Dragon Quest VIII
Platform: PlayStation 2
Publisher: Square-Enix
Review Type: Touchy
Version: Retail
Alright. It's about time I stopped milking E3 and started writing about games I'm playing.
I mentioned this game in my last post when talking about Akira Toriyama's great (and almost instantly recognizable) character design.
But none of his creative input would matter if the game was crap. I'm still trying to figure out Japanese RPGs. I haven't played quite as many as some gamers. I found Final Fantasy VII fairly tedious. Didn't care for the second Shin Megami Tensai. And yet Dragon Quest VIII isn't all that different from those games. The random encounters are similar. The turn-based battles are nearly the same as well. But while the others felt like interminable slogs, this game feels compelling. Where their stories felt turgid and shallow, Dragon Quest VIII's feels engaging and rich.
There are two explanations. The first is that RPG players have unique receptors, just like the receptors in your brain. Only the games shaped like your receptors will connect with you. The others, which are for all intents and purposes identical, just won't jive.
The other option is that Dragon Quest VIII is simply a better game. Better because it' s been blessed with better writing and voice acting. Better because it doesn't give you too much to do. Its world is large, but there's a path. And it's better because its pleasing to the eye.
And that brings me full circle to Toriyama's contribution. Just yesterday I ran across a monster that made me laugh out loud, simply for the sheer inventiveness of his design. The guy's called "Puppeteer." He's dressed in all black like Mummenschanz. His head is hooded (also black) and on his hands he has two puppets -- a Blue Slime and a Lump Mage. One of his attacks is a puppet show that has the potential to sideline your party members with laughter.
It may take me a while, but I suspect I'll be finishing this charming game.
Recommended
Publisher: Square-Enix
Review Type: Touchy
Version: Retail
Alright. It's about time I stopped milking E3 and started writing about games I'm playing.I mentioned this game in my last post when talking about Akira Toriyama's great (and almost instantly recognizable) character design.
But none of his creative input would matter if the game was crap. I'm still trying to figure out Japanese RPGs. I haven't played quite as many as some gamers. I found Final Fantasy VII fairly tedious. Didn't care for the second Shin Megami Tensai. And yet Dragon Quest VIII isn't all that different from those games. The random encounters are similar. The turn-based battles are nearly the same as well. But while the others felt like interminable slogs, this game feels compelling. Where their stories felt turgid and shallow, Dragon Quest VIII's feels engaging and rich.
There are two explanations. The first is that RPG players have unique receptors, just like the receptors in your brain. Only the games shaped like your receptors will connect with you. The others, which are for all intents and purposes identical, just won't jive.
The other option is that Dragon Quest VIII is simply a better game. Better because it' s been blessed with better writing and voice acting. Better because it doesn't give you too much to do. Its world is large, but there's a path. And it's better because its pleasing to the eye.
And that brings me full circle to Toriyama's contribution. Just yesterday I ran across a monster that made me laugh out loud, simply for the sheer inventiveness of his design. The guy's called "Puppeteer." He's dressed in all black like Mummenschanz. His head is hooded (also black) and on his hands he has two puppets -- a Blue Slime and a Lump Mage. One of his attacks is a puppet show that has the potential to sideline your party members with laughter.
It may take me a while, but I suspect I'll be finishing this charming game.
Recommended
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