Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of The Starry Skies was the second Dragon Quest game I bought and got into, following a similar, enjoyable experience of Dragon Quest VI also on the Nintendo DS. What struck me as far better to be in Dragon Quest IX compared to Dragon Quest VI was the far more in-depth plot, and story involving angels as they would be called and your role as one.
The story was quite original, actually playing as a Celestrian also known as an Angel. You're soon dispatched from above to watch over a town below, and protect the mortals there, and making their lives that bit better. However following an ancient ritual that has gone wrong, all Celestrians are now without their powers or wings, and can now be seen by mortals below. This forces you to find out what happened, and how to return to the Celestrian world above. This in turn begins a quest to do just that, and find out what happened during the ritual that caused all of this. This story and plot is quite original, and adds a new world and POV to your character, and makes you wonder what your party and other fellow characters think about you.
As for game-play exploration and combat is all played out in 3D design and visuals which is an update to the original game. As for the game's mechanic, combat is played out like it was in the original in a turn-based system, so it feels right for myself as a fan of the Final Fantasy series. It feels like it should, how the game would play out in it's original format and you feel like you are playing a classic RPG gem from Nintendo, but with updated visuals and game-play only. The very soul and such is still there with this port.
Visually, and graphically Dragon Quest IX is all updated with 3D textures, visuals and environments that truly make the game feel like a DS title, instead of just a port of the original game with it's older 2D graphics.
It's musical score is very good, with a strong combat musical background that drives on a battle to the slower, more gentle score to when you explore the open world.
The Good:
- Another classic, 2D RPG gem from Nintendo ported perfectly to the DS system with new visuals, and graphics.
- One of the most original, and enjoyable story-lines that I have ever seen in a game in a while; the angel element, really adds mystery to the main character, and drives on some interesting conversations with your party members.
- Game-play is solid, with the classic combat turn-based system of the original, and exploration of the open world.
- Graphically, the game is beautiful, and it's frame rate is solid and smooth with these new updated visuals; particularly in battle sequences.
- It's musical score is a strong, and enjoyable RPG soundtrack you would expect from such a major Japanese RPG franchise.
The Bad:
- An annoying save system, requiring you to save in church altars which can be quite a distance away to travel back to, or to find further into the game. This forces a lot of moments where you fear you'll die, before getting to the churches to save your progress.
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies is one of the best RPG ports to the DS system, when comparing it to others on the system, and as a port the quality of the original is still evident in terms of the game-play, combat and exploration in the open world. Nothing has been stripped from the original, it's only been updated and enhanced for a newer console. Like it's counterpart; Dragon Quest VI, it is a port well worth buying at both full price and at a discount if you can find one. For fans of the genre, it's a must have for fans of good, solid RPG games.