Board 8 > Dragon Quest topic with KP and Chris.

(+) Yeah! (+)

This topic is too pure for the other topic.

Anyway Dragon Quest XI is easily my second favorite behind V, I haven't gotten around to playing the 2D version (I own every copy of the game released in English to make the point that I want more fucking Dragon Quest) and it was super close to being almost a tie with V but then the last bit of the game dragged just a bit too much for my liking. Have you beaten 3D already?

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I got what I assume to be 70% of the way through 3D before tapping out - not any specific reason, it's just a very long game and I can't keep momentum going for games longer than 70 hours. I got a little past Serena discovering Veronica's death which was my favorite part in the game honestly.

2D mode is a lot more brisk though. I really adore the older 2D Dragon Quest games for how quick they are - voice acting and big battle animations are amazing but they also extend playtime by 3x as much. My current plan is to go 2D up until the point where I dropped off and then switch to 3D for the more cinematic experience in the final parts.

Also I have the Draconian Trial where enemies are very strong and it was kicking my ass until very recently where I (mostly accidentally) killed a lot of liquid metal slimes.

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Yeah that is in fact the part that starts to drag a bit. I beat the final boss around level 70.

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Some other random thoughts about DQ11...

1. Wasn't a fan of the Hero initially, mostly due to not liking his design, but he grew on me a lot as I played. He's in way over his head and doing his best.
2. Jade and Rab have a fantastic introduction and it's a shame their characters get bogged down by weird sex jokes later.
3. Rab has the best Act 1 -> 2 character interlude.
4. Why did they make Greatswords so insanely better than Sword+Shield?
5. My favorite character in the game is probably Hendrick, his segments with the Hero at the start of Act 2 are really good.

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Oh, you think Greatswords are better than Sword and board still.

<_<

Spoiler for # 4 is great, my favorite is probably Jade. I tend to dig lancers in terms of design tho

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They are at the point where I am now! Hero + Oomphle + Unbridled Blade craps out an absurd amount of damage

Also this may just be me searching for themes, but so far most of the conflicts in seem to be resolved through forgiveness in a shonen anime way that feels nice. People make big mistakes, most of them selfish and some of them catastrophic, as seen by Prince Faris, Vince, Krystalinda, and Hendrick, but they come around when forgiven and are led by example to become better people. It's only when someone rejects that forgiveness like Jasper that they are truly lost.

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I didn't quite see it that way but it is a beautiful thought process and I think close to the spirit.

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Japanese RPG that heavily features one of the classic shounen manga artists also heavily leans on a popular and well-liked shounen trope? You don't say lol

Also yeah the start of act 2 is super strong for exactly the reason KP gave

Also this is B8 so a ranking of sorts is necessary!

DQV - This one is probably never topped for me. Top tier story not just in the series, but in gaming. Kind of cracks me up that it has a monster catching mechanic I never used because I never wanted to take the human characters out of the party.

DQ3 and DQ Monsters - Just under V. Hugely nostalgic games for me that did so much right. Dragon Quest III *still* does things better than its contemporaries that have been chasing it for decades and I'm a huge fan of Monsters' randomized dungeons that give an experience that no game I've played has fully recreated.

DQ4, DQ8, and DQ11 - The 'very good but falls short of amazing' tier. DQ4's multiple branching paths are fun, DQ8 does everything right but doesn't do anything amazing outside of the overworld/flying music, and I think DQ11 probably moves up a tier after this playthrough is finished. Actually, thinking back on it, DQ11 already would be one tier higher if its soundtrack was better.

DQ1 - idk man it's simple and nostalgic.

DQ7 - Played for like ten hours, seems fun but lacks focus and has iffy pacing.

DQ2, DQ6, DQ9 - I don't remember 2 in the slightest and played a few hours of 6 / 9 without either grabbing me.

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7 > 6 > M2 > M > 5 > 8/11 > 4 > 3 > 9 > 2 > 1

I got burnt out after part two of 11 because of my self imposed requirement to read all NPC dialogue and the fact that I needed to do an entire world tour at the beginning of part 3; need to go back and finish it before I see if it goes before or after 8 (or I guess possibly higher; it's safely above 4)

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Funnily enough I have just started DQ11 Post Game.

First DQ game I have ever played and I'm loving it!

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V > XI > IV > I > VI > IX

Pretty easy ranking

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Dragon Quest Builders 2 for $14.

A) did I get a good deal?
B) did they change much from the original cause I kinda got bored with it?

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This topic makes me wish I knew where my 3DS was. Im a pretty good ways into 7, just finished up the town frozen in time.

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TheRock1525 posted...

A) did I get a good deal?
B) did they change much from the original cause I kinda got bored with it?

Pretty good deal IMO. I loved Builders 2 more than 1.

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Made it up to where I stopped in Playthrough 1

Quick thoughts:

2D battle system is much better

3D story is mostly better

Overall 2D > 3D

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