The Dragon Quest franchise has slowly but surely made a name for itself in the West over the past two decades. However, many are still unaware of how much it defined the RPG genre. The current surge in popularity can be attributed to a number of factors. In addition to the release of the latest mainline installment, Dragon Quest XI, every Dragon Quest protagonist was added to the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster, alongside the release of a CG movie and a 2020 anime adaptation.
For new fans, the sheer number of Dragon Quest installments may be overwhelming. While there is no harm in jumping from one title to another in no particular order, new players will find that some of the games in the series are unforgiving in terms of difficulty, gameplay and story progression. Fortunately, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King can seamlessly onboard newcomers and have them fall in love with this beloved 35-year-old franchise in a matter of hours.
Although Dragon Quest VIII features previously seen map exploration mechanics and a fairly standard JRPG turn-based combat system, some of its mechanics and the difficulty curve differ from those found in other installments. However, that is not to say that one can breeze through the game. Its expansive open world will provide the player with enough opportunities to grind their way through, but certain boss battles will require more effort than others. The player can work on racking up experience points early on in the game, as the franchise’s fabled Metal Slimes have favorable spawn rates and are easy to discover in the wild.
The free-for-all class system found in other Dragon Quest installments is not present in Dragon Quest VIII, either. Instead, it is replaced by a simpler alternative, the skill point system. While this system is somewhat restrictive, the player is given the freedom to make the playable characters more distinct. They can assign the acquired points to five different categories that are unique to the playable character at hand. For instance, wide-ranging skill categories will unlock abilities and other bonuses, whereas putting points into unarmed combat or the weapon category will result in stat boosts. Even though the skill point system suffers from overlap to varying degrees, the game does its best to allow room for customization while reaffirming the playable character's preferred growth path every so often.
New fans who like to search every nook and cranny when hunting for in-game recipes and items will also benefit from the Alchemy Pot. This portable forge is essential to crafting unique and rare items that cannot be bought elsewhere. While the crafted items will help the player gain the upper hand in a battle, the combat system also features a useful addition, known as "Tension," which boosts the character's attack when they skip a turn. Unfortunately, it is not exclusive to playable characters, and enemies can use it too.
Story-wise, Dragon Quest VIII has some of the most iconic characters in the entire franchise. From the unique gameplay aspects of Munchie, the mouse, to the plot that will lead the player to uncover the truth behind the king’s Yoda-like transformation, the storyline is easy to follow. Depending on the version of the game, the player can also embark on a photography-related side quest that will have them snap pictures of various monsters, landmarks, mascots and many more. Ultimately, this will encourage new fans to interactively discover the Dragon Quest universe while they explore the in-game world, free of unwarranted infodumps.
On the whole, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is the perfect starting point for those looking to get acquainted with the franchise through balanced gameplay and adaptive difficulty. The game will not necessarily hold the player's hand, but it will certainly allow them to navigate the lore with more ease and the much-needed freedom to explore other Dragon Quest niches as they arise.