Yes, this is an honest question. The Dragon Quest series is probably one of my least favorite series of games, and I still can't seem to figure out what's so good about them. Only two of them seem to be story driven (DQ5 and DQ8, which are the only ones I liked so far), so I doubt it's the story. The Gameplay is incredibly simplistic compared to dozens of other RPGs I've played, and while some people go for that, I can't imagine that'd be the main appeal. The two of them combined don't seem to add much to the game, either. So I have to ask, what the hell am I missing?
Please not that I'm not asking you to convince me, I'm just asking what it is you guys like about it, so hopefully I can at least accept them as being good games.
Im expecting half of the answers to consist mostly on nostalgia.
That's kinda why I'm asking, since all my friends over at vc-forums who are big Dragon Quest fans mostly mention notalgia or something of the sort as the main reasons for liking them. Well, except for Digiki, but I know better than to ask for his opinion.
Well for a good bit of them, it's not about the story but the gameplay that has solidly stayed virtually the same since the mid-1980s. It is a series that has become a comfy happy medium that whatever the story may be you are going into something you know that will have the same solid mechanics, like how Mario has been for 2D adventure platforming games. You're right few have a really driving story going on, DQ9 though you can add to the list of an actually compelling story. I think the fact that it sticks to a solid working formula that has needed few upgrades over the years likely is why it's just so damn popular and really is the highest selling series in Japan of all time. Whether you end up doing DQ4 or DQ8 you'll find that they'll have the same party based combat, same types and names of spells, items, gear(more than less), and other carry overs. It gives people a feeling of familiarity despite the fact each game it its own entity from the land to the story, music, and the rest. Now I'm sure that could be interpreted as nostalgia, but considering the mechanics on the whole have stayed solid so long it's a bit more than that as it's still a current thing, even 9 is like the former games except you can see the enemies around you vs random battles.
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Some people like simplicity. That's not hard to understand. I don't want to learn how Square reinvents the wheel with each Final Fantasy and study my flash cards of their thousand and one new terms to explain it.
I hate simple games, lest simplicity. That is why it's not so hard for me to understand things, for example The Matrix Trilogy films. I therefore hate Dragon Quest, thus I love Final Fantasy. Only my opinion though. Only mine...
It's not a matter of having a hard time understanding things. It's about wanting to have to relearn everything every game or not. Making it through the Matrix trilogy isn't proof of some kind of genius, only patience and a high level of tolerance, which is how I feel about some Final Fantasy games.
Some people like simplicity. That's not hard to understand. I don't want to learn how Square reinvents the wheel with each Final Fantasy and study my flash cards of their thousand and one new terms to explain it.
I suppose. I'll never understand why someone would buy a new game just to experience something familiar. Why not just replay the games you already got if that's what you're looking for? That can't be the only reason. Surely there must be something else.
I like them because they're very straight-forward and simply designed. The original NES games were pretty tedious to play because of the glaringly bad graphics and slow-paced gameplay, though I did manage to beat the first chapter of IV. On the other hand, the GBC versions are a lot more enjoyable because of the added animation and improved graphics.
I haven't played the DS games yet, but I'm planning on buying IX sometime this month or next. I'd really like to get a copy of V at some point, but everywhere I find it it's 40 bucks.
Because they're new games, maybe? Why do people buy Mario and Zelda games still? I don't understand how this is even a question.
Dragon Quest 8 and 9 are about as "familiar" as Twilight Princess or Super Mario Galaxy 2 or Metroid Prime 2 and 3 or Halo 2 and 3 or Uncharted 2 or whatever else. This is what sequels do.
It's not a matter of having a hard time understanding things. It's about wanting to have to relearn everything every game or not. Making it through the Matrix trilogy isn't proof of some kind of genius, only patience and a high level of tolerance, which is how I feel about some Final Fantasy games.
I never said it made me a genius. I just said as I watched it for the first time, I snapped on to the story line. It's in my way to challenge myself with complex varieties of activites using puzzles and logistics. Please do not misintepret my words. I also didn't say all fans of Dragon Quest have hard times understanding either.
No no, I just meant to make the comparison that some things are complicated but for no reason. I don't feel anything is better about Final Fantasy or the Matrix sequels for being complicated. They just seem convoluted to me. Just saying how I see the games, though I know I don't make a habit of sounding nice.
I've only started playing DQ (played IV and VII so far) so I can't comment fully but for me it is how simplistic both the story and gameplay are. The simple battle system is good for me since it makes level-grinding much more tolerable and the attacks can be as awesome as you want depending on your imagination. It makes good use of support magic and items when in most modern JRPG's, they are seldom necessary to beat the game. Also, Dragonball-style characters and chatting with your party members are a plus for me.
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Topic: Dragon Quest - What's the Appeal?
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