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[Owensboro]

Man, I have to go back and reminisce about playing all the old DQs to rank them? DON'T TWIST MY ARM . Because I can, I'm going to explain why each is ranked where they are even though 99.9% of people don't really care why.

1: DQ IV - Through all the RPGs I have played, this one still holds a special place. This was the game where I finally "Got" RPGs. I had played only 1 up to this point (DQ 1) and because of the influence of my older brother only really cared about sports and action games. I remember getting to the second chapter and being COMPLETELY and utterly confused as to why I was a different person, who started over at level 1. I remember quitting in frustration because I thought that was stupid, and yet going back to it a week later to continue. This happened off and on (I remember quitting after Taloon's chapter because he was my favorite character) until I hit the last Chapter, and it all just clicked. This game caused me to go back and play all the other DQs, to start playing Final Fantasy / Warsong / anything with the classification "RPG". Hell, you could even say it was responsible for a brief stint with Tabletop D&D (yeah, I'm a huge dork, but whatever).

2: DQ III - This one completely hinges on having played the first game really. The reason it is #2 for me is because of the "end" of the game

Spoiler

When I went back to that original island I literally freaked out, mostly because it brought back memories of hating DQI so much. Recreating the rainbow bridge and gaining the title of "Erdrick" was just too awesome to not be high on this list.

I don't think that needs to be spoilered, but you never know! Man, now I want to go back and play III.

3: DQ VIII - I still love the graphics, music, story, journey, and even voice acting of this game. The quirky humor really came across in ways that I don't think I ever really saw in the DQ series.

4: DQ VII - barely beat out by VIII if only because it took me almost 3 full years to beat this game. I think my final totaled hours were somewhere around 140, easily the most time I have ever spent on a game with no multiplayer component ever. I remember initially being super, super dissapointed over the graphics in this game (due to the times I wanted something that was leaps and bounds above the SNES RPGs that I loved, with impressive 3D and super awesome cutscenes), but the fact that it won me over really does just go to show how great this game was. I really loved the first hour or so when you don't actually fight anything, and discovering the job system 20 hours into it was mind boggling.

5: DQ 1 - I remember beating my head against this one for SO LONG because I never understood anything. If I died due to stronger Monsters, I could never understand it was because I wasn't supposed to be there. Due to my Sports / Action game focus at that age, I thought it was dumb that it wasn't skill that caused me to fail, it was some arbitrary "Fight" button. I just didn't get it the first time I played (I think I used a Game Genie to unlock the Healmore spell, and get infinite mana because it frustrated me so much). Finishing it was an awesome feeling (I didn't actually "play"it until later), and it made DQ III all the sweeter.

6: DQ 2 - Going back and playing this after DQ III and DQ IV was a labor of love really. I really disliked this one for some reason, and I can't quite put my finger on it.

NR - 5 & 6 - Being only able to speak one language fluently, I have never played 5 or 6, but am really, really excited to. I have heard GREAT things about 5, so the fact that it's merely a week or two away is astounding to me. I seriously doubt it can oust IV (simply for personal reasons), but I am excited to think I could like it better then I did III. As for 6? No Idea. I know nothing about it, and am excited to play it soon.

 

[Gruco]

8 is the best. The huge world, the additional role of tension, alchemy, awesome monster teams, and class/weapon driven customization really set it apart. Utterly destroys the rest of the series.

I would put 3 next. I really wish I had gotten a chance to play the SNES version...But it's a good mix of character classes / team building and a large open quest.

Maybe 4 next. The first four chapters were awesome. The AI kind of killed it for me once I assembled everyone in chapter 5 on the NES version, and the DS version was too easy.

Seven next. Roughly equal with four. I like the class system and the scope, but this game was overkill. Too many redundant skills, and too much puzzle dancing.

2. I never finished 2. But 2 is awesome.

6 comes in towards the bottom. Like 7, too many redundant skills and repetitive wandering about. But they had a lot of good ideas in there.

5. Too little customization for characters, too linear and story driven, and the monster team members were handled in a really amateur hour fashion. It was a neat idea but it took a long time for the series to get something workable out of this.

One is last. Of course.

SO!

8 >> 3 > 4 >= 7 > 2 > 6 > 5 > 1

 

[KeioSquad2]

7>1>8>4>3>2>6>5

I absolutely love part 7, played it through 3 times averaging 150 hours each time. I think it has the best story out of all DQ's, considering each land is it's own story and history, kind of like mini worlds.....

Never played to much of parts 5 and 6 because they were never localised, and playing them on emulator is just not the same.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Heh, alchemy is one of the reasons 8 drops on my list. I looooooooathe item creation.
And timed item creation? Ew.

2. I never finished 2. But 2 is awesome.
One is last. Of course.

Wat.

 

[Lateraleye]

I looooooooathe item creation.

Ditto on that. It took me a long time to get into Tri-Ace games because of it. Then I realized I didn't need to do it to beat the game, so I accepted it as a side thing I can ignore. And it's also why I'll never touch any Gust games.

 

[KeioSquad2]

Heh, alchemy is one of the reasons 8 drops on my list. I looooooooathe item creation.
And timed item creation? Ew.


Wat.

I feel the same way about item creation, but it was so simple in 8 that it was barable. What sucked is getting the pot that combines items instantly when the game is over......

 

[Gruco]

Wat.

Not sure which of the two you're whatting about but

1) Short, limited in scope, no characters, like 6 spells, only 1 on 1 battles. Not putting it last would be crazy.

2) I was really young when it came out and never owned it, but rented it a ton. I got like 2-3 of the crests and just never pulled it out. But love it.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Not sure which of the two you're whatting about but

1) Short, limited in scope, no characters, like 6 spells, only 1 on 1 battles. Not putting it last would be crazy.

2) I was really young when it came out and never owned it, but rented it a ton. I got like 2-3 of the crests and just never pulled it out. But love it.

You're ranking a game you never finished over one you have, for one.
The simplicity of DQ1 isn't a damning factor. It feels more of a complete package than the "stepping stone" DQ games, namely 2 and 6.

 

[TChirath]

My favorite RPG series

I'll rank them according to the enjoyment of when I first played them.

1. DQ3 (the game was just incredible for its time. I played it the first time when it came out for Famicom and bought it 2 more times for SFC and GBC)

2. DQ8 (the overworld exploration, which is one of the main reasons I love this series, was done to almost perfection)

3. DQ5 (would have ranked it higher than 8 if 8 didn't have such technical achievement)

4. DQ6, DQ4, DQ7 (I enjoyed these about the same. Any difference was marginal)

5. DQ2 (wasn't quite into JRPG yet when I played it when it came out. final fantasy interface was more appealing to me as a kid)

6. DQ1 (see #5)

 

[Gruco]

You're ranking a game you never finished over one you have, for one.

Technically, I'm putting it above three I have.

 

[Mr. Pointy]

I'm going to rank them in order of archaic-ness, from least archaic to most archaic.

DQVIII - the automobile - Gutenberg's printing press - fire - simple stone tools - using a stick to knock down fruit from high branches - DQVII = DQVI = DQV = DQIV = DQIII = DQII = DQ.

Yeah, well I'm sure the Sega Saturn version of DQVII wasn't that old.

Oh wait - HAHAHAHAHAHA!

 

[djtiesto]

5: Love the generational story, think it has my favorite soundtrack in the series, excellent dungeons, can't wait to replay it on DS
8: The battles moved slower than the others, but the production values were top-notch, characters were awesome, English voicework was surprisingly excellent, and the overworld was one of the best RPG overworlds in a long while. Dungeon design was a bit of a step down from other games in the series
3: Dungeon design is top-notch, game is challenging, class system's introduction, cool nonlinear elements... Awesome ending to a person who played DQ1. I'm replaying this on GBC now
4: Enjoyed the multi-chapter system, the creative Torneko's quest, although I think the dungeons weren't as interesting as some of the others
6: I never finished this game, but played perhaps 1/2 way through... beautiful aesthetics, liked the music too, and I thought the dual worlds setting/storytelling was VERY awesome, probably the best story in the DQ series
1: It was my introduction to the genre, although later games in the series added much more depth to it. I like how its fairly non-linear.
2: My least favorite game in the series, which means it's better than like 98% of games out there still I found it to be a bit too frustrating with its dungeon design and game balance, and the game did a poor job of indicating where to go next.

I've played 10 hours of 7 upon its English release, but don't remember too much of it so I'll leave it out of the ranking.

 

[truly101]

Going by the ones I've actually played (and only finished one)

DQVIII
DWVII
DQIV
DQIII
DWI

I just got DWIII and DQIV about a month ago and I've only played them sparingly. I'm on a mission from God to finish DWVII and defeat him in the process.

 

[Warren Ellis]

:lol

Well, I came to play a game and VII is an insult to the rest of the series quick paced journeys and battles. Talking to townspeople for six hours

:lol

it's not game's fault if you are slow at reading

 

[2DMention]

Of what I've played:

3r
8
7
4
1
2

7 would be higher on the list, but its too damn long to replay. Excellent game, and admit it, most of the time of that game is grinding jobs. If you made it a full-time job to play, it would take you half a month. I beat it when I was unemployed, and it still took me 2-3 months.

4 remake really put me off. I used to love the game on NES, but the nerfed casino, and the mage nuke duties split between two characters really killed it for me (especially on the last boss)

I re-played 8 recently and like it better than the first playthough.
I never bothered with the monster teams, though.

 

[Link1110]

4 > 3 = 5 > 8 > 6 = 7 > 1 > 2

 

[Gruco]

Man, this is really bringing back memories....I only played DQ7 once, while I was in college. It took me maybe 70-80 hours, and I've wanted to try it again for a long time. It's not even the time commitment that keeps me from doing it though. I just don't think I could deal with all of the jumping around in the pedestal room and looking for puzzle peices. Or the awkward character swap late in the game. So unbelievably tedious.

 

[flintstryker]

of the ones i have beaten

Dq3
Dq5
Dq6 - which is pretty much equal to 5 imo
Dq1 - i fucking love this i wish more rpg would do the one man army thing
Dq2 - i love this too hell i love them all.

 

[octopusman]

What's with all the mediocrity towards 6? I liked what I played in 6, what was wrong with it?

 

[flintstryker]

What's with all the mediocrity towards 6? I liked what I played in 6, what was wrong with it?

I too would love to know this as i see in no way its inferior to any of the other dqs i have played it was freaking awesome throughout.

 

[lastendconductor]

I've only played 3, so here it goes
VII > I > VIII

 

[chase]

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

 

[Tyrone Slothrop]

i don't know the DQ franchise through and through like a lot of people here, so I can't cite exactly why i rank the games like this..

but DQVIII is easily my favorite. just an outstanding experience... DQVII was like trudging through a swamp... DQVI was fun, but my heart went to other sfc rpgs at the time. (haven't played V yet, that'll soon change)... DQI-IV are about equals in my book, with DQIII obviously the best of the four.

 

[jeremy1456]

Thought I would bump this up for the day crowd...

 

[PataHikari]

All the things I've read about its length make me want to hold off until a portable version, but maybe if there's ever a drought of new game releases that I want and I need something to give a shot to...

Rip the ISO and put it on a custom firmware PSP. Ta-da, instant handheld.

 

[Red Scarlet]

What's with all the mediocrity towards 6? I liked what I played in 6, what was wrong with it?

I really don't like how the job system is implemented in 6 and 7, which is why they're at the bottom. I don't like how jobs are 'mastered' through number of fights that count vs a 'points' system, and I don't like how it's a pain in the ass to check and see if fights are counting. I also did not like how the bonus dungeon was unlocked in 6, which I've never unlocked.

 

[Aeana]

I really don't like how the job system is implemented in 6 and 7, which is why they're at the bottom. I don't like how jobs are 'mastered' through number of fights that count vs a 'points' system, and I don't like how it's a pain in the ass to check and see if fights are counting.

I know you've been avoiding DQ9 stuff, but I think you'll like how the job system works there. :O

 

[Red Scarlet]

I peeked a little at it a couple days ago, but I can't remember how it worked offhand. If I remember right, it sounded interesting, but I'll leave it at that. I probably won't get 9 until May, either. :/

 

[Error]

I know you've been avoiding DQ9 stuff, but I think you'll like how the job system works there. :O

She'll hate because it's on DS and she can't make avatars of it.

Spoiler

don't ban me

 

[jeremy1456]

I know you've been avoiding DQ9 stuff, but I think you'll like how the job system works there. :O

Personally the only thing that has me a little uncertain about IX is the character placement system they have in battle. Not saying it won't be cool, but I think I'll need to try it for myself before I get too excited.

 

[Red Scarlet]

Yeah, that always pisses me off a little. I still want to get the street game for PS2 sometime to see what I can avatarize from it.

 

[Princess Skittles]

I really don't like how the job system is implemented in 6 and 7, which is why they're at the bottom. I don't like how jobs are 'mastered' through number of fights that count vs a 'points' system, and I don't like how it's a pain in the ass to check and see if fights are counting. I also did not like how the bonus dungeon was unlocked in 6, which I've never unlocked.

I feel the same way, that's why I loved how they handled the skills in VIII. Also, I guess this is far more of a VII problem than it is in VI, but the number of classes compared to useful properties and/or skills of each class is so woefully broken.

 

[jeremy1456]

I feel the same way, that's why I loved how they handled the skills in VIII. Also, I guess this is far more of a VII problem than it is in VI, but the number of classes compared to useful properties and/or skills of each class is so woefully broken.

Agreed, but the games are so awesome that it's easy to ignore the problems with the job system.

I've always loved III's.

 

[Erdrick]

Ranking DQ games hmm?

well, I'd have to say it goes for me like... This:

DQIII>DQVIII>DQIV>DQII>DQI>DQVII.

V and VI are absent as I have never played them. I also left out spinoffs, but let it be known that I utterly enjoyed all the spinoffs that we have gotten in NA. Be it Torneko's Last Hope, any DQM (Soft spot more for the original one though... played it to death.) of course, Rocket Slime was fun and even the often reviled DQ Swords I managed to get some 50 hours. (I HAD to have the Kingsword!)

Let me explain some of the above rankings though in more depth.

DQVII is not a bad game by any stretch of DQ's measure. The main strike I have against it is that perhaps it was too long for my liking at the time. I don't care that it looks like pretty much the worst DQ to me, in terms of how the game is visually. It's just the story... it was actually very well done and reminded me somewhat of Chrono Trigger's in many aspects, but it... I don't really know why, but it's pretty much the only DQ that has ever disappointed me. I should prehaps replay it when... I retire and have enough time to devote to a game of such magnitude again. I loaded up my save from like... early 2002 and I honestly could not even tell what was going on in the menus anymore. It was in English, but was just gibberish to me. I like the pacing. I did not mind that it took a few hours before even a fight occured, because, honestly, it has a story that is very interesting if you let it grasp you. I think mostly, I did not like the characters much. Nor their design. It's just such a massive game and I really... it's hard to say why I rank it at the bottom, but I just don't like it as much as any other DQ I have played.

DQI is here purely because it's just unable to compete with it's sequels. It's like the caveman to the modern man. It has great ideas that have all expanded since and been refined over the past 20 years. It was my first RPG of any kind and I still replay it (Am doing so via GBA player on GC ATM, actually) once in a while because as old as the game is, it's got the feeling that no other DQ has ever had since:

Solitude.

You really get a sense that YOU are the main character and as you journey across the land, it's a somber affair. There is not much to do other than upgrade and grind levels. But you know what? That's not a bad thing at all. It's what clicked in my young mind late December 1989 when I rented the NES version and killed my first slime and earned my eventual 7 EXP to gain a level to 2. It's that simple progression that hooks people still today in games like WoW and any other RPG worth it's salt, western or eastern. At the end of DQI, you feel like YOU have accomplished something. You can go back to the first area outside of Tantegel and recall when you feared crossing that one bridge for you may run into a skeleton. Now, you crush all who face you, even the Dragon Lord. It is the enemies who mostly flee now, not you. It's a sense of empowerment that nothing else have ever quite come to the same effect in any other game for me.

DQII was so... HUGE. And it was also home to an alien concept to me at the time. More than one party member. No longer, if one died, would the game be over. There was still a chance! Granted, the system was still... clunky as if you targeted the wrong group of enemies you'd hit nothing, or the game was oddly group same enemy types in different menu selections for whatever reason. (What, that one slime doesn't play well with the others or something?) But it took everything DQI offered and ran with it. Churches to revive. The Yggdrasil leaf, Rubiss, even returning "Home" to Alefgard was surreal to me at the time. But the other innovations were awesome. A BOAT! You could explore so much more! The caves were no longer limited to what you saw with a torch or a light spell. They were devious mazes that could end anyone if they were not careful. (Hello... Cave to Rhone... I still hate you and your pitfalls. At least the remake leaves the pitfalls open so you can avoid them next time...) The only reason DQII is so low, is like DQI, the others have surpassed it totally. I still get chills when I found Rubiss's shrine and descended so far down...

DQIV is awesome. I really cannot stress this enough. As the final DQ I played in English, it had so many innovations for the RPG genre, it still is enjoyable today. The story was told in a well-said manner and it was the first DQ to have actual characters in your party that had personality. From Ancient Brey (Borya) to frail and doting Christo (Kyril). To tomboy Alena and the 2 twins Nara and Mara (I... forget their new names, but they are something like that...) casting spells that saved us all from enemies muti-hit attacks. Taloon (Torneko) and his utterly different style of playing and the ever-so-stout Ragnar, this game has at least one character that SOMEONE can like. In NES scope, it was massive and it had you travel all over in search of new secret areas, rare enemies or just plain wanting to see what's beyond those mountains over there. (Better hope it's not anything that can cast "Beat" or "Defeat" (Again, I forget the more modern names, sorry.) It had such a great soundtrack and such... atmosphere. Aktemento Mine... Not so bad when you first enter but... when you return later... a sense of sheer dread filled up within me. When you first fought a certain enemy, it was very intimidating. It also was one of the first games that made me feel some sense of compassion for the antagonist. Buy the remake, you poor souls who have never played this. If you have any like of RPG's, you should at least try it on DS.

DQVIII is one of the most beautiful games I have ever played. FINALLY, after so long, the vision I had of a DQ world was realized ingame. The soundtrack and voice acting are beautiful in the NA version and I loved the alchemy pot. I received this for my birthday when it came out in 2005 and it was SUCH a return to form for the series for me after DQVII's let down in my view. The characters were all great and likeable, (How's it goin' Yoda-err... Trode?) the translation was handled with such care and respect and it added SO much to the DQ formula. Alchemy was so addicting to me. The Casino was the best one in years for me too. I spent hours just trying to get the best stuff in each one. The bonus content was so epic and the ending you got after doing it was one of the most satisfying ones I have ever come across. I was so happy for what happened, it just worked out great. I loved the battle system, I loved that you kept 4 characters essentially and I really liked the progression they could take as you advanced. The nod to the previous games via the monster battles and esp. who you could battle in the arena was a nice touch for me. The best thing, over all the production values and the fact that they kept the soul of the series not only intact but blazing hot like a Phoenix reborn... (Much like Ramia...) was the nod to my most highly regarded game, well... ever.

DQIII is the single best game I have ever played in my life. Yes, I love MG and RE as much as any other huge fan, but NOTHING hit me with such mania that DQIII did. I can never forget that August 1991 issue of NP with MM on GB on the cover. They spent like... 12 pages walking through DWIII. Granted, they spoiled a lot of it, but my God, was I ever, EVER hyped for it. Too bad I had to wait until spring of 1992 to play it finally, but when I did... wow.

Day and Nightime? Create your own party? An even BIGGER world than previous DQ's? It was so epic and that's even before you found out the twist that makes it my favourite game ever. I always wondered why they seemingly ditched the previous worlds from the other 2 earlier ones. Sure, they kept some familliar enemies and stuff, but it was kind of weird. Who was this Baramos dude? Could I maybe get some descendant of the Dragon Lord to help me, after all, in II, his descendant said let bygones be bygones. Not only was their a boat, but you could fly. Not even mountains could tame me now! The world was modeled after ours, and I loved the parallels. From the pyramid and Isis to the mystery of Tedanki and the ghost ship... To Portoga (Erdrick uses the pepper. *Entire party sneezes*) and the gambling king in Romaly. The world felt alive to me.

Just when I thought it was over, it wasn't. And what happened next blew my mind and truly showed the connections to previous games. I just loved it all. The game is so replayable too, with the introduction of the job system and the Shrine of Dharma (Is there an R in that? I forget...) I love the little things though, like the music that plays in villages. How you can see people who change their habits at night. Or in Jipang's case... well, yeah... Let's just say Okami reminded me of Jipang and my dealings there in DQIII)

So yeah, DQIII is my favourite game, EVER. It capped of the original trilogy perfectly and spoiled me for so many other games to this day, still have not the same impact for me. I guess you had to be there when it was new but I can totally understand why this game was so popular in Japan in 89.

On the subject of trilogies... I know 4,5, and 6 are related (Zenithia) and obviously 1, 2 and 3 are too (Erdrick/Loto) but... are 7, 8 and 9 going to be a trilogy as well? I mean, we obviously don't know about 9 yet, but... I don't recall 7 or 8 having any connections to each other. If anything I seem to recall some town on the wall of a cliff or canyon that had some people who seemed to be descendant's of what looked to me from Zenithia. But it's been about 8 years since I played VII, so I can't recall it too much.

Anyway, sorry for how long this turned out. I just kind of flew by the handle with this and typed what I thought at the moment.

Just because I rank one lower than the others means only that I don't love it as much as I do the ones above. I enjoy them all immensely, I just like ones more than others. Really, I wish everyone could have a chance to play them all at some point in their lives. They are the essence of a Japanese RPG, pure and simple.

They are however, anything BUT simple.

Man... I can't wait for DQ9...

 

[RevenantKioku]

What's with all the mediocrity towards 6? I liked what I played in 6, what was wrong with it?

Well, like I called it earlier, it feels like a stepping stone game. It shows how we got from 5 to 7 but it really didn't do anything so super special that makes it stand out. That and out of the characters in DQ, it really has the least endearing ones to me.
I mean, I still enjoyed it but with all other things equal, DQ6 didn't do enough to put it above other DQ games.

 

[Kilrogg]

I've only played DQIV and am disappointed. Not that it's bad, but I ended up giving up slightly before the end, as I do with pretty much every RPG (turn-based or action) that isn't called Chrono Trigger, Pokémon Blue/Red, Secret of Mana or Seiken Densetsu 3. I'm not even sure I would finish SD3 if I replayed it.

Why do I always give up just before the final part in every RPG I play? Am I the only one undergoing this strange disease?