Having spent plenty of time questing, building and defending its virtual settlements on myriad other platforms - including fellow portable, PlayStation Vita - Dragon Quest Builders has finally brought its masonry wares to Nintendo Switch. Question is, can Square-Enix’s genre mashup add anything new to the handheld’s growing library? And can it offer enough to distinguish itself from a certain Swedish crafting sensation?
Let’s deal with the blocky elephant in the room first of all. With its focus on resource gathering, tool crafting and structure building there’s no denying how similar Dragon Quest Builders is to Minecraft. Both use the same basic blueprint to offer depth relevant to the broadness of your imagination, but while Minecraft can ultimately offer too vague a canvas, Square Enix’s offering builds on those principles and refines them into something far more tangible.
It’s this distinction that proves Dragon Quest Builders is far more than a Minecraft wannabe while simultaneously justifying the inclusion of the Dragon Quest licence. Drawing from its RPG source material, you get a building simulator funnelled down the familiar channels of questing and resource gathering. On paper it seems like a bizarre fusion, but in execution both genres mesh so cleanly you’ll soon be lost in smooth symbiosis of it all.
It’s very much an RPG, but one that uses the palette of a creation simulator to empower you in all the right ways. The world of Alefgard has been wiped clean of sense of creativity, and as its diminutive hero it’s up to you to head out into the wild and start rebuilding the lives of its people. Your abilities - including a flag marker that creates the foundation of a new town - are unlocked at just the right pace, with the basics of resource gathering, building and repairing all fed to you in the familiar guise of quests.
Across its four chapters you’ll rebuild a town into a veritable fortress, gather resources and unlock new blueprints as you go. You’ll encounter many an enemy and creature from Dragon Quest lore (yes, there are plenty of Slimes) both as a means of resource gathering and as part of the game’s tower defence-esque mechanics, where you’ll need to protect and ultimately rebuild your current outpost home. And it’s here we encounter one of the few issues present in Dragon Quest Builders: combat.
Fighting enemies and bosses isn’t inherently broken, but it’s still as clunky and unintuitive as it is on other platforms. You’re very much a gatherer and a miner first and foremost, and while some attacks can be upgraded, they too often prove to be better at speeding up the process of mining than helping empower your warrior spirit. Thankfully the inhabitants of each settlement you repair and expand are a dab hand at helping you out, but it’s still a glaring issue that really should have been improved two years on from the original Japanese release.
Still, issues with combat doesn’t diminish the satisfying feedback loop at the heart of Dragon Quest Builders. Explore each of its four chapters, mine everything you see for resources, build tools, buildings and more, defend them from attack and eventually face off against that region’s local boss. That's just the right amount of RPG tropes to keep the construction mechanics constantly at play. The rules of said building are rigid, but simple enough to empower your inner architect. As long as a building is at least two blocks high, has a roof and a door, it becomes a habitable space and can house new inhabitants. So you’re effectively free to build up and out as broadly or as tall as you like.
Your town can earn a grading too, so building the right kind of structures unlocks certain perks. So you could just mock together a barebones homestead, but it won’t hold much stock with your village’s population. But if you experimenting, and let that inherent creativity run wild, you can turn your new settlement into a medieval utopia. And with the colourful art style (created by series artist Akira Toriyama) coupled with the orchestral charm of Koichi Sugiyama’s score, you end up with something that feels distinctly Dragon Quest at all times. You know you’re playing a spin-off, but it still feels like a faithful one that’s embracing its source material without letting those tropes strangle the open-ended nature of a Minecraft-style template.
Once you’ve beaten the well-paced story, there’s plenty of replay value to be found in the Terra Incognita mode. Here you’ll find a free-form canvas far more in line with Minecraft’s Creative mode, which will enable you to build and rebuild without the hand-holding of the story’s questlines. You can even travel between the various regions to mine and farm unique resources to help build the more refined resources you’ve learned to create in the campaign. It’s further proof of just how harmoniously almost every part of the game functions.
Conclusion
Both classic Dragon Quest RPG and Minecraft-style building sim, Dragon Quest Builders takes just enough ingredients from each side of the developmental kitchen and gently stirs them into a dish that never manages to overpower either of its core mechanics. If you’ve ever wanted to try Mojang’s ubiquitous hit but found it a little too intimidating in its vagueness, then this is the alternative for you. Fun, empowering and Dragon Quest to a tee; Its combat and camera can be a little erratic, but they never manage to derail your new building adventure.
Comments 85
That is an amazing game
We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll.
This looks good. My son loves minecraft. He might like this
Ordered this one online so look forward to giving it a go when I get my copy in the next couple of weeks.
Eh... Not for me.
3 Reasons:
1. I'm not a Fan of Akira Toriyama art style
2. Character creation was limited
3. The SFX when the Active Cube taken was pretty annoying.
I found Portal Knights felt just Right for me.
I'm still not sure if I'm going to buy this game or not. I played the demo, and I liked it for two hours, but at the end of the demo I got bored already.
Just downloaded. Enjoyed the demo that much 😁
I never really got into Minecraft on Switch despite my repeated efforts but I have been enjoying this demo quite a bit over the past few weeks. Plus this game being only 800 or so megabytes means it will be an eShop download for me.
I have this on PS4, and although I enjoyed it, for the most part, it only just held me to the finish line. It felt a little clumsy.
Already got it preordered. Just two more days!
This game is fun. Just the sound effects of Dragon Quest game is enough to make it fun.
Review mentions the 4 chapters several times, which is what I had previously read was 1 of the games major downfalls, you basically start over in each chapter as if you are playing a new game, nothing carries over, so it's more like playing the same game 4 times rather than 1 continuous larger story. That idea bothered me so I never played it.
Buying this game on day one. ^^
This game has one of the best demos I’ve ever played. I actually had to stop myself from playing it anymore because I just want the full game.
"Fighting enemies and bosses isn’t inherently broken, but it’s still as clunky and unintuitive as it is on other platforms."
Clunky and unintuitive? On the contrary - combat in this game is extremely simple, to the point where I think some people will resent it for that reason. I didn't, for what it's worth.
Anyway, excellent game that everyone should give a try. It really is one of those experiences that sinks its claws on you and refuses to let go.
@rjejr That would also bother me greatly tbh. Thank you for pointing this out.
@rjejr That was perhaps my main qualm with the game. Not that it was enough to make the experience any less wonderful for me, though.
I do hope DQB2 goes for a continuing stoyline instead.
This review fails to address the elephant of Dragonquest Builders 2 that is already announced and coming out later this summer. Why invest at this price in the first game, when the sequel is so close by?
I had a blast playing Portal Knights, but I'm all burned out from building stuff for now. Since DQBuilders is too similar to the game loop of Portal Knights, I'll pass on this game for now. Maybe down the line.
Played it on PS4 and I loved it, you guys are in for a treat.
I liked the demo. I'm going to wait, though. Can't fit it into my current schedule.
@ricklongo @Gibb If it only happened once I'd probably survive, but the 2nd time it happened I'd be all "oh come on now WTF" so I figured it best I avoid it. I bought DQ Heroes instead, and I still have yet to play that one much either as after Hyrule Warriors I was kinda burned out on the genre. I'm into my years long backlog now. If I don't buy another game until the PS5 or Switch 2 I'll probably still have enough to play.
@SomeWriter13
Oh, did you play Portal Knights ?
Me too.
Btw, I still can't find the 48th Island yet.
Is that Rainbow Island ?
@Anti-Matter I'm the opposite:
1) I love Akira Toriyama's art style. Dragon Ball and DBZ introduced me to anime. Plus, Slime's design is so iconic. Everything Toriyama does is so charming. I even think the skeletons look adorable.
2)I agree on this
3)I like the sound, yeah it isn't the minecraft pop sound, but it is steal a nice sound in my opinion.
@sandman89 I've played through the demo multiple times already. I've finally got a basic format I like, so I'll keep it that way for when the official game comes out. Its been a blast already.
@rjejr You are introduced to new mechanics and materials in every chapter. The environment changes, but following chapters ask you to remember what you learnt in the previous ones. The game will not explain to you how to do healing items again, so it's not really starting all over.
But yeah, it would have been a little bit better if all the chapters were in the same world/ map and accessible via a portal. However, you could just load your save state of that chapter if you wish to continue expanding the village.
I have this on PS4(still in shrink wrap) I think I'll hold out for 2 (and XI).
Gotta try that demo.
And that guy still looks a lot like classic Link.
@Switchcraft @rjejr
From a Minecraft point of view starting 4 times is nothing.
My kids took to this game very quickly in the demo. It's nice having some direction in this type of game and the concept of an official base camp with recognized rooms is a nice reward system.
As a non-creative person, Minecraft tended to empower me to do many things that I had neither the skill nor desire to do. Putting those mechanics to use in the glorious world of Dragon Quest seems like my gateway into a crafting and building game. The demo sold me and this review confirmed my feelings (though it's a pity about the combat).
@rjejr The first time it happened I was surprised and disappointed, but it becomes perfectly clear that it will happen more times (so it isn't really a surprise when it does again). Thankfully, I soon realized it wasn't as bad as it looked, as the villages you build are entirely different, serving different purposes with differents types of rooms and whatnot.
Each of the four chapters features a TON of secrets, making for awesome exploration that lasts quite a while. It's like four 10-15 hour games in one package, basically. So if you go in aware of that, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I played the demo and liked that it is basically a more structured Minecraft. I still won't buy it, because the controls for placing blocks felt very awkward, especially compared to Minecraft. Even there it is a bit of a chore to build a house.
Building stuff is the main point of the game so if that part feels weird and overly complicated I don't think I will enjoy it very much.
I have this game preordered and ready to arrive so I can play it on launch day, and I am super excited. Dragon Quest has always been my favorite jrpg series and judging by the demo this is going to more than a worthy spinoff.
Placing blocks did feel a bit strange in the demo, though I imagine (or hope) this would go away after playing a bit more.
At £35 its not too bad, might pick this up after payday
Is there any sort of co-op or MP mechanic?
I played the demo and I enjoyed it but I do have some concerns. How long is the main story mode? I understand majority of it is creating your town. I just don't want to pay for another Minecraft game.
Wake me up when it's a Dragon Quest RPG
@Saego
I bought this on PS4 and also really got bored with it fast. I thought this take on Minecraft would be great fun, but it’s still Minecraft so unless you really enjoy that game, I would pass.
@Agent721 I like this different take on Minecraft, instead of going on this adventure to kill the Ender Dragon (and make your adventure as easy as possible) you get this adventure to build a civilization..
But thanks for your advice, I'll probably just wait for this to be around $30.
I tried the demo on the Switch, liked it and pre-ordered it. Loved that DQ3 dungeon remix.
I had this pre-ordered back when it was about to be released on the PS4 but as I recall I had some minor financial difficulties at the time so I had to cancel some of my pre-orders, this being one of them. Glad now that I did because I feel a game like this is a much better fit for the Switch.
Downloaded the demo and had some fun with it. Was on the fence about purchasing it as I have Minecraft & Portal Knights already and know DQB2 is on the horizon but my kids absulotely Love this game so it looks like i’ll be buying off the eShop upon release
You guys should do bullet point pros and cons of games.
I'm all over this. It must have been one of my most-played demos ever.
Warning! This game starts fun and gets incredibly boring about halfway in. Ultimately, it fails spectacularly as a Minecraft clone. There is plenty of potential, but the developers lost the plot and instead made an incredibly (unnecessarily) tedious game.
@Locke159 If you're a completionist and want to thoroughly explore the world and uncover its secrets, story mode will last you around 40 hours.
@riChchestM That's just a weird reaction. Just because a second version is coming out doesn't mean they have to skip and forget the first game and no one is forcing you to buy the first one anyway. People can be very funny here
@Alucard83 Well, the first DQ Builders is only an average game that squandered it's potential and falls flat on its face later in the game. I cannot stress how pointlessly tedious it can get...
Further, the sequel will include multiplayer, which was a crazy ommission and could have mitigated this obnoxious game loop.
The stage is set for DQ Builders 2 to render the original completely obsolete if SE plays their cards right and does the concept full justice.
@ricklongo "So if you go in aware of that, I don't think you'll be disappointed."
Well I'm usually disappointed anyway, so it's hard for me to want to start a game where I know I'm going to be disappointed not once, or twice, but 3x. So many other games to play. Besides my excessive backlog I'm currently waiting on DQ11 and NNK2. I pretty much only play very long JRPG. And The Kingdom Hearts Remastered 6 pack I got for Christmas hasn't even been installed yet.
But I suppose if anybody else asks, yes, I suppose I would play this if I had the time, despite the 4 chapter layout, but I'm never going to have the time to even play the games I really want to play. I just don't have the time. I was just giving people who didn't know a heads up.
@aaronsullivan Well if I was going to play this or Minecraft, it's this, no question. I played MC for a few hours over a few days then got bored. I'm all about the story. And if no story, at least a nice linear progression found in platforming games. I'm not one to mess around in a sandbox. I like the open nature of some games that let me spend some time off the main quest, but I need a main quest and a nice story. But not 4 distinct areas, that was an easy red flag for me.
I think my youngest would like this, he's the MC kid, but he's been trying to beat Terrarria for a long while now. I'm not even sure if it's an actual real end game boss or just some crazy mod end boss, but he insists there's an end and he's going to get to it. After all the modding he's done in that and MC not sure he'd be too excited for this though now that I think about it.
I have this on Vita and am in two minds whether to get it again for Switch - it is a very charming and enjoyable game, but I was never drawn to see the Vita version through to the very end.
@Switchcraft "accessible via a portal"
That might have made all the difference in t he reviews I was reading, people seemed upset you couldn't go back to a village you lovingly crafted after a chapter change. So, it's ok for a lot of people to talk about it now like it's no big deal, but I think when people first played it, w/o knowing about it, ti was a big negative deal to them. First impressions and all that.
Reading all of those negative reviews I'm almost surprised they didn't add a portal into the Switch version. Zelda BotW added in a portal w/ the season pass. I'm sure not many people bothered to get it or use is but I used it a lot as I didn't start playing the game until after it was released, so it was there for me from near the beginning. Though I haven't played this so maybe there's a story related reason they couldn't more than a technical reason.
@Alucard83 It's not a weird reaction at all. Investing at full price in software that is already out of date is weird. Announcing both DQB1 and DQB2 at the same time is weird.
@aaronsullivan Yeah the sense of structure and direction is really what makes this so much more fun than minecraft to me. MC just plops you in a world and says "do stuff." Do what? Where? Why? What problem needs to be solved via creative means? The game never tells me. It just says "do stuff". The only way you even find out there's an "ender dragon" at all is by reading forums where someone mentions dragon and you think "what dragon, what are they talking about?" And even when you know it nothing really compels you to DO anything about it. I often struggle to understand the popularity of Minecraft. I mean I get 'digital legos" but if you're more of a problem solver than artist, it just doesn't click at all.
All I can draw is a stickman but it's so bad nobody could recognize it bada bing.
@rjejr Ever play Dragon Quest 7? That "reset each down" mechanic is kind of a DQ icon. Your characters in that game didn't reset, but the story and world largely did but tied into a larger whole. I don't see that as inherently problematic. In that regard it's not different from generating a new bigger world in Minecraft, except with actual story and the scent of "newness" of a new town/adventure rather than the random wilderness reset anew in Minecraft.
I'm completely with you on sandboxes though. I don't understand or get the appeal even slightly. Minecraft bores me to tears. j
But the 4 distinct mini stores doesn't really bother me. Like DQ7 you're still the same "builder" and I presume your knowledge of "recipies" carries over between towns which is this game's real equivalent of "leveling up." And weapons and armor I presume carry with you. So you still have character progression and sill acquisition as you advance from town to town....it's just that you take your old skill set to the next town that's been decimated.
Since it's a DQ series hallmark....I don't think it's terrible at all.
Story related reason for portals: You acquire the Stone Fragments (but of course....) as quest rewards which you can build into a portal to go to the next town. It's a one way trip. The portal stays in the old town and can't come through itself with you. You need more stone fragments which would typically come from a boss battle. Of course they could have added a quest to get more fragments, but that's just not how the story progression was designed, and grabbing materials from a mine in a prior world you conquered would be kind of quest cheating in the next town. (Haven't played the full game yet, but got consumed by the demo and am counting down until my physical copy on Friday ) Can't tolerate Minecraft....but I'm addicted to this.)
I had no intention to buy this game at all but by this review and the one on YT from Game Explain, it itched my interest. I'll get the demo and draw my own conclusion.
@riChchestM Software that is out of date.....see this is what the game industry has done to people. How is the software "out of date?" Have the security protocols been compromised allowing unauthorized access? Is it not compatible with current hardware and thus can't run properly? Are it's visuals inferior to Switch's average ability? Or PS4s for that matter?
It's out of date because it's existed for a length of time. The game doesn't depreciate because it exists. Video games are non-dairy. It depreciates because demand decreases after most people that want it buy it, so it's discounted to encourage other people to buy it. Releasing it on a new platform means demand has not been met yet, so it's being sold at a $10 discount due to being aged, but still high price because it's new to the platform. Once demand drops, the price will drop.
So you're right, waiting for a price drop makes sense. It's likely to happen. But setting the slightly below average price at start also makes sense.
Plus with online dealers selling at discounts, I'm getting the game for $35 anyway..... $50 (not 60) full price, 20% GCU discount, and $5 BB credits from prior purchases that would have expired anyway. $50 is high. $40 is ok. $35 is a no brainer.
@NEStalgia It's old because it was announced at the same time as the sequel. When has that happened before? It's not as if you need to play DQB1 to enjoy DQB2. It's double-dipping built-in. All I said was that the review should have mentioned this. If you know the situation and you still want to buy both then fine. Like if the virtual console version of Pokémon Crystal had been announced at the same time as Gold and Silver then only hardcore fans would have bought Gold or Silver.
You sound like a strong fan of the game and that's fine. But you don't have to insult level-minded people that point out a very obvious chasm in the logic here. Save the insults and lamentations of what you think the industry has done to me.
Would be handy to detail more about the differences between this and prior versions. I believe it runs at half the framerate (30 fps) and that they've introduced the ability to ride a sabre cub but I could be wrong on that.
Also would have been cool to know a bit more about how much Dragon Quest lore is integrated (the game follows on from the last boss in the first DQ right?).
Good review though, definitely picking this one up!
@NEStalgia Only main DQ game I played was on PS2, I'll say 8. Also played a shooting game on Wii but that was just a shooting gallery w/ DQ characters more than ti was a game.
It's possible if I played this I'd be fine w/ it, but I doubt I'll ever find out at this point.
Love this game to death, and I'm not a Minecraft person.
Will be selling my PS4/Vita versions to cover the Switch preorder. Will continue to do so as more games come over to the system.
@NEStalgia I couldn't disagree more, DQB offers very little payoff for any of that structure, which mostly constitutes busywork and padding, and instead works to limit your exploration, creativity, progression, etc...
In Minecraft survival and exploration is the goal, the structure is baked into the much sturdier survival/building gameplay loop. The aimlessness is the point as the game asks you to be the story, to craft your own adventure. Think of it like Zelda 1 (or earlier Elder Scrolls) where you have little guidance and excessive dangers with only survival and exploration as a recourse. But then you also have minimal limits, so each player navigate those systems and environments in their own manner relevant to their desires rather than the paint by number process ultimately at work in DQB.
I mean, if you need/desire handholding then DQB is the infinitely more accessible game, but Minecraft speaks more to the classic gamer ethic wherein joy comes from discoveries born out of interacting with the gameplay systems. Where "The End" screens are only digitally and phonetically opposed to "Game Over" screens.
DQB is like walking a long, repetitious path from start to end, where Minecraft is like forging the trail through the landscape yourself.
I actually really enjoyed the demo of this game. It took about thirty minutes to warm up to it, but I genuinely enjoyed it more than I did Minecraft. At least at the start. I do tend to wonder how much long term appeal it would have for me, despite being a Dragon Quest fan. It looks very promising though.
Everyone got mad when they tried to add minecrafting to Harvest Moon, but somehow it's okay now that it's in Dragon Quest. Huh.
I played this on PS4 and thought it was lots of fun.
Now they can go back to finishing the dragon quest most people actually asking for
I would have preferred Dragon Quest Warriors over this.
@NEStalgia "Video games are non-dairy" wins the internet.
I can’t say I enjoyed the demo too much, but I’ve never been too much of a fan of the “cube” genre. Would consider the sequel, though. It has co-op, right?
I remember trying a demo of this last year on the PS3. Really good stuff, from what I saw. Holding out for Builders 2, though. That's got sailing in it.
Glad this sounds good. I took a chance and pre-ordered it just on the basis of Dragon Quest being such a well respected series. Looking forward to jumping in!
Just tried the demo and I'm convinced. I'll buy it.
People complaining about how close is the launch of the sequel, keep in mind that it won't come to the West until -at least- this Fall, Dragon Quest games localization takes a lot of time, so why not play the first one?
I'm just concerned about one thing: I hope DQB2 isn't just an enhanced version of the first one, but a whole new story.
@riChchestM Yeah. That's why I am not planning on picking up DQB1, unless DQB2 gets panned by the critics or something.
Building and crafting is not my thing so I'll give this a passed but for those who love these kind of game this is the best version. You get all the tools you need to build craft your way into the world of Dragon Quest and you can do it while on the go.
@ACK Interesting way of looking at it, though I don't necessarily agree. DQB is quite simply an RPG, with Minecraft as a "battle system" of sorts. That repetitive path is part of it, of course.
But as for Minecraft....I'm as classic a gamer as you go. LoZ 1 all the way. Daggerfall is still the best TES. But those games actually DID provide structure and direction. They were subtle. But there was a very deliberate hidden hand guiding your progression even if you were unaware of it. Such was the brilliance. It lent to exploration and the sense that you were forging your own path when in reality everyone else forged mostly the same path because you were guided to do so invisibly with the OPTION of going off script where you see fit. Minecraft is just flat out directionless drifting. It clearly appeals to a large block of people, but it's not the same set of interest that those classic games appealed to. Zelda, Daggerfall set you about creatively solving a particular problem. "Survive and do stuff" is far vaguer than that.
DQB maybe goes hard into guidance, and as an RPG, it ought to, and becomes its own thing, but the very things you see appealing in Minecraft is precisely why I dislike it. "Create my own story" isn't appealing. If I'm creating my own story in terms of dealing with the situations around me, that's fun, that's an RPG. Work with what I can work with and solve it in my own way. But "here's an empty world, create a story in it"...that's not playing a game. That's designing the game they forgot to put in the box.
I feel bad because I wish I could like Minecraft with how popular it is...and I don't actively DISLIKE it. It just....lose all interest in minutes any time I touch it. It just doesn't appeal to any gamer impulse the way those old games you describe do for me. While DQB is different, but suitably takes whats good in MC and puts it in a world of structure. Even if that means it's too structured.
@riChchestM @rjejr Fifa becomes irrelevant when a sequel comes out. COD becomes irrelevant when a sequel comes out. RPGs don't become irrelevant when a sequel comes out. DQ8 doesn't obsolete DQ7. FF9 doesn't obsolete FF7. DQB2 doesn't obsolete DQB1. Two different games with different stories and characters and paths of progression. I could have bought 1 for $20 on PSN last week....but why....this one's portable and gives up nothing! It's not really double dipping if both games have their own identity and life. In film we see sequels as a companion. In gaming people see them as a replacement. Like after buying an iPhone X you have no use for an iPhone 4. That's a new line of thinking. SMBW didn't make SMB3 any less valuable. Both are different equally good games. With DQB if you love 1 you'll likely love 2. If you love 2 you'll probably want to go play 1. If you love DQ11.....heck you have like 3000 hours of 30 years of DQ games to go play....
It's not so much about being a fan of this particular game as I don't' get the mentality that a game is old because a sequel is announced (but not even out yet.) DQB1 is DQB1. It doesn't get replaced by DQB2. You don't need to play it for the story tie-in in 2, but you don't need to play DQ7 to get DQ8. But playing DQ8 doesn't mean you no longer want DQ7 since they're different games that don't compete. If you'd prefer waiting for the sequel that's fine, but it's a different game that doesn't interfere with the value of the first one, though it will likely build on lessons from it as sequels always should.
"only main DQ game"
Seriously? I thought you said you're all about long RPGs!
@NEStalgia ""only main DQ game"
Seriously? I thought you said you're all about long RPGs!"
Well, when games are long there is only so much time to play so many. And I need a break between each long JRPG, so I never got around to playing any more of those. Wasn't a choice to avoid them, just wasn't the right time or place I guess.
As far as the rest of your long rant, my waiting on DQXI has nothing to do w/ DQB being either necessary or forgotten, just that I'd rather play a regular JRPG than a Minecraft skinned JRPG.
@rjejr But...but...it's DQ! How could the king of all JRPGs be the one you skip? DQ7 has more printed text than a dictionary. It's legendary. It's an actual novel in a video game. I imagine that has now turned you off the series forever.
Whoops only the last part was meant for you, I put both tags at the top (seriously the reply/quote features are kind of frustrating here at times )
Just had the demo download to my switch. Sounds cool! Only $40 after gamers club discount, so if it’s fun that’s a good deal. I’ve never played Minecraft, but I’ve heard this describes as a cross between DQ and Actraiser, which sounds awesome!
@NEStalgia Can't have more text than the second disc of Xenogears. A guy sitting in a chair reading pages upon pages of everything that has happened since disc 1 then he let's you play the final boss battle. And it's still 1 of the best games I've ever played, would probably be the best if they actually let me play the 2nd disc rather than have some guy sitting in a chair reading it to me.
(I may be confusing that guy sitting in a chair from G Gundam, he may not be in the game, just pages upon pages of scrolling text)
And don't worry about the reply functioning, I kinda figured only half of that was meant for me.
@NEStalgia Minecraft had different draws for different kinds of gamers. Some loved the mystery of what there was to discover and the social aspect of learning from others (and teaching/naches ) or having to seek it out on the internet, and some liked jumping on every new addition to sort out how to use it best. Some just liked the playground and the ability to quickly and easily build environments for themselves, and then some got into modding it.
For me, I enjoyed the survival aspect of it, but that part, by itself is easily overcome after a short time of figuring things out. I eventually enjoyed building efficient workspaces for my kids and I to mine and build. Definitely some architecture skills involved and very utilitarian. Once you start pushing towards The End you have to have sufficient armor, weapons, and tools so that gives a goal as well.
When I look back at the map we played the most together, it's the construction of a couple living spaces attached to underground mining and the transportation between them that I remember the most. Plus, of course, the whole social experience of playing with my kids. It's a great memory we share.
@aaronsullivan the coop i can get. That's probably the most fun i did have with it. But the"learn from others on the internet" thing...a game that exists largely outside the game doesn't click with me. I'm not sure, the directionless nature. I started the game with no idea there was a late game or end or much of anything else, because the game never told me. In some ways i think part of the issue goes back to my preference for quakeed vs unreal engine mapping. Quake had additive brushes, and unreal was subtractive. Quake always clicked with me more. Minecraft is largely a subtractive brush game. Dqb is additive. But in general the sandbox if mc feels more like a productivity tool than a game. Map designing rather than playing. Dqb takes that and turns it into an actual game to me.
Picked it up today. Played for about 3-4 hours. Pretty fun. Beautiful graphics, but the handholding and NPC conversations are WAY too frequent. Just let me explore and enjoy the world! Haha
This game is totally excellent, my favourite so far on the Switch! Get it if you like 90s RPGs and crafting/building. Very refreshing take on the genre.
There's no need for a roof to make a room. You need 2 blocks high, a door, and a light source. Your room also can't be bigger than 100 squares, which adds up when you think of two layers of 3D space (anything above the 2nd Voxel height doesn't count for or against the room).
In fact, the game encourages you to make rooms that are roofless, since it's easier to look at from a bird's eye view. But eventually you'll want second floors, and I suggest going up to at least the 4th voxel, if not the 5th, for your ceiling, or else your rooms will start to feel cramped.
I got this on ps4, psvita, and I'm getting it for switch, love the game, and the portability is awesome (I don't use my ps vita anymore, I'm probably gonna sell it
..)
Picked this up yesterday . Loving it so far . Very well done. Definitely worth getting if you have not played it before . Doubly so for me as I have never played minecraft . The visuals and DQ tie in makes this infinitely more inviting to me over Minecraft .
Hmm.... I may be interested. Should I skip this one in favor of the sequel!
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