Famitsu hands Dragon Quest IX a 40
by JC Fletcher 
{ Jul 15th 2009 at 12:25PM } 
Famitsu has given Dragon Quest IX a perfect 40/40 score in its review. According to Kotaku, the reviewers lauded DQIX's "ground breaking" multiplayer and its music, and called the storyline "easy to follow and straightforward, but also with moving scenes as well."While it's kind of a running joke that Famitsu basically rubber-stamps effusive reviews for Square Enix titles, we were surprised to discover that this game is actually the first Dragon Quest to receive a perfect 40, and is one of only ten 40 scores awarded. Of course, Dragon Quests III, VII, and VIII weren't far off with their 39 ratings.
Kotaku also notes that the Amazon Japan reviews tend ... not to be as positive, though they apparently center around complaints about the Sandy character, an annoying ganguro fairy who has already inspired a "Die Sandy " Flash game.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Captain Planet @ Jul 15th 2009 12:31PM
Famitsu and Square Enix sitting in a tree...
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
First comes love, then comes marriage, then come Sqaure Enix with Dragon Quest IX2: The Beginning Redux 3.1 w/ Official Soundtrack.
Nah, I'm sure it's a great game.
AsherR @ Jul 15th 2009 1:45PM
With the combination of our exchange yesterday and this statement, you are quickly becoming one of my fav commentators.
So how's Rosie doing?
Back on topic... anyone know the current sales of this?
AsherR @ Jul 15th 2009 1:52PM
Well commentors.
Though either could work I guess....
Captain Planet @ Jul 15th 2009 2:01PM
Rosie's good. She's still eating, won't be done until about 6:00 then it's role playing night. She's going to be herself, and I'm going to be a roasted pork loin with a side of mashed potatoes.
The mashed potatoes don't get served until "the end" if you know what I mean.
AsherR @ Jul 15th 2009 2:11PM
I'm going to have to stop reading your responses at work.
I just busted a gut. Haha.
korwyn @ Jul 15th 2009 2:18PM
like X-Play and Microsoft?
(though they seem to have a good relationship with Sony these days as well, err ever since they have their episodes on PSN, I suppose)
AsherR @ Jul 15th 2009 2:17PM
I got a disturbing image in my mind of Rosie with a naked blue Cap'n Planet.
It won't leave. NOW THERE ARE KOOSH BALLS! The horror.....
Captain Planet @ Jul 15th 2009 2:30PM
Nah man, I have to cover all my blue parts with BBQ sauce and parsley tonight. Planeteer night is Monday night. She likes to dress up as Gi but as we all know, she can't pull it off. Alcohol helps.
AsherR @ Jul 15th 2009 3:15PM
Oh dear.... I'm scarred now.
Rhamsey @ Jul 15th 2009 12:32PM
When I read annoying fairy I immediately heard Navi yelling HEY!
DBuck_Eye @ Jul 15th 2009 12:52PM
I bet this fairy ain't got shit on Navi.
Old Professor Zertoss @ Jul 15th 2009 12:35PM
I forgot Famitsu had a weird scale, so when I saw they gave it a 40, I thought "Out of 100?! Holy shit!"
Neuromancer @ Jul 15th 2009 1:26PM
Haha that's funny, I thought the opposite, that they awarded the game a 40 out of 10.
Drago Dracini @ Jul 15th 2009 2:48PM
well, it's impossible for Dragon Quest to get anything other than a perfect score... ;p it's Japan's favorite game.
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 15th 2009 12:39PM
Joystiq linking to a Kotaku thread? That's worse than if me and tmac were partners in SSBB.
Will someone please think of the children?
DBuck_Eye @ Jul 15th 2009 1:40PM
Sill Fernando, tmac would never play SSBB because it's on the Wii and is therefore not a hardcore game.
Cody @ Jul 15th 2009 2:16PM
Damn DBuck read my mind!
Meh @ Jul 16th 2009 5:54AM
DBuck, that was the goddamn point.
Duke @ Jul 20th 2009 12:51PM
Kinda went right over your heads there huh guys? Thanks for the laugh.
Vidikron @ Jul 15th 2009 12:46PM
Famitsu's scores are basically worthless these days. I'm not saying this game isn't great, just that I refuse to put any stock into Famitsu's scores.
Soiden @ Jul 15th 2009 12:47PM
Because it's Japanese?
Captain Planet @ Jul 15th 2009 12:53PM
No, because they gave Nintendogs a perfect rating.
dmacmattack @ Jul 15th 2009 12:57PM
because they also gave nintendogs a 40,
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 15th 2009 1:01PM
If you guys actually read the review, you would know that the Nintendogs score was based according to other pet simulators...
Nintendogs is the best pet simulator out there currently... that's why the high score.
The Baron @ Jul 15th 2009 1:21PM
So if you made a paint-drying simulator which was way better than anything else on the market, that's an automatic 40?
C'mon, review scales shouldn't work on whether a game is better than the competition, they should be about how the game makes you feel and how it stands on its own merits.
Mr Khan @ Jul 15th 2009 1:29PM
Maybe they judged Nintendogs on its merits, by actually being (gasp) professional journalists, instead of professional audience-panderers.
Though the number of 40's in recent years has definitely been disproportionate to where it was in previous years, but Famitsu is hardly alone in that problem. Whether its payola, something a bit more legal and subtle, overhype, or just pandering, its definitely pervasive across the industry
Captain Planet @ Jul 15th 2009 2:06PM
I was wondering where our two favorite Nintendoits would be here.
Captain Planet @ Jul 15th 2009 2:06PM
*when
The Baron @ Jul 15th 2009 2:09PM
But do you think that Nintendogs is, effectively, the perfect game?
When compared to titles such as HL2, Beyond Good & Evil, PoP: Sands of Time and Morrowind it stikes me that it's easy to sneer at a dog simulator, no matter how well it may simulate it.
Cody @ Jul 15th 2009 2:20PM
Don't forget about me Planet!
I gotta at least be #3 no??
Stix Remix @ Jul 15th 2009 2:22PM
It could be the perfect dog simulator? Just as an RPG fan would not rate Halo 3 in terms of it's roleplaying, a dog simulator should be rated in terms of dog simulating.
Ultimately, there is no perfect "game." However, there may be perfect "games" pertaining to certain genres of gaming.
Vidikron @ Jul 15th 2009 2:44PM
Just for the record, my opinion of Famitsu has little to do with Nintendogs. I'm more concerned with controversies over pandering to advertisers and oddball scores like giving Haze a higher score than The Orange Box.
Captain Planet @ Jul 15th 2009 2:53PM
@ Cody
Sorry bro, until everything you say is completely affected by your bias for Nintendo, you're not on that list.
Keep trying though. You never know, you might make that list today!
Fearghoul @ Jul 20th 2009 12:04PM
"these days"? Famitsu's scores have always been worthless. Famitsu has been the GamePro of Japan for more than a decade.
However, Dragon Quest 9 is actually pretty good, and FF12 deserved a perfect score.
Engerz @ Jul 15th 2009 12:51PM
Hmm, if they U.S reviews turn out to be the same then I just might have to try out my next DQ game in ages. Well, I guess first since it was called Dragon Warrior on the NES.
uncle jesse @ Jul 15th 2009 1:04PM
I got that free when i subscribed to Nintendo Power. Good times.
ignfan69 @ Jul 15th 2009 1:17PM
Famitsu gave The Last Remnant an excellent score too, like a 38 or 39.
That game still hurts me.
Vegnagun bwf @ Jul 15th 2009 1:20PM
That's what really annoys me. All Famitsu reviewers seem to care about is playing the most generic RPGs. They take points off for originality.
Jrinswand @ Jul 15th 2009 1:59PM
What'd they give Valkyria Chronicles or Jeanne D'Arc? That will determine whether or not I find them credible.
Vegnagun bwf @ Jul 15th 2009 1:19PM
Yeah, I agree with the general feeling towards Famitsu. People just have different tastes in Japan. Dragon Quest IX will probably get 8's here.
Rob @ Jul 15th 2009 1:24PM
It sold 2.3 million copies in two days, I guess this is what they like in Japan.
tmacairjordan87 @ Jul 15th 2009 1:19PM
Another example of Japan never changing. They're going to be in this gaming rut for a long time I guess.
korwyn @ Jul 15th 2009 2:10PM
you've never changed either. didn't get enough down-vote last time?
Drago Dracini @ Jul 15th 2009 2:53PM
Ron Perlman says something to that effect.
"Japan... Japan never changes..."
If anyone so much as chuckles at this they will be killed by a pack of rampaging ninjas with chainsaw katanas...
Jason Statham (Aka Vegeta) @ Jul 15th 2009 1:45PM
Famitsu giving a high score to a game that's probably good?
What is this world coming to?
Old_Snake @ Jul 15th 2009 1:49PM
That's pretty cool, I may check it out when it hits The States. Honestly, I didn't really enjoy the last one (that's the only one I've played). Just seemed like there was too much grinding for my taste. Not sure if this one is suppose to follow suit or not, but I'll at least probably check it out
Jrinswand @ Jul 15th 2009 1:57PM
Does anybody else think it is a coincidence that (Dragon) "Quest" and (Every Dragon Quest game is a monotonous grind) "fest" rhyme?
Uncontrol @ Jul 15th 2009 2:08PM
booooo
samfish (uses the Joystiq Comment-Kill filter!) @ Jul 15th 2009 2:23PM
careful now. you'll pull a muscle making a stretch like that.
Jrinswand @ Jul 15th 2009 3:05PM
Don't get me wrong, I loved Dragon Quest VIII. I just got bored of playing it because I had to grind for about an hour every time I entered a new area.
Long play time does not a good game make.