Dragon Quest VIII

[judesalmon]

I've never played a Dragon Quest game before, but I am totally in love with this one.

It's so twee, with a game world full of naivity and wonder. It feels so refreshing to play a game that is all at once challenging, relaxing and enthralling. A true classic of the genre.

Well recommended if you have a spare 100 hours or so.

[Jon]

Yeah I plan on giving this title a go after the holiday weekend. I actually hear that this game has a (GASP! ) overworld map to traverse! Modern RPGs have me almost forgeting what those words mean.

Heres hoping I enjoy it more that DQ VII.

[judesalmon]

Yeah, you have to traverse the world map, although I expect there to be a quicker transport available later on.

You don't actually get a map of the world until about five hours in, but the game is still pretty linear up until that point.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I played the demo and hated a lot about it. They shouldn't have messed with the first person perspective (battles take too long), camera (too close), sound effects (Now with FF-esque sounds *cough*), and menus (fancy yet not better than the old ones.) I don't mind the voices since they can be turned off.

They should have made it like DW7. Man, that was a great game.

Ps. oh yeah, they shouldn't have included the FF demo in the retail version of DQ8. Is the "Final Craptasy demo inside" a sticker or is it printed on the box?

[SAM]

I played the demo and hated a lot about it. They shouldn't have messed with the first person perspective (battles take too long), camera (too close), sound effects (Now with FF-esque sounds *cough*), and menus (fancy yet not better than the old ones.) I don't mind the voices since they can be turned off.

They should have made it like DW7. Man, that was a great game.

Sound not the DQ I used to love anymore. I was worry that the DQ I like would become more and more like FF after I heard the news of the merger, sounds like my worst nightmare come true.

Anyway I will give it a shot, just because it is DQ. But if this one let me down, I probably won't buying any now DQ anymore.

Just hope that SquareEnix won't come up with the strange idea to propose a merger with Cave.

[Moogs]

The Japanese version is a lot more like old school Dragon Quest. The American release has additions like voice acting, spruced up menus, streamlined commands, and orchestrated music.

The Japanese release has no voice acting, generic menus, old commands like "talk" and "search," and MIDI music.

But the game still plays the same, so, really, no reason for anyone to get their knickers in a bunch.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I'd like to see all the Final Crybabies talking trash if Square crap took out the voice acting, put generic menus, old commands, and MIDI music in their beloved Final Craptasy. In other words, DQ-ize Final Fantasy.

Why shouldn't any old fan complain if they're trying to make DQ a Final Craptasy game? All I'm saying is leave my fave series alone.

[OmegaFlareX]

Unfortunately, the game won't sell unless they spruce it up a bit. From DQ3 onwards, none of the games have made any money for Enix in America, while Square has raked in profits time and time again from every FF release.

They still won't get the success of FF with DQ8 or any other DQ they localize. People would rather play the FF emo-homosexual character stuff than the light-hearted cartoon playground of DQ. That's just the way it is here.

It really bugs me that they took out two important sound effects for fanservice - the magical spell sound, and the stair sound. Oh well, we should be thankful we got the game at all.

Yet, it's not enough of a masterpiece to drag me away from World of Warcraft. That game owns my soul.

[Moogs]

I'd like to see all the Final Crybabies talking trash if Square crap took out the voice acting, put generic menus, old commands, and MIDI music in their beloved Final Craptasy. In other words, DQ-ize Final Fantasy.

In other words, every Final Fantasy before FFX?

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I'd like to see all the Final Crybabies talking trash if Square crap took out the voice acting, put generic menus, old commands, and MIDI music in their beloved Final Craptasy. In other words, DQ-ize Final Fantasy.

In other words, every Final Fantasy before FFX?

Can you complain about FF getting DQ-ized before FF is what it is right now (FF was sort of like DQ before)? You're going off-topic here. I'm talking about taking what everyone loves about FF right now and DQ-ize. That's enough reason to bitch for any current FF fan. Changing what people love about DQ is a valid reason for any DQ fan to bitch too.

Plus, to answer the new point you've brought up, a lot of newer FF fans won't play older FFs because they're "outdated." And they bitch a lot about it even though older releases won't affect how the next FF will be.

[Moogs]

One thing I haven't made clear is that I enjoyed the Dragon Quest games that were released in the States, and I love Dragon Quest VIII. Doesn't bother me one bit that the game was given a few cosmetic changes. Honestly, I could have done without the voice acting, but I'm not going to complain about not having to choose "Talk" or "Search" anymore. That's one thing I never liked about the series.

As for Final Fantasy, the hell with damn near every game that came out after FFVI. I still play FFIV, V, and VI every once in a while, so old school RPGs aren't an issue with me.

[MadSteelDarkness]

I'm enjoying this game quite a bit. Then again, I'm not what you would call either a "FF fan" or a "DQ fan".

So yeah, feel free to take my recommendation with a grain of salt.

Anywho, tried the FFXII demo and, ummm...I wasn't terribly impressed. But hey, maybe it might be someone else's cup o' chai.

[Moogs]

I didn't like the FFXII demo at all. I only played half of it.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Anywho, tried the FFXII demo and, ummm...I wasn't terribly impressed. But hey, maybe it might be someone else's cup o' chai.

Sell it on the 'bay . Is the "Final Fantasy Demo Inside" a sticker or is it printed on the box?

[Moogs]

Anywho, tried the FFXII demo and, ummm...I wasn't terribly impressed. But hey, maybe it might be someone else's cup o' chai.

Sell it on the 'bay . Is the "Final Fantasy Demo Inside" a sticker or is it printed on the box?

It's printed on the damn box, unfortunately. What's worse is that it's printed on the cardboard box and on the DVD case itself.

[SAM]

Can you complain about FF getting DQ-ized before FF is what it is right now (FF was sort of like DQ before)? You're going off-topic here. I'm talking about taking what everyone loves about FF right now and DQ-ize. That's enough reason to bitch for any current FF fan. Changing what people love about DQ is a valid reason for any DQ fan to bitch too.

Yes, the FF's interface and game style is quite close to DQ before VII. DQ I & II came out first got huge success in Japan. Then square release FF I with quite a lot simliaties to DQ.

Plus, to answer the new point you've brought up, a lot of newer FF fans won't play older FFs because they're "outdated." And they bitch a lot about it even though older releases won't affect how the next FF will be.

I am the opposite, I don't like FF beyond VI. i.e. I don't play FF anymore after they turn the series into what it is now.

Anywho, tried the FFXII demo and, ummm...I wasn't terribly impressed. But hey, maybe it might be someone else's cup o' chai.

Sell it on the 'bay . Is the "Final Fantasy Demo Inside" a sticker or is it printed on the box?

Good idea, but I am afrade the demo is on the same disc as the DQ game.

[sethsez]

I'm sorry, I see no reason to complain about spruced-up menus and new sound effects. The old effects (straight from the NES) and menus didn't actually make the game better in any way... they just had nostalgia for old fans of the series. There's a difference between retaining elements because they're distinctive and add to the game, and retaining elements out of laziness or a cheap ploy for nostalgia, and DQ has been toeing that line for ages.

Voice acting... eh, I can see the complaint with that.

Orchestrated music fits perfectly. The series has always had orchestral aspirations musically (rather than making pure MIDI music, it always attempted to imitate orchestral music through MIDI... very different approaches), so now that it's possible, there's no reason not to go for it aside from, again, losing some cheap nostalgia. The old music was MIDI because it had to be, not out of any artistic desire to make the best damn MIDI music possible.

I'd like to see all the Final Crybabies talking trash if Square crap took out the voice acting, put generic menus, old commands, and MIDI music in their beloved Final Craptasy. In other words, DQ-ize Final Fantasy.

Why shouldn't any old fan complain if they're trying to make DQ a Final Craptasy game? All I'm saying is leave my fave series alone.

FF fans (of which I'm not one) would complain because all of those would be steps backward (except for voice acting, and you'll find plenty of FF fans who wish it wasn't introduced). In fact, any fan of any series ever would complain if the interfaces were made more convoluted for no reason.

I'm sorry, "it's backwards and serves no useful purpose, but it was in the old games so we must keep it" makes absolutely no sense to me. You'd rather have a nostalgic interface than a good one? There are plenty of fantastic things in Dragon Quest that deserve to be staples of the series, but the menu system isn't one of them.

[Diabollokus]

will this game come to europe? ps2 pal

[Moogs]

Good idea, but I am afrade the demo is on the same disc as the DQ game.

Nope, it's a separate disc. Which is why the fat ass manual won't fit in the case properly.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I'm sorry, I see no reason to complain about spruced-up menus and new sound effects. The old effects (straight from the NES) and menus didn't actually make the game better in any way... they just had nostalgia for old fans of the series. There's a difference between retaining elements because they're distinctive and add to the game, and retaining elements out of laziness or a cheap ploy for nostalgia, and DQ has been toeing that line for ages.

Voice acting... eh, I can see the complaint with that.

Orchestrated music fits perfectly. The series has always had orchestral aspirations musically (rather than making pure MIDI music, it always attempted to imitate orchestral music through MIDI... very different approaches), so now that it's possible, there's no reason not to go for it aside from, again, losing some cheap nostalgia. The old music was MIDI because it had to be, not out of any artistic desire to make the best damn MIDI music possible.

I'd like to see all the Final Crybabies talking trash if Square crap took out the voice acting, put generic menus, old commands, and MIDI music in their beloved Final Craptasy. In other words, DQ-ize Final Fantasy.

Why shouldn't any old fan complain if they're trying to make DQ a Final Craptasy game? All I'm saying is leave my fave series alone.

FF fans (of which I'm not one) would complain because all of those would be steps backward (except for voice acting, and you'll find plenty of FF fans who wish it wasn't introduced). In fact, any fan of any series ever would complain if the interfaces were made more convoluted for no reason.

I'm sorry, "it's backwards and serves no useful purpose, but it was in the old games so we must keep it" makes absolutely no sense to me. You'd rather have a nostalgic interface than a good one? There are plenty of fantastic things in Dragon Quest that deserve to be staples of the series, but the menu system isn't one of them.

Here we go again:

1) There was nothing wrong with the old sound effects, and they added to the game. They were unique unlike the mass produced effects in DQ8, which don't make the game better.

2) The menus were great in previous versions. Simple and old school dungeon-crawler-ish. The battle menu is 10X times better the old style.

3) Orchestrated != better. I think the MIDI version of the battle theme in 8 sounds better. This is a case were they should had left the music alone. Also, DQ7's soundtrack cleans the floor with the american DQ8's soundtrack, and it's MIDI.

4) There was nothing backwards about the menus and music in previous DQs.

5) Printing "Final Fantasy X!! demo inside" on the box was stupid (I had to say it.)

Other gripes (for all versions):

1) They shouldn't had messed with the first person perspective. It added to the game and battles didn't take freaking forever to finish.

2) The camera is too close. Please revert back to DQ7 style bird-view camera. I don't feel like rotating the camera every time I want to see a quarter of a room.

All said, I may get the game despite the annoyances.

[Moogs]

Regarding the camera, I didn't like the one in DQVII cos I hated having to rotate it everytime I wanted to fully explore the area.

But seriously -- and I know we're just talking in circles -- the changes made to the American version of DQVIII don't affect the game. The menus look different, but function just like they always did. The music and sound effects all come down to a matter of preference. The new sound effects don't make the game better, but neither did the old ones.

Bottom line is: BUY IT. Show Square Enix that Japan isn't the only country that likes Dragon Quest. Show them that THIS is what we want, not bullshit like Romancing SaGa.

[sethsez]

1) There was nothing wrong with the old sound effects, and they added to the game. They were unique

They were chintzy as hell. In any other game they'd be considered bad, but since it's DQ they're "charming." Nosir, I don't buy it. If the only way to appreciate a game's sound effects is to have nostalgia for the NES entries, they're probably not good effects.

3) Orchestrated != better.

That's not what I said. I said orchestrated is better when the music is clearly intended to be orchestral in the first place. Mega Man's music would make no damn sense orchestrated, Earthbound's music is clearly written as MIDI from the ground up, but Dragon Quest's music has always had orchestral aspirations. It fits like a glove.

All said, I may get the game despite the annoyances.

Yes. Because, you know, refusing to get a game in a series you love because the menus are now too fancy is kinda dumb.

[SAM]

Orchestrated music fits perfectly. The series has always had orchestral aspirations musically (rather than making pure MIDI music, it always attempted to imitate orchestral music through MIDI... very different approaches), so now that it's possible, there's no reason not to go for it aside from, again, losing some cheap nostalgia. The old music was MIDI because it had to be, not out of any artistic desire to make the best damn MIDI music possible.

Yeah, the song in DQ fits Orchestrated style. Actually all the old DQ got Audio CDs released with songs being performed by the whole Orchestrat. I got the DQIII one, and I like it very much.

I'm sorry, "it's backwards and serves no useful purpose, but it was in the old games so we must keep it" makes absolutely no sense to me. You'd rather have a nostalgic interface than a good one? There are plenty of fantastic things in Dragon Quest that deserve to be staples of the series, but the menu system isn't one of them.

Well, I would fell more at home with the old menu. But some part of the old nostalgic menu is not as good as the new one I am afriad to say. But the truth is I am so familar with that old menu that I actually could netivigate through it with my eye bindfolded. Thus I rather have it intact.

I would go and see if I could buy an Imported copy (i.e. US version) at the local store after work.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

1) There was nothing wrong with the old sound effects, and they added to the game. They were unique

They were chintzy as hell. In any other game they'd be considered bad, but since it's DQ they're "charming." Nosir, I don't buy it. If the only way to appreciate a game's sound effects is to have nostalgia for the NES entries, they're probably not good effects.

3) Orchestrated != better.

That's not what I said. I said orchestrated is better when the music is clearly intended to be orchestral in the first place. Mega Man's music would make no damn sense orchestrated, Earthbound's music is clearly written as MIDI from the ground up, but Dragon Quest's music has always had orchestral aspirations. It fits like a glove.

All said, I may get the game despite the annoyances.

Yes. Because, you know, refusing to get a game in a series you love because the menus are now too fancy is kinda dumb.

No nostalgia, sir. The only DW I've played extensively is 7, and that's where the sound effects grew on me. Who says powering up effects have to sound Final Fantasy to be good? About the music, I guess if you like how they orchestrated it from the MIDI originals (made to be MIDI not orchestrated), fine with me. I still think that the game's original soundtrack is better.

It's not the menus only. I'm not that bitchy.

[PepsimanVsJoe]

I actually love the voice acting in DQ8. It's very uh...European I guess I can say. This is sort of what it would be like if Chrono Cross had voice acting(since every character in that game spoke with a different accent).

From what I played of the DQ8 demo(which used midi) and the full game I'd honestly have to go with the fully-orchestrated soundtracks. There's something rich about hearing the music in DQ8 at times, I'd hate to lose that by being stuck with bland tinny midi. And hell to be honest I never really found the music in the DQ series to be that memorable, but hearing the full symphonic versions definitely helps.

About 35 hours in now I think, there's so much stuff to do and I heard I'm only a little over 1/4 of the way through.

[judesalmon]

will this game come to europe? ps2 pal

It's actually the first game Square Enix will be publishing themselves in Europe. The new head of Square Enix Europe is a big RPG fan (I met him on a press trip recently) and he feels that DQVIII could be a big hit for them over here.

I'm a big Final Fantasy fan, but more than that, I'm a videogames fan. I take every game on its merits - if it's good, I'll endeavour to play it. However, all the complaints levelled at DQVIII and the FF series are absolute rubbish.

The VO can be turned off, the new menus look loads better, the camera's fine and the music is infinitely better - when I was in Tokyo last December every single store had that f***ing MIDI title music blaring and it did my head in. The orchestrated version is vastly superior.

[SAM]

In the words of DQ:

Code: Select all

SAM bought Dragon Quest VIII for $50.
SAM remove the cover sheet, disc from Dragon Quest VIII case.
SAM put the Sengoku Ace & Blade cover sheet, manual, game disc and super play disc in the Dragon Quest VIII case.
SAM put Dragon Quest VIII cover sheet, disc and manual in Sengoku Ace & Blade case.
SAM put the Final Fantasy XII playable demo disc and manual on eBay.

The FFXII palyable logo is printed on the cover sheet. It cannot be removed.

The double discs tray is handly for my Sengoku Ace & Blade copy, altough it comes with the super play DVD, it doesn't got an additional tray to hold it within the game case. I could now put the DQ manual within the case together with the game disc. While my Sengoku super play DVD could now rest securely in a disc tray within a game case.

And for the FFXII demo...

Anywho, tried the FFXII demo and, ummm...I wasn't terribly impressed. But hey, maybe it might be someone else's cup o' chai.

Sell it on the 'bay . Is the "Final Fantasy Demo Inside" a sticker or is it printed on the box?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 8238482197

Any one interested?

[SAM]

In words of DQ:

Code: Select all

Final Fantasy XII playable deomo sold.
SAM got $5.
SAM feedback score increased by 1.
SAM needs 154 positive feedbacks to reach the next star.

I cannot belive it?!?!
The FFXII demo is sold in less than 12 hours!!!
The buyer even request the demo be shipped via EMS.

Anyway my copy of DQ VIII now cost me only $45. Thank for the idea, UnscathedFlyingObject.

We don't understand diehard FF fans is like, others don't understand why hardcore shmupers are willing to pay $200+ for an old Saturn game.

[FatCobra]

Now that's funny.

Sadly, I don't have a PS2 anymore, and I've never been a huge fan of the Dragon Quest series, I found some charm in them and VIII does intruge me. Maybe just buy the game and wait for the PS2 to be obsolite like the Xbox is now.

[scrilla4rella]

the change to orchestrated music pisses me of personally. I played the US demo and the music is nice, but I just been really getting into old school synth music. I've been listining to a lot of the new Aphex Twin's Analord series. Richard D. James has a gift with the old analogue machines. As well as older synth composers from the 70s (Isao Tomita, John Cage, Eno, etc.) That stuffs great. old school for sure but well crafted.
By the way I still really want to get DQVIII, It is just a shame that they changed the music and sound effects cause they kept it old-school for people like me, fukk!!