E3 2008: Dragon Quest IV Hands-On Impressions
A DS remake approaches. Command?
It has been so many years that it's hard to remember we've actually seen Dragon Quest IV on these shores before; the game was released as Dragon Warrior IV on the NES in 1992. This was right around the time that the series fell off the map in the US, and it wasn't until Dragon Quest VII that things got back on track. Now we're finally starting to see some of the series library trickle into domestic release, and the Dragon Quest IV remake has arrived on the DS. We took a quick tour of the game on the E3 show floor to see how the English-language release is shaping up.
The story of Dragon Quest IV follows a rather unorthodox route. The first several chapters of the game feature the characters who will ultimately become companions of the hero, who joins the fray only toward the latter end of things. The knight Ragnar, the princess Alena, the magician Borya, the priest Kiryl, the merchant Torneko and the twins Maya and Meena all have their own piece of the story to experience, everything weaving into a central tale.
Visually, the game benefits from the full remake treatment. The backgrounds are equipped with real depth and color, the world map is spruced up, and the sprites are not the NES blockheads of yesteryear any longer. They've got lots of fine detail and look just spiffy, and the monsters don't look too shabby either. Each monster also has a few short animations that they'll show off during battle, and each paw swipe and sword swing looks smooth. Enemies and such are displayed on the touch screen during battle, while the top screen is used to display character information, such as their health, which enemy each character is attacking, and available magic points.
Everything seems to be in place for a nice little old-school role-playing romp on the Nintendo DS. If you just can't wait to join Torneko and the gang, don't fret: Dragon Quest IV is scheduled to be released in September of this year. The slimes cometh.
I didn't play the japanese release when it was out (was bz with playing dungeon siege on my PSP), so i'm delaying till the english one gets released. Currently playing DQV Japanese ... hope to finish in time for this one!!
I plan on getting this, and it's the next game I'm really looking forward to, but... I wish they'd also remake 1 - 3, because those are the ones I relate to the most! :)
I would love to see the Dragon Quest games remade. I lost all of mine. ALL OF THEM! ;-;
I would like to see all Dragon Quest games remade... It's great that their bringing 4, 5, and 6 out, but I'd like to see visually enhanced remakes of the dragon Lord, Hargon, and Zoma!
chrono tirgger will be better
Yes! Something else to buy along with CT.
sounds like a good game besides the over complicated names
i don't really like dragon quest anymore. i might as well get pokemon platinum. oh but really if you played monster quest you'd know that getting your hope high may hurt you
Looking good, im still to buy FF3 tho.
finally i can dust down my ds. not used it for months. But this looks great.
I...can't...wait.
this game seems like a good one for a remake, hopefully this will become a worthy buy
Looks interesting
Oh man, this looks great.
cool
A remake!
Yaaaaay!
old school type games are awesome
I really like the Dragon Quest series. Happy to see this.
4 looks amazing! and with 5, 6 and 9 also on the way, i will soon be drowning in slimy goodness!
Dragonquest is a series I've been wanting to try out for a very long time... but I just keep procrastinating it.
Doesn't sound like this remake would be better than the original, but i hope it turns out at least as good anyway
DS sales in Japan will sky rocket.
The best game in the series is approaching. :D
I'm excited to see how this remake turns out.
I'm always skeptical of remakes...
Back then I wasn't a big DQ fan, but ages ago when i played 4, I was hooked. I'm glad they remade this, a definate buy for me
Damn, I really wished I had a DS. I'd definitely get this along with Chrono Trigger.
Once I have 4,5and 6 I will have all the dq games but 3. Can't wait for this game.
Dragon Quest + DS is winning combination. Not that I don''t like other versions of the series.
I love Dragon Quest and I'm hoping to see more old school dq's coming out.
These remakes seem to be coming out faster and faster. As a DQ8 fan, I can't wait to see the series' roots in a new perspective and visual style.
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen
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- Publisher(s): Square Enix
- Developer(s): ArtePiazza
- Genre: Role-Playing
- Release: Sep 16, 2008 (US) »
- ESRB: E10+
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