A unique and challenging play experience with an excellent story
Pro: A challenging battle system, multiple play-thru with new cinema scenes and unlockable areas, bonus dungeon
Con: Steep learning curve, infrequent save points, limited carrying capacity, all weapons and equipments need to identify before being able to be equipped/used
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It has been years since I left played a Breath of Fire game. So after months of tantalizing me, I finally picked up the used copy of it from the local GameStop. I did not expect much from it except the standard turn base battle, save the world scenario, etc. etc. I was in for a surprise when I popped the game for a quick run. Dragon Quarter takes a slightly different approach to the series with some interesting and challenging results.
The world of Dragon Quarter is a sad and dreary place. A catastrophe has occurred some time in the past and has forced people to live underground where the quality of life gets worse each day. On top of the worsening conditions, people are further subjugated by a caste system call D-Ratio. The system measures the potential of a person to bond with the dragons in the game (the highest one can be born into is 1/4, hence the subtitle). Aside from power, those with higher ratio lived in better conditions whereas those with extremely low ratio are treated as second class citizens or worse.
The story of Dragon Quarter revolves around the blue-haired Hero who despite his low ratio bonds with a dragon which saved his life in a subsequent terrorist attack while on assignment. Eventually, the Hero meets a sickly mute girl with wing-like appendages named Nina and a cat-girl terrorist member named Lin that was responsible for the attack. Though their relationship was rocky at first, the trio uncovers a deep conspiracy that has kept people under the current deteriorating conditions. Despite the impossibility of their goal, the trio decides to gamble it all and go through the upper levels to the outside world where the mythical sky is.
Like in the previous Breath of Fire games, dragons play a significant role; however, unlike the previous games, the Hero is restricted to one form. The power of the dragon is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it is really powerful and can defeat any boss in a few rounds. On the other hand, the same power is slowly killing the Hero. Use the power too much and the power will consume the Hero, ending the game.
To let you know how much life you have left, there is an on-screen counter (the D-Counter) slowly ticking away. If the counter ever reaches 100%, it's game over. Every step, every turn in battle, every time you use the dragon power, you add to the counter. Though it sound daunting, but if you don't go power crazy, you should have plenty of counter left for the end boss. Some of the tics towards the counter are so minute it hardly matters.
Gameplay-wise, Dragon Quarter turns out to be drastically different and somewhat complex than previous Breath of Fire. One of the more notable system used is the "Positive Encounter and Tactics System" (or PETS for short). The system allows the players to lure an enemy into traps that can damage the enemy or inflict a negative effect and initiate the battle with player characters having an extra round of attack. If done correctly, you can take out a hard enemy or swarm of enemies with minimum damage and possibly extra experience points.
In junction to the usual experience point system, Dragon Quarter has a very handy party experience pool. This pool of experience points can be used outside of battle to raise the level of characters in your party. This eliminates the need to level grind when a new character joins the party or if an area is too hard. Furthermore, this pool of experience is carried over in New Game +, allowing you to start off with a stronger character.
Like all games, Dragon Quarter is not without its flaws. One of the biggest flaw in the game is the save system. In order to save you must use a telecorder (public telephone-looking device) and a save token, much like Resident Evil and its typewriter/ink ribbon setup. Usually there is at least one save token that can be found somewhere in the level; however, telecorders are spread far par, usually at the end of the level and accompanied by a shop or two.
If by some unfortunate chance that you are with a save token and your party is wiped, all is not lost. Aside from reloading from you last save point, you have the option to Scenario Overlay: Restore/Restart (or SOL: Restore/Restart for short). With SOL: Restore/Restart, you can restart from your last save point or restart completely with your money, party experience, skills acquired, items equipped on person and items stored in lockers intact; however, items that are in your backpack and any levels gained will be lost. Fortunately, the game is not entirely heartless; every time you restart you will be given a few weak healing items and a save token.
Last Word... At first glance, Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter seems like a very difficult game and may put off a few players. But the game gets a lot easier once you learn how the system works (and how you can exploit it). It is a short game, but it rewards you each time you play through with new cinema scenes and more areas with harder enemies for you to explore and conquer. It has a definitely different feel to it and is a worthy challenge for all those who are looking for something different and a little challenge.