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Dragon Quest IX exclusive to DS

[UPDATE] Square Enix announces next installment of series will be strictly portable on Nintendo's handheld; game is subtitled Guard of the Starry Night.

The game will apparently involve characters shouting numbers at big greenish guys.

The game will apparently involve characters shouting numbers at big greenish guys.

Though not exactly a household name for gamers here in the United States, the Dragon Quest series is one of the most popular gaming franchises in Japan. The release of Dragon Quest VIII in Japan was met with the same frenzy that typically accompanies the release of the latest edition of another Square Enix franchise, Final Fantasy.

Square Enix released Dragon Quest VIII on the PlayStation 2, which was a great boon for Sony. However, it appears as though the benefactor of Dragon Quest IX will be one of Sony's rivals. Forbes reports that Dragon Quest IX has been announced as an exclusive for the Nintendo DS.

Some analysts think this could be a big blow against Sony because the Dragon Quest franchise is considered a top-tier franchise and has sold more than 41 million copies worldwide. Hiroshi Kamide, analyst at KBC Securities, said the decision to put Dragon Quest IX exclusively on the DS "was rather unexpected, so it's not a huge vote of confidence for the PlayStation 3," reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

Another look at the lead character's backside.

Another look at the lead character's backside.

Square is also preparing a Dragon Quest game for the Wii, due early next year, and recently released Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime, a series spin-off, for the DS.

[UPDATE] Square Enix has confirmed that the DS Dragon Quest is in development, and that it is tentatively called Dragon Quest IX: Guard of the Starry Night. The game will be more action-oriented than previous Dragon Quest games, and battles will "take place on the field." There will also be support for four-player multiplayer, presumably through the DS's Wi-Fi capabilities. DQIX is currently scheduled for release in Japan in 2007; no US release window was given.

Square Enix also reconfirmed that the Dragon Quest Wii title, Dragon Quest Swords: Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors, will be released in spring 2007.

But that's not the last of Dragon Quest news. Another DQ game, Dragon Quest Monster Battle Road, is headed to Japanese arcades and is a "card-battle game where players battle monsters in a coliseum to win real-life cards with monster data imprinted on them."

695 Comments

  • rdivaccaro10

    Posted Jul 18, 2010 6:29 am GMT

    The Multi-player looks pretty cool.

  • canx12

    Posted Feb 7, 2009 12:06 pm GMT

    this is full 3D cool i don't know what to say looks good i mean yheah thats it

  • MetaKnight50

    Posted Oct 8, 2008 3:17 pm GMT

    i liked it when u tamed the monsters in the old games.
    i never tried playing an rpg without taming monsters, so this game might be a good experience.

  • maggiemay02

    Posted Sep 20, 2008 10:43 am GMT

    I'am so glad to see it coming out and also that it is coming home to Nintendo the console where it all started.I have been a fan of Dragon Warrior/Quest ever since the first one.Only sorry it took so long for Enix to bring it back.Thank you Square-Enix!!

  • Power-Pants

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 10:55 pm GMT

    Isn't it funny how many of the people who are arguing for Sony don't seem to be Dragon Quest traditionalists, just Dragon Quest VIII traditionalists, because as I remember every Dragon Quest up to VII was in 2D, which the DS is perfectly capable of, and were still just as good games.

  • SirAdol

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 2:20 pm GMT

    WOW it looks Great ...

  • Gvaz

    Posted Sep 10, 2007 6:16 pm GMT

    WAY TOO MUCH DRAGON QUEST TOO FAST.

    are they trying to drown us in dragon quest just so we hate the franchise?

  • dibooda

    Posted Jun 12, 2007 2:07 pm GMT

    Trogeton just for your information, EB game has a instore trade-in for old DS to lite version.It still cost you something but its like 100$ less if i remember right.

    and for that news ,well, I am happy that SE is "coming back" to papa,but it will eventually go back to the big machine. GO BIG N.

  • Twit92

    Posted May 21, 2007 2:41 pm GMT

    DQ games are pretty challenging at times but thats why so many people love it...for when they beat it the reaction is much more satisfying because..well i dont know it just is

  • Raykuza

    Posted May 12, 2007 10:33 am GMT

    Hmm... I guess I could try something from Enix's end.

  • Nin10doFan44

    Posted May 12, 2007 10:31 am GMT

    I love Dragon Quest!

  • ranger_waha

    Posted May 8, 2007 7:34 pm GMT

    I heart dragon quest so hard it ain't even funny.

  • iron_zealot7531

    Posted Mar 26, 2007 1:05 am GMT

    is this coming out in the US?

  • mohammed888

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 9:09 pm GMT

    goku said: cant see sony coming back from this one. now all they have left is capcom.

    well didnt u c that DMC4 is also going the 360 way,dude even capcom left sonys back yard.

  • SchuckBOT

    Posted Feb 14, 2007 9:20 am GMT

    I'm a big fan of the series..but DQ isn't known for graphics..did they really expect to put the next title on the PS3? Bwahaha..Too bad SONY..

  • Kaneada

    Posted Feb 3, 2007 7:04 am GMT

    I'm loving this. Sony is got to be crumbling, something tells me SE is gonna pull FF from sony. this is what sony gets for its arrogance!

  • Born2bBokas

    Posted Jan 21, 2007 6:02 pm GMT

    As soon as the US ver. comes out, I'll be at game store

  • NandoSupes

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 5:40 pm GMT

    23 million DS sold around the world , huge user base, anyone needs more reasons why DQIX is coming to the DS?, I dont think so lol.

  • kmiller9959

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 1:11 pm GMT

    Good thing I got a DS instead of a PSP!

  • axelink

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 9:17 am GMT

    I'm glad to se SE supporting nintendo again, and i hope the same for the wii good job nintendo now your sons and daughters are coming back to you!

  • Trogeton

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 9:32 pm GMT

    I wish I can somehow trade my old ds for a lite.. but I dont think that there is any way to do so.. just to have the better one.. but not matter I have not been playing it at all.. but I would love to trade my original one for the lite

  • decoy1978

    Posted Jan 12, 2007 7:11 pm GMT

    Wow thats a lot of Sony Hate hahaha. Im quite excited about the DQ for DS. I felt the last DS for PS2 didn't really do it justice... I was expecting so much more.

  • jacko_goku69

    Posted Jan 12, 2007 2:06 pm GMT

    sony is going down. they have lost SE and a couple of others now all we need is capcom and sony is finished. DQ will play well on the ds. the psp has been completely owned by the ds. sony fanboys, its not nintendos fault the psp is going out of buisness, well maybe it is a little but who cares the psp is **** anyway

  • kicksjustsilly

    Posted Jan 12, 2007 2:00 pm GMT

    Can't wait. DS + Dragon Quest = Happy

  • jacko_goku69

    Posted Jan 12, 2007 12:22 pm GMT

    cant see sony coming back from this one. now all they have left is capcom.

  • jacko_goku69

    Posted Jan 12, 2007 12:17 pm GMT

    looks like the end of sony

    psp R.I.P LOL

  • thps48

    Posted Jan 9, 2007 10:49 am GMT

    I've only played Rocket Slime, and I can safely say...
    ...I have no idea what to expect Xp

  • wf6937

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 6:49 pm GMT

    never played any of the DQ series... but this one and VIII have sparked my interest... i might have to invest...

  • FLYmeatwad

    Posted Jan 6, 2007 3:44 pm GMT

    I know it's way old news, but I never wrote anything about it so...Anyway, the DS has been severly lacking in good RPGs, something the GBA always had. At least Squarenix will put out good ones. First FFIII and now DQ IX, the future looks promising.

  • basem9

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 6:00 am GMT

    this game will let the ds go high and high and high and the others like ps and xbox go down

  • rhymefest11

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 9:54 am GMT

    I cant wait to get this game it looks awesome

  • brotherscampos

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 6:43 am GMT

    I love this game,

  • Chezzanator

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 5:58 pm GMT

    DQ8 was awesome!!!!!
    Can't wait for DQ9!!!!

  • cancer_777

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 2:04 pm GMT

    =(

    me too

  • The_Weekend

    Posted Jan 2, 2007 1:59 am GMT

    Dear God ... I NEED A NDS!

  • Kcube

    Posted Jan 1, 2007 2:04 pm GMT

    @ Platyphyllum

    Um yeah its a joke

  • jasongm

    Posted Dec 30, 2006 2:14 pm GMT

    After hearing this game was coming to the DS... I ended up buying a DS Lite... ohhh yeah this game will no doubt sell DS systems for sure now.

  • _Bison_

    Posted Dec 29, 2006 10:28 pm GMT

    @stripeknight

    The whole japanese law thing is nothing short of an urban legend. They did however recieve massive complaints and have agreed not to release the games on weekdays. There is no such law however.

  • SorcererLance

    Posted Dec 28, 2006 11:20 am GMT

    freakin' awesome

  • harleyrulesall

    Posted Dec 27, 2006 12:24 pm GMT

    cool

  • Platyphyllum

    Posted Dec 26, 2006 6:10 pm GMT

    Did Gamespot just say that the game will involve characters shouting numbers at big greenish guys? Is that a joke or do they not know that the numbers are actually the damage you are doing to the enemy?

  • jsl99944704

    Posted Dec 22, 2006 7:24 am GMT

    @sh0
    they are actully selling horribly. They only shipped a few million and many game studios are considering Signing off of the Psp developers list.
    Also graphics do not make a game. Look at the pretty much best selling game ever. Super mario it wasnt pretty but so much fun you didnt care. FFV11 's Graphics Sucked (I have it Btw)

  • blueIcm

    Posted Dec 21, 2006 3:54 pm GMT

    wow Nintendo really fighting back. Not only will this increase game sales but ds system sales too.

  • WCLord

    Posted Dec 21, 2006 2:24 pm GMT

    to "stripeknight" :
    they made an unaffordable console

  • stripeknight

    Posted Dec 21, 2006 11:44 am GMT

    This is a huge blow to Sony as Dragon Quest is the largest media Franchise in Japan, in fact the government passed a national law that any Dragaon Quest game may not be released on a shool/work day as the country just shuts down, I'd like to know what Sony did to loose their most important franchise?!

  • staley6565

    Posted Dec 21, 2006 9:10 am GMT

    waves bye bye to the amazing animated visual feast of dragon quest VIII, it was fun finally having a DQ that was up to date and actually looked good

    hopes the DS installment's content trumps the loss of the presentation the ps2 version provided

  • sh0

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 8:11 am GMT

    hey Shadowbinded
    Am not fan boy .....am telling what is true , it would look better on psp lol , and am more to the microsoft camp, i love sony and nintendo, and miss sega so bad.... what happened to sonic? 1. My first language isnt english , am trying very hard to make it better

    2. since when grfx make a game ... mm look the succeed of ffVII it wouldnt succeed if it didnt had those amazing grfx and music score at that time.... mmm look ninja gaiden for xbox, doom 3 ,soul calibur(dreamcast), gears of wars.... Halo... if it plays amazing and look and sounds amazing , thats a masterpiece and who complains....

    3. Sony are selling good and wont dissapear, am glad nintento are selling more in its ds market , sorry dude i dont belong to the mario market but am happy nintendo still exists after this hard 10 years since sony appeared ,and i hope wii , do as good as the ds ....competition only bring us great games, handheld games now have 2 markets thanks god!!! and say thanks to sony becuase is giving you great gamesss and ty nintendo because am having great games for my psp library...metal gear, crisis core , daxter , syphon filter, burnout, silent hill, maverick hunter, socom , gta, killzone,ratchet and clan, luminees, ghost and goblins,,, etc etccc....

    4. glad and i hope you have fun with your warrior quest ^^ but btw it would look and sound better on psp

  • decoy1978

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 2:41 pm GMT

    DQ that came out for PS2 wasn't all that graphically impressive and I thought that the gameplay was a bit obsolete. It was perfect back in the day with NES, but now it just seems more 'work' than I'm willing to put in.

    Faster gameplay is all good with me. And having it come out for DS, I really look forward to this game

  • PhantomPhoot

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 8:25 pm GMT

    ok, i don't care about the playstation 3 until 1/2 of american households are able to get one that will work perfectly, which may not happen until 2008... I think that a DS DQ is odd, but I'll give it a shot. I think a Wii version would have made a HELLUVA lot more sense.

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