Dragon Quest trilogy descends on DS

Last July, with the E3 Media & Business Summit still fresh in gamers' minds, Square Enix saved one of its most intriguing announcements for the tail end of the month. As revealed by scanned images of Japanese magazine Shonen Jump, the game maker was gearing up for Dragon Quest IV, V, and VI remakes on the Nintendo DS. However, at the time, Square Enix was willing to acknowledge only a Japanese release for the role-playing games.

In the wake of official sites being set up for a pair of the games, Square Enix has officially taken the lid off of the Zenithia Trilogy, saying that Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen, Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, and Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie will be released on the DS in North America. Naturally, Dragon Quest IV will lead the pack and will be available domestically on September 16.

Similar to Square Enix's Final Fantasy III and IV remakes for the DS, the Zenithia Trilogy will benefit from a graphical overhaul that updates the game with 3D visuals, new animations, and a dual-screen presentation. Developed by ArtePiazza, the DS edition of Dragon Quest IV is a traditional RPG broken up into chapters. Players first control a diverse group of companions before assuming the role of the game's hero and embarking on an archetypal quest to save the world.

Dragon Quest IV was originally released as Dragon Warrior IV in the US for the NES in 1992, with a rerelease following in 2001 for the original PlayStation. Dragon Quest V and VI have never before been released in North America. Square Enix has not yet revealed a ship date for the second and third games in the Zenithia Trilogy.