View Full Version : Dragon Quest IX
kainemaxwell
12-12-2006, 09:23 PM
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3155838
Not on a console but on the Nintendo DS...?!
n.ooka
12-12-2006, 10:07 PM
Dragon Quest IX, also known as:
Japan am explode.
I believe Square Enix just put on the money hat.
Damaniel
12-12-2006, 10:17 PM
In a way this makes sense. None of the next-gen consoles have had a chance to get a foothold in the Japanese market. The PS3 and Wii will have a suitably large installed base eventually (but it will take a year or two) while the XBox 360 will probably never be popular enough over there to support a DQ game. The PS2 and Gamecube are essentially dead, and will certainly be by the time DQ IX ships. The DS, on the other hand, has sold millions, and continues to outsell just about every other platform over there. If you want to reach the largest number of gamers on one platform in Japan, the DS is the logical choice.
Of course, in Japan they could release DQ IX for the Famicom and it would still sell millions of copies... ;) I know I'm looking forward to it, especially considering they've switched to a real-time combat system (and the multi-player mode looks like it will kick a lot of ass!)
heybtbm
12-12-2006, 10:49 PM
Dragon Quest IX on the DS is obviously a way to buy some time for SquareEnix. They are going to wait around and see who is winning the console war in Japan (Wii or PS3) for DQ10. Whoever has the largest install base by the end of 2007 will get the exclusive.
I for one can't stand tiny little screens with inferior graphics and sound. I'm sure this version will be a great DS game...but then again that's not saying much. DQ9 could have been great...now it's just a novelty. Is a real next-gen RPG too much to ask? Incidentally, I bet Blue Dragon just got about 50% more interesting to Japanese gamers after this announcement.
jcalder8
12-12-2006, 11:08 PM
I can't wait for this game, I haven't played any since the NES and I will be buying this as soon as it comes out States side..... assuming that it does.
Griking
12-13-2006, 10:13 AM
DQ9 could have been great...now it's just a novelty.
How sad. The game hasn't even been released yet you've already written it off.
cyberfluxor
12-13-2006, 10:21 AM
I can see it being pretty awesome. FF3 looks real nice in 3D and I'm sure they'll use a similar engine. In addition the multiplayer shot looks very promissing. We'll just have to wait and see how this turns out.
s1lence
12-13-2006, 10:28 AM
Sounds pretty cool to me. I'm all for a good portable RPG.
Snapple
12-13-2006, 11:49 AM
How sad. The game hasn't even been released yet you've already written it off.
Word. Don't knock it until you've tried it.
And what do you think you're doing, talking about inferior graphics and sound on a retro games message board? Most of us have spent a large portion of our lives playing games that are technically inferior to DS games.
Anyway, I have no problem with this. I'll definitely pick it up.
chicnstu
12-13-2006, 02:06 PM
I for one can't stand tiny little screens with inferior graphics and sound. I'm sure this version will be a great DS game...but then again that's not saying much. DQ9 could have been great...now it's just a novelty.
Yep, you are being commented on for the third time.
So:
New Super Mario Bros.
CastleVania: Dawn of Sorrow
CastleVania: Portrait of Ruin
Final Fantasy III
StarFox Command
Animal Crossing: Wild World
Aren't as good as a console version? On Gamerankings.com, in the CastleVania series sorted by ranking, numbers 2-6 are handheld games. For Mario, look at numbers 2-6, and 8-11. The other 3 games have very little handheld releases yet they are still there with the consoles.
heybtbm
12-13-2006, 02:22 PM
Word. Don't knock it until you've tried it.
And what do you think you're doing, talking about inferior graphics and sound on a retro games message board? Most of us have spent a large portion of our lives playing games that are technically inferior to DS games.
Anyway, I have no problem with this. I'll definitely pick it up.
I will be picking this up as well. I'm sure this will be a good game. I just think SquareEnix shouldn't be wasting money and resources on making DS games. They should concentrating all their effort on making the first great next-gen RPG.
On graphics and sound:
Dragon Quest 9 will be unique in that this sequel will have worse sound and graphics than the game before it. I can't think of another franchise where this has happened. DQ8 had one of the best soundtracks ever composed. I cringe when I think of the compromised MIDI tunes squeaking out of the DS's tinny little speakers. Headphones don't help (see Castlevania). Graphically, I'm not so concerned. I will say that if FFIII is any indication, DQ9 will look adequate. The 2 screen shots released so far look kind of N64-ish.
On gameplay:
Simply my personal preference. I (as well as most other gamers) prefer a TV screen over a little handheld screen any day. To think a major release like DQ9 will not have any gameplay sacrifices in order to fit on the DS is naive.
Again, just my opinion. I will be buying the game, but I wish it was being made for the Wii or PS3 instead of the DS. We're getting less of a game because of it.
maxlords
12-13-2006, 08:37 PM
I disagree completely. The portability of a hard-core RPG will be great. In addition, the DS has AMAZING sound, and even better with stereo headphones or speakers hooked up to it. And I seriously doubt they'll MIDI the soundtrack...I'm sure it'll be fully orchestrated. What you have to remember is that those little SD cards that the DS uses aren't like Game Boy carts in the fact that they don't have a limited amount of space on them to store data. SD cards are cracking the 4 GB mark on store shelves as we speak so this has the potential to be a full sized Dragon Quest with all the trimmings in a portable format. That's a GOOD thing. With the art style of the DQ series, it should be no problem for it to look just as good as VIII anyway. I can't wait myself. S-E will make a BUNDLE on this one...probably a lot more than on DQVIII.
PDorr3
12-13-2006, 08:49 PM
I need a good portable RPG, and based on those 2 screens the game looks damn amazing, I have faith in level 5! Also the 4 player stuff sounds great.
JJNova
12-13-2006, 09:38 PM
Dragon Quest IX on the DS is obviously a way to buy some time for SquareEnix. They are going to wait around and see who is winning the console war in Japan (Wii or PS3) for DQ10. Whoever has the largest install base by the end of 2007 will get the exclusive.
I for one can't stand tiny little screens with inferior graphics and sound. I'm sure this version will be a great DS game...but then again that's not saying much. DQ9 could have been great...now it's just a novelty. Is a real next-gen RPG too much to ask? Incidentally, I bet Blue Dragon just got about 50% more interesting to Japanese gamers after this announcement.
I am not going to blatantly or bash you in hiding. If my comments come off that way, I apologize beforehand. In your first paragraph you mention Square buying time with this title. I disagree, considering there was no secret about this. Square said in the first quarter of this year, that whatever console was the most solid in Japan would be the one to see the Dragon Quest series. I'm not sure how much you keep up with the global gaming market, but the DS, owns Japan. There's no denying that this is a smooth move, as portable gaming in that region is larger than console gaming at the moment. As a developer, I am pretty sure I would put one of my largest franchises, on the largest market base. (Obviously, not including the PS2. As I don't know the total amount sold for that console. And besides, that generation is dying)
Your second paragraph mentions that Blue Dragon (A Japanese developed Xbox 360 RPG) probably got 50% more interest due to this move. To reiterate, the DS is the largest market share in that country. Why would interest for a game coming out on a console that has only sold 178,070 units TO DATE be more than interest for one of the largest RPG franchises that is being released on a system that has sold 550,000 DS LITES in just November? When you buy a new system, you are generally inclined to purchase the games that are released on it.
Square enix has also held no secret regarding where they will place DQ10 either. The official statement from them is that if DQ Jokers and DQ9 sell good on Nintendo consoles, than Dragon Quest Ten will find it's home on the Wii. I suppose playing graphically inferior games on the Wii probably turns you off from the series also, so I guess you might be waiting a while for a "real next-gen RPG".
By the way, here's a supposedly "leaked" photo of the game. . . spanning Two Cartridges!
http://gonintendo.com/wp-content/photos/phpThumb_sssphp_01.jpg
Daria
12-13-2006, 10:32 PM
The portable bit doesn't bother me. DS is a great system. What sucks is it's going to be an action RPG. Makes about as much sense as Final Fantasy XI being MMO. I don't mind spin-off action games. Rocket Slime was awesome, I just hope this is a one time deal and X goes right back to being menu based.
n.ooka
12-13-2006, 11:16 PM
So, what are the chances of another limited-run-DQ themed DS being released along side the game?:-P
Raedon
12-14-2006, 08:05 AM
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=13876054&blogID=205406562&Mytoken=2F9D552C-0A04-43F2-8E4F1D3C6A45368D1604809
video of DS demo
Richter Belmount
12-14-2006, 08:07 AM
I was completely expecting this to be on psp , but this looks like enough to kill some psp sales in japan (till ff7 crisis core comes out)
heybtbm
12-14-2006, 09:52 AM
I’m not trying to be argumentative, I’m just going to clarify a few points…
Your second paragraph mentions that Blue Dragon (A Japanese developed Xbox 360 RPG) probably got 50% more interest due to this move. To reiterate, the DS is the largest market share in that country. Why would interest for a game coming out on a console that has only sold 178,070 units TO DATE be more than interest for one of the largest RPG franchises that is being released on a system that has sold 550,000 DS LITES in just November?]
I should've made that statement a little bit more clear. I meant that Blue Dragon has 50% more interest than it did before. I wasn't comparing the hype for DQ9 vs. the (non) hype for Blue Dragon. Obviously, the 360 is an utter failure in Japan (boo hoo). That fact is pointed out on a daily basis here. We get it.
Square enix has also held no secret regarding where they will place DQ10 either. The official statement from them is that if DQ Jokers and DQ9 sell good on Nintendo consoles, than Dragon Quest Ten will find it's home on the Wii. I suppose playing graphically inferior games on the Wii probably turns you off from the series also, so I guess you might be waiting a while for a "real next-gen RPG".
By the way, here's a supposedly "leaked" photo of the game. . . spanning Two Cartridges!
http://gonintendo.com/wp-content/photos/phpThumb_sssphp_01.jpg
Please let me reiterate (for the fourth time in this thread)...I will be buying this game. I think it will be pretty cool. I'm just disappointed that it's being released on a lesser system. I think it's a step down from DQ8. Nothing more, nothing less.
Daria
12-14-2006, 12:30 PM
I think Dragon Quest X would look just fine on the Wii, provided it's also developed by Level 5. I really like the style of their games, and cell shading looks great on last gen consoles. It's more realistic 3D that suffers from jaggies and grain, and really needs the graphical push of the 360 and ps3. So again I think the cartoon style of the Dragon Quest series will look great on a Wii.
I just surprised more people are discussing the system IX's going to be on, and not the major gameplay deviation from the rest of the series.
Beefy Hits
12-14-2006, 01:05 PM
I think this is a great idea, I'd happily play it on the DS. I hope it won't be long before the US gets it after JP.
Don't give up hope on 4PL online menu based. That would be awesome, until someone drops.
DQIX on the DS is surprising...I expected Wii or PS2. I would have preferred the game on a home console for the simple reason I'm not much of a handheld game player. The game itself looks fine. DQ's cartoony style won't suffer as much on the DS as a more realistic RPG would. And I'm very glad to hear about the gameplay changes. I thought DQVIII was beautiful and had a wonderful localization, but the game mechanics were very, very tired.
And I seriously doubt they'll MIDI the soundtrack...I'm sure it'll be fully orchestrated. What you have to remember is that those little SD cards that the DS uses aren't like Game Boy carts in the fact that they don't have a limited amount of space on them to store data. SD cards are cracking the 4 GB mark on store shelves as we speak so this has the potential to be a full sized Dragon Quest with all the trimmings in a portable format.
DS doesn't use SD cards. The 3DM tech from Matrix used by the DS cards currently tops out at 1Gb (128MB). Those just started shipping in volume (according to Matrix) a few months ago. Nintendo themselves state the max DS card size is 128MB. I don't know if this is an addressing limitation (and whether bank-switching would be possible to get around it) or if Nintendo simply listed the largest card that 3DM tech could provide at the time. Matrix might be able to get 3DM tech up to 4GB someday, but they're nowhere near that right now.
Not on a console but on the Nintendo DS...?!
From a business point of view it makes perfect sense. The DS sells like crack in Japan, and is cheap to program for. Big money to be made here.
Overbite
12-15-2006, 05:41 PM
By the way, here's a supposedly "leaked" photo of the game. . . spanning Two Cartridges!
http://gonintendo.com/wp-content/photos/phpThumb_sssphp_01.jpg
I probably don't have to point this out, but that was a photoshop made as a joke by a something awful member. He pranked half the internet with that one :P
Also, I loves me some Dragon Quest 8 (best rpg i have played, even better than ffxii) and I'll buy a DS for DQ9. Action RPG dragon quest is a little weird, but Level-5 is great at those kinds of games so yay!
n.ooka
12-16-2006, 11:54 AM
http://www.square-enix.co.jp/dragonquest/20th/DQ9PVS.html
New video!
I've decided I want this game based on the costume/weapon change menu.
Fuck you, Level5!
FantasiaWHT
12-16-2006, 01:56 PM
hmmm... action RPG. Is anybody else thinking "Shining Soul"? Move from a long-time winning formula to action-RPG that begins the downfall into a travesty of a series?
JJNova
12-16-2006, 02:36 PM
I probably don't have to point this out, but that was a photoshop made as a joke by a something awful member. He pranked half the internet with that one :P
Also, I loves me some Dragon Quest 8 (best rpg i have played, even better than ffxii) and I'll buy a DS for DQ9. Action RPG dragon quest is a little weird, but Level-5 is great at those kinds of games so yay!
You ruin everything...