So, here we are. After a 4 and a half month delay, Dragon Quest IX is about to destroy the Japanese charts like none other. And while we in the international scene probably will have to wait a long time to see the game, the game will most likely go multi-million in its first day of sales.
So is this game really worth it? Is this game which has taken nearly 5 years to make going to be one of the best DS games of the year or even that the system sees? Well let's just explore what has been announced so far.
-Extensive Revival of the Skill system, fusing skills from all the past games which used Classes and Skills (DQIII, VI, VII and VIII) and incorperating them into a new more in depth system with all the old classes and new 'secondary classes'.
-The same huge Dragon Quest world, focusing on exploration, character interaction and gameplay. The story seems to be a unique mixture of a storybook like world (sometimes even taking influences from such works as Miyazaki and Osamu Tekuza) mixed with heavy influences of past Dragon Quest games such as DQIII and IV.
-Both visual and gameplay enhancements to the staged battle system including formations, visual attack animations designating turns for each character and surrounding enemies before battle.
-Battles are initiated by walking into enemies on the main map, as introduced in Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker. (Think Chrono Trigger)
-All characters can be fully customized, from height, hair style/color, facial features, etc.
-All Equipment including armor, weapons, helms and accesories are fully visable on your character after equipping them both in and outside of battle.
-The Alchemy Pot from Dragon Quest VIII returns, allowing for combining of items to make new items.
Online Features - When going to 'Luida's bar' and speaking to 'Laviel', you can activate a number of online and WiFi connect features for the game:
-One feature is the ability to connect to up to three other players at once and send one of your party members over to a select members cart. From there, you are able to participate in group quests, fight enemies/bosses together, compete in 'treasure hunts' or just talk.
-Another online option is the ability to 'download' aditional quests and items via the online system. It is unclear if this is actual downloaded content or just unlocking locked data already stored on the game.
Trailers:
E3 2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFPR4Y8rHfk
Tokyo Game Show 2008 Trailer 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GzBD1z3LQ8
Tokyo Game Show 2008 Trailer 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClwnWcuupD8
Six upcoming games you should look into:
