Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2303 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

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!

Charming, wonderful, amazing
It's been quite a while since a game has captivated me as much as this game has. Being a huge fan of the Final Fantasy series, I decided to give this game a try, and I'm so glad I did. Dragon Quest: Journey of the Cursed King offers a lengthy adventure that is full of fun and humour.
While many games these days feel the need to make the storyline as complex and scientific as possible, Dragon Quest's plot is fairly simple and traditional. This isn't a bad thing though, it's still a very engaging story which keeps you interested all the way through. The characters become very endearing, and even though the main character never speaks once, you still feel that he is a pivotal part of the game, which shows just how effective the story is. It's quite possibly the most charming plot I've ever seen in a video game. The versality of emotions is also excellent; many moments of the game are humorous and make your journey feel pleasant and cheerful, whereas there are some darker moments later in the game, and one or two very emotional scenes that brought me close to tears.
The graphics in the game are gorgeous, the cel-shading technique really brings the characters and the environments to life. During your journey there are plenty of towns, forests, mountains etc to admire. The soundtrack is also very strong and every tune fits in very well with the setting, as well as being very catchy. All in all, the presentation of the game is pretty much faultless.
Of course every game has its flaws, for me this was the rather high rate of random battles. When travelling from town to town, you'll encounter many battles and after a while the constant swarm of monsters can become a tad irritating. However, the various locations are fairly close to each other, and the designers have been very considerate in their inclusion of spells and items that can warp you back to safety in an emergency. The battle system itself is very enjoyable and the wide range of spells and abilities helps to keep things refreshing and original. Even after you complete the game, you have the chance to test your skills when a secret dungeon becomes available that allows you to take on a series of fearsome dragons. You really have to refine your battle strategy to defeat these powerful creatures and they're a great opportunity for those who enjoy the battles. The game has several other exciting and fun sidequests, such as the monster arena, where you recruit monsters from the wild to fight on your team, and this is one of my favourite parts of the game that really enhances the experience.
Overall, Dragon Quest: The Journey of the Cursed King is a fantastic game that I would most definitely recommend to RPG fans and non-RPG fans alike. The endearing characters, delightful storyline and lush presentation combined make an amazing game and beautiful experience.