Dragon Quest IX screenshots! All hail cel-shaded graphics!

by John Bardinelli { May 1st 2007 at 5:51PM }

The upcoming DS exclusive Dragon Quest IX: Defenders of the Sky is looking nothing short of gorgeous. Grainy videos and magazine scans don't do it justice. Looking at these along with the recently released Phantom Hourglass shots makes us wonder if cel-shaded visuals aren't the greatest thing for the DS since the hand crank battery recharger.

We kid, we kid. But it does back up Vicarious Visions' point: the DS isn't a weak system, per se, it just isn't being squeezed for all it's worth.

Tags: dragonquest, ds, nintendo, rpg, squareenix

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

kingofwale @ May 1st 2007 5:58PM

this is exactly the kind of graphics that make you go.... wait, why do I have to play my Pokemon Diamond in 2 D just like the GA version in 1999

Fernando Rocker @ May 1st 2007 6:03PM

Is the same with the Wii... developers need to stop be so fucking lazy.

The Wii can handle awesome graphics... its just that developers are more interested in make shitty games and win some money. Thats so unprofessional.

Striderhayasa @ May 1st 2007 6:02PM

I never understood the notion that the DS was weak. it's lazy ass developers that make it seem so but anytime Metroid Prime Hunters can look like a lower res, lower poly Gamecube Metroid Prime...I don't call that week at all. It makes me want a Goldeneye on Ds with touch control and 4 to 8 player WLAN deathmatch. At this point, can we get a World Driver Championship remake (I know Boss Games are no more) or a Turok or even an updated Quake 2.

Nanostray comes to mind too for great visuals and sound on DS, as does Mario Kart, Super Mario 64 DS, Diddy Kong Racing (the 3D engine is good at least) and of course Zelda...Some developers are the absolute worse in taking the time to deliver a product that showcases hardware.

Anyway, DragonQuest definatly looks great. This is on my "to buy" list for sure.

CJC @ May 1st 2007 6:04PM

My, that IS a pretty little game. Whatever happened to DQM: Joker, by the way?

Keif @ May 1st 2007 6:06PM

@ #1 because with 500 pokemon, enviroments, and game characters in 3d there would be no way that would fit on a DS cart.

it also probably wouldnt fit on a umd if the models were scaled up to psp graphics

Jon @ May 1st 2007 6:13PM

It's nice but judging from the screens it looks like the camera would be fixed. I hope not.

Wished they would have gone for Action RPG combat like those shown at the Jump video, or at least a turn-based/action hybrid like FF XII. Oh well, I will still get it as I still dig old school combat.

Mr Khan @ May 1st 2007 6:20PM

@ Jon. You can't please everyone, lots of people were up in arms that DQ was being changed

@ Striderhayasa: the DS is actually the only console Goldeneye could ever come to, considering Rare (and by proxy, MS) is willing to work on DS. It's the only way the game could ever return in any form.

This game does look awesome, almost Dreamcast/PSP awesome...

Rob Accomando @ May 1st 2007 6:45PM

I hope it's got 100+ hours of gameplay like DQ8 did.

bounchfx @ May 1st 2007 7:12PM

In general the DS needs more FPS games, because it's possible. Bionicle Heroes and Metroid showed us that.

I would absolutely LOVE to see Unreal Tournament DS with wifi internet play. I can just imagine it. It would be AWESOME.

and yeah I really want DQM:Joker to come to usa.. I loved the gbc ones!

This probably sounds fanboyish. but looking at graphics like DQ9.. they look better than psp graphics to me. Don't get me wrong, there's some really nice looking psp games. but I look at this and it's just so vibrant

Noshino @ May 1st 2007 7:38PM

"This probably sounds fanboyish. but looking at graphics like DQ9.. they look better than psp graphics to me. Don't get me wrong, there's some really nice looking psp games. but I look at this and it's just so vibrant"

Sorry, but no, Compare a game made by SE on both consoles, let's say FFVII, does it looks the same?~

If you want to compare the best on the DS, then compare it to the best on the PSP :]

"and Metroid showed us that."

That even first party games can suck really bad?

required @ May 1st 2007 7:39PM

Just for fun: http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Various/feature.asp?c=2850

Grog @ May 1st 2007 7:49PM

"'and Metroid showed us that.'

That even first party games can suck really bad?"

Whoa there, cowboy!

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ds/metroidprimehunters?q=metroid%20hunters

An average score of 85 is hardly "suck[ing] really bad."

bounchfx @ May 1st 2007 8:08PM

"That even first party games can suck really bad?"

no, that FPS can be done on DS, you think you would have understood that's what I was saying.

you're right, I should compare to best of psp, which is exactly why I said "there's some really nice looking psp games.", theres tons of really shitty ds ones too, obviously.

"let's say FFVII, does it looks the same?~"

I didn't realize S-E made FFVII for psp.

realstar @ May 1st 2007 8:21PM

Simply awesome looking game, this is why I love DragonQuest. :)

Vexorg @ May 1st 2007 8:28PM

From a technical standpoint, Hunters was actually pretty decent. From a control standpoint, on the other hand... Not a bad game, but not worth getting carpal tunnel syndrome over.

kingofwale @ May 1st 2007 8:32PM

@Keif

since you mentioned PSP, I have NO doubt it can be done on PSP, I meant that by 3D battle systems just like FFIII and with 500 Pokemons.

why I believe so? because in Monster Hunters 2, there are more than 350 missions, 700 weapons and 1,400 pieces of armours.

Pete @ May 1st 2007 8:54PM

Wow!! This looks awesome. It will never have the amazing live symphonic score of the PS2 game though. One of the best RPG soundtracks I've ever heard. I'm sure the compositions will be great regardless.

Keif @ May 1st 2007 9:46PM

@kingofwale

and you anrt getting what im saying, graphics wise, it can be done VERY easily.

as for monster hunter 2. those weapons and armor dont require animation or their own bones. they are seperate skins that gon on an existing model.

where as 500 sperate pokemon ( add in more cause male and females ahve variations in this game) plus animations for all of them, and each one would have to have a full set of animation. missions mean shit they are just event templates that take up little space.

please show me a psp game that has well over 500 characters and fulls sets of animation for them. heck, show me a console game like that

the biggest point is, being 3d wouldnt make the game better. it would just be for the tards that cant have fun if it doesnt look cutting edge, and i doubt those people would be playing pokemon anyways.