Dragon Quest XII Could Shape The Next "10 To 20 Years" Of The Series

Go for it. I’ve never been disappointed by DQ titles but at the same time there is the fear of a samey product.

Yeah this pretty much tells me they're going to be overhauling a lot of things about the way DQ is at present

I have a feeling the success of FFVII Remake might've been used for the DQ team to evaluate how they can implement some form of real time gameplay to the existing systems because of the Tactical Mode in VII Remake being the game's stand out combat feature, as it blended the strategy of the original game's turn based battles with the flow of the new action-based combat

Either way they're probably purposely going to try and inch the series closer to being a hybrid of turn based and real time so they can keep the essence of Dragon Quest while expanding the audience for the games similar to Final Fantasy. The aforementioned "darker, more adult" story is clearly them trying to make the series more appealing to Western audiences since Final Fantasy is doing the same thing with entries like XII, parts of XIV, XV and even today with XVI

Oh DS DQ. When they scrambled from their original vision when fan feedback took hold.

Im super excited. Dragon Quest XI S is one of my favorite games on Switch. Absolutely a fantastic RPG. XII will be a day 1 purchase.

I am cautiously optimistic, but as long as the Dream Team of Horii, Toriyama and Sugiyama remain, I have faith in the sequel.

To date, no DQ has let me down, and I've been with the series since the original.

I'm gonna keep an eye on this game honestly. Dragon Quest 11 was one of the blandest JRPG's I've played to date, but this one interests me with the small amount of info we know so far. Hopefully it ends up having an interesting story, and interesting gameplay.

I hope they keep the spirit of Dragon Quest. I don't want them to make it a western-style reboot. I kinda wish they would make FF and DQ games to play more like Kingdom Hearts.

Full frontal nudity and every character has a backstop that they were violently orphaned

Very interested to see how this turns out cause I have always viewed Dragon quest as a traditional jrpg series and I always preferred it because of that, but if they can blend in new ideas I am open to the idea, just have to see it in practice, hopefully they don't get too crazy.

Please don’t be westernized please don’t be westernized please don’t be westernized please don’t-

the game shifting the series to that high of a level definitely makes me a bit more cautious, but at the same time it makes me way more excited to see how the game turns out, can't wait to see...an actual trailer

@RupeeClock
I agree; the Dream Team is not eternal, so this might be their last great hurrah. I imagine we'll lose one during the development of the game, which does bum me out.

The series without these three legends will never be the same.

I am definitely not optimistic about this. I hope I'll be surprised, but I'm not into drastic changes to the formula with this series. Also, the darker parts of DQ11 were my least favorite.

I'm not optimistic at all, especially considering how FFXVI is shaping up, but I'll wait to see footage before I cast judgment.

The description of XII as "mature" really concerns me. Previous games often featured dark stories with tragic plot twists, but they moderated that with a charming aesthetic and persistent sense of humor. I'd hate to see the series lose that in the name of appealing to miserable Western audiences.

I'm looking forward to this, it's my favourite JRPG, i like that their going to try something different, DQ 11 was really good, but you can see that there really wasn't anywhere else to go with that direction.

As long as it doesn't influence 20 years of logo design

Really have no idea how or why folks are reading so much into such a largely empty statement.

They said this already. I’m not worried.

It’s hard to get excited about this game with it clearly being so far away.

Just mildly concerned because one of my favorite things about Dragon Quest is it's still the same fundamental and sunny tone that they set up back in the NES era. I'm open to innovation, but I hope they don't make it just another Final Fantasy series without Final Fantasy in the title.

So it sounds like they're preparing fans to completely understand why they want to cut off all traditional RPG elements. I wish square enix would stop trying to "innovate" and just make the game styles that we enjoy. The reason why dragon quest 11 has done so well is because so many RPG series have turned their back on traditional methods. Now that dragon quest is finally getting some proper recognition in the West, square enix wants to ruin yet another series.

I think some levels of innovation work for this series. 2 adding multiple party members, 3 with the class customization, and 8 with the 3D world for instance. But there are two things I really don't want them to ever change with DQ, being the tone, and the turn-based combat.

For the former, the fun character designs and comedic writing are a huge part of the appeal. And while the darker, tearjerker moments stand out more because of it, I'd hate for the game to take itself too seriously or go in a gritty direction. Ironically, I feel like games like FF7 skew too YOUNG for me now, as they come across as teen anime storylines rather than something more broad and timeless.

For the second part, I just don't like action-RPGs that much. I find them pretty sloppy even when I like the game overall (like Trials of Mana or Ys VIII). I want to be able to choose my characters' abilities and strategize. It's a completely different style of game and I think changing a turn-based JRPG to an action-based one would be a huge mistake. Especially since there are so few true turn-based major games these days left.

DQXI was a masterpiece. I wouldn't mind every DQ just being more of that, really.

Don’t END turn-based battles or I’m out; that’s all I have to say.

I know they said that Unreal Engine 5 will support the Nintendo Switch, but i still really doubt it will be able to run DQ XII maybe Switch 2

I hope they don't drop the charm or the medieval settings...

I'm staying cautiously optimistic, though I will say I'm REALLY hoping they don't turn it into an action RPG. Dragon Quest is probably my second favorite game series, and the consistently fun turn-based combat is a big part of that. It and Pokemon are really the only major turn-based JRPG franchises left that I enjoy, so I'll be sad if either one decides to toss away tradition for a wider playerbase.

@VIIIAxel I honestly hope it keeps doing turn-based. The only thing I really want them to work on is making a story that isn't just a paint by numbers jrpg. I really hope 12's story is interesting, and if they do keep the turn-based combat, they make it a bit more interesting as well.

Haha.
10 years if XIII changes the formula again, 20 if they stick with the new ideas from XII for just one more game.

They will likely try something new for one game, maybe two and then revert back quickly. Assuming it doesn't bury the franchise, but that seems unlikely with Dragon Quest. As I understand it's not a series for people who like change.

Just keep the turn-based gameplay. Please.

Maybe this will be out by the time the "real" Switch Pro comes out? But seriously, I can't wait to play whatever this game turns out to be.

I'm excited to see what they have in store, though part of me is sad to see the coming changes. Dragon Quest was the last bastion of no-frills, turn-based combat, but I get that's not a terribly popular type of gameplay these days.

I love DQ. For me, DQ XIS is the goat.

Innovation is fine, but if it ain't broke don't fix it. And please keep the turned based battles.

I have a feeling this won’t be coming to Switch. But I hope to be wrong.

12 confirmed for smash?

I have a feeling I might have to tune out of my favorite turn-based RPG franchise soon. Oh well, at least I have ten great games. And hopefully they release the offline version of DQX in Egnlish, so it'll make it eleven.

Tales of Arise, FF7R, DQ12... All seem to be going for a harder edge this time. FF7R was first then Tales and after that DQ12. I'm very curious about these. Tales of Arise looks stunning to me.

I will never get the love. I played the last one, to the first ending and didnt enjoy my time at all. Having to grind for hours and hours just to get the true ending was a hard no for me. The art style was the only redeeming thing.

Please no darker adult themes with dragon quest. Make it a spin off. I don't want to kill the silliness and charm that makes dragon quest fun.

it seens Square Enix want to turn Dragon Quest into current Final Fantasy, enjoy Dragon Quest 11, because is gonna be the last tradicional Dragon Quest.

What I want from coming changes

• more interesting RPG systems (like Sphere Grid, Junction System etc.)
• improved combat system as this one has not changed since 1987 while keeping its tactical/turn-based essence
• please god change already all those stereotypical NPC which has not changed since 1987

I’ve this sneaking suspicion that DQXII is gonna be PS4/5 exclusive.

I’d love to be wrong, but enough of my gut is leading toward this prediction.

Well, I am super stoked to play it! I loved Dragon Quest XI so much.

@TheFrenchiestFry FFVII remake wasn’t as popular as you may think it was. I don’t think they will be doing any of that. I think it will just end up being less cartoony is all. The tactical mode in FF is nothing but a slow mo mode pretty much.

Will just be a new storyline with more realistic graphics is all. I don’t see many other changes happening

@Dirty0814 "not as popular as you may think it was"

You mean selling 5 million copies within 4 months and being the fastest selling PS4-exclusive of all time in addition to literally carrying Square for the next fiscal year because of how badly Avengers did didn't make the game "popular"

We can argue about what actual fan reception was but it's inarguable that the game was definitely incredibly successful and they're definitely taking note of that. It even caused a major temporary resurgence in PS4 console sales in Japan, a region where the console hasn't done nearly as well as past generations for Sony

Dragon Quest's attempt at the Breath of the Wild formula I hope.

I've enjoyed DQ so far. I'm on 7 right now on the DS. I started with the DQ 1 on the GBC, and I played the remakes on the Apple Store (2 to 6).

Maybe the combat will be like an active time battle like Chrono Trigger? That would add some strategy. It just feels like you can wipe out enemies easily with one powerful attack in regular combat. I agree the turn based combat would be good to keep- really couldn't imagine the series without it.

Yuji Horii for awhile has wanted changes to the combat, as far back as 9. 10, remember, which hopefully the offline version is coming to the Switch in 2022 was a MMORPG.

I want turn based gameplay to remain though. Please remember it aint broke. XI S was excellent. Much like many in the mainline series.

I wonder if they are prepping us for new creative. The team is getting old, and the composer is — well — controversial to say the least. More immediately is he’s getting old and not really doing much new work for the last few titles.

There needs to be some kind of torch passing and new blood eventually, and now seems as good a time as any.

@tendonerd DQ gets pretty dark though. I think “dark” is really relative. Yakuza is considered a “mature” series, for all it’s chicken real estate agents and karaoke jams.

@Uncensored Totally agree. In fact, I think EVERY franchise should attempt a “Breath of the Wild” deconstruction/reconstruction. Stop pruning the same branches, and transplant the original seeds in modern soil.

I don't mind what artistic direction the series takes. But if they get rid of turn-based combat, the series is dead to me.

Amazing ...darker seems cool as long as it isnt toooo different as 11 was incredible!

This alludes to pretty big changes! Now my imagination is running wild with ideas like hybrid/real-time combat, an overhauled art design, completely different enemy design, etc. etc.

@TheFrenchiestFry

I thought they keep Dragon Quest classical and experiment with Final Fantasy.

Would make Sense.

But ok, they now use Octopath Traveler / Bravely Default kind of Games to have oldschool Final Fantasies.

A little worried tbh.

I'm not saying Dragon Quest is never allowed to take risks, but I am concerned.

I'm sure it will be brilliant no matter what changes they go for. XI S was soooo good