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[Aeana]

Title: Dragon Quest 9: Defenders of the Starry Sky
Developers: Armor Project / Level-5 / Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
System: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Release: July 11, 2009 (JP)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyXMmbAQX5A&fmt=18
TVCM: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP-ohmmMumo&fmt=18

Dragon Quest 9 was originally announced in December, 2006 to the surprise of many. Not only was it going to be on the DS, and not only was also going to be a multiplayer game, it was going to be an action RPG. All of these things shocked series fans, as they marked huge departures for a traditionally conservative series.

Two and a half years, a complete battle system revamp, and many delays later, the game is finally almost here, in a much different form than how it was originally envisaged. It represents the next step in the evolution of the Dragon Quest series, while also looking back to the player-made party system of Dragon Quest 3 -- the game that really put the series on the map.​

• Not an action RPG.
• Full character customization, including facial designs and hairstyles. This is not only for your hero, but for your party members as well.
• A robust class system based on Dragon Quest 3's, enhanced by the skill point system of Dragon Quest 8.
• Over a hundred quests to complete, and many hidden treasure maps that lead to miniature, randomly generated dungeons full of treasure and dangerous enemies. More quests will be added to the game every week for a year after release.
• 2-4 person local multiplayer. Players can do everything they can do solo in a group of up to four people.
• The new "free position" battle system lets you see more of the action during battle, making them feel grander and more chaotic.
• Visible equipment changes, and more equipment slots than ever before.
• Visible enemies. That's right, no more random battles -- for better or for worse.
• The alchemy pot returns, but much improved. Wait times are gone, and you can make multiples of an item at once, among other improvements.
• Wi-Fi shopping network with an ever-changing inventory that gives you the opportunity to purchase rare items.

 

[Regulus Tera]

ZOMG it's finally here (for Japan)!

The wait still continues for me. Blargh, I need this now.

 

[grandjedi6]

ZOMG it's finally here (for Japan)!

The wait still continues for me. Blargh, I need this now.

It'll probably pop up in the first quarter of 2010 for NA.

 

[duckroll]

OMG! It's really coming out next week! It's amazing, the game totally went from vaporware to looking like a real DQ sequel in a matter of months. Can't wait for it to arrive!

 

[Deleted member 22576]

The Multiplayer is local only, right?

 

[RevenantKioku]

I have had my copy paid off for so long it's going to be like getting a free game!

 

[Aeana]

The Multiplayer is local only, right?

Yes, local only.

 

[Rpgmonkey]

Yay!

 

[jiggle]

Any word on sugoroku or casino or immigrant town?

 

[Regulus Tera]

It'll probably pop up in the first quarter of 2010 for NA.

Almost every game I want is popping out in Q1 2010. =(

 

[Aeana]

Any word on sugoroku or casino or immigrant town?

I think there was a hint at a casino at some point, but I'd be surprised if there isn't one, anyway, since every DQ game since 4 has had it. Nothing about other side things, though.

 

[grandjedi6]

Almost every game I want is popping out in Q1 2010.

After years of watching their releases get squashed in the holiday rush, NA publishers have finally decided to start releasing their RPGs in the 1st half of the year instead. Except all of them decided this together so Q1 (and to a lesser extent Q2) are flooded with RPGs. :lol

2009 was bad and 2010 looks to be shaping up just the same.

 

[Jonnyram]

I am so hyped for this game right now. Will be lining up on day one

 

[Yoboman]

It'll probably pop up in the first quarter of 2010 for NA.

Level 5 games tend to take much longer to be localised

BTW does this have voice acting? DQVIII's was top notch. The characters seem a bit more generic here though

 

[Regulus Tera]

BTW does this have voice acting? DQVIII's was top notch. The characters seem a bit more generic here though

The Japanese version, at the very least, doesn't.

I'm not expecting any for the international release, either.

 

[laserbeam]

Well now that 9 is here lets start the Dragon Quest X hype thread.

 

[duckroll]

Level 5 games tend to take much longer to be localised

BTW does this have voice acting? DQVIII's was top notch. The characters seem a bit more generic here though

The Japanese DQVIII had no voice acting.

 

[GhostSeed]

Hard to believe it's been over 3 years since this picture was taken.

 

[Red Scarlet]

Hope you guys have fun.

 

[Aeana]

Hope you guys have fun.

You're really not getting it? :\

 

[Red Scarlet]

No $.

 

[Nirolak]

Hard to believe it's been over 3 years since this picture was taken.

The joy on their faces is beaming.

It'll probably pop up in the first quarter of 2010 for NA.

This still sounds like an exceptionally long time. : (

 

[sprsk]

9 days!!!!

I'm pulling an all nighter.

 

[Shouta]

I may have to jump in anyway, assuming I finish Infinite Space soon and keep myself away from the PSP. >=|

 

[jj984jj]

This still sounds like an exceptionally long time. : (

Yet we'd be lucky if we do get it in Q1.

 

[Nirolak]

Yet we'd be lucky if we do get it in Q1.

Yes, that's actually much sooner than I'm expecting it to come over.

 

[speedpop]

It begins.

Do not fail me, maestro! Be still my quivering heart!

 

[Yoboman]

The Japanese DQVIII had no voice acting.

I totally forgot that. DQVIII's Western release was so well done

 

[RevenantKioku]

This'll be my first DQ in Japan so I'm kinda nervous slash excited. I preorderd and paid at a Lawson but still concerned something may not go right!

 

[Aeana]

This'll be my first DQ in Japan so I'm kinda nervous slash excited. I preorderd and paid at a Lawson but still concerned something may not go right!

Wish I could be there. :\ Stupid delay ruined all of my plans.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Wish I could be there. :\ Stupid delay ruined all of my plans.

I can't imagine it being anything special? I just got it at a conbini because by the time I did it I figured everyone else would be over booked (mind you this was back in mid January). And it is my little dinky ass town so it'll probably be completely boring and uneventful. Oh well.

 

[wrowa]

I can't imagine it being anything special?

Well, waiting in a huge line with a crowd of other hardcore Dragon Quest fans has to be the fulfillment of her deepest dreams :lol

Spoiler

Oh, and I hate everyone here who is going to play DQIX next week! I want to play it too! Maybe I should really start learning japanese... if I just knew where to start -.-

 

[Aeana]

Well, waiting in a huge line with a crowd of other hardcore Dragon Quest fans has to be the fulfillment of her deepest dreams :lol

Spoiler

Oh, and I hate everyone here who is going to play DQIX next week! I want to play it too! Maybe I should really start learning japanese... if I just knew where to start -.-

It's just kind of a tradition for me, that's all.

 

[duckroll]

So, since people will actually be playing this game and this import thread won't be a failure, are we all going to be sharing photos of our main characters and party members?

 

[RevenantKioku]

So, since people will actually be playing this game and this import thread won't be a failure, are we all going to be sharing photos of our main characters and party members?

Is there a way to screencap the DS? At all?

 

[Aeana]

http://www.onlineplayer.jp/modules/topics/article.php?storyid=14501

It seems like SE is holding a launch event in their virtual world thing on the 10th.

 

[duckroll]

Is there a way to screencap the DS? At all?

It's called using a digicam.

 

[Llyranor]

Hopefully one of you lot will at least check out the multiplayer feature and see if it allows players to bring in multiple characters into co-op if there are less than 4 players around. A lot of money for S-E is riding on this!!!

 

[RevenantKioku]

It's called using a digicam.

So lame.

 

[ElectricThunder]

No $.

The sad thing is, I'll likely have this exact same problem by the time the game arrives stateside.

Rock on with it import folk and Asia-GAF!

Though I do hope that there'll be a way to get all these weekly quest/dungeon dealies for internetless DS folk...maybe like how they did it in the PMD games or something.

 

[Princess Skittles]

I WANT THIS. SO. BAD.

But it's coming out here.

IN ENGLISH.

Eventually.

Spoiler

RIGHT?! ;___;

 

[thetrin]

I'm so there. It'll take a couple days for NCSX to ship the game to me, but what's a couple day's wait? DQ! WOOO

 

[djtiesto]

Damn, almost considering importing it... my desire to play the game is THAT bad. Enjoy the game, folks!

Spoiler

lucky bastards

 

[Captain N]

this game is looking really good! Why does it seems like some battles are in first person and other are in third?

 

[Die Squirrel Die]

It'll probably pop up in the first quarter of 2010 for NA.

Being a Level5 game, whatever your expectations for localisation time, double it, then add 6 months if you are European (which with region-free DS carts I'll be damned if I'll be waiting for them to get their act together).

 

[duckroll]

this game is looking really good! Why does it seems like some battles are in first person and other are in third?

When you attack a single enemy, or do a melee attack, the game keeps track of the positions of the characters and enemies in the battle to show the attacks with a dynamic camera. When you perform an attack which hits a line or a group of enemies, it has to be shown in the traditional DQ first person view to show all the enemies in a line.

 

[Stumpokapow]

So lame.

Or you could rip the game when you get it and emulate it and screencap from there. Or play on DS, rip the game, dump your savegame, and screencap from there.

... of course, that involves HOMEBREW

 

[duckroll]

Yeah I dunno, that all sounds moronic (and illegal). I'm just going to use a digicam.

 

[Stumpokapow]

Yeah I dunno, that all sounds moronic (and illegal).

Well I don't want to derail or anything, but in countries with sensible IP law you're allowed to rip your own games and play them (and certainly GAF has never had a problem with people ripping their own games and playing them--I do this with every system I own except PS3 and 360), and given that the whole process would take maybe 4-5 minutes, it wouldn't be substantially slower than digicamming, hooking up, copying the file off, and resizing.

Either way, I hope lots of people take hero pics because I'd really love to see just how much variety the paperdoll costume system has!

 

[donkey show]

Holy shit already? Well, off to the import store I go after work to pay this fucker off.