Dragon Quest IX on the DS

[Vash]

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4426/dragonquest9logorh6.png[/IMG]

Dragon Quest IX has just been announced in a Famitsu interview.

Thing is, it's for the DS.

And it's an action-RPG with four-player co-op.

http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=7333

The ninth entry in the acclaimed Dragon Quest series, Dragon Quest IX: Protectors of the Sky is boldly being developed as a portable game title. Dragon Quest 9 features an action-oriented battle system playable cooperatively by up to four players via Wi-Fi. The DS's dual screen setup is also put to use, with the top screen showing a map and the bottom screen housing all the action.

Spoiler

Most people were expecting that the next entry in Square Enix's legendary RPG series would be staying with Sony, either transitioning to the PS3 or appearing as a last hurrah on the PS2. Some Nintendo hopefuls were pulling for the series to jump ship over to the Wii.

What no one likely expected was for the series to move to a portable system. But, that's now reality - Dragon Quest IX is headed to the DS.

That news comes by way of Famitsu.com, which is reporting from the 20th anniversary DQ conference being held in Japan right now.

1. Level 5 is developing DQ IX, which is subtitled Defender of the Stars.
2. The team behind DQ VIII is returning for this one. Koichi Sugiyama will be composing the game's tunes, as usual.
3. Some major new info - DQ IX will have four-player co-op. How will that work? Well, the battle system will of course be changed.
4. Get this - it's coming in mid-2007 (in Japan, of course). Way sooner than anyone expected for DQ IX, but of course, no one was expecting it would be on the DS.
5. Oh, and yes, it's going to be an action RPG. No more traditional turn-based battles, it seems.

Screenshots:
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/7316/01ci3.jpg[/IMG] http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2682/02bg4.jpg[/IMG]

I didn't really expect this. Now I'm really exited and hoping the game comes out in the US too.

 

[Celesinator]

Awesome. A main game going to a handheld. What a treat. Plus it's Nintendo! It's kinda wiered. But It also makes sense, seeing DQ1-6 was Nintendo, I think 6 is, anyway.

 

[arcthemonkey]

This is almost as weird and unexpected as FFXI being an MMORPG...

It looks fun!

 

[Mega Flare]

it looks like its going to be a good game BUT, its for the DS. Why the DS? Why not the PS2?

 

[Anaryu]

it looks like its going to be a good game BUT, its for the DS. Why the DS? Why not the PS2?

Because they're sick of just making the games on the PS2? The DS also offers easier online connectivity for shared gaming.

Also keep in mind that Dragon Quest is HUGE in Japan... and so is the DS. Over there the DS is practically a religion, so I'm sure hearing that their favorite RPG series is coming to their favorite handheld (with support for 4 players) is huge.

 

[Mega Flare]

I hate they way you get online with the DS. YOu have to wait so long just to get people to play.

 

[xmcdohlx]

WTF...why put a mainstream series on portable? makes no damn sense, why play on a smaller screen when you can play on your damn TV? i don't get it, portable games are for long trips, boring visits to grandma, work (lmao), visiting a friend's house, etc. but not to play a game you could or should be able to on TV...besides it looks graphically inferior to DQ8 -_-

 

[Prexus]

I'm surprised this isn't Dragon Quest Swords (Wii) and Dragon Quest Swords isn't DQ IX.

I think they made a good choice moving to Nintendo. Not because of Nintendo Fanboyism, but I'm pretty sure Square Enix develops the Dragon Quest games and they've already got Final Fantasy going for Sony systems, there is no reason not to conquer the market by putting their other franchise on another console.

Considering this game is coming out soon, my guess is that it was originally DQ VIII, but didn't get done in time for whatever reason and DQ VIII got released first. But that's just random speculation.

 

[TheBlackMarket]

Dragon Quest games tend to float towards the market leading console. In this case, a handheld happens to have a market share that is leaps and bounds beyond that of any current gen system, so the decision seems quite natural. Japan loves itself some DS, that's for sure. Maybe this game will help people respect handhelds more? Probably not. It'll sell like gangbusters, though... no doubt about it. I hope Nintendo is stocking up on DS Lites in preparation, or there's gonna be trouble when this game comes out.

 

[Sion]

Dragon quest just doesn't interest me. Maybe I've just been hitting the FFs a little too often, but the stories just aren't deep enough. And the king is a frog.

 

[Dirtie]

So you'd rather just have another FF? Besides, it fits the Toriyama style perfectly

 

[kosterz]

Dragon quest just doesn't interest me. Maybe I've just been hitting the FFs a little too often, but the stories just aren't deep enough. And the king is a frog.

Final Fantasy IX, Cid was a frog thing. u r teh pwn't

There's more movie in Final Fantasy than gameplay, Dragon Quest would be the opposite.

Example: Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII has roughly 25 hrs of movies and 20 hours of gameplay(my friend, who's beaten the game, agrees)
Dragon Quest VIII to my knowledge has very little movie sequence. I'm not entirely sure but so far there's barely been any movie sequence, which is good.

Games are meant to be played, not watched.

 

[Mega Flare]

Dragon Quest VIII talking was so godamn slow. It takes so long for them to say stuff. And the battle system is so slow. Its a good game and all but theres NO Cosutomization. Well theres those Skill Points but thats not lots. Thats why Dragon Warrior 3 is the best Dragon Warrior Game

 

[kosterz]

What's Cosutomization? Also, the talking isn't that slow and the battle's go fast for me. Example: Pwn't Kalamari in 4 turns, after losing Yangus after the 2nd turn(forgot to heal him before hand)

 

[Mega Flare]

what do you think. USE YOUR GODDAMN HEAD

 

[kosterz]

I really don't know. I'm utterly confused as to what that word was intended for. Seriously.