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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Dragon Quest 9 thoughts after 140 hours of play

This is only the second game in my life that I have crossed the 100 hour mark on; and now I have surpassed 140 hours (with 72 hours of multiplayer). I must say the game is truly fantastic, one of the best overall DS experiences I have ever had. This is one of four games on the DS that I just have to recommend - the others being Dragon Quest 5, Chrono Trigger, and Phoenix Wright 3: Trials and Tribulations (although, play the other two for background story). Other great games that I would recommend are The World Ends With You, Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney, Dragon Quest 4, Rune Factory 2, Mario Kart, Pokemon Platnum (my first Pokemon game, and I must say I was impressed, it wasn't at all what I thought it would be), and the Professor Layton games. Dragon Quest 9 just stands up there with the best of this generation. If a cross between Dragon Quest 5 and Dragon Quest 9 existed, it would be the best RPG ever made. The game has so much packed into it, just a warning though, it can be very addictive (as I have found).

Just a few things I would like to mention about the game:

 

1. Compared to others in the series: Given a 20-30 hour cross section of this game, vs. Dragon  Quest 5, Dragon Quest 5 remains the best game in the series hands down (I would call it better than Chrono Trigger, or at least on the same level).  Although overall, Dragon Quest 9 has the best value in the series hands down.

2. Compared to the last game in the series (Dragon Quest 8); all of the annoyances have been fixed: the game moves at a much faster pace; the alchemy pot can now take up to 27 items and can pop out multiple items at once through alchemy; the alchemy pot is instant rather than 3 minutes to an hour; etc... While having a lower cosmetic appeal, the game also comes in the form of a faster moving package, which is a blessing for anyone who likes to see results faster. The game feels more like a Dragon Quest 3 and Dragon Quest 8 cross - rather than a game similar to Dragon Quest 4 or 5 (DQ5 is similar to 4, just a whole lot better).

3. While only generic custom characters are played in the main story, in the post game via online activated quests, the player gains access to actual characters (though, so far, there doesn't appear to be any special advantage these ones have).

4. Legacy bosses are fun, I only have the first one so far; Baramos (the Archfiend from Dragon Quest 3). Fighting Legacy bosses works better using multi-player, the other players can gain items and experience from the Legacy boss, while at the same time leveling up the Legacy boss.

5. I have only just got into the level 50 map range for Grottos. I am not entirely sure the mechanics, but generally I just keep playing the highest level map until I get a higher level map. My best one gives me ~12-15 mini-medals if I open all the treasure chests.

6. After completing the mini-medal side quest (80), a mini-medal store opens up where the player can get some reasonably good items.

7. Best place to level up is on the hill to the North East of Angel Falls - at least until Metal Slime Kings are found =)   There are some skills that give 100% critical hit rates which make killing liquid metal slimes an easy affair, and eliminates the need for any other form of leveling up (it is faster to just level up there, and then avoid monsters in other locations).

8. Skill points should be acquired to max out at least 1 weapon, the shield, and as many vocation exclusive skill trees as possible (I have done Focus, Guts, Courage, Faith, Enlightenment, and perhaps 1 or 2 others).

 

Has anyone gotten the Luminary yet? I haven't found the Moai Minstrel yet.



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Congrats on getting so far in the game, and for giving such well thought remarks. 

Up until today, I had a 170 hour saved game, which was deleted by my little cousin. I'm still aching from it, but I'm starting over again. I agree when you say that this is the best DQ in terms of value.

Some pointers. If you go to the Tower of Nod, starting from level 3 and upwards, there's a tiny chance that any enemy will have a Metal King Slime with it, making it the best non-grotto place to level up.

MKS appear in Water type high level grottoes (Lvl 60 and upwards), these Grottoes usually have Moor or Lake in their names. 

Platinum King Jewels give the highest amount of exp, but only appear on the highest Lvl ruin type grottoes, which are the most common kind (Lvl 80 and upwards).

I had the Luminary class as well. Moai Minstrel appears on Lvl 60 and upwards Nature type grottoes (these are also the most common kind, they look like a tunnel).



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lestatdark said:

Congrats on getting so far in the game, and for giving such well thought remarks. 

Up until today, I had a 170 hour saved game, which was deleted by my little cousin. I'm still aching from it, but I'm starting over again. I agree when you say that this is the best DQ in terms of value.

Some pointers. If you go to the Tower of Nod, starting from level 3 and upwards, there's a tiny chance that any enemy will have a Metal King Slime with it, making it the best non-grotto place to level up.

MKS appear in Water type high level grottoes (Lvl 60 and upwards), these Grottoes usually have Moor or Lake in their names. 

Platinum King Jewels give the highest amount of exp, but only appear on the highest Lvl ruin type grottoes, which are the most common kind (Lvl 80 and upwards).

I had the Luminary class as well. Moai Minstrel appears on Lvl 60 and upwards Nature type grottoes (these are also the most common kind, they look like a tunnel).


Holy crap! 170 hours down the drain? I think I might break something if I were in your shoes. Now, I don't feel as bad for accidentally overwriting my brother's 40 hour Legend of Dragoon file years ago. But geez, this has to be one of the saddest gaming stories I've heard in awhile. I'm only at about 20 hours now, but I'm really glad to hear about how huge the game is.



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themanwithnoname said:
lestatdark said:

Congrats on getting so far in the game, and for giving such well thought remarks. 

Up until today, I had a 170 hour saved game, which was deleted by my little cousin. I'm still aching from it, but I'm starting over again. I agree when you say that this is the best DQ in terms of value.

Some pointers. If you go to the Tower of Nod, starting from level 3 and upwards, there's a tiny chance that any enemy will have a Metal King Slime with it, making it the best non-grotto place to level up.

MKS appear in Water type high level grottoes (Lvl 60 and upwards), these Grottoes usually have Moor or Lake in their names. 

Platinum King Jewels give the highest amount of exp, but only appear on the highest Lvl ruin type grottoes, which are the most common kind (Lvl 80 and upwards).

I had the Luminary class as well. Moai Minstrel appears on Lvl 60 and upwards Nature type grottoes (these are also the most common kind, they look like a tunnel).


Holy crap! 170 hours down the drain? I think I might break something if I were in your shoes. Now, I don't feel as bad for accidentally overwriting my brother's 40 hour Legend of Dragoon file years ago. But geez, this has to be one of the saddest gaming stories I've heard in awhile. I'm only at about 20 hours now, but I'm really glad to hear about how huge the game is.

It's not the first time I lose a massive save game file. The worst thing to happen to me was losing a 300 saved game in FFX (had almost everything unlock until the last battle in the monster arena and 255 stats on every character).

I've learned to shrug it off...but still I was massively pissed off until a few hours ago



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lestatdark said:


Up until today, I had a 170 hour saved game, which was deleted by my little cousin. I'm still aching from it, but I'm starting over again. I agree when you say that this is the best DQ in terms of value.


That reminds me when as a kid, a friend of mine accidently removed my pokemon red save. Boy was I mad at first! But after that, I restarted and played the game much better, getting all pokemon!



The only time when I had a massive save deleted by someone else was way back on the NES; although I have lost large game files due to memory card or cartridges mysteriously deleting all data.

The game, was actually Dragon Quest 3, and this was about 20 years ago. I made it very clear that NES games could not be removed from the system (I was even hesitant to turn the game off), otherwise the save battery would be erased (as was also true with Final Fantasy 1, but FF1 was so short that it could be finished in 2-3 sittings - this game was 5-10 times bigger). So I invested a huge amount of time into the game, gambling at the monster fights (I miss those from the later DQ games), leveling up, etc.... I had just got into the second world, which was a HUGE distance into the game. Then my sister comes along and decides she wants to play the Snoopy sports game; as the story goes, the save file was erased the moment the cartridge was removed from the system - it was perhaps my one moment of true videogame related rage. Nothing to date has angered me as much (minus attempting to set up DSi WiFi, which for me, NEVER seems to work right on my first 70 attempts).

 

Anyway, thanks for the tip on the Tower of Nod, I have heard about it before, but figured the Metal Slime Kings were too rare in order for the trip to be worth it. I have been wondering how to wake the dragon/demon up in that tower as well.

 

To others who haven't done it: As for playing this game for 170 hours, I am over 150 hours now.... It is different with this game than with other games. I often get the feeling "alright, this game has gone on long enough" by the time I hit the 35 hour-45 hour mark in a game, this game really is very different. I sometimes wonder if maybe time is exagerated - because it does not feel like I have played nearly that long.... Then I consider that I do probably play this game every weekday morning for about 45 minutes to an hour and a half before work (I am an early bird) - along with many other play sessions.

 

The game is very relaxing for the most part, it is the relaxing turn-based nature of RPGs that allows me to play them for so long, and they always keep me coming back.



I describe myself as a little dose of toxic masculinity.

Jumpin said:

The only time when I had a massive save deleted by someone else was way back on the NES; although I have lost large game files due to memory card or cartridges mysteriously deleting all data.

The game, was actually Dragon Quest 3, and this was about 20 years ago. I made it very clear that NES games could not be removed from the system (I was even hesitant to turn the game off), otherwise the save battery would be erased (as was also true with Final Fantasy 1, but FF1 was so short that it could be finished in 2-3 sittings - this game was 5-10 times bigger). So I invested a huge amount of time into the game, gambling at the monster fights (I miss those from the later DQ games), leveling up, etc.... I had just got into the second world, which was a HUGE distance into the game. Then my sister comes along and decides she wants to play the Snoopy sports game; as the story goes, the save file was erased the moment the cartridge was removed from the system - it was perhaps my one moment of true videogame related rage. Nothing to date has angered me as much (minus attempting to set up DSi WiFi, which for me, NEVER seems to work right on my first 70 attempts).

 

Anyway, thanks for the tip on the Tower of Nod, I have heard about it before, but figured the Metal Slime Kings were too rare in order for the trip to be worth it. I have been wondering how to wake the dragon/demon up in that tower as well.

 

To others who haven't done it: As for playing this game for 170 hours, I am over 150 hours now.... It is different with this game than with other games. I often get the feeling "alright, this game has gone on long enough" by the time I hit the 35 hour-45 hour mark in a game, this game really is very different. I sometimes wonder if maybe time is exagerated - because it does not feel like I have played nearly that long.... Then I consider that I do probably play this game every weekday morning for about 45 minutes to an hour and a half before work (I am an early bird) - along with many other play sessions.

 

The game is very relaxing for the most part, it is the relaxing turn-based nature of RPGs that allows me to play them for so long, and they always keep me coming back.

I had some bad memories from NES cartridge saves as well. Basically, I've had bad luck with massive save files since I started gaming.

That beast you're talking about, in the Tower of Nod, can only be awakened in an Extra Quest that's yet to be available for DLC. 



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You think you have it hard? I have experienced deleted saved game files that spanned ~18 years.

My NES Zelda cart would always get it's saved game deleted because someone would always shut it off without holding "reset", causing me to finally finish the game in it's entirety when I was 21 years old. I first played it when I was ~4 years old.



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Euphoria14 said:

You think you have it hard? I have experienced deleted saved game files that spanned ~18 years.

My NES Zelda cart would always get it's saved game deleted because someone would always shut it off without holding "reset", causing me to finally finish the game in it's entirety when I was 21 years old. I first played it when I was ~4 years old.

That's some serious dedication there :-O

For your finishing playthrough, did you use an online map, or did you compile your own map as you went along?



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