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Dragon Quest VIII Journey of the Cursed King

 

 

SCORE: 60

 

Dragon Quest VIII Journey of the Cursed King 

 

In Japan, the Dragon Quest series is one of the most popular video game series of all time. Due to the overwhelming popularity, the government even requested the games be released on weekends so people wouldn’t miss school and work! In America though, the game has only received a small following, falling far behind the popularity of the Final Fantasy series. The most recent release in the Dragon Quest series to make it to America is Dragon Quest VIII. The game is a traditional turn-based RPG with all of the things, both positive and negative, that come with it.

The graphics are some of the most impressive to grace the PS2. The colors are large and vibrant and really add a fun touch to the game. Most of the characters are all very well designed and you come to enjoy each one throughout the game. One of the main characters in the game is a female that is entirely over-sexualized. Her outfits throughout the whole game are very promiscuous including an optional outfit that puts her in a skimpy bunny outfit. Also, some of her special moves use sexual innuendo to disable the opposing characters. The other problems with the game are the same things that plague many RPG’s. Many images throughout the game do not promote a positive view toward the Christian faith. Some of the enemy character models are somewhat demonic looking, though done in the same cartoony fashion as the rest of the game. There is also a boss that is also demonic looking and has an evil persona to exaggerate his character.

The sounds in the game are some of the best the PS2 has to offer also. The music is done very well and is something that I would be willing to listen to on a CD while driving in my car. The sound effects are also enjoyable and really add to the experience. The best part of the sounds of the game is the excellent voice acting. Many of the characters have spoken dialog and it really gives the characters a more rounded personality that you do not find in many RPG’s. The gameplay itself is traditional role playing so expect to have many, many random battles. At times they do become too much, especially when you are going to a boss fight. It really makes you wish for fewer battles so you can focus on your task of fighting the boss.

The violence in the fighting is never over the top, with enemy characters disappearing after you defeat them. Because of the many random fights and big boss battles, the violence could become a lot for some younger players. The storyline is linear but you never feel like you are being forced to do anything. It progresses at a steady pace, never seeming overwhelming. There are a few side quests that you can accomplish which gives you something to do when the fighting gets overly tedious. During the game, there are not very many unlockables but with the game being around 90 hours to complete, you will definitely get your moneys worth out of it. Even after 90 hours of play, there is a new area that unlocks after you beat the game. It gives you a few more hours of play and completes the story of your main character. As I stated, the game is a traditional RPG which is where the problems lie.

The game does not have very many spots that family or Christian values are promoted. The main characters of the game are attempting heroic actions but to save your progress, you must visit a chapel and speak to a priest. He will then pray to a goddess to remember your deeds. Also, if a party member dies you must visit the priest so he can pray to the goddess to resurrect the fallen member. There are also a few items in the game that have names that are not appropriate for families. Overall, I found this is a very enjoyable RPG with all the traditional elements that make RPG’s great. Of course, I would only recommend this to older teens and adults due to the goddess references and sexual innuendos that are scattered throughout the game.
- Chris

 

Graphics: 50%
Sound: 60%
Replay/Extras: 75%
Gameplay: 75%
Family Friendly Factor: 40%
System: Playstation 2
Publisher: Square Enix
Rating: 'T' for Teen
{Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Suggestive Themes}

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