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Localized version of Dragon Quest VIII released worldwide on iOS/Android
- Thread starter Goli
- Start date
That ridiculous authenticity check policy. No buy, SE.
thelatestmodel
Junior, please.
Wow, this thread. Portrait only? No voice acting or orchestral soundtrack?
Square Enix, hang your head in shame. I'm gonna start a new game on PCSX2.
Square Enix, hang your head in shame. I'm gonna start a new game on PCSX2.
SaiyanRaoh
Member
So I decided to bite since this game is one of the many, many games in my backlog. I've never completed it years ago. And ya know, I'm surprised that I'm enjoying this as much as I am. I've been playing this for a couple hours now and in that time I've played the game on my iPhone 5 and iPad mini retina. Yes, the frame rate isn't buttery smooth and the orchestrated music is gone (wasn't it rather down-sampled on the PS2 anyway?) and the voices are gone (okay, this hurts a tad....)
But I guess the idea of "OMG, I'm playing a PS2 classic one handed on a mobile device!!!" trumps the lower frame rate which to me is still very, very playable. I guess I simply gotten used to it. It still has more charm than half the cookie cutter, horribly animated Korean RPG garbage on this thing.
But I guess the idea of "OMG, I'm playing a PS2 classic one handed on a mobile device!!!" trumps the lower frame rate which to me is still very, very playable. I guess I simply gotten used to it. It still has more charm than half the cookie cutter, horribly animated Korean RPG garbage on this thing.
You're playing on iPad and iPhone? Two separate quests on each device or is there some sort of cloud saving?
I can't say for the US release, but cloud save support (iOS) was added in version 1.1.0 for the Japanese version about 2 months ago.
This is one of my favorite RPGs of all-time but I just CAN'T bring myself to buy such an incredibly fucked-up port, especially for that price with so much removed. I'm not surprised SE would do this, but I am disappointed that there isn't an HD version for modern consoles...or even just a VIta version. THAT would be bought in a heartbeat.
TheFLYINGManga_Ka
Member
Bittersweet. Also does it have the voices?
Weird playing vertically. $20, yikes!
Nvm: saw above post. So no voices huh? Not the same without Yangus' "Cor blimey!" Not worth $20.
I kind of still want it but it kind of sucks. Mobile sucks!
By the way, what's portrait only?
Weird playing vertically. $20, yikes!
Nvm: saw above post. So no voices huh? Not the same without Yangus' "Cor blimey!" Not worth $20.
I kind of still want it but it kind of sucks. Mobile sucks!
By the way, what's portrait only?
Nothing was removed, the extra stuff in the western releases didn't belong there to begin with. This version has restored the sound effects and music back to that of the original Japanese PS2 game.
entremet
Member
Those were additions to the Western releases. The original Japanese, which this is based didn't have those upgrades.
Didn't belong? Really? You don't like orchestral soundtracks?
Seems like landscape screen orientation, gamepad support and offline play were removed. So not nothing exactly.
Shogun1337
Junior Member
Y'know,
I regard Dragon Quest VIII as one of the greatest video games of all time, and a work of art. No JRPG created today could possibly even compare to it.
News of this iOS/Android release initially made me ecstatic, but knowing Square-Enix... if anything is changed from the way it was in the game's original release, I'm out. That shit for brains company doesn't remember (or know) what made their games so good anymore.
Yepp, let's not bother. Everyone please don't give this crap company the satisfaction.
I regard Dragon Quest VIII as one of the greatest video games of all time, and a work of art. No JRPG created today could possibly even compare to it.
News of this iOS/Android release initially made me ecstatic, but knowing Square-Enix... if anything is changed from the way it was in the game's original release, I'm out. That shit for brains company doesn't remember (or know) what made their games so good anymore.
Yepp, let's not bother. Everyone please don't give this crap company the satisfaction.
What about those who sit during the commute?
I think what ticks people off more here is that they're not being given the option of landscape.
It's been said before here and in other threads that the orchestral score used in the NA version was a rather poor recording. It may have also contributed to the localized game's slightly extended load times on the PS2. Anyone who's played the Japanese version would notice a stark difference in load times. And to be honest, the original soundtrack sounded pretty great already.
The dub was awesome, though. I'll miss that. Here's hoping for a Steam release ala FFIII ... maybe some enterprising modder can add back what which was taken away.
The orchestrated music was taken from the Symphonic Suite CD, which was recorded at a concert. It was not recorded to be used in a game, so yeah, it sounds off. Particularly if you compare it to DQ5 PS2, which had an orchestral soundtrack recorded specifically for use in-game. The difference in quality is massive.
I've loved one handed gaming ever since I accidently discovered that it could be done on the PSX controller back on Suikoden 2. I've always wondered why more RPGs don't incorporate this.
While it would have been nice to have a landscape mode, there are times I wish Final Fantasy Dimensions had a portrait mode. I meant to buy DQVIII last night but didn't end up getting home till later.
Will be buy this the moment I get home from work.
While it would have been nice to have a landscape mode, there are times I wish Final Fantasy Dimensions had a portrait mode. I meant to buy DQVIII last night but didn't end up getting home till later.
Will be buy this the moment I get home from work.
The Real Abed
Perma-Junior
I still have $15 in my iTunes account from two Christmases ago so I'm not opposed to spending it. But I'm still on the fence. I'll wait and see if more people get it and start reviewing it.
Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
Pretty sure Amazon doesn't have the game.
terrisus
Member
Tigermask44
Banned
I think the game is neat. I like it.
When I heard that the port had no voice acting and, incredibly, no soundtrack I was wondering what the hell had happened.
Then it slowly came to light that people were complaining about there being no symphonic suite score. That doesn't bother me - I have already gone to lengths previously a few years ago about the superior original soundtrack that Western audiences didn't receive in their localized release.
Now my only worry is whether I'll be disgusted at the framerate issues or not...
Then it slowly came to light that people were complaining about there being no symphonic suite score. That doesn't bother me - I have already gone to lengths previously a few years ago about the superior original soundtrack that Western audiences didn't receive in their localized release.
Now my only worry is whether I'll be disgusted at the framerate issues or not...
Black Door
Banned
Frame rate is awful, but I like this fisheye joystick thing they've got going on
JoeyJungle
Banned
Anyone know how it runs on a Nexus 7?
terrisus
Member
Well, put maybe 20 minutes into it so far with my Samsung Galaxy S4, and it seems decent enough. The controls will definitely take some getting used to, and I'm sure I'll never really like them, but they work at least. Long load times, but then, it's not like the PS2 game was free from load times either. I honestly only put in maybe an hour or two with the PS2 version after getting it like 4 years ago though, so I don't really have too much to compare it to.
terrisus
Member
Just tried, and it seems to work fine for me with WiFi and Mobile Data disabled.
It just doesn't sound right, as a person who has played the Japanese version, it's just off. I like the performance, but it was shoehorned in. Besides the game already takes up way too much space on my phone. I do *not* like the changes in sound effects in the PS2 US release of 8, it does not sound like Dragon Quest.
sörine;113905948 said:
The portrait format works really well honestly, I don't know why people are so hung up on that. All the DQ games on iPhone are played tate, it's convenient, and a bit iconic. Gamepad support could be added in, I wouldn't complain if it were, but it's a menu driven turn based RPG and really doesn't need it. I don't know where you are inventing this last accusation. The Japanese version (iOS) has no such requirement.
What about those who sit during the commute?
I think what ticks people off more here is that they're not being given the option of landscape.
Okay, but would it be fair to complain about any and all games that don't give me the option of portrait mode? It would be nice to have the option of not elbowing people on the train.
Unless the US version is majorly different than the Japanese version (iOS), he's making stuff up, I can play in Airplane mode no problem.
Offline from a cold boot of the game? If so, maybe SE redeemed.
Aarglefarg
Member
The 'online only' idea came from this from Google Play:
"The game will be validated the first time it is loaded, and at predetermined intervals afterwards, and therefore cannot be initialised while offline. Please make sure you have a data connection before running the app. Once the game is initialised however, it can be played offline (except for online features)."
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.square_enix.android_googleplay.dq8 (at the bottom of the description)
It has to be online the first time it is opened, and then at some other times they don't say. It is possible that 'initialised' could be misunderstood to mean whenever it is opened.
"The game will be validated the first time it is loaded, and at predetermined intervals afterwards, and therefore cannot be initialised while offline. Please make sure you have a data connection before running the app. Once the game is initialised however, it can be played offline (except for online features)."
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.square_enix.android_googleplay.dq8 (at the bottom of the description)
It has to be online the first time it is opened, and then at some other times they don't say. It is possible that 'initialised' could be misunderstood to mean whenever it is opened.
terrisus
Member
Yup.
Closed game completely
Turned off WiFi
Turned off Mobile Data
Started game
Loaded save
Walked around for a minute
Saved again
Everything seemed to work fine, unless I missed something.
I could certainly be wrong (I don't have too much experience with phones), so don't necessarily quote me on that/someone should double-check.
Yeah that was always my big (well, only) beef with the translated version. Those sound effects are just so iconic.
terrisus
Member
Well, turned off WiFi and Mobile Data, shut the phone down, restarted it twice. Then loaded the game, it opened fine, played around a bit, saved, and everything seemed to go fine.
I don't know if there are various checks when playing through the game or if you don't connect for a while or something, but, seems alright, and at the very least not like it's refusing to let you load and save (after the initial load I assume, not going to uninstall it and reinstall it to check, someone else can try that if they want).
I don't know if there are various checks when playing through the game or if you don't connect for a while or something, but, seems alright, and at the very least not like it's refusing to let you load and save (after the initial load I assume, not going to uninstall it and reinstall it to check, someone else can try that if they want).
jeffrockz312
Member
What are the recommended phones to run this?
I have an SGS3 but I could easily buy a new one just to play this on a portable.
Edit: Wait. There's no english version for android? wtf
I have an SGS3 but I could easily buy a new one just to play this on a portable.
Edit: Wait. There's no english version for android? wtf
PixyJunket
Member
Dragon Quest VIII is waaay too long for me to want to play on my phone, but once they release the NES era DQs, I'm in for all of 'em.
I do hope they've cleaned up the janky look of DQ I iOS before it gets an international release though.
I do hope they've cleaned up the janky look of DQ I iOS before it gets an international release though.
Aarglefarg
Member
It has an English version:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.square_enix.android_googleplay.dq8
Bittersweet. Also does it have the voices?
Weird playing vertically. $20, yikes!
Nvm: saw above post. So no voices huh? Not the same without Yangus' "Cor blimey!" Not worth $20.
I kind of still want it but it kind of sucks. Mobile sucks!
By the way, what's portrait only?
Portrait is playing vertically and landscape is playing horizontally as shown in this pic
soxinthebox
Member
I've been playing through Knights of Pen & Paper again and was tossing up what to play next. Is this easy enough to play with one thumb on a train?
Well that's easy - they're going where they make money.
Well that's easy - they're going where they make money.
It's a cheap and lazy port they can sell at a relatively high price to a huge install base, it's not rocked science why they did it.
Putting a game out where hundreds of millions of people can play it instead of a platform that is dead?