait but...is it ever REALLY hard to find outt where you are meant to go, like you've finished a little storyline in a town or something and suddenly its "Where do i go now"? Also is it really meant to be like 100 hours long? Sounds insane.

In the ps1 I never actually got lost, sometimes finding a shard could be a pain in the ass but was a fortune teller lady to help.

And yes, it's a long game
 
Wow, that was pretty much of a bullshit answer.

Do yourself a favour and don't listen to the orchestra version.

Reality though is that it's going annoy me at first but I'll forget about it 50 hours into the game.

Would like to know the reason though for the switch.
 
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