Console RPGs are multi-faceted and brain-bustlingly complicated, but one of Square Enix’s key objectives with Dragon Quest IX was to make a title that would be accessible enough to appeal to newcomers while providing a stern challenge for grizzled veterans. Read this part of our Dragon Quest IX review for our handy guide to what makes this DS epic so special.
Read the rest of our Dragon Quest IX review
Dragon Quest IX review
Dragon Quest IX review: Storyline
Dragon Quest IX review: Multiplayer
Those reared on the likes of Final Fantasy and even previous Dragon Quest installments may find the opening few minutes of Dragon Quest IX somewhat disconcerting – instead of being handed control of a spiky-haired teenager with aspirations of saving the world, you’re asked to pick what your on-screen avatar will look like – right down to his (or her) eye colour and height.
Thus begins one of the more revolutionary RPGs we’ve played in some time. Dragon Quest IX sticks to convention in many ways but it’s astonishingly forward-thinking in others.
As always, Dragon Quest IX is based around levelling-up your characters so that they can tackle the increasing powerful enemies. Success in combat grants gold and experience points: the former can be used to purchase new weapons and armour while the latter enables you to boost your character’s statistics and gain new abilities and spells.
The unpredictable random battles of previous titles are absent from Dragon Quest IX and replaced with enemies that you can actually see. Once you bump into one of these beasts you’ll trigger the combat view, which is a turn-based affair where you issue orders to your team and watch as those orders are carried out.
Success in Dragon Quest IX’s battle relies on many factors – the agility of your team will decide how quickly they can attack and you can cause additional damage by chaining together identical offensive combinations – for example, two sword blows by separate characters will cause more damage than they would separately. The caveat is that each attack has to instantly follow the other in order to create the combo.
Magic also comes into play in Dragon Quest IX, with spell-users boasting a wide variety of different incantations. Defensive hexes can replenish health, boost dexterity or create a barrier to deflect enemy blows, while offensive spells obviously dish out punishment to your luckless assailants.
Outside of battle you’ll find a dazzling array of items to procure – over 1,000, according to the developer – and that means there’s an almost inexhaustible number of variations you can put together. Swapping your inventory around is mercifully streamlined affair, with a simple icon-based menu system which should make things easier for novices. The most pleasing thing about all of this is that when you equip a new suit of armour or holster a new sword, it is displayed on your character’s 3D model.
At certain points you’ll notice that characters are awarded with ability points which can assigned to various areas of expertise. For example, if a sword user is given a particular number of points in that particular area they will unlock additional abilities, some of which are trigger by selecting them and others which merely boost their statistics or allow automatic defensive manoeuvres.
Dragon Quest IX is wise enough to not entirely tear up the RPG rulebook and veteran players may even consider it to be too traditional in some respects, but on the whole it’s clear that Square Enix has devoted a lot of time to streamlining the mechanics and making the title as enjoyable as possible – time will tell if the effort will encourage Western players to join the adventure.
Read the rest of our Dragon Quest IX review
Dragon Quest IX review
Dragon Quest IX review: Storyline
Dragon Quest IX review: Multiplayer
