Name: Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen
Genre: RPG
Platform: Nintendo DS



With Square Enix’s Final Fantasy series being so near and dear to my heart, I have somehow managed to overlook the publisher’s other hugely successful and long-running RPG series, Dragon Quest (formerly known as Dragon Warrior in the U.S.). Perhaps it is because the series hasn’t been as eminent in the western hemisphere as it has been in Japan, or maybe it’s because it was formerly published simply by Enix, a name that didn’t quite elicit the gleeful response that occurred when I saw the word “Squaresoft” on a game case. Either way, it was an error on my part as an RPG fan, and one that has finally been corrected with the DS remake of Dragon Quest IV.

Like the first six Final Fantasy games, Square Enix has taken a classic RPG and given it a slight makeover for a handheld system. Originally released in 1992 in the U.S. as an NES title, the DS version sports more polished visuals and better sound, as well as a 3D graphics engine first used for the PS1 remake of the same game. Like in most early RPGs, the characters are represented by sprites onscreen. However, the battles take on a different appearance from most other old-school role-playing games. Instead of being shown with the heroes on the right side of the screen and the enemies on the left, battles are presented in a first-person view, with enemies appearing directly in front of the screen. It’s a small change that doesn’t really affect the fights themselves, but helps differentiate this game from the Final Fantasy series.



The chapter-based storyline is also a unique aspect of Dragon Quest IV. Sure, many games break up their plotlines into chapters or episodes, but in DQIV, the player takes the role of a different protagonist in each chapter. Therefore, as the player, you will get to utilize numerous party members and visit towns all over the world, seeing things from a different perspective every time one chapter ends and another begins. It is jarring at first to start over at level one after you’ve put some time, effort, and gold into leveling and equipping your previous hero or heroine, but once you become more familiar with the game it is a lot of fun to begin a new part of the story and get a fresh start. This keeps the game from ever really getting stale.

As for the actual battles, old-school RPG fans will be thrilled to hear that they are strictly turn-based. It’s all about using physical attacks and magic, with none of the extra bells and whistles that more modern RPGs have implemented in the classic turn-based formula. While this works great for more challenging fights, some of the early scuffles in each chapter will have you sleepwalking through them, just hitting “attack” over and over until the foe disappears. I suppose this is a fair trade for the lack of boring tutorials, as the game just throws you right in, assuming that you’ve played RPGs before. As a huge fan of role-playing games, I personally found this great; there’s nothing more boring than having to sit through a mandatory lesson on turn-based fighting. However, because of this, it may not be the best choice for someone diving into the genre for the first time.



For the most part, the story and challenge level move along at a steady pace. However, there will be times in each chapter when grinding becomes a necessity. This is nothing new for RPGs, especially classics. Still, running around aimlessly in an attempt to gain experience to level up, or enough gold to buy a decent weapon, can get a little old. If you’re not a fan of level grinding, you may find yourself getting bored at certain parts of the game. It’s not nearly as bad in this game as it is in other early RPGs, though (I’m looking at you, Final Fantasy I-VI).

While Dragon Quest IV doesn’t offer anything overwhelmingly new or unique, it’s a solid RPG experience that any fan of the genre will have fun playing. If you’ve already played through the game either on the NES or the PS1, there might not be enough new content to make you want to do it again, but being able to play a classic on the go is always great. If you’re new to the series, this is as good a place to dive in as you’re going to get. As for me, I’m now a fan, and future Dragon Quest games will pretty much be required playing. If you’re looking for a good RPG experience, or just want something to fill a gaping void until Chrono Trigger DS comes out later this year, Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen will definitely do the trick.


 

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