The strange and somewhat pathetic sobbing you hear in the background originates from the offices of Microsoft and Sony, where once diligent executives have now completely broken down and given up on much of their lives. Square Enix just handed Nintendo the keys to the Death Star. As if the DS wasn't already an unrelenting steamroller in terms of sales and popularity, it was announced today that Dragon Quest IX would be released exclusively on the most touchy-feely of portable systems. In the unlikely event that you've been stuck in some sort of spatial anomaly (like Disneyland) for the last few years, it's important to remind you that the Dragon Quest franchise is one of the most popular properties ever in the minds of Japanese gamers. It was widely expected that the next instalment in the franchise would move to the PS3, an expectation that has now been crushed beneath Satoru Iwata's diamond-encrusted boot. Expect more news on the title as the week continues -- for now, all we know is: it's being developed by Level 5, it supports multiplayer battles and the subtitle is something along the lines of "Protector of the Starry Sky."
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
(Page 1) Reader Comments
Heres hoping we get a level 5 developed PS3 DQ.
Reply
Reply
I really don't understand why SE would announce a spin-off before the main game.
Reply
True. Maybe DQX is already in the works! I dont know but im gonna miss the voice acting, and a cell shaded game with the power of the ps3 would look awesome.
Reply
All Dragon Quest games in Japan had a subtitle.
Dragon Quest VII: Wariors of Eden for example
And let us not forget about the "Journey of the Cursed King".
Reply
So in my opinion it's -100 points to Sony (which is already in trouble), and +50 points to DS (which is already selling like crazy).
Reply
;)
Reply
Reply
If I'm just missing it, then that's huge for Nintendo. But where does it say it's exclusive?
Reply
And the subtitles doesn't mean spinoff, every DQ game since the first had a subtitle as repsode said, for example:
DQIII: And Into the Legend...
DQV: Bride of Heaven
And so on.
Reply
Jeff (#9) - Dragon Quest games have always been exclusive to the platform they're announced for. The DS is the most popular game machine in Japan right now, so it makes sense that they'd want to release it on that (even though its a handheld).
Reply
Not true at all. Some of the earlier Dragon Quest games got ported to different platforms, albeit quite a bit after release date. I guess it's the same situation as the early Final Fantasies - is FF1 an NES exclusive?
Reply
Conveniently, I have a DS, and am all set to get my Dragon Quest on. (just got Rocket Slime, and was pleasantly surprised)
Reply
And BOO to the moron who hasn't caught on that all DQ games have subtitles. The subtitles give you an insight into the game itself.
That, and the one screenshot they show, just makes me dislike the game more. They completely distorted what the designers were going for, with life-like environments, and a whole new way to explore with a first person perspective. Sure, you still have that first person perspective, but... I enjoy the game for it's realism, the new game looks like a badly drawn cartoon.
I have one thing to say. I am NOT buying a DS for one game, and if Nintendo honestly thinks they are going to win over PS2&3 players buy doing this, I really think they are in for a surprise.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Just think how much cheaper it's going to be to develop for it.
Reply
Reply
Considering the DS is basically restoring Nintendo's SNES-era hegemony in Japan all by itself, I think it's safe to say this is going to be the start of a trend. In other words: this won't be just one game.
(Besides, it's the freaking DS! There's more RPGs / capita on it than possibly any other system in history if you count the GBA backwards compatability.)
If this sells well (which it will... it's freaking Dragon Quest), you'll see a lot more RPG developers in Japan go to the DS as their platform of choice. Hell, there's already six "core" Final Fantasy games playable on the system (or will be as of next year) - given the ludicrously high PS3 development costs, it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see the DS become the preferred RPG platform in Japan.
Now just give me my Seiken Detensu 3 and Crono Trigger ports and I'll never complain about you again, Square.
- Sven
Reply
Like Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors?
Reply
Reply
Reply
We will mourn ye. Your last game showed such promise. But now you look retarded and are much tinier due to being on a handheld. This crap angers me so greatly; sure it will sell really well for SE - but at the cost of game quality and depth.
Reply
If one gets to count backwards compatability, then the PS2's RPG count is way higher.
And other RPGs drifting to the DS is EXACTLY what I fear. Nintendo ruins everything.
Reply
What is the max a DS cart can hold? 1 Gigabit? That seems like it would be plenty of room.
Reply
"I have one thing to say. I am NOT buying a DS for one game, and if Nintendo honestly thinks they are going to win over PS2&3 players buy doing this, I really think they are in for a surprise."
Nintendo ALREADY HAS WON OVER tons of people. What they care about now is that their huge install base is going to get them millions and millions in sales that goes directly to royalties. Nintendo is going to get rich off this one game in Japan. They don't care what you do, there's already a couple dozen million people who decided that the system is worth owning.
I am quite surprised though it's just the DS. The Wii is going to be a huge seller, especially in Japan (since the xbox would be lucky to get 15%), so it would naturally be a good platform for it.. But who knows, gamers may quite enjoy a portable system for their RPGing (keeps the kids off the TV for those 80 hours they're playing it)
Reply
Reply
You sund like a sony fanboy with issues its just one game god you fanbys really overreact
Reply
@24
You guys hit the nail on the head. Sure, the DS is selling like crazy and tons of people have one, but is sales of the game worth sacrificing the depth and graphical brilliance that Level5 keeps nailing on consoles? I think not. SE/Level5 are making a very grave mistake by basically raping a franchise for it's revenue.
Yes, it WILL sell well. Yes, it WILL get good reviews. But is it worth putting on a handheld? Tiny screen? No turn-based combat anymore? Is this is even DRAGON QUEST WE ARE TALKING ABOUT?? Sure doesn't seem like it. If this trend continues we can say goodbye to console versions of FF, DQ, even Kingdom Hearts. These companies will dumb down their flagship game series just to make a quick buck on a handheld platform that a lot of people own. Nice to know SE/Level5 give a shit about their fanbase no?
I have a DS, and I am not buying this game. Farewell DragonQuest. I will miss you.
Reply
Reply
Reply
"These companies will dumb down their flagship game series just to make a quick buck on a handheld platform that a lot of people own."
Link's Awakening says hi. If adapting to a different platform with different strengths and weaknesses is somehow "dumbing down," then I suppose they are.
Also, re: DQ being a success and leading the handheld RPG revolution: This is not the cause, this is the symptom. FF3DS' amazing sales started this pattern.
Don't forget the positive impact this has on dev costs across the industry, either.
Reply
Reply
I can just see them announcing a FF series on the CW:
Tonight, on a very special episode of Final Fantasy XII...
Reply
And as soon as the Wii becomes as huge as the DS, we will be having DQ 10 with motion controls, ahahahahaa, Nintendo is wiping it's ass with Benjamins right now
Reply
I'm starting to wonder if this is the beginning of an exodus for S-E. Just imagine if Sony suddenly announced a platform shift for FF13... probably the same reaction from Americans that they're getting out of the Japanese with the DQ9 shift.
Also, for playing the game for it's realism... I know completely what you mean. As I was telling a talking blue animate slime yesterday, I love how the DQ series pulls from real life so much. I mean, that's exactly how much damage I do when I cast magical spells.
Reply
Reply
@29...THANK YOU FOR SAYING IT BEST... FAREWELL Dragon Quest. I will miss you.
Reply
Reply
Reply
(If there aren't any Japanese speakers here, I'll try to enlist my wife's help later, if I remember to do so.)
I don't think you can go just on past history to determine whether a new game is exclusive or not. My guess is they're probably just waiting to see how home console sales shake out. It may be that the DS gets DQ9 first, but I would bet one home system or another will get it too. Square-Enix has become a lot less exclusive since the merger; it seems like the limiting factor is simply resources. (And if Level 5 develops the original game for the DS, S-E can use another team for the port(s)).
Reply
You are basing your claims that there is no animation or life in the game based on ONE STILL, NON-MOVING SCREENSHOT. That is amazing. That is utterly and incorrigibly amazing. That is the same level of sheer, brilliant moronity that the internet Lloyds displayed when the first screenshots of The Wind Waker were released. Seriously, please stop and think about what you've said: you have come to a complete and concrete conclusion that the game is going to suck and lose all its sense of artistry based on a single, still image. Amazing.
Reply
Lots of fun with fanboys in denial.
Reply
Well, the most obvious counter-argument to that is simply: where the hell else is this going to be ported to? Making it on the PS2 or PS3 would require coding a whole other game, and the PSP would seem to be incompatible with a game they're using the dual-screen setup for.
I can buy parallel development of DQX for the PS3, but at the same time... the market's shifted in Japan, and the PS3 is by no means a sure thing anymore.
For someone raised on SNES-era RPGs, this looks just fine. Screw the graphics as long as the gameplay is good (which I'll admit is an unknown quantity right now), and this has the added benefit of being portable.
- Sven
Reply
No, DS did not steal DQ from PSP or PS3. It stole it from PS2, which is what the game should be on considering the install base and their experience with the platform. If they would have announced it for the PS2 today I guarantee you far less people would be pissed off about this whole ordeal. It's funny to see which camps are on which game sites, because not a whole lot of you guys are upset about this but the users over at 1up are having a heart attack.
I'm not against adapting to new platforms and pushing things further, but from PS2 to the DS feels like a few steps BACK if you ask me. And I will say it again, if it were a side-story or prequel to DQIX or something like that I would be all for it, and I would be totally cool with the hack-n-slash combat and multiplayer. The fact that it is an actual installment in the series is what is a spit in the face to me though.
SE/Level5 should have just pulled a "Crystal Chronicles" with this one instead of placing the actual DQIX on the DS. That's my opinion.
Reply
What's to be shocked about? Nintendo's DS has ONE HUNDRED TIMES the install base of the PS3. It's a slam dunk.
Reply
Believe it or not, your choice, I never owned a system passed an original NES, and a 32-bit Sega Genesis, until this year, when I became engaged to a man who owned a PS2. The graphics and the game play is amazing, the fluidity and realism(uh oh, I'm going to start another argument with that word :P) of the playing environment is not something that should just be tossed. Agreed, the game was not always like this, and VII is the perfect example. But my whole thing is, why ruin a good thing once you've already started it?
And, though I agree with the idea of a portable RPG like DQ, DS' screen is less than 4 inches, and I just can't see myself enjoying a game that I can barely see without magnifying glasses.
And I agree....if it was going to be on Wii, damn straight I'd buy it. Hell...I'm getting that system just for Zelda...lmao. DQIX for Wii would just make me ecstatic. Slashing away at slimes all day......lmao.
Reply
DQ9 will look pretty good.
Reply
Why would I be eating crow if the game turns out to be better than I expected? I'd be buying a damn good game, in that instance. That is an insulting premise, that I'd rather see a good game be ruined than be wrong (the kind of logic that pervades from the ridiclous "fanboy" junk that this blog has somehow managed to cultivate).
But your arguments aren't very good - yes, some SNES games were long. They were also in 16-bit, and if you think releasing games on those standards of graphics and gameplay today is viable, then you're insane! If SE were to release a new Final Fantasy game and it was on par with FF6 in every way, shape and form, it would be universally lombasted as an incredible failure. It makes NO SENSE to take DQ8 - which was a world of improvement over DQ7 due to its graphics, sound, immersive world, etc. - and DOWNGRADE it in every aspect. Things should be getting better, not worse. This is depressing to me; I'm going play Guitar Hero to cheer myself up.
Reply
Considering the DS / GBA combination has had some superb RPGs (let alone games in general), you're really closing off avenues by saying that.
Reply