Dragon Quest: The Journey of the Cursed King (PS2)

Product Description

The most popular Japanese game ever finally comes to the UK, with a role-playing game of incredible size, depth and charm. Lead your motley crew of heroes and heroines in a quest to restore the king as you fight the most bizarre line-up of bad guys in video game history. Although this is actually the eighth game in the core series, each Dragon Quest game has, like rival Final Fantasy, a completely different storyline so you don't have to worry about not understanding the plot. In any case the game is far more interested in combat than endless cut scenes, with a turn-based system that is simple to use but allows for a huge range of different magical and melee attacks. What gives the game its real charm are the excellent cel-shaded graphics, designed by Dragon Ball Z artist Akira Toriyama. The animation in particular is superb and the game world, in which you are given total freedom to explore, is enormous. Unique visual style (character design by Akira Toriyama, creator of Dragon Ball Z) Intuitive game balance makes this title easy to pick up, allowing rapid engagement with the story and environment Freedom to go anywhere the eye can see in a huge, seamless and colourful world Battle against a wide variety of weird and wonderful monsters Party members deploy spectacular attacks and spells in stunning 3D Individual party members' behaviour can be customised for optimal battle performance Time passes from day to night revealing an entirely different side to towns and dungeons

.co.uk Review

In a nutshell:
The most popular Japanese game ever finally comes to the UK, with a role-playing game of incredible size, depth and charm. Lead your motley crew of heroes and heroines in a quest to restore the king as you fight the most bizarre line-up of bad guys in video game history.

The lowdown:
Although this is actually the eighth game in the core series, each Dragon Quest game has, like rival Final Fantasy, a completely different storyline so you don’t have to worry about not understanding the plot. In any case the game is far more interested in combat than endless cut scenes, with a turn-based system that is simple to use but allows for a huge range of different magical and melee attacks. What gives the game its real charm are the excellent cel-shaded graphics, designed by Dragon Ball Z artist Akira Toriyama. The animation in particular is superb and the game world, in which you are given total freedom to explore, is enormous.

Most exciting moment:
Taking down one of the game’s string of extravagant bosses with moves like the Underpants Dance and Jessica the sorceress’ Sexy Beam.

Since you ask:
In 1998 the Japanese government demanded that Enix no longer released Dragon Quest games on a weekeday because too many people were taking time off work and school to go and buy it.

The bottom line:
A role-playing game that’s both fun and accessible – no wonder it’s Japan’s favourite franchise.
Harrison Dent

• Unique visual style (character design by Akira Toriyama, creator of Dragon Ball Z).
• Intuitive game balance makes this title easy to pick up, allowing rapid engagement with the story and environment.
• Freedom to go anywhere the eye can see in a huge, seamless and colourful world.
• Battle against a wide variety of weird and wonderful monsters.
• Party members deploy spectacular attacks and spells in stunning 3D.
• Individual party members' behaviour can be customised for optimal battle performance.
• Time passes from day to night revealing an entirely different side to towns and dungeons.