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Dragon Quest was originally released 30 years ago today.
- Thread starter Åkami
- Start date
I bought the original Dragon Warrior at a yard sale as a kid. I never had the patience as a kid to actually beat it though. I barely made it to the second town in all of my attempts. However, I loved the manual the game came with. It was this beautiful full-color manual that included a complete walk-through of the game, and it featured a ton of artwork for the monsters and equipment. I wish game manuals were still like that.
I am a big fan of the series though. As a kid, I rented and tried Dragon Warrior 2 and 3, but as I said before, I didn't have the patience for them back then. However, I've since played and beaten Dragon Quest IV, V, and VIII. I really should finish IX too, and I've been meaning to track down some of the other games in the series. I am particularly looking forward to VII's DS remake. 30 years later, the series is still going strong. Here's to another 30 years of awesome RPGs.
I am a big fan of the series though. As a kid, I rented and tried Dragon Warrior 2 and 3, but as I said before, I didn't have the patience for them back then. However, I've since played and beaten Dragon Quest IV, V, and VIII. I really should finish IX too, and I've been meaning to track down some of the other games in the series. I am particularly looking forward to VII's DS remake. 30 years later, the series is still going strong. Here's to another 30 years of awesome RPGs.
I'd also go with VIII if he wants higher production values.
Aarglefarg
Member
I like this Happy Birthday trailer for Dragon Quest Heroes 2. https://youtu.be/S_OS9GLqYbg
In PAL regions, the mainline Dragon Quest series only turned 10 last month.
In PAL regions, the mainline Dragon Quest series only turned 10 last month.
And 6 or 7 if he wants to experience the job system. (8's weapon system is very different)
AndyMoogle
Member
Yeah, that's what I'm hoping for as well. I've never played 2 and 3, so that would be nice.
Ganondorfo
Junior Member
I have a question, I always hear that Dragon Quest 3 is seen as the "Final Fantasy VI' for this series, but I thought this game never left Japan and was only on Nes. I also heard it got remade for Snes and it also never got localized. So how did everyone play this game?
We got Dragon Quest 1, 2, 3 and 4 in English in North America, it's just that 2, 3 and 4 were somewhat rare (especially 3 and 4). The Super Famicom remakes and 5 and 6 weren't released, however, we didn't get 5 and 6 until their DS versions.
Just a few months before my 30th birthday. Dragon Warrior was the first game I ever played. Been a fan for life and always will be. Dragon Warrior and Super Mario Bros. were the first two games I ever played and are still my two favorite franchises to this day. I'm fortunate that both franchises are still going strong 30 years later, although with DQ I'm not always deemed worthy of playing the games they make. It's a shame it's never gotten a sustained push outside of Japan.
ShadowElliot
Banned
I remember starting off with Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Cobi's Journey on the GBC... The island music always brings me back... I loved how it began all because of a pie!
Because of that, I tried out Dragon Warrior III, and that game was difficult for young me! Loved the animated monsters on the GBC!
One of these days, I plan to go through games I haven't beaten yet... and that's a lot. At least beat some before Dragon Quest Builders, VII & VIII come out later this year.
Because of that, I tried out Dragon Warrior III, and that game was difficult for young me! Loved the animated monsters on the GBC!
One of these days, I plan to go through games I haven't beaten yet... and that's a lot. At least beat some before Dragon Quest Builders, VII & VIII come out later this year.
Daria Morgendorffer
Member
One of my favourite series, I'm so glad that I had 3 friends and a summer vacation when we got DQIX, playing that over the summer is one of my favourite gaming memories.
VaultBoy101
Member
Ōkami;204778071 said:
But thou must
Heh. But yeah, DQ1 is borderline concept demo with how minimal its content is. DQ2 is actually surprising in how much more epic it is in scope.
DW1 as it was known was my first foray into JRPGs back on the NES, and the game I let my friends borrow (up to 2 others, can't delete my save!) that got them hooked on the genre.
Replayed 1 and 2 last year on iOS, and they held up very well and was significantly less grindy than I recall. Am currently about 4/5 of the way through 8 on iOS, (missing the VA and music from the PS2 version...) but that had to be put on the back burner for a while.
Such a great series, and I can't wait till 7 gets re-released as I stupidly sold my PS1 copy ages ago.
Replayed 1 and 2 last year on iOS, and they held up very well and was significantly less grindy than I recall. Am currently about 4/5 of the way through 8 on iOS, (missing the VA and music from the PS2 version...) but that had to be put on the back burner for a while.
Such a great series, and I can't wait till 7 gets re-released as I stupidly sold my PS1 copy ages ago.
Nowhere Man
Member
My first RPG! I didn't get it initially but once I did I fell in love. I still own my NES cart along with 2, 3 and 4. I finished them all. The series got better with each installment and the original definitely hasn't aged well, but it'll always be dear to my heart. The last and only other entry in the series I played was VIII which I hold as one of the best RPGs ever made. I'm really looking forward to finally returning to the series with XI on PS4.
First RPG I've ever played and still up there with the original Phantasy Star games as my favorite game series ever. Rented it from the local mom 'n' pop video rental store after seeing Nintendo Power devote a bunch of coverage to it (as a 6 year old, lots of NP coverage generally meant a pretty good game). Never played anything like it, and so it took me like a few hours to get out of the throne room 
Lots of cool things happened due to my love of DQ:
-Got to host a panel at Otakon 2013, which packed out the room (around 350 people)
-Got interested in RPGs, game design, and programming, eventually leading to a career
-Met lots of great friends the world over
Happy 30th, DQ!
Lots of cool things happened due to my love of DQ:
-Got to host a panel at Otakon 2013, which packed out the room (around 350 people)
-Got interested in RPGs, game design, and programming, eventually leading to a career
-Met lots of great friends the world over
Happy 30th, DQ!
Pancake Mix
Copied someone else's pancake recipe
Little late, but happy birthday to a series that has only gotten better with age.
In fact, Dragon Quest II had the same situation with the battery.
I had no idea about the bolded though. Given that and stuff like no shorelines, sounds like the original Japanese version used a smaller ROM chip.
https://tcrf.net/Dragon_Warrior#Sprites_and_Graphics
In fact, Dragon Quest II had the same situation with the battery.
I had no idea about the bolded though. Given that and stuff like no shorelines, sounds like the original Japanese version used a smaller ROM chip.
https://tcrf.net/Dragon_Warrior#Sprites_and_Graphics
Yeah. DQ2J was my first DQ. I have notecards with long passwords written on them still.
The NA version of DQ2 also had the whole introduction sequence about the destruction of Moonbrook added to it. Japan didn't get it until the remake.
I have a friend in Tokyo. Is there anything going on for this? Or was there since it's the 28th now?
Is that Lawsons still done up like a Dragon Quest store?
Edit: Welp lets talk about Dragon Quest then.
I ended up buying Dragon Warrior before getting it for free with Nintendo Power.
I got Dragon Warrior II from a place called Video Game Exchange. Traded in some games to get that one. Enjoyed it!
Got Dragon Warrior III in a summer, I think the summer it came out, can remember spending all of vacation playing it, it's also the reason 800 numbers were blocked in the house, thanks Nintendo Power Line!
Dragon Warrior IV was my favorite, I have really fond memories of waking up in summer months, playing it until lunch and then running around the neighborhood, gathering up the other kids and then exploring the woods.
Is that Lawsons still done up like a Dragon Quest store?
Edit: Welp lets talk about Dragon Quest then.
I ended up buying Dragon Warrior before getting it for free with Nintendo Power.
I got Dragon Warrior II from a place called Video Game Exchange. Traded in some games to get that one. Enjoyed it!
Got Dragon Warrior III in a summer, I think the summer it came out, can remember spending all of vacation playing it, it's also the reason 800 numbers were blocked in the house, thanks Nintendo Power Line!
Dragon Warrior IV was my favorite, I have really fond memories of waking up in summer months, playing it until lunch and then running around the neighborhood, gathering up the other kids and then exploring the woods.
Cindi Mayweather
Member
Saying the original DQ is unplayable is quite a stretch and insulting for this games 30th. The SFAM, iPhone, and GBC versions are fantastic.
DQ <3
This is more of a fan video than critical review of any sort, but I really like Happy Console Gamer's overview of the series: https://youtu.be/g_TlZFCabiM
This is more of a fan video than critical review of any sort, but I really like Happy Console Gamer's overview of the series: https://youtu.be/g_TlZFCabiM
Cindi Mayweather
Member
Anyways, DQ.
I was too young to play the original DQ's and didn't have an NES.
Final Fantasy was my first love. It wasn't the first gaming series I got into, but it was the first one that showed me the capabilities games had. Suikoden was my second love. I'd say Dragon Quest is easily my third.
I love Dragon Quest so much that I taught myself Japanese just to play 7r - a remake of a game I already owned and played. Being able to play (and understand) that game was one of the most fulfilling and emotional game experiences of my life. It truly showed how much I was willing and capable of just to play a game, and I'm not ashamed of that.
Unlike many in this thread, my first DQ was actually VIII. I had wanted to play I+II when they were released on GBC way back when, and I unfortunately missed out on DW7. But DQ8 was something I got on release day and never went back. Soon afterward I started playing them in order. I played the SNES version of I+II, tracked down DW7 from Estarland, got a copy of DWIII GBC from Ebay. I emulated V. I got IV and VI when they came out on DS.
I found in my play through that there wasn't a single bad DQ game. Some I preferred more than others, but none were awful and all of them aged well and presented a lot of creativity and direction in jrpgs that's rarely seen: the class system at the bar in III, IV's epic game structure, V's emotional story outline, VII's writing, VIII's adventuring, I's novelty...
Regarding I in particular, one of my favorite aspects about it was the absence of bloat or any excess. It's a game that's easy to pick up and play, but not necessarily one that disrespects you as a player either. It's an adventure that feels unique for RPGs. Other RPGs since have featured only one playable character (Vagrant Story instantly springs to mind), but not quite like the original Dragon Quest. It's an RPG that you beat in less than a day and requires absolutely zero in the way of dedication but still manages to stick with you and make a lasting impression through its wit and charm alone. Despite accusations that the title is archaic, old, or just outdated, I've always found the opposite to be true. There's nothing like the original Dragon Quest even today.
While I can barely recognize Final Fantasy these days, SMT still lives but isn't released as frequently, and Suikoden is dead, I still have Dragon Quest. Always consistent. Always charming. Always there for you. Like a pack of ramen or mom's homemade chicken noodle soup.
Happy Birthday Dragon Quest and thank you Horii, Toriyama. And Sugiyama. Here's to another thirty years.
I was too young to play the original DQ's and didn't have an NES.
Final Fantasy was my first love. It wasn't the first gaming series I got into, but it was the first one that showed me the capabilities games had. Suikoden was my second love. I'd say Dragon Quest is easily my third.
I love Dragon Quest so much that I taught myself Japanese just to play 7r - a remake of a game I already owned and played. Being able to play (and understand) that game was one of the most fulfilling and emotional game experiences of my life. It truly showed how much I was willing and capable of just to play a game, and I'm not ashamed of that.
Unlike many in this thread, my first DQ was actually VIII. I had wanted to play I+II when they were released on GBC way back when, and I unfortunately missed out on DW7. But DQ8 was something I got on release day and never went back. Soon afterward I started playing them in order. I played the SNES version of I+II, tracked down DW7 from Estarland, got a copy of DWIII GBC from Ebay. I emulated V. I got IV and VI when they came out on DS.
I found in my play through that there wasn't a single bad DQ game. Some I preferred more than others, but none were awful and all of them aged well and presented a lot of creativity and direction in jrpgs that's rarely seen: the class system at the bar in III, IV's epic game structure, V's emotional story outline, VII's writing, VIII's adventuring, I's novelty...
Regarding I in particular, one of my favorite aspects about it was the absence of bloat or any excess. It's a game that's easy to pick up and play, but not necessarily one that disrespects you as a player either. It's an adventure that feels unique for RPGs. Other RPGs since have featured only one playable character (Vagrant Story instantly springs to mind), but not quite like the original Dragon Quest. It's an RPG that you beat in less than a day and requires absolutely zero in the way of dedication but still manages to stick with you and make a lasting impression through its wit and charm alone. Despite accusations that the title is archaic, old, or just outdated, I've always found the opposite to be true. There's nothing like the original Dragon Quest even today.
While I can barely recognize Final Fantasy these days, SMT still lives but isn't released as frequently, and Suikoden is dead, I still have Dragon Quest. Always consistent. Always charming. Always there for you. Like a pack of ramen or mom's homemade chicken noodle soup.
Happy Birthday Dragon Quest and thank you Horii, Toriyama. And Sugiyama. Here's to another thirty years.
IV
It's more straightforward than V and VI, extremely well balanced in terms of monsters, dungeons, bosses, equipment, character progression, and pacing, with a fun story. It also sets up for V and VI by establishing various mechanics and systems. And it's shorter than V and VI. If you like what's happening in IV, then move on to V and then VI.
I, II, and III on smartphone are also good choices. DQ I is extremely simple and will introduce you to the core mechanics. DQ II is the better game, but starts to delve into more complex mechanics. DQ I is almost too simple, though. If you have any RPG experience at all you can skip to DQ II. DQ I is also the roughest port, with II and III making some improvements in terms of overall software design, unrelated to the game mechanics.