Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2992 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Square Enix
• Released on: 2006-04-13
• Platform: PlayStation2
• Number of items: 1

Amazon.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

Customer Reviews

One of the best RPGs ever!!!
I've played many RPGs (specially Final Fantasy), but this one does not compares to anything.
DQ8 is a very classic RPG, but at the same time it brings a new fresh air to this genre as the majority of games are very futuristic or very medieval.
It's on my top 10 games!

Good at first, but.....
When I started playing this game, as a massive fan of rpg's, my initial reaction was wow!
Good colorful graphics, character speech and very funny dialogue. However, for me the game is ruined by the map and the "where do I go next"? element. I actually stopped playing the game after 10 hours because of this. I just could not work out where to go. This left me very frustrated. A real shame really because the game was looking like a real corker. If you want a real, proper, top notch rpg, look for legaia 2 > duel saga !!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
I'll be honest with you, i bought this game purely due to good reviews. but my first impression of it wasn't good: i thought it was a tad boring and well, really different to other rpgs. BUT I PERSEVERED and soon was captivated by this wonderfully enchanting game! AND NOW I LOVE IT! THIS IS WHY:

1) the story is captivating yet simple (in a good way), the characters are wonderful and with excellent voice actors ^-^ (seriously, you'll know what i mean if you hear them) and OMG I JUST FOUND OUT THAT princess Medea's voiceactress is Harmony from 'the Queen's nose'!!

2) the soundtrack is beautiful!

3)the monsters are probably one of my favourite things: they're all wonderfully designed, probably the most interesting rpg monsters i've ever seen, what can i say, they're just really comical and interesting i get excited when i see new ones!!

4) i love the battle system! it's so cool! i love to psyke up and release real powerful attacks! when they're fully charged their hair stands on end!

5) this is one of the two rpgs that i actually enjoy running around dungeons or adventure fields in! its all so pretty!

any way, in my opinion this is an rpg must have, im only 40 hrs in (only?? lol) and still keen and running!