I’m coming round on this DQ Monsters follow-up.
Again in Might 2021, Sq. Enix confirmed off a slew of Dragon Quest tasks, of highest significance to most being the following mainline entry Dragon Quest XII and the HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest III. Nestled in there was Dragon Quest Treasures, a by-product that, at the least to me, wasn’t on the high of my listing of anticipated video games. That stayed true even because it was dated for December 9, 2022 earlier this 12 months. As we get nearer to the discharge of Dragon Quest Treasures, although, I’m warming as much as the prospect of this successor to the Dragon Quest Monsters sub-series.
Sq. Enix has been displaying off increasingly of the sport, and my curiosity is piqued as a result of this appears extra formidable than it first appeared. The essential premise is that Erik and Mia – siblings from Dragon Quest XI – wind up in an alternate dimension of kinds referred to as Draconia the place they got down to accumulate a complete bunch of treasure whereas teaming up with a bunch of get together member monsters alongside the best way. The essential gameplay appears centered on exploring cutesy cartoony landscapes on the lookout for treasure, battling enemies, and deepening your pool of monsters. The fight isn’t the previous turn-based type; as a substitute, it appears extra like a mixture of an motion RPG and even kind of a 3D platformer. You should utilize your monsters (as much as three at a time) to bounce across the atmosphere and discover hidden treasure utilizing their talents.
Not too long ago, Sq. Enix began detailing extra particular features of the sport, such because the base-building portion. Erik and Mia get their very own homebase that’s slowly however certainly populated by the assorted monsters they befriend. After you unlock the bottom early within the sport, you can begin build up its rank by accumulating treasures in addition to accumulating rival gang’s flags to enhance your notoriety. These rival gangs would possibly present up at your base or sneak up on you whenever you’re exploring. The completely different gangs seem to have their very own tales and quirks and never all of them are unhealthy, both. Time will inform how really nuanced these gangs are, however it’s encouraging to see what’s been highlighted up to now.
I’m additionally struck by the delightfully Dragon Quest-y practice line referred to as the Trans-Draconic Railway. It begins out in disrepair, however you’ve the power to rebuild the practice, permitting you to extra simply attain areas along with your crew of monsters. Not that Dragon Quest video games are all the time stone-cold severe, however the playfulness all through this sport is endearing, particularly as plainly the goofy presentation isn’t getting in the best way of depth.
We’re two months out from Dragon Quest Treasures’ December 9 launch and I’m rounding the nook into being excited for this new tackle Dragon Quest Monsters. I nonetheless may be ready for extra information on Dragon Quest XII or the remake of Dragon Quest III, however this playful journey ought to satiate my need for Slimes and Platypunks.
