Dragon Quest Creator Yuji Horii Shares Brief Update On Next Mainline Entry

my body is ready

I just hope it comes to Switch but considering how far this game is probably off it may be better to expect it for the Switch successor, I hope that happens because I had such a great time playing 11 in bed, the Switch port was just great. If nothing else I also have my PS5 hooked up in the bedroom so either way I am good.

I love that there is Dragon Quest Day. Not really interested in XII, but I’m hoping they do remasters of 1&2 in the style of 3.

NINJA APPROVED

I have high doubts this will be bound for Switch.

I still have to catch up with a few entries, so there's no hype yet.

@Mauzuri I’m afraid they’ll just re-use the same music, like they’ve been doing for a long time with this series. The entire sound design of these games is always horrid. Like the sound when a battle starts. It’s as if they just searched for ‘annoying’ on a site for free audio samples.

But these re-used assets are also what people love about the series. The gameplay, art style, and many plot elements are the same for every game. They call it recognisability and tradition. For my tastes it makes the series dated and in grave need of a complete overhaul. I’d love to see a Dragon Quest game with a Shimomura soundtrack and character designs from a young manga artist with a fresh vision.

@Mr_Fox @Mauzuri The series composer passed away at the end of last year, so they'll definitely be getting a new composer to take his place.

alright, what lamb must i slaughter for a 12-s? i got so pissed at astral chain's 12th level that i deleted my file from my memory card and sold the game.

As someone who just got into the series this year and collected everything down to the GBC Monsters games, I cannot wait for more. But bring Heroes 1 & 2 to the Switch already!!!

Having only played XI, I really hope they at least port VIII to Switch at some point since I hear it's the next-best one. Ideally, before the 3DS eShop closure forces me to make an impulse purchase for a system I hardly touch anymore. That's probably the most significant 3DS game I don't have that I wince thinking about not being able to purchase it anymore, but I'd MUCH rather have it on Switch instead.

Square brought over a boatload of Final Fantasy games, so it's totally possible we get 8 and even 7, 9, and the localized version of 10...right? Although this is the same company who didn't even bother to get KH1 running on Switch, so maybe I shouldn't hold my breath. They've got more important things to do like invest in crypto, sell their legacy IP, poison our water supply, burn our crops, deliver a plague unto our houses...

@Thief I second this--and improve the frame rate, which I hear is terrible!

As far as DQ 12 goes, I hope that by more gritty and mature, they mean they're going the Twilight Princess route. That'd be really cool. But I'm terrified it's gonna be like an M-rated affair with sex and drugs and f-bombs and machine guns. Dragon Quest has the occasional "puff-puff" joke with some very minor language, but for the most part, it's a pretty wholesome series. Don't ruin it.

I always tell myself I should play one of these, but then I remember how kiddy they look and I'm always turned off.

@ReaperMelia He had already finished most of the music.

@Mr_Fox Was this ever confirmed? The game was still pretty early in development, music usually comes much later in the development cycle.

I hope DQ X Offline gets an English release, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of DQIII HD2D. Prediction: DQXII comes out before Metroid Prime 4.

@Mauzuri Yea, the composer for the DQ series has to be one of the most overrated game composers of all time.

His music was super generic, unmemorable, repetitive, and annoying (at times). To top it off, he was against making his music orchestrated and instead opted to use fake, generic, crappy sounding synthetic instruments. I also can't even hum a single tune from any DQ other than the main theme. FF composer Nobuo Uematsu is FAR superior and has made so many memorable and iconic pieces of music. He's the king of JRPG music and one of the best composers in the whole industry.

As messed up as this will sound, I'm happy that the series will get some new composers due to his passing. I'm not happy that he's dead, but I'm happy that people with far more talent might potentially take over. Although....I'm worried that they'll just try to imitate his bland composition style 😒

Definitely can't wait to see XII, especially after how much of a great time I had with XI.

@Not_Soos Agreed. I'm all down for a Dragon Quest game taking a darker direction, but I'm hoping this direction doesn't get carried away with itself.

localize offline DQX, you cowards

Well I hope for the DS DQ games released on PC/consoles.

@Dinglehopper Kōichi Sugiyama is one of the most overrated video game music composers of all time? Really? I didn't heard anything about him before his death. And I'm even can't consider him as famous composer at all.
Oh, and yeah - I agree about Nobuo Uematsu. I like to listen his Dancing Mad(FFVI) from time to time.

Just dont get your hopes up for a really dark and mature DQ game. They still want kids to buy it. Also Switch typically maybe can run a downgraded version of UE5 but i don't think it will be able to run this. Last entry pushed the system to its limits

Ok then give any Dragon Quest already, damn it! Treasure, X Offline, III HD, whatever XD

@SteamEngenius Well, you are missing out on one of the best Switch games for being "so grown up". Congratulations.

@Vyacheslav333 "Kōichi Sugiyama is one of the most overrated video game music composers of all time? Really? I didn't heard anything about him before his death."

All of Japan would like to have a word with you lol. Joking aside, he's not famous in English speaking countries, but Asia loves him, just like they love DQ in general

I got an itch
I just hope Koichi had a lot of extra songs sitting around

Dragon quest is awesome because it doesn't need to change.. I'm pretty sure they're going to ruin it with 12.

So is Dragon Quest III HD-2D vaporware at this point? 😕

Dragon Quest XI is my favorite RPG this generation (if BotW doesn't count as RPG). Definitely hoping this for Switch.

This will more than likely be for the Switch's successor.

@BartoxTharglod DQ XI on 3ds is one of the coolest releases ever! With the ability to play either in topdown 2d or 3d. I still need to play through it, just haven't found the time.
I would love a new Dragon Quest Heros: Rocket Slime game ! Even porting the d ones to Switch would be amazing.

@LittleGhost I actually enjoy DQ series more than FF. It has a sense of humor and more coherent stories.
It probably also factors in that DQ 1 (or Dragon Warrior as it was called in the USA) was my first RPG ever. Such nostalgia.

@tyranny_life I used to enjoy final fantasy more when I was younger, but these days I enjoy the dragon quest series more.

@tyranny_life DQ1 on NES was my first ever RPG as well. To this day I still have vivid memories of playing it as a child who could barely even read at that time. It was the game that started a lifelong addiction to not only JRPGs, but medieval fantasy in general.

@Mauzuri I agree with the first part of your statement and disagree with the second in a small part; the Dark Brotherhood wasn't a Jrpg.

@icomma I agree. Why is that game Japan only and on the Wii, Wii U and PC is beyond me.

it is very unlikely 12 will be on the current switch..but by the time it comes out a new switch may already be here.. but it will eventually end up on the new switch..

Builders 3 please. Pretty please with sugar on top.

Hope we get synthesized music option again, though I hope it features more new music and less of the oldies. Wish Mario would go back to synthesized music too.

Also wish Dragon Quest VIII would get a switch port.

XI was the first Dragon Quest I played most of and I quite enjoyed it. I never finished the post game stuff, I just could not be bothered to backtrack old dungeons after 75 hours, but I think I'll likely give XII a go. I hope they continue to make small QOL improvements.

I still gotta get into the Dragon Quest series. The only thing that always turned me off is how in a lot of entries the battles are fought in 1st person view rather than 3rd person- where you can see your character/party animations. Call me fickle, but I always prefer seeing my party and their animations at all times in my RPGs.

Nevertheless, I’ll probably pick DQXI-S next time it’s on sale on Switch. Also hoping Squeenix either Pixel or HD Remasters all the previous Dragon Quest mainline numbered entries like they’ve been doing with the older Final Fantasy games (still hoping the FF Pixel Remasters come to Switch like on Steam as well) & DQIII HD-2D.

Bring them all to Switch in their best and definitive forms… and don’t base them off those subpar mobile ports please.

… Wun can only hope.

@Not_Soos For the 3DS, seems like they put in extra effort to have every numbered DQ playable on one console for the 30th anniversary in 2017.

• 4-6,9 through DS compatibility
• 7-8 through 3DS ports
• 10 through cloud streaming (Japan-only)
• 1-3 released on the eShop alongside 11 (Japan-only)

The west got 1-3 alongside 11 on the Switch, but given that having everything playable on the 3DS took two generations (DS+3DS), I doubt they'll be doing it again soon...

Please bring DQXOffline to NA!

@Mauzuri but half the ost was either recycled from 8 or were arranged versions of tracks from old games. Aside from the main overworld theme, I found XI to have some pretty good new tracks (like the flying whale theme).

I hope this isn't released on switch, I don't want the console holding back the scope of the game. I wouldn't mind a port for its succesor.

And with modern day Square behind it it's bound to be f'd up in one way or another.

11S is one of my favourite JRPGs, gave me serious FF6 vibes. What other game can you see a child army of twinks in a post apocalyptic wasteland?

I’m hoping 12 comes out on whatever console Nintendo has at the time as I don’t own a PS5 or Xbox and have no plans to own either.

@BloodNinja what happened to the patented : “Ninja approved” catch phrase… haven’t seen it in awhile

@SJW Can’t believe I forgot! I updated my post. Thank you

NINJA APPROVED

Guess this is another nail in the coffin for HxH. Not to mention I need to start clearing my backlog so that I can get to these sooner when they get released!

@Not_Soos DQ did sex and drugs before it was cool. I'm just afraid they go the bloody gritty grimdark realistic mode. Like FFXIV looks to be. And dq was already seriously grim behind the cheery exterior.

@Mauzuri What problem did you have with the soundtrack? I thought it was fantastic.

@Mauzuri were we playing the same game?

We probably wont get this game for another few years.
I have little reason to doubt but I hope the combat stays turn based, it's not Dragon Quest if it doesn't have that imo.

Other than that I have no worries for this entry DQ has is one of the most consistent quality series ever.

Wow, the Toriyama and Sugiyama slander in here is ungodly. To think Toriyama's style is terrible. Wow. Sorry it's not generic anime 123 art style. Dragon Ball is one of the most memorable IPs in the world. It's still going to this day. Toriyama's art style stands the test of time. The same can't be said for the same generic contemporary art style we seen time after time in other JRPGs.

And Koichi Sugiyama, yeah his political ideals were awful but his music is great. Nobou Uematsu called him the boss of video game music. Not Shimomoura or Mitsuda. That's not to take away from their careers because I love both their contributions but let's get real here. Sugiyama changed video game music for good. His music opened for the Olympics! It's fine if you don't like classical orchestral music but he has plenty of memorable music under his belt. Just because you haven't played DQ games doesn't mean the music isn't good. Every soundtrack doesn't have to be electric guitars and synth and latin vocals.

XI had some amazing music coming from a guy in his late 80's. The Flying Whale and Imperial Palace come to mind as masterful compositions. It'll be interesting to see who takes over DQXII's OST.

Okay...rant over. I'm looking forward to XII.

I didn't even know this was coming out, though I think that's cause I don't catch up with RPGs too much.

I'm very, very curious to see where they go next. DQXI being such a wonderful throwback to traditional JRPG style was so much fun, but it makes it a real challenge to see where they'll go next. Several posts here ask for it to change art direction, themes, etc. But, if you change all of that, then it's a DQ title in name only. I don't want that.

Certainly they need some new ideas, but not at the expense of the core identity of what makes a DQ title special. I expect this aspect is going to take the most time.

@ReaperMelia SE announced on facebook that he had already finished the work when he passed away. Can’t find any other articles about it though.

I guess for a Dragon Quest game they decide early on which old tracks they’ll re-use, he writes three new ones, makes a contract that under no circumstances are any real instruments to be used instead of his 1991 midi module, he signs his name and he’s done.

@wuntyme8 i agree, i hate dungeon crawler RPGs, & those are always 1st person, but DQ11 has 2 different view options & neither is first person. It's a fantastic game, u definitely need to snag it if u like JRPGs.

Looking forward to it as a fan of the series. If it was anything like DQ XI S, I'll be happy

So long as it comes to a Nintendo platform, I am game. Between my switch and 3ds I have the entire series (technically I have the whole series on 3ds since I also have that version of xi) on Nintendo so I would rather not have to buy a new system to play the next entry. Also when do we get more info on the Dai games?

I'd never played a single DQ game until I bought XI on a whim. It ended up being my favorite RPG of the last 20 years.

So yeah, I'm excited for XII.

@Dinglehopper Oh. I understood. I just haven't played any of the Dragon Quest games yet. And haven't heard any of the Dragon Quest's OSTs. I'm think that I need to check out OST some time later, at least. I wanted to buy and play 11S, but some time later I changed my mind about it. After this, I wanted to buy 1st game on eShop sale. But after remembering all of those bad and/or poor localisations/translations in Japanese video games... I changed my mind again. Well, early or late, I'll try again to buy and play Dragon Quest game sometime in the future.

@Octorok_Prime

I was going to post a book like response but I decided this is not worth my time going back and forth with this. Of course constructive criticism is good. As with most rants hyperbole is used. Slander probably wasn't the best word to use but it was hyperbole. I still stand by my words.

Classical music in JRPGs is still valid and Sugiyama's compositions have evolved greatly over the years. Especially in his works outside of Dragon Quest. There's no convincing people who don't see the same thing you see in a work. I am a classically trained musician and I love classical music. I can't force others to like it but I also don't want Dragon Quest to be what other musicians do. That's why those series exist. Others whittle Classical music down to being "dull" or "boring" but I simply can't agree with that assessment.

Finally, I don't judge someone based on the worst parts of them. I separate the art from the artist. If you knew everything about your favorite creators you'd find that they too probably have ideas you disagree with or find revolting.

I also recommend watching:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HXA-x3LazM

It probably won't change any minds but it's very insightful for those who want to learn about a fellow musician and his fundamental contributions to the gaming industry. It wouldn't be the same without him. This is the reason Uematsu among other Japanese musicians speak so highly of his works. Not because they feel obligated to say such things.

Edit: And whos says I'm blinded by DQ nostalgia? lol. My first JRPG was Final Fantasy V. Hence my profile pic.

Please, by all means, take your time. I will wait however long I have to in order to get another Dragon Quest game as great as Dragon Quest XI. Loved that game as much as VIII and V. Fantastic game.