Dragon Quest (series): Difference between revisions
Updated the count for FF games from 15 to 16 near the beginning of the page
No edit summary |
(Updated the count for FF games from 15 to 16 near the beginning of the page) |
||
| (One intermediate revision by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
Each game in the main series of games is titled with the name ''Dragon Quest'' followed by a roman numeral. Since 1986, which marked the release of the original {{DQ}}, ''Dragon Quest'' has so far featured eleven games within the main series, as well as several spin off games. It has also featured several animated productions. | Each game in the main series of games is titled with the name ''Dragon Quest'' followed by a roman numeral. Since 1986, which marked the release of the original {{DQ}}, ''Dragon Quest'' has so far featured eleven games within the main series, as well as several spin off games. It has also featured several animated productions. | ||
''Dragon Quest'' is often compared with the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series, created by SquareSoft. Although the ''Dragon Quest'' series started before ''[[Final Fantasy]]'', it continues to release titles at a slower paces within the main series (11 versus | ''Dragon Quest'' is often compared with the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series, created by SquareSoft. Although the ''Dragon Quest'' series started before ''[[Final Fantasy]]'', it continues to release titles at a slower paces within the main series (11 versus 16 total games). The two competed for more or less the same market until the companies' merger in 2003, at which point ''Dragon Quest'' became the main financial pillar of the company amidst wavering popularity and unreliable sales of the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series. | ||
Installments of the series have appeared on MSX computers, {{Famicom}}/{{NES}}, {{Super Famicom}}/Super NES, {{Game Boy Color}}, Game Boy Advance, [[Nintendo DS]], {{PlayStation}}, {{PlayStation 2}} and Wii video game consoles, as well as on several models of mobile phone. As of May 2021, the ''Dragon Quest'' series has sold over 82 million units worldwide.<ref>[https://www.jp.square-enix.com/company/ja/news/2021/html/68521fbf7a269c919dba30c72cdbf8d9a1e30113.html 「ドラゴンクエスト」シリーズ最新作 『ドラゴンクエストXII 選ばれし運命の炎』制作を発表]</ref> It is Square Enix's second most successful franchise after ''Final Fantasy'' and is one of the most popular video game franchises in Japan. | Installments of the series have appeared on MSX computers, {{Famicom}}/{{NES}}, {{Super Famicom}}/Super NES, {{Game Boy Color}}, Game Boy Advance, [[Nintendo DS]], {{PlayStation}}, {{PlayStation 2}} and Wii video game consoles, as well as on several models of mobile phone. As of May 2021, the ''Dragon Quest'' series has sold over 82 million units worldwide.<ref>[https://www.jp.square-enix.com/company/ja/news/2021/html/68521fbf7a269c919dba30c72cdbf8d9a1e30113.html 「ドラゴンクエスト」シリーズ最新作 『ドラゴンクエストXII 選ばれし運命の炎』制作を発表]</ref> It is Square Enix's second most successful franchise after ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' and is one of the most popular video game franchises in Japan. | ||
==Common Themes== | ==Common Themes== | ||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
==Development== | ==Development== | ||
===History=== | ===History=== | ||
In 1982, Enix sponsored a national video game programming contest, which brought much of the ''Dragon Quest'' team together, including Yuji Horii. The prize of the competition was a trip to the United States, and a visit to AppleFest '83 in San Francisco, where Horii discovered ''Wizardry''. Kōichi Nakamura and Yukinobu Chida, two other winners of the contest, along with Horii, released The Portopia Serial Murder Case for the Famicom for Enix. Sugiyama, already famous for jingles and pop songs, impressed with the group's work, sent a postcard to Enix, commenting on the software. In response, Enix asked him to write music for some of its games. The group then decided to make a console role-playing game, using a combination of ''Wizardry'' and ''Ultima''. ''Dragon Ball'' creator Akira Toriyama, who knew Horii through the manga magazine ''Shonen Jump'', was commissioned to illustrate the characters and {{MFamilies}}s to separate the game from other RPGs of the time and the Dragon Quest "team" was born. | In 1982, Enix sponsored a national video game programming contest, which brought much of the ''Dragon Quest'' team together, including Yuji Horii. The prize of the competition was a trip to the United States, and a visit to AppleFest '83 in San Francisco, where Horii discovered ''Wizardry''. Kōichi Nakamura and Yukinobu Chida, two other winners of the contest, along with Horii, released The Portopia Serial Murder Case for the Famicom for Enix. Sugiyama, already famous for jingles and pop songs, impressed with the group's work, sent a postcard to Enix, commenting on the software. In response, Enix asked him to write music for some of its games. The group then decided to make a console role-playing game, using a combination of ''Wizardry'' and ''Ultima''. ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' creator [[Akira Toriyama]], who knew Horii through the manga magazine ''Shonen Jump'', was commissioned to illustrate the characters and {{MFamilies}}s to separate the game from other RPGs of the time and the Dragon Quest "team" was born. | ||
''Dragon Quest'' was created by Yuji Horii, who has been the scenario director since. The series {{MFamilies}} and character designs, as well as box art, are done by famed ''Dragon Ball'' manga artist, Akira Toriyama. All of the music for the ''Dragon Quest'' series has been composed by Kōichi Sugiyama. ''Dragon Quest'' games have been developed by [[Chunsoft]], [[Heartbeat]], [[ArtePiazza]], and, starting with {{Dragon Quest VIII}}, [[Level-5]]. Horii's own company, [[Armor Project]], is in charge of the ''Dragon Quest'' games, which were published by Enix and, since [[Square Enix Merger|April 2003]] by Square Enix. While Toriyama is the series' character designer, the primary designs are first conceived by Horii, before being handed to Toriyama to re-draw under Horii's supervision. When Horii first created ''Dragon Quest'', most people doubted that a fantasy series with swords and dungeons instead of science fiction would become popular in Japan; but the series has become a phenomenon there. | ''Dragon Quest'' was created by Yuji Horii, who has been the scenario director since. The series {{MFamilies}} and character designs, as well as box art, are done by famed ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' manga artist, [[Akira Toriyama]]. All of the music for the ''Dragon Quest'' series has been composed by [[Kōichi Sugiyama]]. ''Dragon Quest'' games have been developed by [[Chunsoft]], [[Heartbeat]], [[ArtePiazza]], and, starting with {{Dragon Quest VIII}}, [[Level-5]]. Horii's own company, [[Armor Project]], is in charge of the ''Dragon Quest'' games, which were published by Enix and, since [[Square Enix Merger|April 2003]] by Square Enix. While Toriyama is the series' character designer, the primary designs are first conceived by Horii, before being handed to Toriyama to re-draw under Horii's supervision. When Horii first created ''Dragon Quest'', most people doubted that a fantasy series with swords and dungeons instead of science fiction would become popular in Japan; but the series has become a phenomenon there. | ||
''Dragon Quest'' is not nearly as successful outside Japan, having been eclipsed primarily by ''Final Fantasy'' and possibly by other RPG series. Because of [[Enix America Corporation]]'s closure in the mid 1990's, the {{SFC}} versions of {{DQ5}} and {{DQ6}} were never officially released in North America. In Europe, none of the games have seen release prior to the spin-off ''[[Dragon Quest Monsters (series)|Dragon Warrior Monsters]]'' and then {{DQ8}}. With the merger of Square and Enix in 2003, the number of places in which ''Dragon Quest'' games are released has greatly increased. In May 2008, Square Enix announced localizations of the Nintendo DS remakes of {{Dragon Quest IV}}, {{V}} and {{VI}}, collectively called by Square Enix the [[List of Name Changes in the Zenithia Trilogy|Zenithia trilogy]], for North America and the PAL region. With this announcement, all the main games in the ''Dragon Quest'' series will now have seen release outside Japan at least once. | ''Dragon Quest'' is not nearly as successful outside Japan, having been eclipsed primarily by ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' and possibly by other RPG series. Because of [[Enix America Corporation]]'s closure in the mid 1990's, the {{SFC}} versions of {{DQ5}} and {{DQ6}} were never officially released in North America. In Europe, none of the games have seen release prior to the spin-off ''[[Dragon Quest Monsters (series)|Dragon Warrior Monsters]]'' and then {{DQ8}}. With the merger of Square and Enix in 2003, the number of places in which ''Dragon Quest'' games are released has greatly increased. In May 2008, Square Enix announced localizations of the Nintendo DS remakes of {{Dragon Quest IV}}, {{V}} and {{VI}}, collectively called by Square Enix the [[List of Name Changes in the Zenithia Trilogy|Zenithia trilogy]], for North America and the PAL region. With this announcement, all the main games in the ''Dragon Quest'' series will now have seen release outside Japan at least once. | ||
The ninth installment, {{DQ9}}, was released in Japan for Nintendo DS in July 11, 2009. In North American it was released a year later in July 11, 2010 and a few days later in Europe on July 23 while Australia and New Zealand got the game the following month on August 10. | The ninth installment, {{DQ9}}, was released in Japan for Nintendo DS in July 11, 2009. In North American it was released a year later in July 11, 2010 and a few days later in Europe on July 23 while Australia and New Zealand got the game the following month on August 10. | ||
| Line 249: | Line 249: | ||
The {{Hero 3}}, originally known as Erdrick to many English-speaking players, is also known by two other names. In the original Japanese language games, [[Erdrick]] is known exclusively by the name '''Roto''', which is also used by some import gamers. Another romanization of the name is '''Loto''', which was used in place of Erdrick when [[Enix America, Inc.]] re-released ''[[Dragon Quest I & II|Dragon Warrior, Dragon Warrior II]]'', and ''[[Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation|Dragon Warrior III]]'' on the {{Game Boy Color}}. This was most likely used because the Japanese character (ロ) is not strictly an R or an L sound, but lies somewhere in between. Therefore it is properly transliterated either way. | The {{Hero 3}}, originally known as Erdrick to many English-speaking players, is also known by two other names. In the original Japanese language games, [[Erdrick]] is known exclusively by the name '''Roto''', which is also used by some import gamers. Another romanization of the name is '''Loto''', which was used in place of Erdrick when [[Enix America, Inc.]] re-released ''[[Dragon Quest I & II|Dragon Warrior, Dragon Warrior II]]'', and ''[[Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation|Dragon Warrior III]]'' on the {{Game Boy Color}}. This was most likely used because the Japanese character (ロ) is not strictly an R or an L sound, but lies somewhere in between. Therefore it is properly transliterated either way. | ||
In the original ''Final Fantasy'', Square parodies ''Dragon Warrior'' by displaying a grave for Erdrick in the town of Elfland.[41] In retaliation, Enix hid a Cid grave in {{Dragon Quest III}}. A parody of Erdrick's sword is wielded by Gilgamesh in ''Final Fantasy XII'': it is referred to as the "Wyrmhero Blade" (In the Japanese version, it is called "Tolo Sword"). | In the original ''[[Final Fantasy]]'', Square parodies ''Dragon Warrior'' by displaying a grave for Erdrick in the town of Elfland.[41] In retaliation, Enix hid a Cid grave in {{Dragon Quest III}}. A parody of Erdrick's sword is wielded by Gilgamesh in ''[[Final Fantasy]] XII'': it is referred to as the "Wyrmhero Blade" (In the Japanese version, it is called "Tolo Sword"). | ||
===Zenithia=== | ===Zenithia=== | ||
| Line 286: | Line 286: | ||
''Dragon Quest'' is one of the most popular video game series in Japan.[1][2][55] All of the games in the main series as well as many spin-off games have sold over a million copies, some even selling over four million, and sell very quickly.[56] For instance, the remake of {{Dragon Quest V}} sold 1.3 million copies in Japan in its first two days, which is a very high number for a remake.[57] In 2006, Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu readers voted on the hundred best video games of all time. {{Dragon Quest III}} came in third, {{Dragon Quest VIII}} came in fourth, {{Dragon Quest VII}} came in ninth, {{Dragon Quest V}} came in eleventh, {{Dragon Quest IV}} came in fourteenth, {{Dragon Quest II}} came in seventeenth, {{Dragon Quest}} came in thirtieth, and {{Dragon Quest VI}} came in thirty-fourth.[58] | ''Dragon Quest'' is one of the most popular video game series in Japan.[1][2][55] All of the games in the main series as well as many spin-off games have sold over a million copies, some even selling over four million, and sell very quickly.[56] For instance, the remake of {{Dragon Quest V}} sold 1.3 million copies in Japan in its first two days, which is a very high number for a remake.[57] In 2006, Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu readers voted on the hundred best video games of all time. {{Dragon Quest III}} came in third, {{Dragon Quest VIII}} came in fourth, {{Dragon Quest VII}} came in ninth, {{Dragon Quest V}} came in eleventh, {{Dragon Quest IV}} came in fourteenth, {{Dragon Quest II}} came in seventeenth, {{Dragon Quest}} came in thirtieth, and {{Dragon Quest VI}} came in thirty-fourth.[58] | ||
The original {{Dragon Quest}} game is often claimed to be the birth of the console role-playing game, despite the fact that it borrows heavily from the ''Wizardry'', ''The Black Onyx'', and ''Ultima'' series, and many others consider ''Final Fantasy'' "more important."[3] However, {{Dragon Warrior}} was listed on GameSpot's list of the 15 most influential games of all time, and was called the "most influential role-playing game of all time" and that nearly all RPGs today have roots in its gameplay.[59] The ''Dragon Quest'' series was recognized by ''Guinness World Records'' with six world records in the ''Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008''. These records include, "Best Selling Role Playing Game on the {{Super Famicom}}", "Fastest Selling Game in Japan", and "First Video Game Series to Inspire a Ballet".[60] | The original {{Dragon Quest}} game is often claimed to be the birth of the console role-playing game, despite the fact that it borrows heavily from the ''Wizardry'', ''The Black Onyx'', and ''Ultima'' series, and many others consider ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' "more important."[3] However, {{Dragon Warrior}} was listed on GameSpot's list of the 15 most influential games of all time, and was called the "most influential role-playing game of all time" and that nearly all RPGs today have roots in its gameplay.[59] The ''Dragon Quest'' series was recognized by ''Guinness World Records'' with six world records in the ''Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008''. These records include, "Best Selling Role Playing Game on the {{Super Famicom}}", "Fastest Selling Game in Japan", and "First Video Game Series to Inspire a Ballet".[60] | ||
Although the series is a phenomenon in Japan, the games did not garner as much attention in North America until the release of {{Dragon Quest VIII}} in 2005.[3] Although the first four games to come to America generally received good reviews, it was not until {{Dragon Warrior VII}} was released did ''Dragon Quest'' become critically acclaimed there.[3] One of the main aspects of the series that critics point out, either positively or negatively, is that the series "never strays from its classic roots".[55] Unlike other modern, complex RPGs, ''Dragon Quest'' retains the simple gameplay from the first game, which many critics find refreshing and nostalgic.[55][61][62] Other critics feel differently about the series, however, and claim that the story, characters, and gameplay have become boring and redundant over the years.[63][64] | Although the series is a phenomenon in Japan, the games did not garner as much attention in North America until the release of {{Dragon Quest VIII}} in 2005.[3] Although the first four games to come to America generally received good reviews, it was not until {{Dragon Warrior VII}} was released did ''Dragon Quest'' become critically acclaimed there.[3] One of the main aspects of the series that critics point out, either positively or negatively, is that the series "never strays from its classic roots".[55] Unlike other modern, complex RPGs, ''Dragon Quest'' retains the simple gameplay from the first game, which many critics find refreshing and nostalgic.[55][61][62] Other critics feel differently about the series, however, and claim that the story, characters, and gameplay have become boring and redundant over the years.[63][64] | ||