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Post by Xeogred on Sept 27, 2021 22:25:51 GMT -5
So far they're mostly "Get stronger in X weapon and maybe get an additional skill". For Yangus I think clubs leans into being able to steal gold, then another weapon for stealing items, something like that... I think. But then both the Hero and Yangus so far have some vague fifth skill. But I don't know if I should worry about it much, feels like I've already gotten tons of points to put into these when I'm still with the most basic equipment in the game haha... so that just makes me think it's pretty flexible? Either way for the Hero I'll probably focus on Sword (already got some Attack+5 from putting a few points in), Boomerrang, and his fifth skill.
I saw that Jessica is probably the Maya/glass cannon. GIVE ME!!! Can't wait to see how BOOM is in this one.
This game kind of gives me whimsical Zelda like vibes so far when I'm out in the overworld. The progressive scanning could look better but I'm also on component/HDTV, beyond that though this art style holds up extremely well. Gorgeous game. I once hated cel shading, now later in life I realized how silly I was about that.
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Post by Sarge on Sept 27, 2021 22:30:45 GMT -5
If memory serves, you probably have enough to max out two categories with a bit left over for a third. I think I ended up going axes for Yangus, but I don't remember if that was actually the best to invest in. I know one of my characters had a lot of points burned up in a skill that wasn't very useful.
I did target getting Omnislash, and maybe that's what wasn't really worth it in the end.
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Post by Ex on Sept 28, 2021 0:48:03 GMT -5
Gorgeous game. I once hated cel shading, now later in life I realized how silly I was about that. For all their game design foibles*, I must say Level-5 are likely the best in the business when it comes to cel shading. Merely regarding the PS2, they got the technique looking good with Dark Cloud 2, made it look great with Dragon Quest VIII, and made it look amazing with Rogue Galaxy. Dragon Quest VIII does capture Toriyama's art direction superbly as well. *Akihiro Hino directed DQ8, but thankfully Yuji Horii handled the scenario/game design.
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Post by Xeogred on Sept 28, 2021 17:30:56 GMT -5
Equipment changes reflecting in the field/battles is always awesome to see in RPG's. The second dungeon was a tower and pretty cool. I wondered how "2D" this game would be but this dungeon showcased a lot of clever level design. So after DQ1-6, this is feeling pretty fresh and inventive working in the new 3D space. I met Jessica, so I think I'll probably get her soon maybe when I get over to the third town. Still no world map and I think that's intentional, but hopefully I don't miss it for half the game like I did in DQ6...
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Post by Sarge on Sept 28, 2021 17:33:38 GMT -5
Not that I remembered it, but you literally can't miss it, so no worries.
Square Enix's treatment of the series in the West frustrated me. Dragon Quest VIII got tons of exposure and was a gorgeous game - it felt like a watershed moment where the series could have taken off. So what do they do? Move it to DS with some pretty ugly graphics and less-than-ideal gameplay changes. Then make an MMORPG. And finally they do Dragon Quest XI, the game that should have been the actual followup to build on DQVIII's success.
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Post by Xeogred on Sept 28, 2021 17:45:44 GMT -5
I still hate that mainline Final Fantasy got some MMO's too (even if FF14 does kind of interest me nowadays and looks cool) but yeah, it feels even weirder to me now to know that DQ got the weird experimental swerves in the mainline too. This series is all about tradition! I can't imagine the series was faltering in Japan? So I wonder why they changed... though I think I recall toei saying Yuji always wanted to try making an MMO? Even the art for DQ9 looks really ugly. I know Toriyama's style has changed throughout the years, but everything about that game just looks nasty. lol I think it's still weird DQ8 hasn't gotten an HD remaster. Seems like easy money. But I always wonder if the Toriyama and Sugiyama licensing stuff complicates things. Oh well, not like I cared about the SMT3 HD remaster haha. Got the originals for these.
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Post by paulofthewest on Sept 28, 2021 18:24:45 GMT -5
Was the skill system in DQ7? One of the newer things here for sure to me coming from DQ1-6. The skill system was definitely in DQ7. As Ex put it, not as apparent in 8. I don't recall needing to take a look ahead on it, but I don't see looking ahead a little will spoil this DQ8.
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Post by toei on Sept 28, 2021 18:54:20 GMT -5
Not that I remembered it, but you literally can't miss it, so no worries. Square Enix's treatment of the series in the West frustrated me. Dragon Quest VIII got tons of exposure and was a gorgeous game - it felt like a watershed moment where the series could have taken off. So what do they do? Move it to DS with some pretty ugly graphics and less-than-ideal gameplay changes. Then make an MMORPG. And finally they do Dragon Quest XI, the game that should have been the actual followup to build on DQVIII's success. It's definitely a missed opportunity for DQ in the West - the hype was real, there was real excitement about the game online, and I knew a few people in real life for whom DQ8 was their first DQ... but DQ9 moving to the DS was a result of a shrinking console market in Japan, so it wasn't a bad business move, even though it was creatively. Then Yuji Horii was already talking about making a MMORPG in the '80s, when they didn't even exist, so I'm sure he wanted to make one before he died, and saw it as a good opportunity to shake things up. It's just unfortunate that it worked out that way in the West.
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Post by Ex on Sept 28, 2021 20:38:07 GMT -5
And finally they do Dragon Quest XI, the game that should have been the actual followup to build on DQVIII's success. One could argue DQXI's release in the west was a mess too. I still hate that mainline Final Fantasy got some MMO's too (even if FF14 does kind of interest me nowadays and looks cool) but yeah, it feels even weirder to me now to know that DQ got the weird experimental swerves in the mainline too. Before FF was MMO-ized, before DQ was MMO-ized, we Phantasy Star fans were desecrated. Take it from a guy who beat DQ9 out of spite, it's not worth your time. I'm glad you are not playing DQ8 on 3DS or mobile. The PS2 version has the greatest fidelity still.
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Post by Sarge on Sept 28, 2021 21:09:21 GMT -5
I wouldn't go as far as to say DQIX isn't worth your time, but I will say compared to what came before it, it wasn't the best. I'd probably give it a 7/10, which is a really disappointing space for a Dragon Quest game to occupy.
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