Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Dragon Quest is a legendary RPG series from Japan that nearly every gamer has heard of . We may not understand why it's so popular there , but even in the U.S . , there is a small audience that is charmed by this series . Let me get this out of the way : I'm not a part of that audience . Before playing the fourth installment of this series , I was a Dragon Quest hater . I had spent 32 hours with Dragon Quest VII , and twenty plus hours with Dragon Quest VIII , but neither of those games hooked me . I tried to convince myself that those were great RPGs , and that there was a reason they received such high review scores , but I just could not be swayed , no matter how much I played . To me , Dragon Quest felt like a boring NES RPG with a barebones story , a bland battle system , and very little character development . Even the supposedly grand musical scores , felt uninspired . Well , a few months ago , I ended up having a heated debate with some Dragon Quest fans over at 1UP . I felt that they were giving the series too much credit , but someone convinced me to give Dragon Quest IV and V a shot . He seemed to agree that Dragon Quest VII felt uninspired , but mentioned that Dragon Quest IV and V were innovative RPGs that were comparable to classics like Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger . A few months later , I decided to pick up a copy of Dragon Quest IV along with a DSi . After spending a few hours with the game , my opinion on the series would change forever . . . .
So how did DQIV single-handedly demolish my hatred for all things Dragon Quest ? I mean on the surface , you wouldn't think DQIV would dent my mental barrier with its simplistic sprites , 8 - bit sounds , and oodles of random battles - - but it did . You'd be surprised at what caused my change of heart - - the way in which the story was told .
Now , Dragon Quest is not a series normally known for its story . Usually these games are rather simplistic journeys seeking out a Dragon Lord or baddie of some sort . Dragon Quest VII for example , has you journeying to indistinguishable towns where you often save the populace who has been turned to stone ( or some other malady ) . Your mission is to recover pieces of the world for the purpose of reassembling it . It's a fairly basic affair with few plot twists and hours of boredom . Dragon Quest IV on the other hand , is far from a barebones experience ; it takes a unique approach to storytelling that would influence many future RPGs .
If you enjoyed the scenario system in Final Fantasy VI and the chapter system in Mother 3 , you have Dragon Quest IV to thank . Like those games ( well , part of the game in the case of FFVI ) , Dragon Quest IV is divided into chapters featuring different characters . At the beginning of the game , you create a hero with a name of your choosing who lives in a peaceful hamlet , but you're soon whisked away to other , less tranquil lands . It's a bit jarring being torn away from your hero so soon , but the other unique characters you get to play as more than make up for it .
During the first chapter , you'll start off as a Royal Knight named , Ragnar McRyan , who is sent on missions by his lord . This lord who speaks in a Scottish accent , sends him on a quest to investigate recent disturbances that have befallen the kingdom . This Royal Knight with a moustache that would put Stalin's hair patch to shame , sets out on a journey to investigate the disappearances of children from villages .
The second chapter is even more exciting . You control the daughter of a Tsar , named Tsarevna Alena , who doesn't enjoy being cooped up inside of the castle . She yearns for adventure , and escapes the castle against her father's will . She brings along a few sidekicks who help her combat royal imposters , uncover mirage villages , and fight in an arena that would put Rome's Coliseum to shame . I believe that DQI。 's Coliseum was the first combat arena ever to grace an RPG , and it set a precedent that would be followed by titles such as Final Fantasy VI , Star Ocean , Tales , and Jade Empire .
Chapter 3 is one of the most unique scenarios to ever grace an RPG . You play as a portly merchant named , Torneko who aspires to become a wealthy merchant for the sake of his family . He begins in a quaint village with a wife and child - - working a 9 - 5 shift at a weapon & armor shop . His life is initially quite monotonous with him waking up every day to his packed lunch made by his wife - - selling as much equipment as he can . It's a refreshingly unique scenario - - helping your RPG character gain upward mobility through other means than slaying monsters . Eventually , if you play your cards right , Torneko will move to other cities and become a big-time player in the financial world .
The final scenario with a unique set of characters has you playing as two attractive dancers : Meena and Maya . Even though they're the best dancers in the land , they're not satisfied with their daily routine . Their father , a famous alchemist was murdered by one of his disciples , and they set off pursuing this elusive assassin .
Chapter 5 brings the scenario system to a close , when you once again step in the shoes of the main male ( or female ) hero . A disaster befalls the hero's village after an evil force threatening the land discovers the location of the hero , so he sets out on a journey to defeat the lord of the underworld . Eventually , the hero meets up with the rag-tag band of heroes you controlled in previous chapters , and you set out on a journey solving each character's problems , before the ultimate confrontation . In Dragon Quest IV , you won't get an airship , but you'll travel to several unique villages and dungeons , just as you would in most RPGs . Dragon Quest IV also takes you to other lands in the sky and below ground , so it's fairly lengthy considering that it was originally an NES adventure . Despite not having an airship to roam the skies , you will have access to a sea vessel and a hot air balloon .
By the end of Chapter 5 , you'll have reached the game's original conclusion , but Chapter 6 is new to the DS version . Chapter 6 is relatively weak compared to previous chapters ; it's more of a grindfest that gives you access to new bosses , characters , and equipment . It's only really worth playing if you're a completist , but most adventurers will probably want to stick with the main quest and avoid the hundreds of extra battles you'll have to fight .
Clearly , the way in which the story was told was quite unique for its time , but how does the 8 - bit gameplay hold up ? It's actually quite enjoyable . I hate random battles as much as the next guy , but Dragon Quest doesn't really force you to fight much more than most Final Fantasy games . I rarely had to run around in circles fighting enemies - - that was only necessary before the final showdown . Unlike later installments of Dragon Quest , the battle system is fast-paced , yet strategic , so you won't have to worry about battles lasting over a minute unlike , this recent game .
Each of your characters ' abilities are unique , so it's up to you who you want to mix and match , once you obtain your entire party . You'll have access to characters who have healing spells , defensive spells , offensive and stat boosting spells , and an assortment of fighters . The strategic gameplay found in DQIV is quite refreshing , and partially illustrates why Dragon Quest IV was ahead of its time .
I didn't really like the visuals of the NES Dragon Quest games , or Dragon Quest VII for that matter , so I was quite surprised when I booted up DQIV . The visuals really weren't all that different from its Playstation brethren , but it looks quite nice on the DS screen ; the combination of hand drawn 2D sprites and 3D rotatable backgrounds are a perfect fit for the DS . The visuals display on both screens , so it makes excellent use of the dual-screened handheld . I really liked the character designs , and they helped add to the characters ' charming personalities .
I loved the characters ' personalities and DQI。 's accents , but some gamers will utterly despise the accented dialogue . In each kingdom you visit , the townspeople have a different accent : Scottish , Russian , French , etc . , but it may be difficult for some people to understand , depending on how familiar you are with various accents . Some of the words are spelled incorrectly , and there are grammatical inaccuracies , so this will likely infuriate many intellectuals . I really didn't mind on the other hand , and thought it added to the experience ( although the accents were a bit stereotypical ) .
Finally , I'd like to briefly mention DQI。 's music . The music found in this 8 - bit remake isn't as moving as what you'll find in a game like FFIV , but it sounds lovely due to part of it being orchestrated . It's not as engaging or emotionally charged as the music in some RPGs , but it really fits the grand adventure vibe of Dragon Quest .
Having now completed Dragon Quest IV ( even the optional sidequests ) , I'd like to retract what I've previously said about the series . Some of the later DQ games failed to innovate and felt quite lackluster in comparison to other RPGs , but DQIV put to rest my negative thoughts of the series as a whole . DQI。 's innovative approach to storytelling ( and charming story underneath ) , provide for a grand experience that will stick with you for years . Regardless of one's perspective on the dialogue system , Dragon Quest I。 's unique set of characters will also have a lasting impact on most players . Thankfully , this thirty hour quest isn't ruined by endless random encounters - - they're there , but not to the extent that they'll detract from your enjoyment of the experience ; just make sure to take a little time at the end of the game to gain some levels , so you can bludgeon the final boss with your Level 99 whoopin ' stick . If you're a Dragon Quest hater , but an RPG fan , I encourage you to try this landmark game in a genre that some claim is growing stagnant . I doubt that you'll be disappointed .
Score : 9.0 / 10
Pros :
* An innovative approach to storytelling
* Charming characters
* A fast-paced , tactical battle system
* Orchestrated music
* A grand sense of adventure
* A thirty-hour quest
Cons :
* Too much grinding at the end of the game
* The extra chapter feels tacked on
* Dying and losing half of your money can be a pain
* A map with named locations would have been nice
001 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
UPDATED 10 / 5
OK .
I'm figuring you , the reader , are in one of three categories :
A : A newbie who never played this game , either because it came out before you were born or you skipped it because you were too busy playing Mortal Kombat and Virtua Cop .
B : A non-RPG'er who got converted sometime in the past , and now is trying to make up for lost time .
C : Someone who played the original , and want to know if this game fits the bill .
I'll be as detailed as I can for all of you .
First , Dragon Warrior is indeed the 4th in the series , however it is the first in a trilogy called the Zenithia Trilogy . Part 4 we received stateside way back years ago on the NES . We never got parts 5 and 6 ; in my opinion , neither really had the appeal of part 4 . This one attempts to tell a story the way I feel a story should be told : introduce each core character separately , as ' chapters ' , then bring them all together and finish on a strong note . IF you've ever played Phantasy Star III , it's kind of the same thing , only these peeps aren't related to one another . Note that when you beat Chapter 5 , there is an additional Chapter which you must save after the credits and load to get access to . The NES version had no such additional Chapter .
Sometime in the late 90 ' s-early 2k , Enix announced it was remaking Part 4 on the PlayStation . Needless to say , fans were absolutely ecstatic . It released in Japan , and it was like the world had ended . . . mobs of people picking up the game . Shortly before its US release date . . . Enix announced that we were not getting it due to what they claimed was the lack of ability to work with the translation and code . Needless to say , fans were absolutely irate . It wasn't pretty , trust me .
Now , here we are , almost a decade later . The reason I told you the background , is that this is the exact same game as the PlayStation version . That's important , because if you're expecting some touch screen controls to navigate , you'll be sorely disappointed . Port is a perfect word for this . If you're the kind of person who doesn't care , great . Keep reading . . . .
Your first task is Ragnar . He's a soldier in a kingdom where the children seem to have gone missing . It's up to you to find them . . . and to help a creature in need . Next is the tomboy princess Alena , who along with her companions wants to be free from the burdens of being royalty , and prove herself in the tournament . Next up is Torneko ( more on why I quoted that later ) , who is on a quest to be the world's greatest merchant . Rounding out the crew is Maya and Meena , twin sisters who are trying to solve their father's murder , and lastly , your hero , where you'll meet up with all of the previously named and embark on the final quest .
If you've played the original , you've played this one ; there are few differences in the core gameplay . Of note is the now-common addition of the Tiny Medal sidequest to the game . Find enough and you'll be rewarded with various specialty items . There is one very unexpected change . . . in the NES version , during the final chapter , you only had control over the Hero , none of your party members . In this version , you can control everyone individually . The auto control wasn't really a big issue except at the last boss , because Brey ( more on why you're just now hearing that name later ) would always cast that ice spell on him which did almost no damage instead of using Bikill which would have resulted in an easy win . There were ways around this , but still , it was annoying .
The music is now orchestrated , and tracks that you may remember from the NES version make quite the triumphant return . It's immediately evident that at the time , it would have stood out in a lot of people's eyes had we gotten it stateside .
Graphically , the game looks way dated ; almost a mirror image of Dragon Quest VII , if you ever bothered to play that game ( I did , never beat it ) . It uses a 3D environment , and 2D sprites stretched to 3D ( but still 2D when you look directly at them ) . Pixels abound , and small things are a little difficult to see , but not too much .
You can see pictures for the weapons , armor and items ! This is a great thing for me . I used to love looking at the pictures of the things as I equipped them , from the instruction book . After a point you had no picture to reference , and you were left wondering what certain weapons looked like . Now you can see them in the game , and it's pretty cool . Also , the shop tells you in advance what sell price you can get for your stuff before you sell it , so you don't have to pick each one and guess . Major improvement ; that annoyed me before .
Now , for the complaints . And there are a few - mind you , I'm an old school gamer , and Dragon Quest IV was designed with me in mind ; I've never played a more enthralling RPG in my life , not even the mighty Chrono Trigger .
- Game is TOO EASY . I don't know what happened , but in Ragnar's scenario in particular , I distinctly recall it being much more challenging ; I even remember the minor strategy guide that was in the back of the book on the NES version . You needed to be at least level 3 or higher to go to the second town , like level 6 or something to go through the first true dungeon , and then some higher levels to even stand a chance at the tower . I'm waxing through people like it's nothing , half trying . Plus with the items now scattered all over the place it negates you having to really grind for money to buy those healing herbs you needed ; just break some jars .
- The dialogue was screwed up BIG time . I know a lot of people hated the Old English way of speaking before , but I much preferred it over this . I can barely understand anyone in some parts of the game . You've got Scottish speakers , slang speakers , etc . And what's worse is that the translators thought it'd be funny to purposely misspell certain words to emphasize the accent . I find it just way too hard to understand what they're saying . Stuff like I dinnae kno any wee bit o path up the hill . Come on now .
- Names were changed ; detracts from the nostalgia . Ragnar did not have a last name . Everyone else's first name was changed besides Alena . No Brey , Cristo , Taloon ( I HATE the name Torneko ) , Mara , or Nara . I'd say more , but I'd spoil stuff . It felt like you have friends growing up , go into a cryogenic unit for 20 years , come back and your friends are all dead , but their children who look just like them but with different names are there now . I didn't care for this at all , as minor as it may seem to some of you .
- Creature names not true to the original . It's not Bubble Slime , it's Babble . There are others , trust me . It really bothers me , I don't know why .
- They changed some of the Weapons / Armors . Not just the items themselves , but their locations and names . Sword of Malice is now Cautery Sword . I can't tell you how much I hate the new name . Malice is automatically equated to pain . Cautery makes me think of a chef in a kitchen . Again , there are others . In the NES version you could buy all of the Metal Babble Equipment with the right key and enough cash ; now you can buy the armor , but the helmet takes the development of a town that's otherwise useless , and I only found one shield . Just a couple of examples of butchering things that should have been left well enough alone .
In short : do I recommend it ? Absolutely . But just know . . . this is old school at its finest . IF you can't handle a TRADITIONAL RPG , one that sticks to the basics as close as it can . . . skip this game , please .
002 UPDATED 10 / 5
OK .
I'm figuring you , the reader , are in one of three categories :
A : A newbie who never played this game , either because it came out before you were born or you skipped it because you were too busy playing Mortal Kombat and Virtua Cop .
B : A non-RPG'er who got converted sometime in the past , and now is trying to make up for lost time .
C : Someone who played the original , and want to know if this game fits the bill .
I'll be as detailed as I can for all of you .
First , Dragon Warrior is indeed the 4th in the series , however it is the first in a trilogy called the Zenithia Trilogy . Part 4 we received stateside way back years ago on the NES . We never got parts 5 and 6 ; in my opinion , neither really had the appeal of part 4 . This one attempts to tell a story the way I feel a story should be told : introduce each core character separately , as ' chapters ' , then bring them all together and finish on a strong note . IF you've ever played Phantasy Star III , it's kind of the same thing , only these peeps aren't related to one another . Note that when you beat Chapter 5 , there is an additional Chapter which you must save after the credits and load to get access to . The NES version had no such additional Chapter .
Sometime in the late 90 ' s-early 2k , Enix announced it was remaking Part 4 on the PlayStation . Needless to say , fans were absolutely ecstatic . It released in Japan , and it was like the world had ended . . . mobs of people picking up the game . Shortly before its US release date . . . Enix announced that we were not getting it due to what they claimed was the lack of ability to work with the translation and code . Needless to say , fans were absolutely irate . It wasn't pretty , trust me .
Now , here we are , almost a decade later . The reason I told you the background , is that this is the exact same game as the PlayStation version . That's important , because if you're expecting some touch screen controls to navigate , you'll be sorely disappointed . Port is a perfect word for this . If you're the kind of person who doesn't care , great . Keep reading . . . .
Your first task is Ragnar . He's a soldier in a kingdom where the children seem to have gone missing . It's up to you to find them . . . and to help a creature in need . Next is the tomboy princess Alena , who along with her companions wants to be free from the burdens of being royalty , and prove herself in the tournament . Next up is Torneko ( more on why I quoted that later ) , who is on a quest to be the world's greatest merchant . Rounding out the crew is Maya and Meena , twin sisters who are trying to solve their father's murder , and lastly , your hero , where you'll meet up with all of the previously named and embark on the final quest .
If you've played the original , you've played this one ; there are few differences in the core gameplay . Of note is the now-common addition of the Tiny Medal sidequest to the game . Find enough and you'll be rewarded with various specialty items . There is one very unexpected change . . . in the NES version , during the final chapter , you only had control over the Hero , none of your party members . In this version , you can control everyone individually . The auto control wasn't really a big issue except at the last boss , because Brey ( more on why you're just now hearing that name later ) would always cast that ice spell on him which did almost no damage instead of using Bikill which would have resulted in an easy win . There were ways around this , but still , it was annoying .
The music is now orchestrated , and tracks that you may remember from the NES version make quite the triumphant return . It's immediately evident that at the time , it would have stood out in a lot of people's eyes had we gotten it stateside .
Graphically , the game looks way dated ; almost a mirror image of Dragon Quest VII , if you ever bothered to play that game ( I did , never beat it ) . It uses a 3D environment , and 2D sprites stretched to 3D ( but still 2D when you look directly at them ) . Pixels abound , and small things are a little difficult to see , but not too much .
You can see pictures for the weapons , armor and items ! This is a great thing for me . I used to love looking at the pictures of the things as I equipped them , from the instruction book . After a point you had no picture to reference , and you were left wondering what certain weapons looked like . Now you can see them in the game , and it's pretty cool . Also , the shop tells you in advance what sell price you can get for your stuff before you sell it , so you don't have to pick each one and guess . Major improvement ; that annoyed me before .
Now , for the complaints . And there are a few - mind you , I'm an old school gamer , and Dragon Quest IV was designed with me in mind ; I've never played a more enthralling RPG in my life , not even the mighty Chrono Trigger .
- Game is TOO EASY . I don't know what happened , but in Ragnar's scenario in particular , I distinctly recall it being much more challenging ; I even remember the minor strategy guide that was in the back of the book on the NES version . You needed to be at least level 3 or higher to go to the second town , like level 6 or something to go through the first true dungeon , and then some higher levels to even stand a chance at the tower . I'm waxing through people like it's nothing , half trying . Plus with the items now scattered all over the place it negates you having to really grind for money to buy those healing herbs you needed ; just break some jars .
- The dialogue was screwed up BIG time . I know a lot of people hated the Old English way of speaking before , but I much preferred it over this . I can barely understand anyone in some parts of the game . You've got Scottish speakers , slang speakers , etc . And what's worse is that the translators thought it'd be funny to purposely misspell certain words to emphasize the accent . I find it just way too hard to understand what they're saying . Stuff like I dinnae kno any wee bit o path up the hill . Come on now .
- Names were changed ; detracts from the nostalgia . Ragnar did not have a last name . Everyone else's first name was changed besides Alena . No Brey , Cristo , Taloon ( I HATE the name Torneko ) , Mara , or Nara . I'd say more , but I'd spoil stuff . It felt like you have friends growing up , go into a cryogenic unit for 20 years , come back and your friends are all dead , but their children who look just like them but with different names are there now . I didn't care for this at all , as minor as it may seem to some of you .
- Creature names not true to the original . It's not Bubble Slime , it's Babble . There are others , trust me . It really bothers me , I don't know why .
- They changed some of the Weapons / Armors . Not just the items themselves , but their locations and names . Sword of Malice is now Cautery Sword . I can't tell you how much I hate the new name . Malice is automatically equated to pain . Cautery makes me think of a chef in a kitchen . Again , there are others . In the NES version you could buy all of the Metal Babble Equipment with the right key and enough cash ; now you can buy the armor , but the helmet takes the development of a town that's otherwise useless , and I only found one shield . Just a couple of examples of butchering things that should have been left well enough alone .
In short : do I recommend it ? Absolutely . But just know . . . this is old school at its finest . IF you can't handle a TRADITIONAL RPG , one that sticks to the basics as close as it can . . . skip this game , please .
003 Amazon Verified Purchase
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This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I'm a HUGE fan of Dragon Warrior IV on the NES . This is an updated version .
Dungeons seem shorter , but are laid out exactly the same .
I think that shorter impression is due to the double screen on the DS . . . sometimes it's easier to not walk into dead ends which saves some time . Also , the characters walk a lot faster than the original NES game which makes dungeons seem a lot shorter .
The difficulty has been weakened in the early chapters , especially IMO Chapters 1 & 2 . There's more money being handed out for sure , which also makes the curve easier as most of the time you can afford the best equipment - or get it pretty easily .
This did mean I got through the whole game with very little grinding of any sort .
Chapter 5 remains difficult at times . The tough spots in the original remain so . Unlike the earlier chapters , many Ch . 5 bosses are still tough and killed me on occasion . The end boss seemed a bit toned down but still tough - it took me twice to beat him using some very careful play the second time .
Overall , it's a very good update of the best NES RPG . Difficulty is a bit easier but bosses can still be tough .
Cons : The new accented translation ranges from silly to , in the case of the Ch . 2 area , downright awful . The easier difficulty is a minor con for me because I like games to stay tough , but it will probably be fine for DQ4 newbies or folks used to newer , easier games that seem to be the trend these days .
004 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I'm a HUGE fan of Dragon Warrior IV on the NES . This is an updated version .
Dungeons seem shorter , but are laid out exactly the same .
I think that shorter impression is due to the double screen on the DS . . . sometimes it's easier to not walk into dead ends which saves some time . Also , the characters walk a lot faster than the original NES game which makes dungeons seem a lot shorter .
The difficulty has been weakened in the early chapters , especially IMO Chapters 1 & 2 . There's more money being handed out for sure , which also makes the curve easier as most of the time you can afford the best equipment - or get it pretty easily .
This did mean I got through the whole game with very little grinding of any sort .
Chapter 5 remains difficult at times . The tough spots in the original remain so . Unlike the earlier chapters , many Ch . 5 bosses are still tough and killed me on occasion . The end boss seemed a bit toned down but still tough - it took me twice to beat him using some very careful play the second time .
Overall , it's a very good update of the best NES RPG . Difficulty is a bit easier but bosses can still be tough .
Cons : The new accented translation ranges from silly to , in the case of the Ch . 2 area , downright awful . The easier difficulty is a minor con for me because I like games to stay tough , but it will probably be fine for DQ4 newbies or folks used to newer , easier games that seem to be the trend these days .
005 I'm a HUGE fan of Dragon Warrior IV on the NES . This is an updated version .
Dungeons seem shorter , but are laid out exactly the same .
I think that shorter impression is due to the double screen on the DS . . . sometimes it's easier to not walk into dead ends which saves some time . Also , the characters walk a lot faster than the original NES game which makes dungeons seem a lot shorter .
The difficulty has been weakened in the early chapters , especially IMO Chapters 1 & 2 . There's more money being handed out for sure , which also makes the curve easier as most of the time you can afford the best equipment - or get it pretty easily .
This did mean I got through the whole game with very little grinding of any sort .
Chapter 5 remains difficult at times . The tough spots in the original remain so . Unlike the earlier chapters , many Ch . 5 bosses are still tough and killed me on occasion . The end boss seemed a bit toned down but still tough - it took me twice to beat him using some very careful play the second time .
Overall , it's a very good update of the best NES RPG . Difficulty is a bit easier but bosses can still be tough .
Cons : The new accented translation ranges from silly to , in the case of the Ch . 2 area , downright awful . The easier difficulty is a minor con for me because I like games to stay tough , but it will probably be fine for DQ4 newbies or folks used to newer , easier games that seem to be the trend these days .
006 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
If you loved the old school rpgs from the nes and snes days then you'll love this game . As stated in other reviews , if you're a new gen gamer into awesome graphics and cut scenes with minimum strategy and storyline , then you may want to look somwhere else .
The other reviews pretty much hit it dead on so i'd just like to add a little more about the extra content that wasn't mentioned .
The original game consisted of 5 chapters and when you beat the Final boss in chapter five you completed the game . Now there are 6 chapters . After you beat the main game and finish the credits you can't start chapter 6 . I don't want to spoil too much for you so i'll just say that there is an extra ( and really long ) dungeon with access to new items . There is also a mini game where you build your own village kind of like the one in DQVII . If you build your village to its maximum level , you will have access to some really strong items not found in the main story . There is also a secret character you can recruit . Again i won't spoil too much but this character is a powerhouse and an amazing addition to your entourage . Lastly , there is a new final boss , but you can only fight him with the addition of the secret character in your party .
I really think anyone could get into this game as long as they can get over the outdated graphics , but i think DQIV was already one of the best rpgs i've ever played , and the DS version perfected it in my opinion .
007 If you loved the old school rpgs from the nes and snes days then you'll love this game . As stated in other reviews , if you're a new gen gamer into awesome graphics and cut scenes with minimum strategy and storyline , then you may want to look somwhere else .
The other reviews pretty much hit it dead on so i'd just like to add a little more about the extra content that wasn't mentioned .
The original game consisted of 5 chapters and when you beat the Final boss in chapter five you completed the game . Now there are 6 chapters . After you beat the main game and finish the credits you can't start chapter 6 . I don't want to spoil too much for you so i'll just say that there is an extra ( and really long ) dungeon with access to new items . There is also a mini game where you build your own village kind of like the one in DQVII . If you build your village to its maximum level , you will have access to some really strong items not found in the main story . There is also a secret character you can recruit . Again i won't spoil too much but this character is a powerhouse and an amazing addition to your entourage . Lastly , there is a new final boss , but you can only fight him with the addition of the secret character in your party .
I really think anyone could get into this game as long as they can get over the outdated graphics , but i think DQIV was already one of the best rpgs i've ever played , and the DS version perfected it in my opinion .
008 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I like rpg's that aren't too complicated . Usually by that I mean turn based rpgs . I find them relaxing . I also enjoy a good plot . I'm about 1 / 3 of a way through this game , and I've thoroughly enjoyed it .
The plot's fun so far . It's a cool twist to switch between characters every chapter . The accents were weird at first ( and took a minute or two to understand since they don't warn you what's going on ) , but now I really like it . The different dialects make it seem like you really are traveling all around a world rather than one country that they call a world . ( maybe the fact that I've done some world traveling and dealt with broken english in real life helps )
The graphics in town and in battle are very good . The map graphics are just ok . I like the 2 - d characters on 3 - d towns and dungeons . I thought that final fantasy 3 had pretty good ds graphics , but now I'm going to miss any game that doesn't use both screens for towns / dungeons . In most 3 - d places , you can spin the screen with L or R which really lets you find your way in the dungeons . It also lets you find tons of doors and stuff that you wouldn't find otherwise . Even though I don't think the map graphics are anything to praise , I do like that fact that you can't rotate the world map since I'd get lost all the time . . . : )
I was disappointed that the enemies in the battles are so small , but really they're very well animated . The enemies don't have many attacks but this is a remake of a pretty old game so I'm sure that's the way it was in the original .
The music's very good , and I enjoy it through headphones more . Sometimes I just turn the music off , but I wear my headphones for this game !
The challenge hasn't been very high , but I have had to level up a little bit so far ( run around and fight a bit to get stronger before going on ) . Again , I play these games to relax so I'm not looking for some challenge but not a huge challenge . Perfect for me !
I never played dragon warrior 4 on the nes , but I think this is a great game ( back in the nes era the dragon quest American games were called dragon warrior due to a trademark on dragon quest ) . I heard that most of the name changes were to bring it closer to the original japanese ( like really the the nes version wasn't a great translation ) .
So basically , if you like rpg games , or are looking for a good starting point in the rpg world , I don't think you can do much better than this .
Edit on June 5 , 2009 : Just wanted to add that I almost made it to the end of the game and have enjoyed it all the way through ! Still A great game ! Can't wait to try Dragon Quest V !
009 I like rpg's that aren't too complicated . Usually by that I mean turn based rpgs . I find them relaxing . I also enjoy a good plot . I'm about 1 / 3 of a way through this game , and I've thoroughly enjoyed it .
The plot's fun so far . It's a cool twist to switch between characters every chapter . The accents were weird at first ( and took a minute or two to understand since they don't warn you what's going on ) , but now I really like it . The different dialects make it seem like you really are traveling all around a world rather than one country that they call a world . ( maybe the fact that I've done some world traveling and dealt with broken english in real life helps )
The graphics in town and in battle are very good . The map graphics are just ok . I like the 2 - d characters on 3 - d towns and dungeons . I thought that final fantasy 3 had pretty good ds graphics , but now I'm going to miss any game that doesn't use both screens for towns / dungeons . In most 3 - d places , you can spin the screen with L or R which really lets you find your way in the dungeons . It also lets you find tons of doors and stuff that you wouldn't find otherwise . Even though I don't think the map graphics are anything to praise , I do like that fact that you can't rotate the world map since I'd get lost all the time . . . : )
I was disappointed that the enemies in the battles are so small , but really they're very well animated . The enemies don't have many attacks but this is a remake of a pretty old game so I'm sure that's the way it was in the original .
The music's very good , and I enjoy it through headphones more . Sometimes I just turn the music off , but I wear my headphones for this game !
The challenge hasn't been very high , but I have had to level up a little bit so far ( run around and fight a bit to get stronger before going on ) . Again , I play these games to relax so I'm not looking for some challenge but not a huge challenge . Perfect for me !
I never played dragon warrior 4 on the nes , but I think this is a great game ( back in the nes era the dragon quest American games were called dragon warrior due to a trademark on dragon quest ) . I heard that most of the name changes were to bring it closer to the original japanese ( like really the the nes version wasn't a great translation ) .
So basically , if you like rpg games , or are looking for a good starting point in the rpg world , I don't think you can do much better than this .
Edit on June 5 , 2009 : Just wanted to add that I almost made it to the end of the game and have enjoyed it all the way through ! Still A great game ! Can't wait to try Dragon Quest V !
010 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
great game . brings me back to 1992 . enix decided to remove all level grinding so now you basically just walk through the game , hitting your cue marks along the way . i'm about 30 hours into the game and will be finishing the main quest soon . regardless , the game looks look beautiful and is fun .
011 great game . brings me back to 1992 . enix decided to remove all level grinding so now you basically just walk through the game , hitting your cue marks along the way . i'm about 30 hours into the game and will be finishing the main quest soon . regardless , the game looks look beautiful and is fun .
013 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Dragon Quest is a legendary RPG series from Japan that nearly every gamer has heard of . We may not understand why it's so popular there , but even in the U.S . , there is a small audience that is charmed by this series . Let me get this out of the way : I'm not a part of that audience . Before playing the fourth installment of this series , I was a Dragon Quest hater . I had spent 32 hours with Dragon Quest VII , and twenty plus hours with Dragon Quest VIII , but neither of those games hooked me . I tried to convince myself that those were great RPGs , and that there was a reason they received such high review scores , but I just could not be swayed , no matter how much I played . To me , Dragon Quest felt like a boring NES RPG with a barebones story , a bland battle system , and very little character development . Even the supposedly grand musical scores , felt uninspired . Well , a few months ago , I ended up having a heated debate with some Dragon Quest fans over at 1UP . I felt that they were giving the series too much credit , but someone convinced me to give Dragon Quest IV and V a shot . He seemed to agree that Dragon Quest VII felt uninspired , but mentioned that Dragon Quest IV and V were innovative RPGs that were comparable to classics like Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger . A few months later , I decided to pick up a copy of Dragon Quest IV along with a DSi . After spending a few hours with the game , my opinion on the series would change forever . . . .
So how did DQIV single-handedly demolish my hatred for all things Dragon Quest ? I mean on the surface , you wouldn't think DQIV would dent my mental barrier with its simplistic sprites , 8 - bit sounds , and oodles of random battles - - but it did . You'd be surprised at what caused my change of heart - - the way in which the story was told .
Now , Dragon Quest is not a series normally known for its story . Usually these games are rather simplistic journeys seeking out a Dragon Lord or baddie of some sort . Dragon Quest VII for example , has you journeying to indistinguishable towns where you often save the populace who has been turned to stone ( or some other malady ) . Your mission is to recover pieces of the world for the purpose of reassembling it . It's a fairly basic affair with few plot twists and hours of boredom . Dragon Quest IV on the other hand , is far from a barebones experience ; it takes a unique approach to storytelling that would influence many future RPGs .
If you enjoyed the scenario system in Final Fantasy VI and the chapter system in Mother 3 , you have Dragon Quest IV to thank . Like those games ( well , part of the game in the case of FFVI ) , Dragon Quest IV is divided into chapters featuring different characters . At the beginning of the game , you create a hero with a name of your choosing who lives in a peaceful hamlet , but you're soon whisked away to other , less tranquil lands . It's a bit jarring being torn away from your hero so soon , but the other unique characters you get to play as more than make up for it .
During the first chapter , you'll start off as a Royal Knight named , Ragnar McRyan , who is sent on missions by his lord . This lord who speaks in a Scottish accent , sends him on a quest to investigate recent disturbances that have befallen the kingdom . This Royal Knight with a moustache that would put Stalin's hair patch to shame , sets out on a journey to investigate the disappearances of children from villages .
The second chapter is even more exciting . You control the daughter of a Tsar , named Tsarevna Alena , who doesn't enjoy being cooped up inside of the castle . She yearns for adventure , and escapes the castle against her father's will . She brings along a few sidekicks who help her combat royal imposters , uncover mirage villages , and fight in an arena that would put Rome's Coliseum to shame . I believe that DQI。's Coliseum was the first combat arena ever to grace an RPG , and it set a precedent that would be followed by titles such as Final Fantasy VI , Star Ocean , Tales , and Jade Empire .
Chapter 3 is one of the most unique scenarios to ever grace an RPG . You play as a portly merchant named , Torneko who aspires to become a wealthy merchant for the sake of his family . He begins in a quaint village with a wife and child - - working a 9 - 5 shift at a weapon & armor shop . His life is initially quite monotonous with him waking up every day to his packed lunch made by his wife - - selling as much equipment as he can . It's a refreshingly unique scenario - - helping your RPG character gain upward mobility through other means than slaying monsters . Eventually , if you play your cards right , Torneko will move to other cities and become a big-time player in the financial world .
The final scenario with a unique set of characters has you playing as two attractive dancers : Meena and Maya . Even though they're the best dancers in the land , they're not satisfied with their daily routine . Their father , a famous alchemist was murdered by one of his disciples , and they set off pursuing this elusive assassin .
Chapter 5 brings the scenario system to a close , when you once again step in the shoes of the main male ( or female ) hero . A disaster befalls the hero's village after an evil force threatening the land discovers the location of the hero , so he sets out on a journey to defeat the lord of the underworld . Eventually , the hero meets up with the rag-tag band of heroes you controlled in previous chapters , and you set out on a journey solving each character's problems , before the ultimate confrontation . In Dragon Quest IV , you won't get an airship , but you'll travel to several unique villages and dungeons , just as you would in most RPGs . Dragon Quest IV also takes you to other lands in the sky and below ground , so it's fairly lengthy considering that it was originally an NES adventure . Despite not having an airship to roam the skies , you will have access to a sea vessel and a hot air balloon .
By the end of Chapter 5 , you'll have reached the game's original conclusion , but Chapter 6 is new to the DS version . Chapter 6 is relatively weak compared to previous chapters ; it's more of a grindfest that gives you access to new bosses , characters , and equipment . It's only really worth playing if you're a completist , but most adventurers will probably want to stick with the main quest and avoid the hundreds of extra battles you'll have to fight .
Clearly , the way in which the story was told was quite unique for its time , but how does the 8 - bit gameplay hold up ? It's actually quite enjoyable . I hate random battles as much as the next guy , but Dragon Quest doesn't really force you to fight much more than most Final Fantasy games . I rarely had to run around in circles fighting enemies - - that was only necessary before the final showdown . Unlike later installments of Dragon Quest , the battle system is fast-paced , yet strategic , so you won't have to worry about battles lasting over a minute unlike , this recent game .
Each of your characters ' abilities are unique , so it's up to you who you want to mix and match , once you obtain your entire party . You'll have access to characters who have healing spells , defensive spells , offensive and stat boosting spells , and an assortment of fighters . The strategic gameplay found in DQIV is quite refreshing , and partially illustrates why Dragon Quest IV was ahead of its time .
I didn't really like the visuals of the NES Dragon Quest games , or Dragon Quest VII for that matter , so I was quite surprised when I booted up DQIV . The visuals really weren't all that different from its Playstation brethren , but it looks quite nice on the DS screen ; the combination of hand drawn 2D sprites and 3D rotatable backgrounds are a perfect fit for the DS . The visuals display on both screens , so it makes excellent use of the dual-screened handheld . I really liked the character designs , and they helped add to the characters ' charming personalities .
I loved the characters ' personalities and DQI。's accents , but some gamers will utterly despise the accented dialogue . In each kingdom you visit , the townspeople have a different accent : Scottish , Russian , French , etc . , but it may be difficult for some people to understand , depending on how familiar you are with various accents . Some of the words are spelled incorrectly , and there are grammatical inaccuracies , so this will likely infuriate many intellectuals . I really didn't mind on the other hand , and thought it added to the experience ( although the accents were a bit stereotypical ) .
Finally , I'd like to briefly mention DQI。's music . The music found in this 8 - bit remake isn't as moving as what you'll find in a game like FFIV , but it sounds lovely due to part of it being orchestrated . It's not as engaging or emotionally charged as the music in some RPGs , but it really fits the grand adventure vibe of Dragon Quest .
Having now completed Dragon Quest IV ( even the optional sidequests ) , I'd like to retract what I've previously said about the series . Some of the later DQ games failed to innovate and felt quite lackluster in comparison to other RPGs , but DQIV put to rest my negative thoughts of the series as a whole . DQI。's innovative approach to storytelling ( and charming story underneath ) , provide for a grand experience that will stick with you for years . Regardless of one's perspective on the dialogue system , Dragon Quest I。's unique set of characters will also have a lasting impact on most players . Thankfully , this thirty hour quest isn't ruined by endless random encounters - - they're there , but not to the extent that they'll detract from your enjoyment of the experience ; just make sure to take a little time at the end of the game to gain some levels , so you can bludgeon the final boss with your Level 99 whoopin ' stick . If you're a Dragon Quest hater , but an RPG fan , I encourage you to try this landmark game in a genre that some claim is growing stagnant . I doubt that you'll be disappointed .
Score : 9.0 / 10
Pros :
* An innovative approach to storytelling
* Charming characters
* A fast-paced , tactical battle system
* Orchestrated music
* A grand sense of adventure
* A thirty-hour quest
Cons :
* Too much grinding at the end of the game
* The extra chapter feels tacked on
* Dying and losing half of your money can be a pain
* A map with named locations would have been nice
014 Dragon Quest is a legendary RPG series from Japan that nearly every gamer has heard of . We may not understand why it's so popular there , but even in the U.S . , there is a small audience that is charmed by this series . Let me get this out of the way : I'm not a part of that audience . Before playing the fourth installment of this series , I was a Dragon Quest hater . I had spent 32 hours with Dragon Quest VII , and twenty plus hours with Dragon Quest VIII , but neither of those games hooked me . I tried to convince myself that those were great RPGs , and that there was a reason they received such high review scores , but I just could not be swayed , no matter how much I played . To me , Dragon Quest felt like a boring NES RPG with a barebones story , a bland battle system , and very little character development . Even the supposedly grand musical scores , felt uninspired . Well , a few months ago , I ended up having a heated debate with some Dragon Quest fans over at 1UP . I felt that they were giving the series too much credit , but someone convinced me to give Dragon Quest IV and V a shot . He seemed to agree that Dragon Quest VII felt uninspired , but mentioned that Dragon Quest IV and V were innovative RPGs that were comparable to classics like Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger . A few months later , I decided to pick up a copy of Dragon Quest IV along with a DSi . After spending a few hours with the game , my opinion on the series would change forever . . . .
So how did DQIV single-handedly demolish my hatred for all things Dragon Quest ? I mean on the surface , you wouldn't think DQIV would dent my mental barrier with its simplistic sprites , 8 - bit sounds , and oodles of random battles - - but it did . You'd be surprised at what caused my change of heart - - the way in which the story was told .
Now , Dragon Quest is not a series normally known for its story . Usually these games are rather simplistic journeys seeking out a Dragon Lord or baddie of some sort . Dragon Quest VII for example , has you journeying to indistinguishable towns where you often save the populace who has been turned to stone ( or some other malady ) . Your mission is to recover pieces of the world for the purpose of reassembling it . It's a fairly basic affair with few plot twists and hours of boredom . Dragon Quest IV on the other hand , is far from a barebones experience ; it takes a unique approach to storytelling that would influence many future RPGs .
If you enjoyed the scenario system in Final Fantasy VI and the chapter system in Mother 3 , you have Dragon Quest IV to thank . Like those games ( well , part of the game in the case of FFVI ) , Dragon Quest IV is divided into chapters featuring different characters . At the beginning of the game , you create a hero with a name of your choosing who lives in a peaceful hamlet , but you're soon whisked away to other , less tranquil lands . It's a bit jarring being torn away from your hero so soon , but the other unique characters you get to play as more than make up for it .
During the first chapter , you'll start off as a Royal Knight named , Ragnar McRyan , who is sent on missions by his lord . This lord who speaks in a Scottish accent , sends him on a quest to investigate recent disturbances that have befallen the kingdom . This Royal Knight with a moustache that would put Stalin's hair patch to shame , sets out on a journey to investigate the disappearances of children from villages .
The second chapter is even more exciting . You control the daughter of a Tsar , named Tsarevna Alena , who doesn't enjoy being cooped up inside of the castle . She yearns for adventure , and escapes the castle against her father's will . She brings along a few sidekicks who help her combat royal imposters , uncover mirage villages , and fight in an arena that would put Rome's Coliseum to shame . I believe that DQI。's Coliseum was the first combat arena ever to grace an RPG , and it set a precedent that would be followed by titles such as Final Fantasy VI , Star Ocean , Tales , and Jade Empire .
Chapter 3 is one of the most unique scenarios to ever grace an RPG . You play as a portly merchant named , Torneko who aspires to become a wealthy merchant for the sake of his family . He begins in a quaint village with a wife and child - - working a 9 - 5 shift at a weapon & armor shop . His life is initially quite monotonous with him waking up every day to his packed lunch made by his wife - - selling as much equipment as he can . It's a refreshingly unique scenario - - helping your RPG character gain upward mobility through other means than slaying monsters . Eventually , if you play your cards right , Torneko will move to other cities and become a big-time player in the financial world .
The final scenario with a unique set of characters has you playing as two attractive dancers : Meena and Maya . Even though they're the best dancers in the land , they're not satisfied with their daily routine . Their father , a famous alchemist was murdered by one of his disciples , and they set off pursuing this elusive assassin .
Chapter 5 brings the scenario system to a close , when you once again step in the shoes of the main male ( or female ) hero . A disaster befalls the hero's village after an evil force threatening the land discovers the location of the hero , so he sets out on a journey to defeat the lord of the underworld . Eventually , the hero meets up with the rag-tag band of heroes you controlled in previous chapters , and you set out on a journey solving each character's problems , before the ultimate confrontation . In Dragon Quest IV , you won't get an airship , but you'll travel to several unique villages and dungeons , just as you would in most RPGs . Dragon Quest IV also takes you to other lands in the sky and below ground , so it's fairly lengthy considering that it was originally an NES adventure . Despite not having an airship to roam the skies , you will have access to a sea vessel and a hot air balloon .
By the end of Chapter 5 , you'll have reached the game's original conclusion , but Chapter 6 is new to the DS version . Chapter 6 is relatively weak compared to previous chapters ; it's more of a grindfest that gives you access to new bosses , characters , and equipment . It's only really worth playing if you're a completist , but most adventurers will probably want to stick with the main quest and avoid the hundreds of extra battles you'll have to fight .
Clearly , the way in which the story was told was quite unique for its time , but how does the 8 - bit gameplay hold up ? It's actually quite enjoyable . I hate random battles as much as the next guy , but Dragon Quest doesn't really force you to fight much more than most Final Fantasy games . I rarely had to run around in circles fighting enemies - - that was only necessary before the final showdown . Unlike later installments of Dragon Quest , the battle system is fast-paced , yet strategic , so you won't have to worry about battles lasting over a minute unlike , this recent game .
Each of your characters ' abilities are unique , so it's up to you who you want to mix and match , once you obtain your entire party . You'll have access to characters who have healing spells , defensive spells , offensive and stat boosting spells , and an assortment of fighters . The strategic gameplay found in DQIV is quite refreshing , and partially illustrates why Dragon Quest IV was ahead of its time .
I didn't really like the visuals of the NES Dragon Quest games , or Dragon Quest VII for that matter , so I was quite surprised when I booted up DQIV . The visuals really weren't all that different from its Playstation brethren , but it looks quite nice on the DS screen ; the combination of hand drawn 2D sprites and 3D rotatable backgrounds are a perfect fit for the DS . The visuals display on both screens , so it makes excellent use of the dual-screened handheld . I really liked the character designs , and they helped add to the characters ' charming personalities .
I loved the characters ' personalities and DQI。's accents , but some gamers will utterly despise the accented dialogue . In each kingdom you visit , the townspeople have a different accent : Scottish , Russian , French , etc . , but it may be difficult for some people to understand , depending on how familiar you are with various accents . Some of the words are spelled incorrectly , and there are grammatical inaccuracies , so this will likely infuriate many intellectuals . I really didn't mind on the other hand , and thought it added to the experience ( although the accents were a bit stereotypical ) .
Finally , I'd like to briefly mention DQI。's music . The music found in this 8 - bit remake isn't as moving as what you'll find in a game like FFIV , but it sounds lovely due to part of it being orchestrated . It's not as engaging or emotionally charged as the music in some RPGs , but it really fits the grand adventure vibe of Dragon Quest .
Having now completed Dragon Quest IV ( even the optional sidequests ) , I'd like to retract what I've previously said about the series . Some of the later DQ games failed to innovate and felt quite lackluster in comparison to other RPGs , but DQIV put to rest my negative thoughts of the series as a whole . DQI。's innovative approach to storytelling ( and charming story underneath ) , provide for a grand experience that will stick with you for years . Regardless of one's perspective on the dialogue system , Dragon Quest I。's unique set of characters will also have a lasting impact on most players . Thankfully , this thirty hour quest isn't ruined by endless random encounters - - they're there , but not to the extent that they'll detract from your enjoyment of the experience ; just make sure to take a little time at the end of the game to gain some levels , so you can bludgeon the final boss with your Level 99 whoopin ' stick . If you're a Dragon Quest hater , but an RPG fan , I encourage you to try this landmark game in a genre that some claim is growing stagnant . I doubt that you'll be disappointed .
Score : 9.0 / 10
Pros :
* An innovative approach to storytelling
* Charming characters
* A fast-paced , tactical battle system
* Orchestrated music
* A grand sense of adventure
* A thirty-hour quest
Cons :
* Too much grinding at the end of the game
* The extra chapter feels tacked on
* Dying and losing half of your money can be a pain
* A map with named locations would have been nice
015 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I just completed the regular 5 chapters of DQIV and thoroughly enjoyed it . According to my DS I logged 58 hours and 30 minutes into this game . I definitely consider it worth the money !
I thought the graphics , sound , and story were excellent . I love the turn based battle system and did not find the menu hard to navigate . I am a relative latcomer to the RPG genre . I don't play consoles ( my kids do - - - but I prefer the DS ) so I never played a FF or DQ or other popular RPG . I got very attached to some characters ( for some reason I was VERY attached to the merchant guy Torneko ) . I loved the ending . I have not yet played the 6th chapter so I can't speak to it but i generally find that these extra chapters are not something I usually enjoy . I am satisfied and happy to have beaten the game .
I thougtht this game had an excellent save system . Your characters ( some of them ) can learn spells like Evac and Zoom . Evac can be used in most dungeons to get you out of there right away and zoom takes you to any place you visited before . As a newcomer to the RPG genre I did not have any problems completing this Quest . I did have to pay attention to what I was doing and I did use a guide to assist me - - but I found that , as good as the guide was , I liked choosing my own team and equipping them the way I wanted to in the boss battles so most of the time what I had was very different than what the guide had . Mostly the guide was useful for the dungeon's so I didn't get lost .
I found the learning curve acceptable . I was able to beat all bosses on the first try BUT I spent a lot of time leveling up . I prefer to have fun using strategy in the battles and not have to keep reviving fallen team members . I have to admit that I spent probably 6 - 7 hours before the final sets of boss battles going after those liquid metal slimes and king slimes - - - - I leveled my hero up to 38 before I knew it so the final battles were not bad . My team was all at level 38 or above for the final battle .
If you've read my past reviews you know I write from a 40 something mom's perspective . I really loved The World Ends with You ( hence my interest in RPG ) and I would say this one rates up there as well - - - it does not have as original a story and there weren't any surprises for me along the way so it was predictable but the fact you first play each chapter as someone new is very cool and keeps it from getting stale . I will say I had a much harder time leveling up Maya and Meena than anyone else in thier chapter . Don't know why ( magic users maybe ? )
I can highly recommend this title . I think anyone from about age 10 or up would enjoy it as long as they understand that it is easier if you level up . . I like that repetition so relish these types of games . While I do not think anyone needs to level up as much as I did ( you can get through the game without it ) this does make the game more forgiving and lets you have a couple of lapses in judgement ( I used Thwack on a boss . . . what was I thinking ! ) . If you like turn based RPG I think this one deserves to be picked up !
016 I just completed the regular 5 chapters of DQIV and thoroughly enjoyed it . According to my DS I logged 58 hours and 30 minutes into this game . I definitely consider it worth the money !
I thought the graphics , sound , and story were excellent . I love the turn based battle system and did not find the menu hard to navigate . I am a relative latcomer to the RPG genre . I don't play consoles ( my kids do - - - but I prefer the DS ) so I never played a FF or DQ or other popular RPG . I got very attached to some characters ( for some reason I was VERY attached to the merchant guy Torneko ) . I loved the ending . I have not yet played the 6th chapter so I can't speak to it but i generally find that these extra chapters are not something I usually enjoy . I am satisfied and happy to have beaten the game .
I thougtht this game had an excellent save system . Your characters ( some of them ) can learn spells like Evac and Zoom . Evac can be used in most dungeons to get you out of there right away and zoom takes you to any place you visited before . As a newcomer to the RPG genre I did not have any problems completing this Quest . I did have to pay attention to what I was doing and I did use a guide to assist me - - but I found that , as good as the guide was , I liked choosing my own team and equipping them the way I wanted to in the boss battles so most of the time what I had was very different than what the guide had . Mostly the guide was useful for the dungeon's so I didn't get lost .
I found the learning curve acceptable . I was able to beat all bosses on the first try BUT I spent a lot of time leveling up . I prefer to have fun using strategy in the battles and not have to keep reviving fallen team members . I have to admit that I spent probably 6 - 7 hours before the final sets of boss battles going after those liquid metal slimes and king slimes - - - - I leveled my hero up to 38 before I knew it so the final battles were not bad . My team was all at level 38 or above for the final battle .
If you've read my past reviews you know I write from a 40 something mom's perspective . I really loved The World Ends with You ( hence my interest in RPG ) and I would say this one rates up there as well - - - it does not have as original a story and there weren't any surprises for me along the way so it was predictable but the fact you first play each chapter as someone new is very cool and keeps it from getting stale . I will say I had a much harder time leveling up Maya and Meena than anyone else in thier chapter . Don't know why ( magic users maybe ? )
I can highly recommend this title . I think anyone from about age 10 or up would enjoy it as long as they understand that it is easier if you level up . . I like that repetition so relish these types of games . While I do not think anyone needs to level up as much as I did ( you can get through the game without it ) this does make the game more forgiving and lets you have a couple of lapses in judgement ( I used Thwack on a boss . . . what was I thinking ! ) . If you like turn based RPG I think this one deserves to be picked up !
017 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I considered the original NA release of Dragon Warrior IV my favorite game of the 8 - bit NES era . This Nintendo DS port of the PSX re-release is quite excellent .
Graphics are great . The beautiful 2D sprites have been updated to include animation . The towns / castles / dungeons / towers are now 3D ( you can rotate the camera 360 degrees ) . Music is slightly reworked , and still wonderful . The battle , boss battle , and dungeon / tower tunes are among my favorite of any RPG .
My only possible disappointment is that the names of some characters and monsters has been changed . For example , Cristo is now Kiryl , Healers are now Healslimes , etc . Also many items and spells have new names . These updates are normal for older games being re-released , but I guess I'm stuck in the past : - )
For those of you who have never played it , these title breaks the story down into 6 chapters . The first 4 chapters are mostly independent of each other - not until chapter 5 do the main characters unite and save the world .
Highly recommended ! ! ! !
018 I considered the original NA release of Dragon Warrior IV my favorite game of the 8 - bit NES era . This Nintendo DS port of the PSX re-release is quite excellent .
Graphics are great . The beautiful 2D sprites have been updated to include animation . The towns / castles / dungeons / towers are now 3D ( you can rotate the camera 360 degrees ) . Music is slightly reworked , and still wonderful . The battle , boss battle , and dungeon / tower tunes are among my favorite of any RPG .
My only possible disappointment is that the names of some characters and monsters has been changed . For example , Cristo is now Kiryl , Healers are now Healslimes , etc . Also many items and spells have new names . These updates are normal for older games being re-released , but I guess I'm stuck in the past : - )
For those of you who have never played it , these title breaks the story down into 6 chapters . The first 4 chapters are mostly independent of each other - not until chapter 5 do the main characters unite and save the world .
Highly recommended ! ! ! !
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This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I was fairly excited about this release . I tore the box open this week , ready and willing to relive hours upon hours of my wasted youth . I squeed with delight as the Dragon Quest theme began playing in all its tinny regal splendor . And then the game began .
Let me say , first and foremost , that I did enjoy playing Dragon Quest IV . Arte Piazza , the art directors from Dragon Quest VII , took the lead on this remake , and it shows . The refresh on the art is welcome , but not intrusive or overdone . Akira Toriyama's monster design is still charming and bright , including the bosses . The sound is a near-perfect translation of the original and still rings true after fifteen years . The problem is that most of the mechanics are also still the same after fifteen years , and they don't quite stand the test of time .
JRPGs are known for slow-paced combat , and DQ is the grandaddy of them all . Twelve year-old me had no problem with this , probably because I didn't know anything else . DQIV is turn-based , and forces you to go through several menus to choose exactly what everyone wants to do , every time . Unlike the recent re-release of Final Fantasy IV , there is no Auto-Attack option . This means is that early fights can take forever as you whittle down slime after slime .
Inventory is annoying . When I didn't know that only being able to hold eight items per person ( plus one overflow bag ) was an arbitrary difficulty modifier , it didn't bother me . Today , trying to stock up on Medicinal Herbs that don't stack and cannot be used except by the player who is holding them is nearly unforgiveable . This is particularly true in the early stages , when those herbs are your lifeline , and its a long way back to the save point .
Ah , yes , saving . Another fun DQ innovation . In DQ , you save by confessing at a church . That's it . No save points in dungeons , no way to port out and port back in , nothing . This means that if you trudged all the way out to some Light forsaken tower and spent two hours grinding through it just to die on the final boss , you are out of luck . Do it all again . This time with feeling . And mana regeneration ? Forget it , until you can obtain items that will do restore your juice . So make those spells last . They're the only ones you've got .
Finally , level grinding . I'm a 4 - year WoW player , so level grinding is nothing new to me . That being said , years of playing WoW and Final Fantasy games have conditioned me to expect that if I play through a game normally , entering dungeons and facing bosses in sequence as I meet them , I stand at least a fair chance of prevailing . Not so in DQ . Most of the time , if you try to take on a challenge as soon as you encounter it , you're going to die . End of story . Expect to wander around aimlessly looking for fights for at least an extra level , better two , beyond the level you are when you first encounter The Next Big Thing . Oh well , at least you make lots of gold , right ? Wrong . Forget being able to get the latest and greatest gear available from each new town , at least at first . DQ is stingy with the money , and dungeons drops are rare . Be prepared to wander .
I knew all of this going into the game , though . I knew that there were things that were going to bug the heck out of me because I've come to expect more from my RPGs since 1992 . That's why I still enjoyed DQIV so much .
The storyline is still fairly epic , even by today's standards . The characters have life , and feeling , and the localization teams have done their best to make each Chapter feel like it takes place in a completely different part of the game world . Even if this does lead to some horribly funny Japanese-to-Russianesque-to-Rusjapenglish in Chapter 2 , it gives you the feeling that you are a large world with varied ethnicities and real danger .
My favorite Chapter is still 3 , the tale of Mara and Nara , the dancer and the fortuneteller . As a kid , these ladies inspired me even more than warrior princess Alena . That part hasn't changed a bit . Fighting with clubs and daggers is de rigeur , but using fans , claws and cards as weapons is a blast . Grinding through the merchant quest still sucks , though .
I also have to give credit where credit is due . What little new stuff there is here really works . The DS two-screen approach offers a lot of screen real estate for this game . This is invaluable in dungeons because it lets you get a better sense of where you are going , and cuts down on the random lost roaming of the original . The towns look lovely , almost on par with Dragon Quest VII . There is an online Chance Encounter mode that allows you to expand your own town through Nintendo WiFi play . If you have other nostalgia-starved friends who pick this title up , you'll enjoy sharing your own little piece of Heaven with them .
All in all , I think Arte Piazza did a good job updating this classic for the modern era . I hope this brings a new generation of proto-geeks to DQ , and to the appreciation of substance over style ( I'm looking at you , Final Fantasy X - 2 ) . I'm looking forward to the ports of Dragon Quest V : Hand of the Heavenly Bride and Dragon Quest VI : Realms of Reverie , the second and third titles in the so-called Zenithia trilogy . Most Americans ( including me ) have never had the chance to play DQV and VI . DQV was released in Japan in July , so hopefully the U.S . release isn't far behind . Maybe they'll even evolve out some of the rough parts this time .
( From PlayingWithMyWeiner.com - gaming at the mercy of miniature daschunds . )
020 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I was fairly excited about this release . I tore the box open this week , ready and willing to relive hours upon hours of my wasted youth . I squeed with delight as the Dragon Quest theme began playing in all its tinny regal splendor . And then the game began .
Let me say , first and foremost , that I did enjoy playing Dragon Quest IV . Arte Piazza , the art directors from Dragon Quest VII , took the lead on this remake , and it shows . The refresh on the art is welcome , but not intrusive or overdone . Akira Toriyama's monster design is still charming and bright , including the bosses . The sound is a near-perfect translation of the original and still rings true after fifteen years . The problem is that most of the mechanics are also still the same after fifteen years , and they don't quite stand the test of time .
JRPGs are known for slow-paced combat , and DQ is the grandaddy of them all . Twelve year-old me had no problem with this , probably because I didn't know anything else . DQIV is turn-based , and forces you to go through several menus to choose exactly what everyone wants to do , every time . Unlike the recent re-release of Final Fantasy IV , there is no Auto-Attack option . This means is that early fights can take forever as you whittle down slime after slime .
Inventory is annoying . When I didn't know that only being able to hold eight items per person ( plus one overflow bag ) was an arbitrary difficulty modifier , it didn't bother me . Today , trying to stock up on Medicinal Herbs that don't stack and cannot be used except by the player who is holding them is nearly unforgiveable . This is particularly true in the early stages , when those herbs are your lifeline , and its a long way back to the save point .
Ah , yes , saving . Another fun DQ innovation . In DQ , you save by confessing at a church . That's it . No save points in dungeons , no way to port out and port back in , nothing . This means that if you trudged all the way out to some Light forsaken tower and spent two hours grinding through it just to die on the final boss , you are out of luck . Do it all again . This time with feeling . And mana regeneration ? Forget it , until you can obtain items that will do restore your juice . So make those spells last . They're the only ones you've got .
Finally , level grinding . I'm a 4 - year WoW player , so level grinding is nothing new to me . That being said , years of playing WoW and Final Fantasy games have conditioned me to expect that if I play through a game normally , entering dungeons and facing bosses in sequence as I meet them , I stand at least a fair chance of prevailing . Not so in DQ . Most of the time , if you try to take on a challenge as soon as you encounter it , you're going to die . End of story . Expect to wander around aimlessly looking for fights for at least an extra level , better two , beyond the level you are when you first encounter The Next Big Thing . Oh well , at least you make lots of gold , right ? Wrong . Forget being able to get the latest and greatest gear available from each new town , at least at first . DQ is stingy with the money , and dungeons drops are rare . Be prepared to wander .
I knew all of this going into the game , though . I knew that there were things that were going to bug the heck out of me because I've come to expect more from my RPGs since 1992 . That's why I still enjoyed DQIV so much .
The storyline is still fairly epic , even by today's standards . The characters have life , and feeling , and the localization teams have done their best to make each Chapter feel like it takes place in a completely different part of the game world . Even if this does lead to some horribly funny Japanese-to-Russianesque-to-Rusjapenglish in Chapter 2 , it gives you the feeling that you are a large world with varied ethnicities and real danger .
My favorite Chapter is still 3 , the tale of Mara and Nara , the dancer and the fortuneteller . As a kid , these ladies inspired me even more than warrior princess Alena . That part hasn't changed a bit . Fighting with clubs and daggers is de rigeur , but using fans , claws and cards as weapons is a blast . Grinding through the merchant quest still sucks , though .
I also have to give credit where credit is due . What little new stuff there is here really works . The DS two-screen approach offers a lot of screen real estate for this game . This is invaluable in dungeons because it lets you get a better sense of where you are going , and cuts down on the random lost roaming of the original . The towns look lovely , almost on par with Dragon Quest VII . There is an online Chance Encounter mode that allows you to expand your own town through Nintendo WiFi play . If you have other nostalgia-starved friends who pick this title up , you'll enjoy sharing your own little piece of Heaven with them .
All in all , I think Arte Piazza did a good job updating this classic for the modern era . I hope this brings a new generation of proto-geeks to DQ , and to the appreciation of substance over style ( I'm looking at you , Final Fantasy X - 2 ) . I'm looking forward to the ports of Dragon Quest V : Hand of the Heavenly Bride and Dragon Quest VI : Realms of Reverie , the second and third titles in the so-called Zenithia trilogy . Most Americans ( including me ) have never had the chance to play DQV and VI . DQV was released in Japan in July , so hopefully the U.S . release isn't far behind . Maybe they'll even evolve out some of the rough parts this time .
( From PlayingWithMyWeiner.com - gaming at the mercy of miniature daschunds . )
021 I was fairly excited about this release . I tore the box open this week , ready and willing to relive hours upon hours of my wasted youth . I squeed with delight as the Dragon Quest theme began playing in all its tinny regal splendor . And then the game began .
Let me say , first and foremost , that I did enjoy playing Dragon Quest IV . Arte Piazza , the art directors from Dragon Quest VII , took the lead on this remake , and it shows . The refresh on the art is welcome , but not intrusive or overdone . Akira Toriyama's monster design is still charming and bright , including the bosses . The sound is a near-perfect translation of the original and still rings true after fifteen years . The problem is that most of the mechanics are also still the same after fifteen years , and they don't quite stand the test of time .
JRPGs are known for slow-paced combat , and DQ is the grandaddy of them all . Twelve year-old me had no problem with this , probably because I didn't know anything else . DQIV is turn-based , and forces you to go through several menus to choose exactly what everyone wants to do , every time . Unlike the recent re-release of Final Fantasy IV , there is no Auto-Attack option . This means is that early fights can take forever as you whittle down slime after slime .
Inventory is annoying . When I didn't know that only being able to hold eight items per person ( plus one overflow bag ) was an arbitrary difficulty modifier , it didn't bother me . Today , trying to stock up on Medicinal Herbs that don't stack and cannot be used except by the player who is holding them is nearly unforgiveable . This is particularly true in the early stages , when those herbs are your lifeline , and its a long way back to the save point .
Ah , yes , saving . Another fun DQ innovation . In DQ , you save by confessing at a church . That's it . No save points in dungeons , no way to port out and port back in , nothing . This means that if you trudged all the way out to some Light forsaken tower and spent two hours grinding through it just to die on the final boss , you are out of luck . Do it all again . This time with feeling . And mana regeneration ? Forget it , until you can obtain items that will do restore your juice . So make those spells last . They're the only ones you've got .
Finally , level grinding . I'm a 4 - year WoW player , so level grinding is nothing new to me . That being said , years of playing WoW and Final Fantasy games have conditioned me to expect that if I play through a game normally , entering dungeons and facing bosses in sequence as I meet them , I stand at least a fair chance of prevailing . Not so in DQ . Most of the time , if you try to take on a challenge as soon as you encounter it , you're going to die . End of story . Expect to wander around aimlessly looking for fights for at least an extra level , better two , beyond the level you are when you first encounter The Next Big Thing . Oh well , at least you make lots of gold , right ? Wrong . Forget being able to get the latest and greatest gear available from each new town , at least at first . DQ is stingy with the money , and dungeons drops are rare . Be prepared to wander .
I knew all of this going into the game , though . I knew that there were things that were going to bug the heck out of me because I've come to expect more from my RPGs since 1992 . That's why I still enjoyed DQIV so much .
The storyline is still fairly epic , even by today's standards . The characters have life , and feeling , and the localization teams have done their best to make each Chapter feel like it takes place in a completely different part of the game world . Even if this does lead to some horribly funny Japanese-to-Russianesque-to-Rusjapenglish in Chapter 2 , it gives you the feeling that you are a large world with varied ethnicities and real danger .
My favorite Chapter is still 3 , the tale of Mara and Nara , the dancer and the fortuneteller . As a kid , these ladies inspired me even more than warrior princess Alena . That part hasn't changed a bit . Fighting with clubs and daggers is de rigeur , but using fans , claws and cards as weapons is a blast . Grinding through the merchant quest still sucks , though .
I also have to give credit where credit is due . What little new stuff there is here really works . The DS two-screen approach offers a lot of screen real estate for this game . This is invaluable in dungeons because it lets you get a better sense of where you are going , and cuts down on the random lost roaming of the original . The towns look lovely , almost on par with Dragon Quest VII . There is an online Chance Encounter mode that allows you to expand your own town through Nintendo WiFi play . If you have other nostalgia-starved friends who pick this title up , you'll enjoy sharing your own little piece of Heaven with them .
All in all , I think Arte Piazza did a good job updating this classic for the modern era . I hope this brings a new generation of proto-geeks to DQ , and to the appreciation of substance over style ( I'm looking at you , Final Fantasy X - 2 ) . I'm looking forward to the ports of Dragon Quest V : Hand of the Heavenly Bride and Dragon Quest VI : Realms of Reverie , the second and third titles in the so-called Zenithia trilogy . Most Americans ( including me ) have never had the chance to play DQV and VI . DQV was released in Japan in July , so hopefully the U.S . release isn't far behind . Maybe they'll even evolve out some of the rough parts this time .
( From PlayingWithMyWeiner.com - gaming at the mercy of miniature daschunds . )
022 Amazon Verified Purchase
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What's this ?
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This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Before jumping into this game , the player must realize that this game is a nostalgia trip . It is not going to be over the top , it is not going to have some crazy convoluted storyline or crazy spell / attack animations . The game itself is meant to bring a classic from the NES era to the new ( er ) generation of gamers .
If you can accept the above , or if you played the original on NES and want a trip down memory lane ( like myself ) then go for it ! You will not be disappointed , and you may even suffer flashbacks .
Graphically the game is a definite throwback to the SNES / PS1 era of JRPG , check out some screen shots , you'll see what I mean . I personally love this particular style , and sincerely miss it . I have nothing wrong with graphical masterpieces , but sometimes the nostalgia kicks in on me hard and I feel the need to boot up an older game to sedate it ( the Dragon Quest DS series is fantastic for these nostalgia attacks ) . The music is also fantastic , as it is in all DQ games . I was actually surprised at the sound quality , given the DS speakers are kind of lackluster when compared to the PSP .
The storyline itself as a whole is extremely grand ; however , considering the time that the original was released , story development generally took a backseat in favor of game play . Do not expect monologues from characters or intense character development . There is some lore to explore , but do not expect Dragon Age . That was not the focus during the NES era , which could be a result of technological limitations ( I am speculating ) . This particular remake is extremely faithful to the original , and that includes the vague story . In all honesty , the DQ series is not really known for story , it is more known for Toriyama's character design and old school game play mechanics , which are what truly make the game enjoyable . Oh , and slimes .
You can finish DQ4 in ~ 20 - 24hrs depending on how much you grind . I highly recommend this game if you are in the mood for some old school fun , or if you just want to occupy some time on your commute ( the grinding is great for that ) , and with the addition of the ' quick save ' feature , it makes playing on the go even more accessible .
I would also like to mention that DQ4 - 6 are part of a trilogy , so if you really enjoyed DQ4 , go for the trifecta . . although be warned that DQ5 is extremely hard to find at a decent price . DQ6 on the other hand was released about a week ago .
023 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Before jumping into this game , the player must realize that this game is a nostalgia trip . It is not going to be over the top , it is not going to have some crazy convoluted storyline or crazy spell / attack animations . The game itself is meant to bring a classic from the NES era to the new ( er ) generation of gamers .
If you can accept the above , or if you played the original on NES and want a trip down memory lane ( like myself ) then go for it ! You will not be disappointed , and you may even suffer flashbacks .
Graphically the game is a definite throwback to the SNES / PS1 era of JRPG , check out some screen shots , you'll see what I mean . I personally love this particular style , and sincerely miss it . I have nothing wrong with graphical masterpieces , but sometimes the nostalgia kicks in on me hard and I feel the need to boot up an older game to sedate it ( the Dragon Quest DS series is fantastic for these nostalgia attacks ) . The music is also fantastic , as it is in all DQ games . I was actually surprised at the sound quality , given the DS speakers are kind of lackluster when compared to the PSP .
The storyline itself as a whole is extremely grand ; however , considering the time that the original was released , story development generally took a backseat in favor of game play . Do not expect monologues from characters or intense character development . There is some lore to explore , but do not expect Dragon Age . That was not the focus during the NES era , which could be a result of technological limitations ( I am speculating ) . This particular remake is extremely faithful to the original , and that includes the vague story . In all honesty , the DQ series is not really known for story , it is more known for Toriyama's character design and old school game play mechanics , which are what truly make the game enjoyable . Oh , and slimes .
You can finish DQ4 in ~ 20 - 24hrs depending on how much you grind . I highly recommend this game if you are in the mood for some old school fun , or if you just want to occupy some time on your commute ( the grinding is great for that ) , and with the addition of the ' quick save ' feature , it makes playing on the go even more accessible .
I would also like to mention that DQ4 - 6 are part of a trilogy , so if you really enjoyed DQ4 , go for the trifecta . . although be warned that DQ5 is extremely hard to find at a decent price . DQ6 on the other hand was released about a week ago .
024 Before jumping into this game , the player must realize that this game is a nostalgia trip . It is not going to be over the top , it is not going to have some crazy convoluted storyline or crazy spell / attack animations . The game itself is meant to bring a classic from the NES era to the new ( er ) generation of gamers .
If you can accept the above , or if you played the original on NES and want a trip down memory lane ( like myself ) then go for it ! You will not be disappointed , and you may even suffer flashbacks .
Graphically the game is a definite throwback to the SNES / PS1 era of JRPG , check out some screen shots , you'll see what I mean . I personally love this particular style , and sincerely miss it . I have nothing wrong with graphical masterpieces , but sometimes the nostalgia kicks in on me hard and I feel the need to boot up an older game to sedate it ( the Dragon Quest DS series is fantastic for these nostalgia attacks ) . The music is also fantastic , as it is in all DQ games . I was actually surprised at the sound quality , given the DS speakers are kind of lackluster when compared to the PSP .
The storyline itself as a whole is extremely grand ; however , considering the time that the original was released , story development generally took a backseat in favor of game play . Do not expect monologues from characters or intense character development . There is some lore to explore , but do not expect Dragon Age . That was not the focus during the NES era , which could be a result of technological limitations ( I am speculating ) . This particular remake is extremely faithful to the original , and that includes the vague story . In all honesty , the DQ series is not really known for story , it is more known for Toriyama's character design and old school game play mechanics , which are what truly make the game enjoyable . Oh , and slimes .
You can finish DQ4 in ~ 20 - 24hrs depending on how much you grind . I highly recommend this game if you are in the mood for some old school fun , or if you just want to occupy some time on your commute ( the grinding is great for that ) , and with the addition of the ' quick save ' feature , it makes playing on the go even more accessible .
I would also like to mention that DQ4 - 6 are part of a trilogy , so if you really enjoyed DQ4 , go for the trifecta . . although be warned that DQ5 is extremely hard to find at a decent price . DQ6 on the other hand was released about a week ago .
025 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Before playing this , the only experience I had with the DQ series was Dragon Quest VIII : Journey of the Cursed King . Which , I absolutely adored .
SO I was pretty excited to get my hands on this one for the DS ! : D
I love how you can choose to be a male or a female . I've played many a game where I have to pretend I'm a man for a while . ( boo ! ) Ha ha . : p
Or maybe this is commonplace for the older DQs , I wouldn't know , sadly . : (
It's a lot of fun , though . Cute story . And isn't too terribly difficult , whether you're a fan of the series , or a fan of RPGs in general . It's got that cutesy old school feel that I personally , adore .
I miss the way they used to be made . So remakes of older games bring a big , fat , silly smile to my face .
: D - - - - - See ? Smiling !
Know what I love about Dragon Quest ? How unique their spell names are .
I mean seriously . . . ' Kacrackle ' ? ! AWESOME SAUCE ! So much more exciting than Ice . : P
Also , I just really love the look of the game . I love short little spritey characters , AWWWW !
Sorry to be such a girl but . . . yeahhhhhhh .
Love love how the game starts out . How you get to be each individual character and find out their background story individually before they all meet up . Very interesting .
What's annoying is that it takes FOREVER to gain levels . I'm kind of an impatient person , though , but whilst lvl grinding , I feel like it takes thousands of battles to gain one stinkin ' level ! D :
That can grow rather monotonous , one would think .
But I get a great sense of satisfaction when I get my dudes all beefy to make final bosses a piece of cake . Chocolate cake , with pretty pink strawberry frosting , adorned with the most colorful of sprinkles ! And a cherry on top . : 3
But you can just crank up some good tunes , kick back and wander the world map for hours on end , fighting battle after battle . That's what I do . : )
026 Before playing this , the only experience I had with the DQ series was Dragon Quest VIII : Journey of the Cursed King . Which , I absolutely adored .
SO I was pretty excited to get my hands on this one for the DS ! : D
I love how you can choose to be a male or a female . I've played many a game where I have to pretend I'm a man for a while . ( boo ! ) Ha ha . : p
Or maybe this is commonplace for the older DQs , I wouldn't know , sadly . : (
It's a lot of fun , though . Cute story . And isn't too terribly difficult , whether you're a fan of the series , or a fan of RPGs in general . It's got that cutesy old school feel that I personally , adore .
I miss the way they used to be made . So remakes of older games bring a big , fat , silly smile to my face .
: D - - - - - See ? Smiling !
Know what I love about Dragon Quest ? How unique their spell names are .
I mean seriously . . . ' Kacrackle ' ? ! AWESOME SAUCE ! So much more exciting than Ice . : P
Also , I just really love the look of the game . I love short little spritey characters , AWWWW !
Sorry to be such a girl but . . . yeahhhhhhh .
Love love how the game starts out . How you get to be each individual character and find out their background story individually before they all meet up . Very interesting .
What's annoying is that it takes FOREVER to gain levels . I'm kind of an impatient person , though , but whilst lvl grinding , I feel like it takes thousands of battles to gain one stinkin ' level ! D :
That can grow rather monotonous , one would think .
But I get a great sense of satisfaction when I get my dudes all beefy to make final bosses a piece of cake . Chocolate cake , with pretty pink strawberry frosting , adorned with the most colorful of sprinkles ! And a cherry on top . : 3
But you can just crank up some good tunes , kick back and wander the world map for hours on end , fighting battle after battle . That's what I do . : )
027 Amazon Verified Purchase
(
What's this ?
)
This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
A few months ago Square Enix released Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen for DS , an updated version of Dragon Warrior IV - one of my personal favorite NES games . I had some time off recently and decided to indulge myself a bit in some old-school fun . Just to get everything out in the clear , my review of this game is almost definitely biased - the Dragon Quest series provides a huge amount of nostalgia for me .
Here's the short review :
If you think that you'll like Dragon Quest IV , then you probably will . If the idea of playing an 8 - bit RPG with some minor updates sounds miserable to you , then you will probably hate it .
If you want more data , then here's the longer review :
The new version of Dragon Quest IV , of one of my favorite games as a small child , is pretty much exactly what a remake should be . The graphics are completely redone ( and in 3D ) , but keep the same feel as the original . There are lots of bright and vibrant colors , and a wide range of characters , monsters , and environments . Just like most of the games I actually enjoy on the DS , the stylus isn't used at all . Neither is the microphone input or anything else funky . Just screen real estate .
The controls are very much streamlined when compared to the 8 - bit version , updated to take advantage of some of the advances in video game interfaces that have happened over the past fifteen or so years . In addition there are more modern conveniences that didn't really exist in the olden days , such as the ability to QuickSave instead of hoofing it all the way back to a King whenever you need to take a break .
The gameplay is much faster paced than it was on the NES . I don't have comparison data , but I'm pretty sure that the experience levels have been adjusted to provide a more easily accessible experience . Dragon Quest IV isn't as much of a grind as it could be , and a very small amount of dedicated leveling is required - at least compared to the NES version . The combat is also fairly simple RPG fare , consisting mainly of attacking , item use , and choosing from a variety of spells and skills - but not nearly as tedious as it was in the original version .
The translation is also completely redone , which is always something that RPG nerds go crazy over . I didn't find anything offensive about it personally , but things are much different in the new DS version . The olde english is mostly out the window , and each different worlds in the game adopts an exaggerated real-world accent . One chapter you'll be hearing everything in a crazy Russian tone , and the next chapter you'll be exposed to French or Scottish . This will either be seen as charming or infuriating , depending on your point of view .
Speaking of chapters , one of the coolest things about Dragon Quest IV ( and a major innovation at the time ) is the chapter system . A brief prologue introduces the hero of the game , and then the main protagonist disappears until the fifth chapter - some fifteen or twenty hours later . The chapters in between are used to introduce the supporting cast , who all unite in chapter five to team up with the hero to take down the evil in the world .
Each chapter has a different feel . In the opening frame you play as an aging castle knight named Ragnar , trying to rescue lost children . Later on you'll meet Princess Alena , desperate to escape the safety of her castle in search of adventure . The most original chapter sees Torneko Taloon building up an inventory in an attempt to become the world's greatest merchant . You can do things the old fashioned way and search through caves and towers for treasure to sell , or you can focus on buying and selling - flipping your current inventory through markups at your store in search of big profits .
In addition to the upgrades discussed , there's a decent amount of additional content . There's an additional chapter after the main story is over , and a large bonus dungeon to explore . There's a new character for your party with some cool abilities , and some tough new bosses at the end game . There's plenty here to keep you going for a really long time . This was all engaging enough for me to complete pretty much everything , but your mileage may vary .
That's about it . If you're into this sort of game , then I would highly recommend it .
028 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
A few months ago Square Enix released Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen for DS , an updated version of Dragon Warrior IV - one of my personal favorite NES games . I had some time off recently and decided to indulge myself a bit in some old-school fun . Just to get everything out in the clear , my review of this game is almost definitely biased - the Dragon Quest series provides a huge amount of nostalgia for me .
Here's the short review :
If you think that you'll like Dragon Quest IV , then you probably will . If the idea of playing an 8 - bit RPG with some minor updates sounds miserable to you , then you will probably hate it .
If you want more data , then here's the longer review :
The new version of Dragon Quest IV , of one of my favorite games as a small child , is pretty much exactly what a remake should be . The graphics are completely redone ( and in 3D ) , but keep the same feel as the original . There are lots of bright and vibrant colors , and a wide range of characters , monsters , and environments . Just like most of the games I actually enjoy on the DS , the stylus isn't used at all . Neither is the microphone input or anything else funky . Just screen real estate .
The controls are very much streamlined when compared to the 8 - bit version , updated to take advantage of some of the advances in video game interfaces that have happened over the past fifteen or so years . In addition there are more modern conveniences that didn't really exist in the olden days , such as the ability to QuickSave instead of hoofing it all the way back to a King whenever you need to take a break .
The gameplay is much faster paced than it was on the NES . I don't have comparison data , but I'm pretty sure that the experience levels have been adjusted to provide a more easily accessible experience . Dragon Quest IV isn't as much of a grind as it could be , and a very small amount of dedicated leveling is required - at least compared to the NES version . The combat is also fairly simple RPG fare , consisting mainly of attacking , item use , and choosing from a variety of spells and skills - but not nearly as tedious as it was in the original version .
The translation is also completely redone , which is always something that RPG nerds go crazy over . I didn't find anything offensive about it personally , but things are much different in the new DS version . The olde english is mostly out the window , and each different worlds in the game adopts an exaggerated real-world accent . One chapter you'll be hearing everything in a crazy Russian tone , and the next chapter you'll be exposed to French or Scottish . This will either be seen as charming or infuriating , depending on your point of view .
Speaking of chapters , one of the coolest things about Dragon Quest IV ( and a major innovation at the time ) is the chapter system . A brief prologue introduces the hero of the game , and then the main protagonist disappears until the fifth chapter - some fifteen or twenty hours later . The chapters in between are used to introduce the supporting cast , who all unite in chapter five to team up with the hero to take down the evil in the world .
Each chapter has a different feel . In the opening frame you play as an aging castle knight named Ragnar , trying to rescue lost children . Later on you'll meet Princess Alena , desperate to escape the safety of her castle in search of adventure . The most original chapter sees Torneko Taloon building up an inventory in an attempt to become the world's greatest merchant . You can do things the old fashioned way and search through caves and towers for treasure to sell , or you can focus on buying and selling - flipping your current inventory through markups at your store in search of big profits .
In addition to the upgrades discussed , there's a decent amount of additional content . There's an additional chapter after the main story is over , and a large bonus dungeon to explore . There's a new character for your party with some cool abilities , and some tough new bosses at the end game . There's plenty here to keep you going for a really long time . This was all engaging enough for me to complete pretty much everything , but your mileage may vary .
That's about it . If you're into this sort of game , then I would highly recommend it .
029 A few months ago Square Enix released Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen for DS , an updated version of Dragon Warrior IV - one of my personal favorite NES games . I had some time off recently and decided to indulge myself a bit in some old-school fun . Just to get everything out in the clear , my review of this game is almost definitely biased - the Dragon Quest series provides a huge amount of nostalgia for me .
Here's the short review :
If you think that you'll like Dragon Quest IV , then you probably will . If the idea of playing an 8 - bit RPG with some minor updates sounds miserable to you , then you will probably hate it .
If you want more data , then here's the longer review :
The new version of Dragon Quest IV , of one of my favorite games as a small child , is pretty much exactly what a remake should be . The graphics are completely redone ( and in 3D ) , but keep the same feel as the original . There are lots of bright and vibrant colors , and a wide range of characters , monsters , and environments . Just like most of the games I actually enjoy on the DS , the stylus isn't used at all . Neither is the microphone input or anything else funky . Just screen real estate .
The controls are very much streamlined when compared to the 8 - bit version , updated to take advantage of some of the advances in video game interfaces that have happened over the past fifteen or so years . In addition there are more modern conveniences that didn't really exist in the olden days , such as the ability to QuickSave instead of hoofing it all the way back to a King whenever you need to take a break .
The gameplay is much faster paced than it was on the NES . I don't have comparison data , but I'm pretty sure that the experience levels have been adjusted to provide a more easily accessible experience . Dragon Quest IV isn't as much of a grind as it could be , and a very small amount of dedicated leveling is required - at least compared to the NES version . The combat is also fairly simple RPG fare , consisting mainly of attacking , item use , and choosing from a variety of spells and skills - but not nearly as tedious as it was in the original version .
The translation is also completely redone , which is always something that RPG nerds go crazy over . I didn't find anything offensive about it personally , but things are much different in the new DS version . The olde english is mostly out the window , and each different worlds in the game adopts an exaggerated real-world accent . One chapter you'll be hearing everything in a crazy Russian tone , and the next chapter you'll be exposed to French or Scottish . This will either be seen as charming or infuriating , depending on your point of view .
Speaking of chapters , one of the coolest things about Dragon Quest IV ( and a major innovation at the time ) is the chapter system . A brief prologue introduces the hero of the game , and then the main protagonist disappears until the fifth chapter - some fifteen or twenty hours later . The chapters in between are used to introduce the supporting cast , who all unite in chapter five to team up with the hero to take down the evil in the world .
Each chapter has a different feel . In the opening frame you play as an aging castle knight named Ragnar , trying to rescue lost children . Later on you'll meet Princess Alena , desperate to escape the safety of her castle in search of adventure . The most original chapter sees Torneko Taloon building up an inventory in an attempt to become the world's greatest merchant . You can do things the old fashioned way and search through caves and towers for treasure to sell , or you can focus on buying and selling - flipping your current inventory through markups at your store in search of big profits .
In addition to the upgrades discussed , there's a decent amount of additional content . There's an additional chapter after the main story is over , and a large bonus dungeon to explore . There's a new character for your party with some cool abilities , and some tough new bosses at the end game . There's plenty here to keep you going for a really long time . This was all engaging enough for me to complete pretty much everything , but your mileage may vary .
That's about it . If you're into this sort of game , then I would highly recommend it .
030 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
The original Dragon Quest IV , released in Japan on the Famicom , and in the USA on the NES under the title Dragon Warrior IV , was the first console RPG , and one of the great games of it's time . Even now , in the era of the PS3 , the XBox 360 , and the Nintendo Wii , any of which outstrips the capabilities of the old NES / Famicom by an ungodly margin , it remains a fun , challenging , in depth game .
So , naturally , when I heard that they were doing a remake of the game , I began to plan how I was going to fit a copy into my budget , and had some VERY high expectations . After all , the other NES classic remakes for the DS have been nothing short of epic , and this , after all , WAS the game that hooked me on the genre . Let me tell you , folks . . . I wasn't disappointed .
The game is essentially identical to the original , but the graphics are ( naturally ) vastly improved , the storyline is fleshed out even more , and of course , some new / changed features of gameplay . Most of these changes are wonderful . Some are mixed blessings , and a very few . . . Well , they should have been killed in committee . We'll go over that last group first , since it's a much shorter list , and then we will get into the things that make the game more interesting , and the things that make it truly GREAT .
The worst change , from my perspective , is the fact that you can no longer buy the Metabble Shield as a casino reward . In fact , since I have yet to find one in the game file I am playing currently , I have no proof one way or the other as to whether this godly defensive item even exists anymore . It has been replaced ( at the same cost , mind you ) with the Falcon Sword . So , instead of a shield that makes you a tank fit to make even the final boss ( no spoiler here ) weep , you are given a weapon that allows you to double-strike . Not a bad payoff , right ? One minor caveat . . . The attack bonus it gives you is so low that , until much later in the game , you will actually do BETTER damage with a single strike using the strongest weapons you can buy / find .
Whereas the Metabble Shield is really , really useful right from the beginning ( I never left Chapter 2 without enough of them for every single character who would be able to equip them , ever . . . Yes , I know I am a munchkin ) , the Falcon Sword is only useful late in the game , and even then , you probably have better options available .
The only other feature change that I intensely disliked was many of the name changes ( of places , people , items and monsters ) . When did people get the idea that it was okay to do this in a remake ? No matter . . . On to better things .
The big mixed blessing item on our list is the dialogue . Depending on what region you are in , everyone speaks with an accent mirroring that of a nation in our own world , adding a world of depth and flavor . . . and occasionally , annoyance . For instance , all of the people inhabiting the region encompassing Chapter 1 have a thick Scottish accent , Chapter 2 features Russian / Polish ( can't be completely sure on that one , but DEFINITELY one of the Slavic tongues ) , etc . This includes PCs , by the way , making inter-party dialogue more entertaining .
The biggest positive change in gameplay , in my book , is the fact that the old 8 items per party member inventory system so familiar to old players of Dragon Warrior / Quest games , has been thrown out the window . You now have a few more inventory slots , in which you can hold STACKS of items up to 99 in size ( not single items ) , and JUST in case that's not enough for you , don't worry . You have a Bag , which I have NEVER succeeded in filling , so I don't even KNOW it's capacity . Let's just say , enough . One item of warning . . . Items placed in the bag are NOT usable during combat . Don't forget this ( I did , and paid for it ) .
Other great new features are a rotating map , usable with the shoulder buttons . This gives the entire world much more of a multi-dimensional feel , though if you are not careful , it can also make it slightly easier to get lost in big dungeons . Also , many items that players of the earlier game might have missed , due to having to search for them in specific spots after certain event-battles , are now automatically given to you at the end of those battles .
Last but not least , we have the new tactics system . In the old game , you could set tactics which would determine the behavior of all non-hero characters in Chapter 5 . That is still the case , for those who like streamlining their battles . But unlike in the old version , one of the tactical settings allows you to MANUALLY control characters other than the hero . This eliminates MANY problems I used to have in the NES version . Also , many of the random battle abilities of the merchant have been changed into zero-cost spells that he can use at will , making him more useful as a character .
All in all , this game is a phenomenal addition to the old NES remakes . If you are a fan of the series , or just like a good in-depth RPG with good storylines and great gameplay , give this one a go . You'll thank me later .
031 The original Dragon Quest IV , released in Japan on the Famicom , and in the USA on the NES under the title Dragon Warrior IV , was the first console RPG , and one of the great games of it's time . Even now , in the era of the PS3 , the XBox 360 , and the Nintendo Wii , any of which outstrips the capabilities of the old NES / Famicom by an ungodly margin , it remains a fun , challenging , in depth game .
So , naturally , when I heard that they were doing a remake of the game , I began to plan how I was going to fit a copy into my budget , and had some VERY high expectations . After all , the other NES classic remakes for the DS have been nothing short of epic , and this , after all , WAS the game that hooked me on the genre . Let me tell you , folks . . . I wasn't disappointed .
The game is essentially identical to the original , but the graphics are ( naturally ) vastly improved , the storyline is fleshed out even more , and of course , some new / changed features of gameplay . Most of these changes are wonderful . Some are mixed blessings , and a very few . . . Well , they should have been killed in committee . We'll go over that last group first , since it's a much shorter list , and then we will get into the things that make the game more interesting , and the things that make it truly GREAT .
The worst change , from my perspective , is the fact that you can no longer buy the Metabble Shield as a casino reward . In fact , since I have yet to find one in the game file I am playing currently , I have no proof one way or the other as to whether this godly defensive item even exists anymore . It has been replaced ( at the same cost , mind you ) with the Falcon Sword . So , instead of a shield that makes you a tank fit to make even the final boss ( no spoiler here ) weep , you are given a weapon that allows you to double-strike . Not a bad payoff , right ? One minor caveat . . . The attack bonus it gives you is so low that , until much later in the game , you will actually do BETTER damage with a single strike using the strongest weapons you can buy / find .
Whereas the Metabble Shield is really , really useful right from the beginning ( I never left Chapter 2 without enough of them for every single character who would be able to equip them , ever . . . Yes , I know I am a munchkin ) , the Falcon Sword is only useful late in the game , and even then , you probably have better options available .
The only other feature change that I intensely disliked was many of the name changes ( of places , people , items and monsters ) . When did people get the idea that it was okay to do this in a remake ? No matter . . . On to better things .
The big mixed blessing item on our list is the dialogue . Depending on what region you are in , everyone speaks with an accent mirroring that of a nation in our own world , adding a world of depth and flavor . . . and occasionally , annoyance . For instance , all of the people inhabiting the region encompassing Chapter 1 have a thick Scottish accent , Chapter 2 features Russian / Polish ( can't be completely sure on that one , but DEFINITELY one of the Slavic tongues ) , etc . This includes PCs , by the way , making inter-party dialogue more entertaining .
The biggest positive change in gameplay , in my book , is the fact that the old 8 items per party member inventory system so familiar to old players of Dragon Warrior / Quest games , has been thrown out the window . You now have a few more inventory slots , in which you can hold STACKS of items up to 99 in size ( not single items ) , and JUST in case that's not enough for you , don't worry . You have a Bag , which I have NEVER succeeded in filling , so I don't even KNOW it's capacity . Let's just say , enough . One item of warning . . . Items placed in the bag are NOT usable during combat . Don't forget this ( I did , and paid for it ) .
Other great new features are a rotating map , usable with the shoulder buttons . This gives the entire world much more of a multi-dimensional feel , though if you are not careful , it can also make it slightly easier to get lost in big dungeons . Also , many items that players of the earlier game might have missed , due to having to search for them in specific spots after certain event-battles , are now automatically given to you at the end of those battles .
Last but not least , we have the new tactics system . In the old game , you could set tactics which would determine the behavior of all non-hero characters in Chapter 5 . That is still the case , for those who like streamlining their battles . But unlike in the old version , one of the tactical settings allows you to MANUALLY control characters other than the hero . This eliminates MANY problems I used to have in the NES version . Also , many of the random battle abilities of the merchant have been changed into zero-cost spells that he can use at will , making him more useful as a character .
All in all , this game is a phenomenal addition to the old NES remakes . If you are a fan of the series , or just like a good in-depth RPG with good storylines and great gameplay , give this one a go . You'll thank me later .
032 I was a huge fan of this game 15 years ago , and I have been wanting to own it for years . I found it near impossible to find on the NES , and while Nintendo released the first three Dragon Warrior games for Game Boy Color , it seemed we would never get an American re-release for this game . It was my first console RPG , and the first video game I ever loved - and for those reasons , it will always be among my all-time favorites .
I love the chapter structure - one of the many elements that , IMO , elevates it above the first three Dragon Quest / Warrior games . You spend the first four chapters playing through the story and leveling up a variety of characters that , when you hit chapter five , your own character will then spend the first part of the chapter gathering up . It's a wonderful way of bringing together of what turns out to be a really fantastic storyline - it makes it much more than the simple good protagonist vs . evil overlord , as it gives much depth and appreciation to the people that will eventually become members of your party .
There are many little details I love in the changes that have been made here . Not just in the use of the dual screens - where towns and dungeons are visually spread across the two - and the fact that you can use the left and right shoulder buttons to turn the camera ; but also in other things , like the fact that , when in the overworld , the top screen becomes a map that slowly unravels itself as you gradually make your away across it . And the fact that the top screen is utilized elsewhere , giving added info and stats during combat . And the menu system is significantly easier and less arduous to navigate . The only other version I've played was the NES , and every one of these is a huge improvement over the original .
It doesn't utilize the touch screen at all , but it really doesn't need to . This isn't so much about bringing a game to the DS , as it is remaking a classic that hasn't found its way to the US very much . And there are changes to be seen - in character names , and the fact that they try to give a specific nationality to each of the different countries ( for example , Alena's country is now Russian-influenced , and she's here referred to as Tsarevna Alena . . . though the downside being that in Alena's country in particular , the dialogue , I suspect , was meant to be as if they were a Russian people speaking trans-literally in English , and the unfortunate effect is that much of it is unintentionally funny ) , and also in monster names . And there are some minor geographical differences , but they are few and far between . Overall , the very fundamentals of the game are exactly what they were in the original .
The greatest criticism of the game is really in the combat ; it still goes back to the early days of console RPGs that overuses a turn-based combat system that is heavily enforced , with frequent encounters , and as a result , the process tends to become tedious . The AI can also be infuriating at times , if you're ill-prepared , and the chance encounter can be overused at the wrong moments , with near-success of a task going all to pieces thanks to one random encounter that manages to wipe out your entire party . But if you can grit your teeth and get through the tedium , the story is very much worth the experience .
If you've played this game on the NES and enjoyed it at all , this is a must-have . If you're a fan of the later Dragon Quest games and have never tried the early classics , this one in particular comes highly recommend . If you're an RPG fan and somehow missed out on the Dragon Quest franchise all-together , you must give it a try . Dragon Quest , IMO , allows for more freedom and slightly more customization than the Final Fantasy Series , and I've found it allows me to enjoy the overall experience to a greater degree .
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Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I received Dragon Quest IX a year ago as a gift , and when I finished it I was so in love with the idea of Dragon Quest that I started doing research .
I of course found out that Nintendo had re-released two of the older Dragon Quests on the DS ( IV and V ) so I snatched up IV and began my quest .
Boy was it difficult . Having never played an RPG other than Dragon Quest IX I had to learn all the basics . But what an enjoyable experience . I would suggest any fan of RPG's to play Dragon Quest IV it was a fantastic game . I loved all the vibrant characters , I enjoyed the light storyline , the monsters are all interesting .
Just a great game .
034 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I received Dragon Quest IX a year ago as a gift , and when I finished it I was so in love with the idea of Dragon Quest that I started doing research .
I of course found out that Nintendo had re-released two of the older Dragon Quests on the DS ( IV and V ) so I snatched up IV and began my quest .
Boy was it difficult . Having never played an RPG other than Dragon Quest IX I had to learn all the basics . But what an enjoyable experience . I would suggest any fan of RPG's to play Dragon Quest IV it was a fantastic game . I loved all the vibrant characters , I enjoyed the light storyline , the monsters are all interesting .
Just a great game .
035 I received Dragon Quest IX a year ago as a gift , and when I finished it I was so in love with the idea of Dragon Quest that I started doing research .
I of course found out that Nintendo had re-released two of the older Dragon Quests on the DS ( IV and V ) so I snatched up IV and began my quest .
Boy was it difficult . Having never played an RPG other than Dragon Quest IX I had to learn all the basics . But what an enjoyable experience . I would suggest any fan of RPG's to play Dragon Quest IV it was a fantastic game . I loved all the vibrant characters , I enjoyed the light storyline , the monsters are all interesting .
Just a great game .
036 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
STORY : 4 OF 5
It was a real drag going through the boring chapters in the beginning . I only enjoyed the chapters with Alena and the dancers ( Minea and Manya ) . I would say the beginning of the game was a 2 of 5 .
But once all the teammates were together , the story was a typical , fun DQ adventure , a 5 of 5 .
CHARACTERS : 5 OF 5
The conversations of Alena , Clifuto , Burai , Minea , and Manya made the characters come alive to an amazing degree . The conversations in this game are clearly the best of all the DQ games I've played ( DQ 1 - 6 & 9 ) . I would say the character development in this game rivals that of FF 7 .
WORLD : 5 of 5
The world is a typical DQ world . No faults that I can recall except that it's not as big as DQ 6 .
BATTLE SYSTEM : 5 of 5
I love how all the characters are unique and their roles are clearly defined , which is not the case for the later DQ games such as DQ 6 , and DQ 9 . No one is overpowered , making them all unique and valuable .
CONCLUSION : 4 of 5
This is clearly one of the best DQ games I've ever played . The only reason I don't give it a 5 is because some of the early chapters bored me to tears . If it wasn't for those boring chapters , I would have given this game a perfect score .
037 STORY : 4 OF 5
It was a real drag going through the boring chapters in the beginning . I only enjoyed the chapters with Alena and the dancers ( Minea and Manya ) . I would say the beginning of the game was a 2 of 5 .
But once all the teammates were together , the story was a typical , fun DQ adventure , a 5 of 5 .
CHARACTERS : 5 OF 5
The conversations of Alena , Clifuto , Burai , Minea , and Manya made the characters come alive to an amazing degree . The conversations in this game are clearly the best of all the DQ games I've played ( DQ 1 - 6 & 9 ) . I would say the character development in this game rivals that of FF 7 .
WORLD : 5 of 5
The world is a typical DQ world . No faults that I can recall except that it's not as big as DQ 6 .
BATTLE SYSTEM : 5 of 5
I love how all the characters are unique and their roles are clearly defined , which is not the case for the later DQ games such as DQ 6 , and DQ 9 . No one is overpowered , making them all unique and valuable .
CONCLUSION : 4 of 5
This is clearly one of the best DQ games I've ever played . The only reason I don't give it a 5 is because some of the early chapters bored me to tears . If it wasn't for those boring chapters , I would have given this game a perfect score .
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Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I missed out playing this game on the NES because it wasn't widely available , and , to be honest , I had given the Dragon Quest games a pass since until I played the Sentinals of the Starry Skies game , which I liked so much I replayed it upon finishing ! I then picked up Dragon Quest VI and enjoyed it equally as much , but when I found out it was the last chapter of a trilogy , I went back and purchased the first two games and decided to play them in order .
The Dragon Quest games are much more lighthearted and humorous than their more famous competition ( read that Final Fantasy ) and unlike the FF games , don't take themselves too seriously . Also , they are , for the most part , significantly shorter , which I appreciate since I no longer have 100 + hours to devote to a single game . And , except for the Dragon Quest game that was released for the PS2 the difficulty hasn't been increased for the American audience to the point that the game becomes virtually impossible to beat , like most FF games unless you cheat or spend 50 + hours leveling up just so you can beat the final boss . If you encounter a boss you can't defeat , in a DQ game , you only need to level up one or two levels and you'll have a chance to win the fight .
Chapters of the Chosen is unique in that it is divided up into 5 distinct chapters ( 6 if you count the bonus chapter you get after defeating the main game ) . This means that you have to begin leveling up your party from level 1 five times , the only thing really annoying about this game . If you like starting over and over and over again , this game is for you ! Almost all the Dragon Quest games have characters and monsters designed by Akira Toriyama , the artist who drew the Dr . Slump and Dragon Ball manga , and his style is instantly recognizable . All your favorite monsters are here , from the simple slimes to dangerous dragons . The designers of this game took the final boss to extremes , and I think they are poking fun at the RPG cliche where the final boss resurrects three times . Pisaro the Manslayer has no fewer than seven resurrections but he isn't impossible to beat . You have to carefully manage your resources to beat him , though . I managed on my second attempt .
It's a pity that this game is becoming difficult to find in the stores . It's a fun game and well worth playing . This makes it difficult to get any benefit from the online portion of the game because you aren't likely to find another DQ IV player to connect with . I have to admit , I haven't finished the last three Final Fantasy games I started and the Dragon Quest series has supplanted Final Fantasy as my RPG series of choice .
039 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I missed out playing this game on the NES because it wasn't widely available , and , to be honest , I had given the Dragon Quest games a pass since until I played the Sentinals of the Starry Skies game , which I liked so much I replayed it upon finishing ! I then picked up Dragon Quest VI and enjoyed it equally as much , but when I found out it was the last chapter of a trilogy , I went back and purchased the first two games and decided to play them in order .
The Dragon Quest games are much more lighthearted and humorous than their more famous competition ( read that Final Fantasy ) and unlike the FF games , don't take themselves too seriously . Also , they are , for the most part , significantly shorter , which I appreciate since I no longer have 100 + hours to devote to a single game . And , except for the Dragon Quest game that was released for the PS2 the difficulty hasn't been increased for the American audience to the point that the game becomes virtually impossible to beat , like most FF games unless you cheat or spend 50 + hours leveling up just so you can beat the final boss . If you encounter a boss you can't defeat , in a DQ game , you only need to level up one or two levels and you'll have a chance to win the fight .
Chapters of the Chosen is unique in that it is divided up into 5 distinct chapters ( 6 if you count the bonus chapter you get after defeating the main game ) . This means that you have to begin leveling up your party from level 1 five times , the only thing really annoying about this game . If you like starting over and over and over again , this game is for you ! Almost all the Dragon Quest games have characters and monsters designed by Akira Toriyama , the artist who drew the Dr . Slump and Dragon Ball manga , and his style is instantly recognizable . All your favorite monsters are here , from the simple slimes to dangerous dragons . The designers of this game took the final boss to extremes , and I think they are poking fun at the RPG cliche where the final boss resurrects three times . Pisaro the Manslayer has no fewer than seven resurrections but he isn't impossible to beat . You have to carefully manage your resources to beat him , though . I managed on my second attempt .
It's a pity that this game is becoming difficult to find in the stores . It's a fun game and well worth playing . This makes it difficult to get any benefit from the online portion of the game because you aren't likely to find another DQ IV player to connect with . I have to admit , I haven't finished the last three Final Fantasy games I started and the Dragon Quest series has supplanted Final Fantasy as my RPG series of choice .
040 I missed out playing this game on the NES because it wasn't widely available , and , to be honest , I had given the Dragon Quest games a pass since until I played the Sentinals of the Starry Skies game , which I liked so much I replayed it upon finishing ! I then picked up Dragon Quest VI and enjoyed it equally as much , but when I found out it was the last chapter of a trilogy , I went back and purchased the first two games and decided to play them in order .
The Dragon Quest games are much more lighthearted and humorous than their more famous competition ( read that Final Fantasy ) and unlike the FF games , don't take themselves too seriously . Also , they are , for the most part , significantly shorter , which I appreciate since I no longer have 100 + hours to devote to a single game . And , except for the Dragon Quest game that was released for the PS2 the difficulty hasn't been increased for the American audience to the point that the game becomes virtually impossible to beat , like most FF games unless you cheat or spend 50 + hours leveling up just so you can beat the final boss . If you encounter a boss you can't defeat , in a DQ game , you only need to level up one or two levels and you'll have a chance to win the fight .
Chapters of the Chosen is unique in that it is divided up into 5 distinct chapters ( 6 if you count the bonus chapter you get after defeating the main game ) . This means that you have to begin leveling up your party from level 1 five times , the only thing really annoying about this game . If you like starting over and over and over again , this game is for you ! Almost all the Dragon Quest games have characters and monsters designed by Akira Toriyama , the artist who drew the Dr . Slump and Dragon Ball manga , and his style is instantly recognizable . All your favorite monsters are here , from the simple slimes to dangerous dragons . The designers of this game took the final boss to extremes , and I think they are poking fun at the RPG cliche where the final boss resurrects three times . Pisaro the Manslayer has no fewer than seven resurrections but he isn't impossible to beat . You have to carefully manage your resources to beat him , though . I managed on my second attempt .
It's a pity that this game is becoming difficult to find in the stores . It's a fun game and well worth playing . This makes it difficult to get any benefit from the online portion of the game because you aren't likely to find another DQ IV player to connect with . I have to admit , I haven't finished the last three Final Fantasy games I started and the Dragon Quest series has supplanted Final Fantasy as my RPG series of choice .
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Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
It took me until recently to discover the Dragon Quest series . I played IX right before playing this one . I enjoyed IX a lot and was worried that the older DQ games wouldn't measure up to the newer ones . Although IV is inferior to IX in terms of graphics , and I miss some aspects of IX's battle system , the plot in IV is far better . I love that I get to play through all the party members and see their personal quests first hand . I recommend this game to those that enjoy RPGs as well as re-makes of older games .
I'm currently playing Dragon Quest V and look forward to the release of VI . I made sure to have VI pre-ordered .
042 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
It took me until recently to discover the Dragon Quest series . I played IX right before playing this one . I enjoyed IX a lot and was worried that the older DQ games wouldn't measure up to the newer ones . Although IV is inferior to IX in terms of graphics , and I miss some aspects of IX's battle system , the plot in IV is far better . I love that I get to play through all the party members and see their personal quests first hand . I recommend this game to those that enjoy RPGs as well as re-makes of older games .
I'm currently playing Dragon Quest V and look forward to the release of VI . I made sure to have VI pre-ordered .
043 It took me until recently to discover the Dragon Quest series . I played IX right before playing this one . I enjoyed IX a lot and was worried that the older DQ games wouldn't measure up to the newer ones . Although IV is inferior to IX in terms of graphics , and I miss some aspects of IX's battle system , the plot in IV is far better . I love that I get to play through all the party members and see their personal quests first hand . I recommend this game to those that enjoy RPGs as well as re-makes of older games .
I'm currently playing Dragon Quest V and look forward to the release of VI . I made sure to have VI pre-ordered .
044 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Let me get this out of the way first - I'm giving this game a four out of five stars . Now on with the rest of it . Dragon Quest IV is among the cream of the crop when it comes to DS titles .
Pros
If you like rpg's this game will satisfy your urge to level grind , explore and item collection .
A fun and interesting cast of characters - you'll have your favorite .
Fun but predictive story .
The dual screen expands your point of view adding much more visual space .
Cons
The games accents are an acquired taste .
What can I say , I loved this game . It was a bit hard to initially get into at first , but once you go through the motions it becomes really fun . Now for me the most difficult challenge I had to overcome was the battle style . Let's face it the Final Fantasy series has us spoiled with over the top graphics and animation . So much so that going back to DQIV feels like going back to basics . Therefore I was quite apprehensive of not only the battle system , but the graphics too . I mean all you can see are the character portraits on the top of the screen . . . I thought that was kind of lame . Well after about twenty hours into the game that didn't bother me at all . In fact I feel in love with the battle layout . Go figure huh ?
So my advice to you would be buyers , pick this game up ! And don't sleep either , DQV is already waiting for you and DQVI ( which looks freaking sweet ) is right around the corner .
Till next time .
Skarr
045 Let me get this out of the way first - I'm giving this game a four out of five stars . Now on with the rest of it . Dragon Quest IV is among the cream of the crop when it comes to DS titles .
Pros
If you like rpg's this game will satisfy your urge to level grind , explore and item collection .
A fun and interesting cast of characters - you'll have your favorite .
Fun but predictive story .
The dual screen expands your point of view adding much more visual space .
Cons
The games accents are an acquired taste .
What can I say , I loved this game . It was a bit hard to initially get into at first , but once you go through the motions it becomes really fun . Now for me the most difficult challenge I had to overcome was the battle style . Let's face it the Final Fantasy series has us spoiled with over the top graphics and animation . So much so that going back to DQIV feels like going back to basics . Therefore I was quite apprehensive of not only the battle system , but the graphics too . I mean all you can see are the character portraits on the top of the screen . . . I thought that was kind of lame . Well after about twenty hours into the game that didn't bother me at all . In fact I feel in love with the battle layout . Go figure huh ?
So my advice to you would be buyers , pick this game up ! And don't sleep either , DQV is already waiting for you and DQVI ( which looks freaking sweet ) is right around the corner .
Till next time .
Skarr
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Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
It was about time that this game was finally brought over to our shores . For some many people that didn't get to play it previously . The game is done very well with a classic , yet updated feel to the game as well . I really enjoyed being able to play the game from the beginning not as the hero . but as the people that were along for the ride as well . It was cool to see what they went through to come to that point of aiding the hero and putting their life on the line .
I also enjoyed later on in the game being able to create / populate your own town with different characters . That were wandering around aimlessly in different parts of the world . . some you encounter on your way through the game . While others you have to get to via talking up or doing other things to get them interested in your bustling town .
The story was done well even though we've heard the one hero that can save the world from annihilation angle . It is handled very well here and it doesn't feel like a rehash at all . As there are so many other things to do in the game that will keep you occupied and interested throughout . Your the hero and monsters are on the rise in your land , the culprit a crazed and out there villain by the name of Psaro is your adversary .
But along the way through many trials and tribulations . You grow stronger on your quest to defeat him and his cohorts . Yes , the slimes are in this one . What would DQ be without them .
Great game , very solid story and engaging characters make Dragon Quest IV something that should be added to anyone's gaming list .
047 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
It was about time that this game was finally brought over to our shores . For some many people that didn't get to play it previously . The game is done very well with a classic , yet updated feel to the game as well . I really enjoyed being able to play the game from the beginning not as the hero . but as the people that were along for the ride as well . It was cool to see what they went through to come to that point of aiding the hero and putting their life on the line .
I also enjoyed later on in the game being able to create / populate your own town with different characters . That were wandering around aimlessly in different parts of the world . . some you encounter on your way through the game . While others you have to get to via talking up or doing other things to get them interested in your bustling town .
The story was done well even though we've heard the one hero that can save the world from annihilation angle . It is handled very well here and it doesn't feel like a rehash at all . As there are so many other things to do in the game that will keep you occupied and interested throughout . Your the hero and monsters are on the rise in your land , the culprit a crazed and out there villain by the name of Psaro is your adversary .
But along the way through many trials and tribulations . You grow stronger on your quest to defeat him and his cohorts . Yes , the slimes are in this one . What would DQ be without them .
Great game , very solid story and engaging characters make Dragon Quest IV something that should be added to anyone's gaming list .
048 It was about time that this game was finally brought over to our shores . For some many people that didn't get to play it previously . The game is done very well with a classic , yet updated feel to the game as well . I really enjoyed being able to play the game from the beginning not as the hero . but as the people that were along for the ride as well . It was cool to see what they went through to come to that point of aiding the hero and putting their life on the line .
I also enjoyed later on in the game being able to create / populate your own town with different characters . That were wandering around aimlessly in different parts of the world . . some you encounter on your way through the game . While others you have to get to via talking up or doing other things to get them interested in your bustling town .
The story was done well even though we've heard the one hero that can save the world from annihilation angle . It is handled very well here and it doesn't feel like a rehash at all . As there are so many other things to do in the game that will keep you occupied and interested throughout . Your the hero and monsters are on the rise in your land , the culprit a crazed and out there villain by the name of Psaro is your adversary .
But along the way through many trials and tribulations . You grow stronger on your quest to defeat him and his cohorts . Yes , the slimes are in this one . What would DQ be without them .
Great game , very solid story and engaging characters make Dragon Quest IV something that should be added to anyone's gaming list .
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Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Dragon Quest IV was the first RPG I ever played back on the NES . That being said , I had high expectations for this game . The DS remake has proven to be fantastic overall , adding graphics and more user-friendly attributes that the NES version sorely lacked . From my standpoint , I dislike the fact that they changed character names and the names of towns / dungeons , but if you've never played it before this won't be an issue . The storyline is incredible for its time and the party system is great . Square-Enix brought many of the items and attributes they have recently showcased in the newer DQ games , which were pleasant surprises . Also , I really like that a Pioneer Town similar to that in DQVII was added , and a bonus dungeon after the game . Both of these just enhance the gameplay . Overall , this is a great game and definitely recommended for any RPG lovers out there . If you're are a fan of the DQ series , this is a must-buy . If you've only ever played Final Fantasy , give DQ a shot !
050 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Dragon Quest IV was the first RPG I ever played back on the NES . That being said , I had high expectations for this game . The DS remake has proven to be fantastic overall , adding graphics and more user-friendly attributes that the NES version sorely lacked . From my standpoint , I dislike the fact that they changed character names and the names of towns / dungeons , but if you've never played it before this won't be an issue . The storyline is incredible for its time and the party system is great . Square-Enix brought many of the items and attributes they have recently showcased in the newer DQ games , which were pleasant surprises . Also , I really like that a Pioneer Town similar to that in DQVII was added , and a bonus dungeon after the game . Both of these just enhance the gameplay . Overall , this is a great game and definitely recommended for any RPG lovers out there . If you're are a fan of the DQ series , this is a must-buy . If you've only ever played Final Fantasy , give DQ a shot !
051 Dragon Quest IV was the first RPG I ever played back on the NES . That being said , I had high expectations for this game . The DS remake has proven to be fantastic overall , adding graphics and more user-friendly attributes that the NES version sorely lacked . From my standpoint , I dislike the fact that they changed character names and the names of towns / dungeons , but if you've never played it before this won't be an issue . The storyline is incredible for its time and the party system is great . Square-Enix brought many of the items and attributes they have recently showcased in the newer DQ games , which were pleasant surprises . Also , I really like that a Pioneer Town similar to that in DQVII was added , and a bonus dungeon after the game . Both of these just enhance the gameplay . Overall , this is a great game and definitely recommended for any RPG lovers out there . If you're are a fan of the DQ series , this is a must-buy . If you've only ever played Final Fantasy , give DQ a shot !
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Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
The original Dragon Warrior 4 was one of my favorite games of all time . I heard this was to be remade for the PS1 , but was canceled during the translation from Japanese to English . But , when I found out about the DS version , I got really excited . I actually pre-ordered this ( a rare thing for me to do ) and I'm really glad I did ! The graphics were really well done , and the music is outstanding ( as I expected . ) They changed it enough to make it feel fresh , but kept the over all feel . This is a MUST have for any RPG fan that owns a DS . In fact , I would buy a DS for this game alone !
053 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
The original Dragon Warrior 4 was one of my favorite games of all time . I heard this was to be remade for the PS1 , but was canceled during the translation from Japanese to English . But , when I found out about the DS version , I got really excited . I actually pre-ordered this ( a rare thing for me to do ) and I'm really glad I did ! The graphics were really well done , and the music is outstanding ( as I expected . ) They changed it enough to make it feel fresh , but kept the over all feel . This is a MUST have for any RPG fan that owns a DS . In fact , I would buy a DS for this game alone !
054 The original Dragon Warrior 4 was one of my favorite games of all time . I heard this was to be remade for the PS1 , but was canceled during the translation from Japanese to English . But , when I found out about the DS version , I got really excited . I actually pre-ordered this ( a rare thing for me to do ) and I'm really glad I did ! The graphics were really well done , and the music is outstanding ( as I expected . ) They changed it enough to make it feel fresh , but kept the over all feel . This is a MUST have for any RPG fan that owns a DS . In fact , I would buy a DS for this game alone !
055 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Dragon Quest pulled me in for the story and the character design . While gameplay is the tried and true random encounter , fight magic defend formula . I rarely noticed how repitive though the fights got because I was so interested in the story . Definitely recommend for all rpg fans .
056 Dragon Quest pulled me in for the story and the character design . While gameplay is the tried and true random encounter , fight magic defend formula . I rarely noticed how repitive though the fights got because I was so interested in the story . Definitely recommend for all rpg fans .
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Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
It is good to have this excellent RPG back in circulation . The story and gameplay are intact , with the handful of new features we have come to expect with 2000 ' s reissues of 1990 ' s games : a tough bonus dungeon , a town to develop as in Dragon Warrior 7 , and lots more statistics-keeping . Also , one of the original DW4 ' s weak points has been eliminated ; you can now control all characters in the last chapter .
The strong point of this game , as of all Dragon Warrior / DragonQuest games except DW1 , is the battle gameplay . The variety of different groupings , spells , and abilities that the enemies bring to bear on each instance of combat bring interest even to the lengthiest level-building sessions . The updated graphics vary from excellent ( the battle backgrounds and monster portrayals / animations ) to dreary ( the towns ) .
The one thing undone I wish they had done is to rethink the whole story structure . Since the least interesting section of an RPG tends to be the beginning levels , when characters have the fewest spells and abilities and face the weakest and smallest groups of monsters , it is of questionable gaming value to make us go through these stages five times .
Still highly recommended , especially for those who have not played the original DW4 .
058 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
It is good to have this excellent RPG back in circulation . The story and gameplay are intact , with the handful of new features we have come to expect with 2000 ' s reissues of 1990 ' s games : a tough bonus dungeon , a town to develop as in Dragon Warrior 7 , and lots more statistics-keeping . Also , one of the original DW4 ' s weak points has been eliminated ; you can now control all characters in the last chapter .
The strong point of this game , as of all Dragon Warrior / DragonQuest games except DW1 , is the battle gameplay . The variety of different groupings , spells , and abilities that the enemies bring to bear on each instance of combat bring interest even to the lengthiest level-building sessions . The updated graphics vary from excellent ( the battle backgrounds and monster portrayals / animations ) to dreary ( the towns ) .
The one thing undone I wish they had done is to rethink the whole story structure . Since the least interesting section of an RPG tends to be the beginning levels , when characters have the fewest spells and abilities and face the weakest and smallest groups of monsters , it is of questionable gaming value to make us go through these stages five times .
Still highly recommended , especially for those who have not played the original DW4 .
059 It is good to have this excellent RPG back in circulation . The story and gameplay are intact , with the handful of new features we have come to expect with 2000 ' s reissues of 1990 ' s games : a tough bonus dungeon , a town to develop as in Dragon Warrior 7 , and lots more statistics-keeping . Also , one of the original DW4 ' s weak points has been eliminated ; you can now control all characters in the last chapter .
The strong point of this game , as of all Dragon Warrior / DragonQuest games except DW1 , is the battle gameplay . The variety of different groupings , spells , and abilities that the enemies bring to bear on each instance of combat bring interest even to the lengthiest level-building sessions . The updated graphics vary from excellent ( the battle backgrounds and monster portrayals / animations ) to dreary ( the towns ) .
The one thing undone I wish they had done is to rethink the whole story structure . Since the least interesting section of an RPG tends to be the beginning levels , when characters have the fewest spells and abilities and face the weakest and smallest groups of monsters , it is of questionable gaming value to make us go through these stages five times .
Still highly recommended , especially for those who have not played the original DW4 .
060 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Pros :
+ Updated visuals , script and battle animations
+ Long quest
+ Lots of things to do off the beaten path
+ Not too hard
+ Beautiful Soundtrack
Cons :
- The visuals are a little sloppy
- Good animations in battle , but the battle engine is very dated
Dragon Quest IV first dropped down in North America as Dragon Warrior IV in 1992 . This is just a year after the release of the Super Nintendo in America and also a year after the release of Final Fantasy IV . Needless to say , it was one of the last RPGs to be on the NES . The Dragon Quest series has never been too big in America so it's possible that for a lot of gamers , this is the first encounter they've had with Dragon Quest IV . It stacks up pretty nicely on the DS , but it also keeps very true to its NES roots . If you were one who played the original NES version and were expecting a Final Fantasy IV DS revamp , you'll be disappointed . However , it is a treat for those who never got the chance to play the original NES title . If you did play the original NES game to completion , I repeat , there's really nothing new here .
Dragon Quest IV begins by actually taking four chapters to introduce you to the game's four main characters and the last Chapter to be the actual quest . Dragon Quest differs from Final Fantasy in terms of story . Dragon Quest puts a lot more emphasis on exploration and from time to time , battling . So there's not much of an emphasis on story here , but that doesn't mean it doesn't have merits . It's a fairly good story overall .
The most obvious update to Dragon Quest IV is the game's graphics . Japan got a Playstation remake in 2001 and the graphics here are right on par . However , it uses Dragon Quest VII's graphics engine . So there are 2D Sprites on a 3D world . The facelift is nice , but it looks a little sloppy . The sprites don't look that much better than what you'd find in a Super Nintendo game and they're pretty pixelated . It overall looks good , but it could look better .
The second major update is the game's translation itself . Character names , towns , etc . , have been changed . The script has also been rewritten as well . So if you played the original NES game , there are quite a few changes in terms of dialog as well . It's also a little neater .
The game's updated music is perhaps the best part . It's now completely orchestrated and it sounds very good . There are a few old school sound effects that come through as well , but they're appropriate .
When battling , however , this is where a lot of the game's old school charm really comes out . Dragon Quest has the most basic of basic menu battle systems . Dragon Quest IV doesn't do a thing to update it in the slightest . The enemies now move in battle , but not much . You actually see enemies attack and some of the spell animations look good . However , you never see your enemy go up and strike the enemy . Beautiful backgrounds and enemies that move a little are nice , but it shows that there's no real update to the battle system . It probably won't bother you in the long run . After all , battling is actually pretty fun , but graphically , it's hard not to wish that Dragon Quest IV would've upped the ante a little bit .
In many Dragon Quest games , level grinding was a must . This isn't really true of Dragon Quest IV , at least not in the remake . Much of the game is pretty simple . There's no level grinding necessary .
There isn't really that much else added to Dragon Quest IV at all . It stays very true to its NES roots . You may be getting a game that looks like it belongs on the DS , but it is very much an NES game and holds true to everything the original NES game has including some of its limitations . If you don't mind that , then the game will be an excellent buy . If you're not really big on RPGs from the NES era it might not be for you .
061 Pros :
+ Updated visuals , script and battle animations
+ Long quest
+ Lots of things to do off the beaten path
+ Not too hard
+ Beautiful Soundtrack
Cons :
- The visuals are a little sloppy
- Good animations in battle , but the battle engine is very dated
Dragon Quest IV first dropped down in North America as Dragon Warrior IV in 1992 . This is just a year after the release of the Super Nintendo in America and also a year after the release of Final Fantasy IV . Needless to say , it was one of the last RPGs to be on the NES . The Dragon Quest series has never been too big in America so it's possible that for a lot of gamers , this is the first encounter they've had with Dragon Quest IV . It stacks up pretty nicely on the DS , but it also keeps very true to its NES roots . If you were one who played the original NES version and were expecting a Final Fantasy IV DS revamp , you'll be disappointed . However , it is a treat for those who never got the chance to play the original NES title . If you did play the original NES game to completion , I repeat , there's really nothing new here .
Dragon Quest IV begins by actually taking four chapters to introduce you to the game's four main characters and the last Chapter to be the actual quest . Dragon Quest differs from Final Fantasy in terms of story . Dragon Quest puts a lot more emphasis on exploration and from time to time , battling . So there's not much of an emphasis on story here , but that doesn't mean it doesn't have merits . It's a fairly good story overall .
The most obvious update to Dragon Quest IV is the game's graphics . Japan got a Playstation remake in 2001 and the graphics here are right on par . However , it uses Dragon Quest VII's graphics engine . So there are 2D Sprites on a 3D world . The facelift is nice , but it looks a little sloppy . The sprites don't look that much better than what you'd find in a Super Nintendo game and they're pretty pixelated . It overall looks good , but it could look better .
The second major update is the game's translation itself . Character names , towns , etc . , have been changed . The script has also been rewritten as well . So if you played the original NES game , there are quite a few changes in terms of dialog as well . It's also a little neater .
The game's updated music is perhaps the best part . It's now completely orchestrated and it sounds very good . There are a few old school sound effects that come through as well , but they're appropriate .
When battling , however , this is where a lot of the game's old school charm really comes out . Dragon Quest has the most basic of basic menu battle systems . Dragon Quest IV doesn't do a thing to update it in the slightest . The enemies now move in battle , but not much . You actually see enemies attack and some of the spell animations look good . However , you never see your enemy go up and strike the enemy . Beautiful backgrounds and enemies that move a little are nice , but it shows that there's no real update to the battle system . It probably won't bother you in the long run . After all , battling is actually pretty fun , but graphically , it's hard not to wish that Dragon Quest IV would've upped the ante a little bit .
In many Dragon Quest games , level grinding was a must . This isn't really true of Dragon Quest IV , at least not in the remake . Much of the game is pretty simple . There's no level grinding necessary .
There isn't really that much else added to Dragon Quest IV at all . It stays very true to its NES roots . You may be getting a game that looks like it belongs on the DS , but it is very much an NES game and holds true to everything the original NES game has including some of its limitations . If you don't mind that , then the game will be an excellent buy . If you're not really big on RPGs from the NES era it might not be for you .
062 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Dragon Quest IV is the fourth game in the Dragon Quest RPG series . The game was originally released for the Famicom in Japan in 1990 and on the NES in America in 1992 . The DS port , based on a Japanese Playstation rerelease , was released in 2008 .
In the glory days of the NES , there were two major RPG series - Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest ( earlier known as Dragon Warrior in America . ) While there's no denying that it's the former series that has remained consistently the most popular , there is no denying that the latter is no slouch . Created by Yuji Horii with character / monster designs by Akira Toriyama ( Dragon Ball franchise , Chrono Trigger ) , the series never failed to please . Disappointingly , the series never caught on in America in the early days the way it did in Japan .
RPG fans rejoice ! In recent years , Square / Enix has been righting these wrongs . Dragon Quest I-III got Game Boy Color reissues a few years back , and they are now focusing on the Zenithian Trilogy ( which comprises the fourth , fifth , and sixth games in the series . ) Dragon Quest IV , the first game in this trilogy , got an NES release in America , though the latter two games in it never did . This Nintendo DS port , based on a Japanese Playstation reissue , gives the game a much-needed revival .
The storyline in Dragon Quest IV is , pretty much , standard RPG fare . A group of people from various walks of life have to travel the world and unite , teaming up to defeat a common villain . What set Dragon Quest IV apart , however , is that it broke each of the main characters ' stories into their own chapters , which introduce them . They eventually unite in the final chapter , to fulfill their quest of putting an end to the world's latest threat . In Dragon Quest IV the cast consists of the typical main hero , a veteran soldier , a female princess who wants to become a knight against her father's better wishes , a fat and lazy middle-aged man who wants to open his own store , and twin sisters who unite to hunt down their father's killer . There is a myriad of supporting characters as well , including temporary party members .
Here are the pros and cons of Dragon Quest IV :
- PROS :
- Interesting , compelling characters - created by Akira Toriyama
- A wide variety of magic spells and equipment
- A huge world with a ton of things to do , including sidequests
- An easy game to learn , but difficult to master
- DS port features new graphics , minor alterations to the game ( all for the better ) , and even an extra chapter of the game with a new final boss
- CONS :
- When you die , ONLY your main character comes back to life . You have to pay BIG BUCKS to revive the other people in your party . This is extremely annoying and frustrating , and you'll often find yourself in a slump where you have a hard time reviving anyone . This is mainly a problem early on , before you get a magic spell that takes the frustration out of everything .
- Too many enemies have attacks that damage your entire party , and there aren't enough spells / items to hear your party . Additionally , some enemies ( mainly bosses ) can attack more than once , and they have a bad habit of often hitting your same character twice .
- While this isn't necessarily a flaw , modern gamers might not be into the whole old school feel of the game . Despite its graphical overhaul , this is still very much an NES game .
- The game goes from linear to non-linear almost instantenously in the final main chapter , which is a bit of an unexpected change and may frustrate gamers .
- The game uses an individuals inventory system instead of a party inventory system . This makes it extremely frustrating when you find yourself wanting to use a particular item in battle . If you put an item in the bag before going into battle , you're out of luck . One thing I hoped they would fix for this port .
Overall though , would I recommend Dragon Quest IV ? Absolutely . With great characters and a gripping storyline , there's not a whole lot not to like about this game . It's very much an old-school title , and fans of retro RPGs will love it . The new graphics and added chapter are the icing on the cake .
Long story short ? If you're a Dragon Quest fan , or fan of RPGs in general , pick this one up . I doubt you'll be disappointed .
063 Dragon Quest IV is the fourth game in the Dragon Quest RPG series . The game was originally released for the Famicom in Japan in 1990 and on the NES in America in 1992 . The DS port , based on a Japanese Playstation rerelease , was released in 2008 .
In the glory days of the NES , there were two major RPG series - Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest ( earlier known as Dragon Warrior in America . ) While there's no denying that it's the former series that has remained consistently the most popular , there is no denying that the latter is no slouch . Created by Yuji Horii with character / monster designs by Akira Toriyama ( Dragon Ball franchise , Chrono Trigger ) , the series never failed to please . Disappointingly , the series never caught on in America in the early days the way it did in Japan .
RPG fans rejoice ! In recent years , Square / Enix has been righting these wrongs . Dragon Quest I-III got Game Boy Color reissues a few years back , and they are now focusing on the Zenithian Trilogy ( which comprises the fourth , fifth , and sixth games in the series . ) Dragon Quest IV , the first game in this trilogy , got an NES release in America , though the latter two games in it never did . This Nintendo DS port , based on a Japanese Playstation reissue , gives the game a much-needed revival .
The storyline in Dragon Quest IV is , pretty much , standard RPG fare . A group of people from various walks of life have to travel the world and unite , teaming up to defeat a common villain . What set Dragon Quest IV apart , however , is that it broke each of the main characters ' stories into their own chapters , which introduce them . They eventually unite in the final chapter , to fulfill their quest of putting an end to the world's latest threat . In Dragon Quest IV the cast consists of the typical main hero , a veteran soldier , a female princess who wants to become a knight against her father's better wishes , a fat and lazy middle-aged man who wants to open his own store , and twin sisters who unite to hunt down their father's killer . There is a myriad of supporting characters as well , including temporary party members .
Here are the pros and cons of Dragon Quest IV :
- PROS :
- Interesting , compelling characters - created by Akira Toriyama
- A wide variety of magic spells and equipment
- A huge world with a ton of things to do , including sidequests
- An easy game to learn , but difficult to master
- DS port features new graphics , minor alterations to the game ( all for the better ) , and even an extra chapter of the game with a new final boss
- CONS :
- When you die , ONLY your main character comes back to life . You have to pay BIG BUCKS to revive the other people in your party . This is extremely annoying and frustrating , and you'll often find yourself in a slump where you have a hard time reviving anyone . This is mainly a problem early on , before you get a magic spell that takes the frustration out of everything .
- Too many enemies have attacks that damage your entire party , and there aren't enough spells / items to hear your party . Additionally , some enemies ( mainly bosses ) can attack more than once , and they have a bad habit of often hitting your same character twice .
- While this isn't necessarily a flaw , modern gamers might not be into the whole old school feel of the game . Despite its graphical overhaul , this is still very much an NES game .
- The game goes from linear to non-linear almost instantenously in the final main chapter , which is a bit of an unexpected change and may frustrate gamers .
- The game uses an individuals inventory system instead of a party inventory system . This makes it extremely frustrating when you find yourself wanting to use a particular item in battle . If you put an item in the bag before going into battle , you're out of luck . One thing I hoped they would fix for this port .
Overall though , would I recommend Dragon Quest IV ? Absolutely . With great characters and a gripping storyline , there's not a whole lot not to like about this game . It's very much an old-school title , and fans of retro RPGs will love it . The new graphics and added chapter are the icing on the cake .
Long story short ? If you're a Dragon Quest fan , or fan of RPGs in general , pick this one up . I doubt you'll be disappointed .
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Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I simply love the threading together of the stories of the chosen . FF3 ( FF6 in Japan ) tried this device , but in my opinion it didn't quite render the same drama and anticipation as in this game . Plus : there's enough side-action to keep you playing this one for a long time . One problem is that to get the good ending you have to level up your characters really high which means literally scores of hours worth of grinding ! Still though , I just love this game .
065 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I simply love the threading together of the stories of the chosen . FF3 ( FF6 in Japan ) tried this device , but in my opinion it didn't quite render the same drama and anticipation as in this game . Plus : there's enough side-action to keep you playing this one for a long time . One problem is that to get the good ending you have to level up your characters really high which means literally scores of hours worth of grinding ! Still though , I just love this game .
066 I simply love the threading together of the stories of the chosen . FF3 ( FF6 in Japan ) tried this device , but in my opinion it didn't quite render the same drama and anticipation as in this game . Plus : there's enough side-action to keep you playing this one for a long time . One problem is that to get the good ending you have to level up your characters really high which means literally scores of hours worth of grinding ! Still though , I just love this game .
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If you know the series and love it like I do , then I don't have to say anything to convince you to purchase this game . I've played DQ games for over a decade and love it . If you like RPG's , this is for you .
068 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
If you know the series and love it like I do , then I don't have to say anything to convince you to purchase this game . I've played DQ games for over a decade and love it . If you like RPG's , this is for you .
069 If you know the series and love it like I do , then I don't have to say anything to convince you to purchase this game . I've played DQ games for over a decade and love it . If you like RPG's , this is for you .
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Exactly what you would expect from the makers of the Dragon Quest Series : a great story , plenty of game time and plenty of different combinations of characters to play just the way you like .
071 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Exactly what you would expect from the makers of the Dragon Quest Series : a great story , plenty of game time and plenty of different combinations of characters to play just the way you like .
072 Exactly what you would expect from the makers of the Dragon Quest Series : a great story , plenty of game time and plenty of different combinations of characters to play just the way you like .
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Having played the original on Nintendo many many years ago I had to purchase this for my younger brother . This has always been my all time favorite game and now with updated graphics and 2 screens it is even better . I just wish it were on the Wii or XBox 360 .
I was only dissapointed when I learned that they changed the names of the main characters , but that is a minor detail that is easily overlooked .
074 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Having played the original on Nintendo many many years ago I had to purchase this for my younger brother . This has always been my all time favorite game and now with updated graphics and 2 screens it is even better . I just wish it were on the Wii or XBox 360 .
I was only dissapointed when I learned that they changed the names of the main characters , but that is a minor detail that is easily overlooked .
075 Having played the original on Nintendo many many years ago I had to purchase this for my younger brother . This has always been my all time favorite game and now with updated graphics and 2 screens it is even better . I just wish it were on the Wii or XBox 360 .
I was only dissapointed when I learned that they changed the names of the main characters , but that is a minor detail that is easily overlooked .
076 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen
This Dragon Quest feels fresh and original while keeping all of it's greatest aspects . Even though this is not a main console release the engine , audio , story , and gameplay mesh together to make a powerful title .
The engine is very impressive for a handheld and works well with the game , while still leaving an impression even after you turn it off !
This definitely is one of the must have RPG titles for the DS . Check it out !
I also suggest you look at : Dragon Quest 5 , Final Fantasy IV , Legend of Zelda : Phantom Hourglass , & Chrono Trigger .
077 Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen
This Dragon Quest feels fresh and original while keeping all of it's greatest aspects . Even though this is not a main console release the engine , audio , story , and gameplay mesh together to make a powerful title .
The engine is very impressive for a handheld and works well with the game , while still leaving an impression even after you turn it off !
This definitely is one of the must have RPG titles for the DS . Check it out !
I also suggest you look at : Dragon Quest 5 , Final Fantasy IV , Legend of Zelda : Phantom Hourglass , & Chrono Trigger .
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Dragon Quest 4 was arguably the best NES Dragon Quest game released . Square Enix was kind enough to grace us with a remake and promised future remakes of the next two installments for the DS . Dragon Quest has held a very large fan base for decades now . In Japan that fanbase is even larger than in America . You could say Dragon Quest is the definitive JRPG , in that many games afterwards have copied elements of DQ gameplay . Dragon Quest has always remained simple and fun and I truly believe it is one of the reasons why the series has done so well .
DQ4 is a very well done remake . It manages to keep the old feel and spirit of DQ4 for the NES and make it approachable for today's generation . There will always be some haters who hate the grinding and simplistic gameplay , but hey , you can't please everyone . If you have played DQ games before and enjoyed them then you can know in confidence that you will enjoy this one . In comparison to DQ7 and 8 this one falls a little short . The story isn't as involving . There are no skills , only spells . There is no job system as in DQ 7 and 3 , and the game just doesnt look as good as the most recent DQ games . Does that really matter ? NO . It does not . Simply put , this a very well put together DQ game . It made several improvements on the releases before it . It was the arguably the MOST innovative RPG released when it was orginially released for the NES . The Chapter system was almost unheard of , but praised . It was a great idea that still works to this very day . If anything you can look at this game as a piece of history . Isn't it great to be able to enjoy this piece of history through a buffed up remake ? I think so .
079 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Dragon Quest 4 was arguably the best NES Dragon Quest game released . Square Enix was kind enough to grace us with a remake and promised future remakes of the next two installments for the DS . Dragon Quest has held a very large fan base for decades now . In Japan that fanbase is even larger than in America . You could say Dragon Quest is the definitive JRPG , in that many games afterwards have copied elements of DQ gameplay . Dragon Quest has always remained simple and fun and I truly believe it is one of the reasons why the series has done so well .
DQ4 is a very well done remake . It manages to keep the old feel and spirit of DQ4 for the NES and make it approachable for today's generation . There will always be some haters who hate the grinding and simplistic gameplay , but hey , you can't please everyone . If you have played DQ games before and enjoyed them then you can know in confidence that you will enjoy this one . In comparison to DQ7 and 8 this one falls a little short . The story isn't as involving . There are no skills , only spells . There is no job system as in DQ 7 and 3 , and the game just doesnt look as good as the most recent DQ games . Does that really matter ? NO . It does not . Simply put , this a very well put together DQ game . It made several improvements on the releases before it . It was the arguably the MOST innovative RPG released when it was orginially released for the NES . The Chapter system was almost unheard of , but praised . It was a great idea that still works to this very day . If anything you can look at this game as a piece of history . Isn't it great to be able to enjoy this piece of history through a buffed up remake ? I think so .
080 Dragon Quest 4 was arguably the best NES Dragon Quest game released . Square Enix was kind enough to grace us with a remake and promised future remakes of the next two installments for the DS . Dragon Quest has held a very large fan base for decades now . In Japan that fanbase is even larger than in America . You could say Dragon Quest is the definitive JRPG , in that many games afterwards have copied elements of DQ gameplay . Dragon Quest has always remained simple and fun and I truly believe it is one of the reasons why the series has done so well .
DQ4 is a very well done remake . It manages to keep the old feel and spirit of DQ4 for the NES and make it approachable for today's generation . There will always be some haters who hate the grinding and simplistic gameplay , but hey , you can't please everyone . If you have played DQ games before and enjoyed them then you can know in confidence that you will enjoy this one . In comparison to DQ7 and 8 this one falls a little short . The story isn't as involving . There are no skills , only spells . There is no job system as in DQ 7 and 3 , and the game just doesnt look as good as the most recent DQ games . Does that really matter ? NO . It does not . Simply put , this a very well put together DQ game . It made several improvements on the releases before it . It was the arguably the MOST innovative RPG released when it was orginially released for the NES . The Chapter system was almost unheard of , but praised . It was a great idea that still works to this very day . If anything you can look at this game as a piece of history . Isn't it great to be able to enjoy this piece of history through a buffed up remake ? I think so .
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Honestly folks . It's Dragon Warrior , it's 4 the last of the titles that came out in the US . It's fun with the chapters style and it plays fast . For an old school RPG , especially if you like this kinda stuff , it's golden .
082 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Honestly folks . It's Dragon Warrior , it's 4 the last of the titles that came out in the US . It's fun with the chapters style and it plays fast . For an old school RPG , especially if you like this kinda stuff , it's golden .
083 Honestly folks . It's Dragon Warrior , it's 4 the last of the titles that came out in the US . It's fun with the chapters style and it plays fast . For an old school RPG , especially if you like this kinda stuff , it's golden .
084 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I used to play the Dragon Warrior games on the NES when I was a child , including the old Dragon Warrior IV . This remake is a loyal re-release of the old classic , but with many changes to the graphics and elements of the game have been tweaked to update it , including a new sixth chapter !
Some name changes have been made to characters , spells , and monsters that I haven't been terribly thrilled by , and it is a little short compared to modern RPG's , but still well worth it on a system that is idea for Role Playing Games .
085 I used to play the Dragon Warrior games on the NES when I was a child , including the old Dragon Warrior IV . This remake is a loyal re-release of the old classic , but with many changes to the graphics and elements of the game have been tweaked to update it , including a new sixth chapter !
Some name changes have been made to characters , spells , and monsters that I haven't been terribly thrilled by , and it is a little short compared to modern RPG's , but still well worth it on a system that is idea for Role Playing Games .
086 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I liked this game when it came out years ago . It was Fun , and when Torneko goofed up it usually helped you out . This one Torneko is fun but not powerful enough to help you out with any major monsters as the game progresses .
It's a good game and if you liked the original it's not going to give you many surprises . I've got 36 hours into it and still have to grind a bunch more levels to beat the 2nd Boss . Lots of cheap shots by the monsters and it's boss battles at least the end one seems longer and it's cheap in that the boss gets 2 hits and so far none of my guys have had a miss . If you equip spell reflecting items they also stop good spells like major healing spells .
Over all it's fun if you like the old style , mandatory level grinding games and it's not a rogue game so if you die , you lose half your cash but not all your armor and weapons and you can save your money in a bank . All DQ games have that feature .
DQ just like Final Fantasy and the Tales RPG's all have their own world and rules and styles and I like all of them . But if you want balanced RPG this isn't it . You will have to go out and fight lots of battles to increase your experience , levels and money . I'm so spoiled by all the new games but overall I gave it 4 stars because I think they should have done a better job with the graphics . This was an NES game and the Nintendo DS is more powerful than an NES .
087 I liked this game when it came out years ago . It was Fun , and when Torneko goofed up it usually helped you out . This one Torneko is fun but not powerful enough to help you out with any major monsters as the game progresses .
It's a good game and if you liked the original it's not going to give you many surprises . I've got 36 hours into it and still have to grind a bunch more levels to beat the 2nd Boss . Lots of cheap shots by the monsters and it's boss battles at least the end one seems longer and it's cheap in that the boss gets 2 hits and so far none of my guys have had a miss . If you equip spell reflecting items they also stop good spells like major healing spells .
Over all it's fun if you like the old style , mandatory level grinding games and it's not a rogue game so if you die , you lose half your cash but not all your armor and weapons and you can save your money in a bank . All DQ games have that feature .
DQ just like Final Fantasy and the Tales RPG's all have their own world and rules and styles and I like all of them . But if you want balanced RPG this isn't it . You will have to go out and fight lots of battles to increase your experience , levels and money . I'm so spoiled by all the new games but overall I gave it 4 stars because I think they should have done a better job with the graphics . This was an NES game and the Nintendo DS is more powerful than an NES .
088 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I love the old style RPG's and find there are never enough of them . This one started a little different than any I've played before and I found myself lost but that just is a plus for puzzle fans too who like trying to figure out what to do next . Anyway , you start as you who is to save the world but suddenly you find yourself playing as another character and I wasn't sure what was going on then another chapter starts and then you are another character again but I'm glad I stuck with it because by chapter 5 you are you again and hunting these people you've played as previously to join your party and it's a huge world map and sizable game and I've played 40 hours so far and don't think I'm near finished yet but I'm loving it .
089 I love the old style RPG's and find there are never enough of them . This one started a little different than any I've played before and I found myself lost but that just is a plus for puzzle fans too who like trying to figure out what to do next . Anyway , you start as you who is to save the world but suddenly you find yourself playing as another character and I wasn't sure what was going on then another chapter starts and then you are another character again but I'm glad I stuck with it because by chapter 5 you are you again and hunting these people you've played as previously to join your party and it's a huge world map and sizable game and I've played 40 hours so far and don't think I'm near finished yet but I'm loving it .
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this game is one of the best titles on the DS to date . four different and compelling stories that all merge into one epic journey . i luved this game and have been playing the dragon quest games sense i was a kid and if any of you have played any of them before be ready to be blown away !
091 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
this game is one of the best titles on the DS to date . four different and compelling stories that all merge into one epic journey . i luved this game and have been playing the dragon quest games sense i was a kid and if any of you have played any of them before be ready to be blown away !
092 this game is one of the best titles on the DS to date . four different and compelling stories that all merge into one epic journey . i luved this game and have been playing the dragon quest games sense i was a kid and if any of you have played any of them before be ready to be blown away !
093 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
This version of the Dragon Quest gives introductions on all the supporting characters allowing you to get accustomed to their abilities and to level them up before the real deal . The dual screen gives a good sense of space and perception . I am impressed by the stories and the art designs . If you are an anime or a manga fan who just happens to enjoy the work of Akira Toriyama , definitely do pick this one up .
094 This version of the Dragon Quest gives introductions on all the supporting characters allowing you to get accustomed to their abilities and to level them up before the real deal . The dual screen gives a good sense of space and perception . I am impressed by the stories and the art designs . If you are an anime or a manga fan who just happens to enjoy the work of Akira Toriyama , definitely do pick this one up .
095 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Great old school RPG fun ! You can't go wrong with Dragon Quest 4 ! I love it and I'm positive you will too !
A must have for RPG lovers ! !
096 Great old school RPG fun ! You can't go wrong with Dragon Quest 4 ! I love it and I'm positive you will too !
A must have for RPG lovers ! !
097 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
This is my first dragon quest game and it did not dissapoint . Can't wait for the fifth one .
098 This is my first dragon quest game and it did not dissapoint . Can't wait for the fifth one .
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This was an enjoyable sequel to the Dragon Warrior / Dragon Quest saga . The DS version is much superior to the original NES / Famicom version .
100 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
This was an enjoyable sequel to the Dragon Warrior / Dragon Quest saga . The DS version is much superior to the original NES / Famicom version .
101 This was an enjoyable sequel to the Dragon Warrior / Dragon Quest saga . The DS version is much superior to the original NES / Famicom version .
102 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I am a huge fan of classic RPGs , having grown up playing the original DQ series ( and yes , I did own DQ4 or Dragon Warrior 4 as it was called ) . Though Dragon Quest 3 had always been my favorite , I have enjoyed this sequel but never really played all the way through .
I have to say that this is a better DS edition that DQ9 . For one , the game sticks with the classic world map , the classic battle system and random encounters . The graphics are truly amazing for a handheld system .
I like FF3 for the DS , but I think that this is the best DS remake of an old NES game .
103 I am a huge fan of classic RPGs , having grown up playing the original DQ series ( and yes , I did own DQ4 or Dragon Warrior 4 as it was called ) . Though Dragon Quest 3 had always been my favorite , I have enjoyed this sequel but never really played all the way through .
I have to say that this is a better DS edition that DQ9 . For one , the game sticks with the classic world map , the classic battle system and random encounters . The graphics are truly amazing for a handheld system .
I like FF3 for the DS , but I think that this is the best DS remake of an old NES game .
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I love how many hours you can rack up on this little puppy . There are a bunch of items you can search for on an incredibly large map , considering the size of the cartridge your playing on . I'm still playing it even after beating the game since there is quite a bit of end-game material to get through , as well .
My only gripe is the lack of originality . I mean , I knew what I was getting into when I bought a Dragon Quest game since they have been using , pretty much , the same formula for the past 20 years . But , there is one chapter i n here that deals with an inspiring businessman . He travels the continent using his bartering skills to save up enough money for his very own shop . This was an excellent diversion , that I feel , the game could have used more of .
In conclusion , I would highly recommend this game if you want to enjoy a great RPG on the DS .
105 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
I love how many hours you can rack up on this little puppy . There are a bunch of items you can search for on an incredibly large map , considering the size of the cartridge your playing on . I'm still playing it even after beating the game since there is quite a bit of end-game material to get through , as well .
My only gripe is the lack of originality . I mean , I knew what I was getting into when I bought a Dragon Quest game since they have been using , pretty much , the same formula for the past 20 years . But , there is one chapter i n here that deals with an inspiring businessman . He travels the continent using his bartering skills to save up enough money for his very own shop . This was an excellent diversion , that I feel , the game could have used more of .
In conclusion , I would highly recommend this game if you want to enjoy a great RPG on the DS .
106 I love how many hours you can rack up on this little puppy . There are a bunch of items you can search for on an incredibly large map , considering the size of the cartridge your playing on . I'm still playing it even after beating the game since there is quite a bit of end-game material to get through , as well .
My only gripe is the lack of originality . I mean , I knew what I was getting into when I bought a Dragon Quest game since they have been using , pretty much , the same formula for the past 20 years . But , there is one chapter i n here that deals with an inspiring businessman . He travels the continent using his bartering skills to save up enough money for his very own shop . This was an excellent diversion , that I feel , the game could have used more of .
In conclusion , I would highly recommend this game if you want to enjoy a great RPG on the DS .
107 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
This is a great game that takes patience , as do all ( well written ) Square games . ( Note : I said Square , not Square-Enix ) . I'm a patient man . And sometimes that is a curse . This means I like really like games that deliver on the adventure aspect , and it's been a lo-o-o-o-o-ng time since that Square , I mean Square-Enix has delivered . Only Camelot has done it with the Golden Sun 2 - part series . Then came Square-Enix's The World Ends With You . My point is that Square-Enix has come back . Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( DQ : CofC ) is what Adventure-RPGs are supposed to be : EPIC .
You start off as You in a brief Prequel , then are slowly ( read : slowly ) introduced to the people that will change your life . You control all the characters as the Chapters unfold . The First Chapter is short and introduces a brave soldier ; this introduction may be misleading as it may lead you to think all of the Character Intro-Chapters are short : No . Chapter 2 introduces you to your second companion , this is the first long chapter , and well written . While it may seem the stories don't tie together - that's the point . DQ : CofC wants you take the role of a group of people who seem to have nothing in common and become apart of their journey to find You . As I said it has been a long time since Square-Enix has delivered a game of epic proportions since Square's Final Fantasy VII , in my opinion . And it's worth it . I regret I rented the game and only made it to Chapter 3 after 12 hours of playing before having to return it to GameFly . However , I will buy this game , as it's very rare I own a game I want to play again from the beginning just begin the journey of finding Me again .
CONS :
1 ) The characters don't talk ( Except the merchant when appraising items ) . Like Golden Sun , the denziens of the world merely respond to you , and repeat what you say from time to time . For me , I like when my controlling charater speaks , it gives the gameplay more depth . Games like Half-Life are the clear exception .
2 ) The ethic-speak is VERY annoying . In Chapter 1 you will go crazy trying to understand what the characters are saying ( Apparently they're Irish or Scottish ? ? ) . It took me awhile to realize the word ken was actually know and tur was tower . Also , the Second Chapter I think they are Russian , and their broken english is hard to read at times . It seemed like a bad language translation until I reliazed that's the way the charcters actually talk . Luckily in Chapter 3 the English is some form of snobbery-Britsh english and is easier to understand .
108 This is a great game that takes patience , as do all ( well written ) Square games . ( Note : I said Square , not Square-Enix ) . I'm a patient man . And sometimes that is a curse . This means I like really like games that deliver on the adventure aspect , and it's been a lo-o-o-o-o-ng time since that Square , I mean Square-Enix has delivered . Only Camelot has done it with the Golden Sun 2 - part series . Then came Square-Enix's The World Ends With You . My point is that Square-Enix has come back . Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( DQ : CofC ) is what Adventure-RPGs are supposed to be : EPIC .
You start off as You in a brief Prequel , then are slowly ( read : slowly ) introduced to the people that will change your life . You control all the characters as the Chapters unfold . The First Chapter is short and introduces a brave soldier ; this introduction may be misleading as it may lead you to think all of the Character Intro-Chapters are short : No . Chapter 2 introduces you to your second companion , this is the first long chapter , and well written . While it may seem the stories don't tie together - that's the point . DQ : CofC wants you take the role of a group of people who seem to have nothing in common and become apart of their journey to find You . As I said it has been a long time since Square-Enix has delivered a game of epic proportions since Square's Final Fantasy VII , in my opinion . And it's worth it . I regret I rented the game and only made it to Chapter 3 after 12 hours of playing before having to return it to GameFly . However , I will buy this game , as it's very rare I own a game I want to play again from the beginning just begin the journey of finding Me again .
CONS :
1 ) The characters don't talk ( Except the merchant when appraising items ) . Like Golden Sun , the denziens of the world merely respond to you , and repeat what you say from time to time . For me , I like when my controlling charater speaks , it gives the gameplay more depth . Games like Half-Life are the clear exception .
2 ) The ethic-speak is VERY annoying . In Chapter 1 you will go crazy trying to understand what the characters are saying ( Apparently they're Irish or Scottish ? ? ) . It took me awhile to realize the word ken was actually know and tur was tower . Also , the Second Chapter I think they are Russian , and their broken english is hard to read at times . It seemed like a bad language translation until I reliazed that's the way the charcters actually talk . Luckily in Chapter 3 the English is some form of snobbery-Britsh english and is easier to understand .
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Got this for my wife for Christmas . She is 26 and loves it . Plays it all the time . Word . Giggity .
110 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Got this for my wife for Christmas . She is 26 and loves it . Plays it all the time . Word . Giggity .
112 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Like many previous reviewers , I grew up with Dragon Warrior and look forward to the newest Quest games . I'd been a little worried that a DS game would be simpler than a full release - and it is . This is a 30 hour game , and at $40 , it just isn't worth it yet . It has great game play , same basic plot , and the same mechanics and casino logic as all the previous ones . But you can beat it ( even with spending way too much time getting the best gear in the casino ) too quickly . I'm regretting not waiting till it went down in price .
113 Like many previous reviewers , I grew up with Dragon Warrior and look forward to the newest Quest games . I'd been a little worried that a DS game would be simpler than a full release - and it is . This is a 30 hour game , and at $40 , it just isn't worth it yet . It has great game play , same basic plot , and the same mechanics and casino logic as all the previous ones . But you can beat it ( even with spending way too much time getting the best gear in the casino ) too quickly . I'm regretting not waiting till it went down in price .
114 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Title says it all . If you like old-school RPGs then this is the game for you .
116 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
So far I am at the end of the game and like previous reviews it seemed a little short . Over all the game was nice to play to pass the time .
117 So far I am at the end of the game and like previous reviews it seemed a little short . Over all the game was nice to play to pass the time .
118 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
Like most other Dragon Quests , this title is repetitive , bland , and generally unappealing . Its plot is overall generic and boring , and what few tiny creative aspects can be found are inconsequential . Its characters are given nearly no character development past their individual opening chapters ( and there's precious little development even there ! ) . Its hero is little more than a moving mannequin , its villain is dull and standard . Even for the sad , delusional people who play RPGs for gameplay purposes rather than those related to writing , this game is intensely boring - - although that really should go without saying in a series that confuses an inability to improve for tradition . There's also nothing worthy of note in any of the game's other departments - - the music is , as always with DQ games , little more than a video game equivalent to elevator muzak , the graphics are not bad but certainly not interesting , and the only real challenge to it is whether you can stomach hundreds upon hundreds of unvaried random encounter battles .
With many portable RPGs whose creativity and skillful writing challenge one's mind and impress one's mental senses , like Valkyrie Profile : Covenant of the Plume or one of the Shin Megami Tensei titles , there is absolutely no reason for even an RPG enthusiast to pick up a game that basically amounts to an electronic sedative . Skip Dragon Quest 4 and go play something good , instead .
119 Like most other Dragon Quests , this title is repetitive , bland , and generally unappealing . Its plot is overall generic and boring , and what few tiny creative aspects can be found are inconsequential . Its characters are given nearly no character development past their individual opening chapters ( and there's precious little development even there ! ) . Its hero is little more than a moving mannequin , its villain is dull and standard . Even for the sad , delusional people who play RPGs for gameplay purposes rather than those related to writing , this game is intensely boring - - although that really should go without saying in a series that confuses an inability to improve for tradition . There's also nothing worthy of note in any of the game's other departments - - the music is , as always with DQ games , little more than a video game equivalent to elevator muzak , the graphics are not bad but certainly not interesting , and the only real challenge to it is whether you can stomach hundreds upon hundreds of unvaried random encounter battles .
With many portable RPGs whose creativity and skillful writing challenge one's mind and impress one's mental senses , like Valkyrie Profile : Covenant of the Plume or one of the Shin Megami Tensei titles , there is absolutely no reason for even an RPG enthusiast to pick up a game that basically amounts to an electronic sedative . Skip Dragon Quest 4 and go play something good , instead .
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This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
For the love of all that is good , why can't companies make good ports of the best classic fantasy RPG's ? Dragon Warrior IV for the DS sucks . The game was originally a 2D game . Why in the world does it have to be ruined by being converted to 3D ? Why do these wonderful games have to be for handhelds only ? The only reason I gave this game two stars instead of one is the ability to control your party manually in chapter 5 . I definetely enjoy the NES version a lot better .
121 This review is from :
Dragon Quest IV : Chapters of the Chosen ( Video Game )
For the love of all that is good , why can't companies make good ports of the best classic fantasy RPG's ? Dragon Warrior IV for the DS sucks . The game was originally a 2D game . Why in the world does it have to be ruined by being converted to 3D ? Why do these wonderful games have to be for handhelds only ? The only reason I gave this game two stars instead of one is the ability to control your party manually in chapter 5 . I definetely enjoy the NES version a lot better .
122 For the love of all that is good , why can't companies make good ports of the best classic fantasy RPG's ? Dragon Warrior IV for the DS sucks . The game was originally a 2D game . Why in the world does it have to be ruined by being converted to 3D ? Why do these wonderful games have to be for handhelds only ? The only reason I gave this game two stars instead of one is the ability to control your party manually in chapter 5 . I definetely enjoy the NES version a lot better .
