The 3DS is four years old now and Nintendo knows sales momentum of the system is important to maintain. At a recent Financial Results Briefing, Iwata reiterated this, explaining the 3DS could use with a boost in its homeland of Japan.
With this in mind, Square Enix has announced Dragon Quest VIII – originally launched in 2004 on the PlayStation 2 and then ported to smart devices last December – will be released on the 3DS in Japan on 27th August. Priced at 5,980 yen, there will also be several retailer specific pre-order bonuses on offer:
[Weapon] Square Enix e-Store – Candy Cane (Yangus)
[Armor] Amazon Japan – Healie T-Shirt armor (everyone)
[Helmet] Aeon – Healie Cap (everyone)
[Weapon] Game Tsutaya – Gold Bamboo Spear (protagonist)
[Accessory] 7-Eleven – Lucky Pendant (everyone)
[Shield] Yodobashi Camera – Metal Slime Tray (everyone)
In terms of the actual game, Dragon Quest VIII on the 3DS will feature a brand new scenario, new party characters including Garuda (a female thief) and Morrie (featured in Dragon Quest: Monster Battle Road). The game’s events will now include voice-overs as well as an orchestral soundtrack performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. There will also be StreetPass support.
We’ll keep you posted as more details come to light, but for now don’t get too carried away as localisation of this series has been limited here in the West.
Let us know in the comments how much you would like to play Dragon Quest VIII on your 3DS.
[source gematsu.com]
Comments 63
OMG Morrie's a party member now?! Come on SE, you know I love you! Lemme show it with my wallet alreadyyyyyy! D:
Really want this to come to the west as I didn't play the original on PS2 and always heard good things about it. However, since it's Dragon Quest, I'm not holding my breath as SquareEnix refuses to localize these games...
We still haven't gotten DQVII yet. Seriously Square Enix, bring these to the west.
How does this compare with Legend of the Starry Skies?
I liked that one!
Visible map enemies and all...
@IceClimbers Well they will be having their own press conference at E3, but I'm not getting my hopes up.
Still have my original ps2 copy! I'd def double dip if it came to NA. Loved this game but never got around to finishing it. I would def remedy that if it came westward or I can just plug in my ps2 lol.
I think the reason why they are not localizing them to the west is simply because how the sales of the series was back then.
While you're at it Square, how about a 3DS port of Final Fantasy IX with Beatrix added as a permanent member of the team?
Dragon Quest VIII has already been localised in the West for Android and iOS devices though (which DQ VII hasn't, to my knowledge) so perhaps there's more hope for this one?
I have famicom carts so I don't worry about localization. I still want this Dragon Quest 8 on 3ds.
Oh man!!!!!! I really hope this crosses the pond!!!
DQ VIII is awesome, loved it on PS2 even if I admit it was such a huge epic adventure that I didn't reach the end of it ^_^;;;
Still this remake sound really tempting despite I own the original, what I don't understand is why between the preorders bonus there isn't some "special" equipment only for Jessica?!?! D:<
I'm not so bothered about this one as it's easy to play today on iPad. It's VII that has never been released in any form here and I've been hoping for years the 3DS version would get localised.
@Ninty4thewin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUJ-dRQxzG0
Why even tell me this NL?!? DQ 8 is my favourite of them all, though admittedly I haven't played that many of them. This will never make it to the west & that SUCKS!!! >.<
Damn Square Enix, bring these games over here please. Seriously I had bought every Dragon Quest games you guys released for GBC and DS, now give us DQVII and DQVIII please.
Aaand another Squenix game we'll never get in the west because Squenix.
I want this on Wii U!
I just got a Japanese 3DS recently, so I'll probably get this eventually if it never gets localized... After I get 7 of course.
"Hey let's not localize any Dragon Quest except this spin off on a sony system that sold so bad we didn't even mention it in our last financial report"
Sometimes I wonder if sony don't pay square-enix to not release in the west the DQ games on Nintendo systems
That makes six 3DS Dragon Quest games that I'd love to play that aren't getting localised. Square Enix is getting better at this torture stuff, and worse at making good decisions by the day.
@No-longer-postin - Dragon Quest 8 is generally considered one of the best in the main series by most, only behind 5 and maybe 3. It has enemies shown on the main map as in 9, not random encounters.
@bitleman Erm DQ heroes hasn't been released in the west yet, and it was a huge sales success in Japan :s. Not sure how it could ever be described as a poor seller.
@bitleman - Haha, exactly. Games where translations would be extremely easy (Threatryhmn Dragon Quest) or already exist (Dragon Quest VIII) don't get released here in the West, not even an eShop only release, but somehow a spinoff on a much worse selling platform is fair game.
Not to mention they somehow thought Bravely Default did well enough to localise the sequels, despite it selling less than every Dragon Quest game to date.
@Peach64 - Every Dragon Quest games sells really well in Japan, the point is that out of eight possible games to localise, they only pick the one that is on the least popular and purchased platform, despite claiming sales are a problem.
Want, no, need ! My first reaction was to think we were not April 1st. So yes, i want that badly here in France (in English, OK, but release this in Europe please).
@Peach64
It sold terribly for a DQ game. If you add the ps3 and the ps4 versions you don't even reach 800K sales. And it was a big HD game heavily marketed in Japan. It probably cost a lot to make and it didn't make money. That's probably why then didn't mention it in their last financial report.
And don't expect them to sell very well in the west. Japanese games usually get crushed in the west on sony and microsoft systems.
Gotta love Square and their disability to notice fan demand and the potential of their IPs. Just bank on FF XIV being a huge hit in the west.
Judging from its demo, probably one of the worst games ive ever played period.
@bitleman Which is to expect from a warriors game really. They have their dedicated fanbase, but dont seem to click ith a larger audience.
Thats why Hyrule Warriors success was such a huge surprise.
But here, were talking about two fan favourites of the series, which will generate sales no matter what. Saying that there is no demand is just ignorant of them.
This is my favorite one. It's right up there with IX. The alchemy, those accents. I'm going to get mad. It will never see the light of day here. Sure I can buy it on my iPad with no voice acting and no real controller. Who the crap wants to do that. I love dragon quest. I even have a slime controller from back in the day.
@Pixel-Perfect
Not sure about the Beatrix thing but would buy this up in an instant! Bravely Default looks absolutely gorgeous with the 3D up on full whack and it works really well.
FFIX has the best art-direction of the series and I would LOVE to have it on the 3DS!
It would mean that my top three games of all time would be available on the system:
1) Final Fantasy IX
2) Majora's Mask
3) Sonic 2 (soon to be on 3DS.)
Of course, the chance of any FF hitting the 3DS is pretty slim...
DQ 8 is one of my favorite ones in the series so it sucks knowing that we will most likely never get it.
Could do with 1-3 and 7 so I can legally play them.
I would like to have this but only for the right price.. I'd pay 25€ for this but not 40€ or 45€
I hope DQ10 would come to west also. Seems insane that they don't want to bring a major entry in the Dragon Quest series to Europe and Americas.
Great JRPG. Been thinking about it a lot lately as I'm playing Xenonlade and all my memories are fond. Over 100 hours counting the after ending stuff. Highly recommended.
Great!
I don't expect this to be localized, but there's a chance. And even if this never leaves Japan, it will likely boost 3DS sales, improving support for the platform in general.
Ooh, I'll have to import that one once it's released!
Wake me up when the fan translation comes out =| Enix has given up on America again and we all know it =(
I'm not going to get excited about this unless it's announced for the West.
@No-longer-postin VIII is a much grander game in terms of spectacle as well as a much more linear focused game. The main difference is that IX appropriately feels like a portable game, while VIII has the focis and scope of a console game.
https://youtu.be/RzLBSFI1PvA?t=5s
Man, those lucky Japanese folk. I'd kill to have this released on the West. And it's not like localization would be a big problem, either, since it already happened on the PS2.
@IceClimbers
Square-Enix AND Nintendo. Since NoA published several DQ games for the DS over here, they could be actively working to get them localized and published.
How about a Western release of Dragon Quest X on the Wii U???
Make it happen Square Enix!!!
@bitleman
Hm? Vita? While it does sell bad in the west, it's selling relatively well in Japan. Compared to the Wii U which sells terribly everywhere.
RELEASE IT IN AMERICA!
Not gonna lie - I just got REALLY excited about this. I sincerely hope they bring it to the US. This is the best DQ game in my opinion.
The only issue here is that SE doesn't want to take the CAPCOM route and make it eShop exclusive. That would save them a lot of money in physical cart production and get the games out to the people that want them.
I still wonder why they never considered this, even for the older game remakes now on Android and iOS...
@IceClimbers Thank you, regarding DQVII. Honestly, I stopped waiting on that game long ago. And since reading about Square Enix's newly announced focus to shift away from console games to mobile ones, I'm not holding my breath for DQVIII - not that I'm hopeful, anyway. Mix in Enix's overall loyalty to the homeland first (and foremost in many cases, including DQs 7&8 releasing outside Japan), and you have a recipe for a little bit of disappointment and a little bit of likely not gonna happen.
One of the best traditional JRPG.
This is great news! This is my favorite RPG of all time.
That retailer-exclusive preorder DLC list is the most heinous thing I'm likely to see today.
I saw this coming since Dragon Quest VII was announced for the Japanese 3DS.
Surely the fact that they've already got an english version has to guarantee this.
This'll be great if it makes it to the west. I loved the DS remakes, never having had the chance to play them originally. DQ9 was one of the very best DS games, and I've been anticipating another handheld instalment since then. I really hope they give this a western release.
I would love to see both this and DQ VII get an official western release. However, it is more likely that I will someday be playing these classics via fan translations. There is no way that that the fan translation scene would leave these two games alone.
How about FF VII while you're at it, SE?
Played this on the PS2, great game that got me into the series, DQXIIII had some of my favorite gameplay though, so I'm hoping they do a great job, with this, wouldn't mind playing again for old times sake.
YES YES YES!!!!! I still have the original but I so can't wait to get this. I still say I'd rather play on the TV but more DQ the better!
I still have my ps2 version if it comes west I will definitely buy again!
So where should we go to start the begging to bring this westward?
Give it to me. Take my money, I beg of you Square Enix.
(Also DQ 7 would be cool too, as DQ 8 is the only one I've played)
BRING THIS TO NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE!!! Maybe if we yell it, SquareEnix might listen, for once Also, bring over DQX on Wii U...DO IIIIT!
cries crazily in the corner WHY DOES SQUENIX HATE US!?!?!?... oh wait...
Hope this is coming to Europe !
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