MegaDrive20XX
Segatron Genesis... call me the wizard.
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Dragon Quest (Dragon Warrior)
Formats Released on: NES, MSX, SNES, GBC, X68000, Mobile (GBC and NES only came to the USA)
Enix's early works were often questionable (erotic PC adventure Lolita Syndrome, for instance). Luckily for them, Yuji Horii (who'd created a minor Famicom hit in adventure title The Port Pier Serial Murder Case) set the company on the path to success by spearheading the console?s first RPG, Dragon Quest. His take on Western swords-and-sorcery was leavened with the cartoonish whimsy of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama. Debuting at the peak of Famicom mania and benefiting from heavy promotion in top-selling manga magazine Shonen Jump, Dragon Quest practically couldn't fail...except in America, where publisher Nintendo ended up giving it away.
Dragon Quest II (Dragon Warrior II)
Formats Released on: NES, MSX, SNES, Mobile, GBC (GBC and NES only came to the USA)
Where the original Dragon Quest had practically been an adventure game gussied up with numbers, its sequel sat more definitely in the role-playing realm, thanks to its three-character party that made combat more involved than merely trading blows.
Dragon Quest III (Dragon Warrior III)
Formats Released on: NES, SNES, GBC (GBC and NES only came to the USA)
Dragon Quest III marked the series' transition from "hit" to "phenomenon." But while it's remembered for the lines of people eager to buy, its innovative class-changing system did more to shape the future of RPGs -- including rival Final Fantasy.
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen (Dragon Warrior IV)
Formats Released on: NES, PS1, DS (NES and DS (9/08) only came to the USA)
Dragon Warrior IV, the U.S. version of the final 8-bit Dragon Quest, has long been one of the most expensive NES cartridges ever released due to its rarity and the fact that most die-hard role-players had already moved along to Final Fantasy's 16-bit debut (which arrived a year after DQ4 in Japan but a year before DW4 in America). Their loss: Enix's NES finale was a grand sendoff, with refined game mechanics and a chapter-based structure that made the secondary party members as dear to the player as the legendary hero himself (or herself, if you prefer).
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Formats Released on: SNES, PS1, DS (Japan only so far)
Long considered by Japanese fans to be the pinnacle of the series, Dragon Quest V didn't offer any particular technological leaps in moving to the Super Famicom hardware. What it lacked in horsepower or radical reinventions of the series, though, it more than made up for with its excellent story. DQV saw players take control of an aspiring hero, following his life from his beginnings as an adventurous youth under his father's watchful eye, to marriage, to setting forth with his own children as they embarked on their own destined quests.
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie
Formats Released on: SNES, DS (Japan only)
The "forgotten" sequel, this sixth Dragon Quest is the only pre-PlayStation installment that sees little discussion Stateside and has yet to be remade. Perhaps the upcoming DS port will help Westerners understand why Horii considers it a favorite.
Dragon Quest VII (Dragon Warrior VII)
Formats Released on: PS1
Five years in the making (and looking five years out of date by the time it finally saw release), DQ7 sold in massive numbers to anxious Japanese fans and didn't disappoint. It fared less impressively in the U.S., where gamers were already primed to savor the upcoming Final Fantasy X. Next to Square's PS2-pushing prowess, DQ7's first-gen PS1-quality visuals, hilariously bad FMV segments, and determinedly slow-paced gameplay were ignored at best, scorned at worst. Enix had the last laugh, though: Not long after, they devoured Square in an epic merger.
Dragon Quest XIII
Formats Released on: PS2
A massive technological update to the Dragon Quest series, DQ8 saw stewardship change hands from the stalwarts at Heartbeat to the visual wizards at Level-5. The result was dead gorgeous: A cel-shaded RPG with classic gameplay and modern looks. The U.S. version -- the first title to head overseas without being renamed "Dragon Warrior" -- was updated even further, with an improved interface and a fully orchestrated soundtrack. Unfortunately, not even a packed-in Final Fantasy XII demo was sufficient to make it a Final Fantasy-level hit in America.
Dragon Quest IX: Protectors of the Starry Sky
Formats Released on DS (To Be announced soon)
Dragon Quest isn't the first franchise to shift from last generation's consoles to this generation's portables, but it's easily the biggest. The news that DQ9 would be a DS title shocked Americans. Japanese gamers, however, were stunned by the revelation that it would be a multiplayer action-RPG. Violent complaints commenced, lifelong fans swore the series was dead to them, and Yuji Horii relented. DQ9 will retain its multiplayer component, but combat will be a tried-and-true turn-based affair -- thus was Japan placated. Though announced two years ago, its release date remains slippery.
Side Story Dragon Quest Games:
Mystery Dungeon: Torneko's Big Adventure
Formats Released on: SNES (Japan only)
Not only did this solo outing for DQ4's tubby merchant Torneko (aka Taloon) mark the first spin-off of Enix's highly lucrative RPG series, it also launched Chunsoft's Rogue-inspired Mystery Dungeon franchise, which is still running strong today.
Dragon Quest Monsters
Formats Released on: GBC
This portable spin-off was inevitable the moment PokPokémonmon usurped Dragon Quest's top-dog status in Japan. Stealing back a little RPG thunder, Monsters sees players fighting evil by capturing the series' franchise icon critters to do battle for them.
Torneko: The Last Hope
Formats Released on: PS1
Torneko's second dungeon-crawling quest was, shockingly enough, translated into English -- a determined act of love for Dragon Quest and classic RPGs that went woefully without thanks from (or sales to) FMV-obsessed American gamers.
Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Cobi & Tara's Adventure
Formats Released on: GBC
Borrowing even more heavily from Pokémon, this installment of Monsters offered an expanded critter roster and, more importantly, came in two distinct flavors to encourage would-be beast trainers to link up so they could catch 'em all.
Mystery Dungeon: Torneko's Big Adventure 3
Formats Released on: GBA (Japan Only)
Another roguelike outing for jolly old Torneko, this chapter offered greater party variety (similar to Pokémon Mystery Dungeon) and apparently did well enough that it was remade in lo-fi for Game Boy Advance two years later.
Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart
Formats Released on: GBA (Japan only)
The sole Monsters title never to reach our shores, and arguably the best if fans are to be believed. Caravan Heart is mainly notable for serving as a prequel to Dragon Quest VII -- its protagonist is DQVII's big-chinned hero Prince Kiefer.
Slime Morimori Dragon Quest
Formats Released on: GBA (Japan only)
An utterly charming, though decidedly basic Dragon Quest spin-off, this Zelda-esque action RPG made the series' iconic Slime into a hero. Millions of fans were suddenly guilt-struck over the countless Slimes they'd slain over the years.
Kenshin Dragon Quest
Format Released on: TV Game (Japan only)
This innovative (if simplistic) TV game allowed kids to interact with the TV without the need for a game console. A motion-sensitive sword plugged right in to the TV and served as the game's controller; it allowed players to battle through a series of interactive fights along branching linear paths by swinging at foes and dodging their attacks. Nintendo would later make this very same technology the basis of their Wii console, and a sequel to Kenshin DQ (in deed if not in name) was among the first Square Enix titles announced for the platform.
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime
Formats Released on: DS
A tragically overlooked mini-epic, Rocket Slime improved on its predecessor with a bigger quest and addictive, strategic, dual-screen tank battles that could be played against a friend via Wi-Fi. It goes for cheap these days and shouldn't be missed.
Dragon Quest: Young Yangus and the Mystery Dungeon
Formats Released on: PS2 (Japan only)
Although not developed by Chunsoft and starring DQ8's hirsute ruffian Yangus rather than Torneko, this import-only dungeon crawler hewed closely to its Mystery Dungeon predecessors with tough, random, turn-based gameplay.
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker
Formats Released on: DS
Joker should probably be considered a sort of prelude to Dragon Quest IX; running on DS hardware, it's a nice-looking (if expectedly collection-obsessed) take on the Monsters spin-off series, though hardly surprising in terms of mechanics.
Dragon Quest: Monster Battle Road
Formats Released on: Arcade
This one is all Sega's fault. After the success of Love 'N Berry, every publisher in Japan jumped on the card-driven arcade game bandwagon. Here's Square Enix's take: a monster-coliseum battling game aimed right at 8-year-olds.
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
Formats released on: Wii
Following directly in the footsteps of Kenshin Dragon Quest, Swords marked the franchise's "next-gen" debut -- although the Wii's status as a "true entry" into the current generation of consoles is hotly debated on forums the world over. Semantics aside, it significantly expanded on the gameplay of its predecessor, with more varied quests and added depth in the RPG components of the game. Even so, it still felt fairly primitive, with sluggish movement in towns and imprecise sword mechanics -- a fun novelty, but ultimately less satisfying than a real RPG.
Dragon Quest (Dragon Warrior)
Formats Released on: NES, MSX, SNES, GBC, X68000, Mobile (GBC and NES only came to the USA)
Enix's early works were often questionable (erotic PC adventure Lolita Syndrome, for instance). Luckily for them, Yuji Horii (who'd created a minor Famicom hit in adventure title The Port Pier Serial Murder Case) set the company on the path to success by spearheading the console?s first RPG, Dragon Quest. His take on Western swords-and-sorcery was leavened with the cartoonish whimsy of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama. Debuting at the peak of Famicom mania and benefiting from heavy promotion in top-selling manga magazine Shonen Jump, Dragon Quest practically couldn't fail...except in America, where publisher Nintendo ended up giving it away.
Dragon Quest II (Dragon Warrior II)
Formats Released on: NES, MSX, SNES, Mobile, GBC (GBC and NES only came to the USA)
Where the original Dragon Quest had practically been an adventure game gussied up with numbers, its sequel sat more definitely in the role-playing realm, thanks to its three-character party that made combat more involved than merely trading blows.
Dragon Quest III (Dragon Warrior III)
Formats Released on: NES, SNES, GBC (GBC and NES only came to the USA)
Dragon Quest III marked the series' transition from "hit" to "phenomenon." But while it's remembered for the lines of people eager to buy, its innovative class-changing system did more to shape the future of RPGs -- including rival Final Fantasy.
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen (Dragon Warrior IV)
Formats Released on: NES, PS1, DS (NES and DS (9/08) only came to the USA)
Dragon Warrior IV, the U.S. version of the final 8-bit Dragon Quest, has long been one of the most expensive NES cartridges ever released due to its rarity and the fact that most die-hard role-players had already moved along to Final Fantasy's 16-bit debut (which arrived a year after DQ4 in Japan but a year before DW4 in America). Their loss: Enix's NES finale was a grand sendoff, with refined game mechanics and a chapter-based structure that made the secondary party members as dear to the player as the legendary hero himself (or herself, if you prefer).
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Formats Released on: SNES, PS1, DS (Japan only so far)
Long considered by Japanese fans to be the pinnacle of the series, Dragon Quest V didn't offer any particular technological leaps in moving to the Super Famicom hardware. What it lacked in horsepower or radical reinventions of the series, though, it more than made up for with its excellent story. DQV saw players take control of an aspiring hero, following his life from his beginnings as an adventurous youth under his father's watchful eye, to marriage, to setting forth with his own children as they embarked on their own destined quests.
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie
Formats Released on: SNES, DS (Japan only)
The "forgotten" sequel, this sixth Dragon Quest is the only pre-PlayStation installment that sees little discussion Stateside and has yet to be remade. Perhaps the upcoming DS port will help Westerners understand why Horii considers it a favorite.
Dragon Quest VII (Dragon Warrior VII)
Formats Released on: PS1
Five years in the making (and looking five years out of date by the time it finally saw release), DQ7 sold in massive numbers to anxious Japanese fans and didn't disappoint. It fared less impressively in the U.S., where gamers were already primed to savor the upcoming Final Fantasy X. Next to Square's PS2-pushing prowess, DQ7's first-gen PS1-quality visuals, hilariously bad FMV segments, and determinedly slow-paced gameplay were ignored at best, scorned at worst. Enix had the last laugh, though: Not long after, they devoured Square in an epic merger.
Dragon Quest XIII
Formats Released on: PS2
A massive technological update to the Dragon Quest series, DQ8 saw stewardship change hands from the stalwarts at Heartbeat to the visual wizards at Level-5. The result was dead gorgeous: A cel-shaded RPG with classic gameplay and modern looks. The U.S. version -- the first title to head overseas without being renamed "Dragon Warrior" -- was updated even further, with an improved interface and a fully orchestrated soundtrack. Unfortunately, not even a packed-in Final Fantasy XII demo was sufficient to make it a Final Fantasy-level hit in America.
Dragon Quest IX: Protectors of the Starry Sky
Formats Released on DS (To Be announced soon)
Dragon Quest isn't the first franchise to shift from last generation's consoles to this generation's portables, but it's easily the biggest. The news that DQ9 would be a DS title shocked Americans. Japanese gamers, however, were stunned by the revelation that it would be a multiplayer action-RPG. Violent complaints commenced, lifelong fans swore the series was dead to them, and Yuji Horii relented. DQ9 will retain its multiplayer component, but combat will be a tried-and-true turn-based affair -- thus was Japan placated. Though announced two years ago, its release date remains slippery.
Side Story Dragon Quest Games:
Mystery Dungeon: Torneko's Big Adventure
Formats Released on: SNES (Japan only)
Not only did this solo outing for DQ4's tubby merchant Torneko (aka Taloon) mark the first spin-off of Enix's highly lucrative RPG series, it also launched Chunsoft's Rogue-inspired Mystery Dungeon franchise, which is still running strong today.
Dragon Quest Monsters
Formats Released on: GBC
This portable spin-off was inevitable the moment PokPokémonmon usurped Dragon Quest's top-dog status in Japan. Stealing back a little RPG thunder, Monsters sees players fighting evil by capturing the series' franchise icon critters to do battle for them.
Torneko: The Last Hope
Formats Released on: PS1
Torneko's second dungeon-crawling quest was, shockingly enough, translated into English -- a determined act of love for Dragon Quest and classic RPGs that went woefully without thanks from (or sales to) FMV-obsessed American gamers.
Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Cobi & Tara's Adventure
Formats Released on: GBC
Borrowing even more heavily from Pokémon, this installment of Monsters offered an expanded critter roster and, more importantly, came in two distinct flavors to encourage would-be beast trainers to link up so they could catch 'em all.
Mystery Dungeon: Torneko's Big Adventure 3
Formats Released on: GBA (Japan Only)
Another roguelike outing for jolly old Torneko, this chapter offered greater party variety (similar to Pokémon Mystery Dungeon) and apparently did well enough that it was remade in lo-fi for Game Boy Advance two years later.
Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart
Formats Released on: GBA (Japan only)
The sole Monsters title never to reach our shores, and arguably the best if fans are to be believed. Caravan Heart is mainly notable for serving as a prequel to Dragon Quest VII -- its protagonist is DQVII's big-chinned hero Prince Kiefer.
Slime Morimori Dragon Quest
Formats Released on: GBA (Japan only)
An utterly charming, though decidedly basic Dragon Quest spin-off, this Zelda-esque action RPG made the series' iconic Slime into a hero. Millions of fans were suddenly guilt-struck over the countless Slimes they'd slain over the years.
Kenshin Dragon Quest
Format Released on: TV Game (Japan only)
This innovative (if simplistic) TV game allowed kids to interact with the TV without the need for a game console. A motion-sensitive sword plugged right in to the TV and served as the game's controller; it allowed players to battle through a series of interactive fights along branching linear paths by swinging at foes and dodging their attacks. Nintendo would later make this very same technology the basis of their Wii console, and a sequel to Kenshin DQ (in deed if not in name) was among the first Square Enix titles announced for the platform.
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime
Formats Released on: DS
A tragically overlooked mini-epic, Rocket Slime improved on its predecessor with a bigger quest and addictive, strategic, dual-screen tank battles that could be played against a friend via Wi-Fi. It goes for cheap these days and shouldn't be missed.
Dragon Quest: Young Yangus and the Mystery Dungeon
Formats Released on: PS2 (Japan only)
Although not developed by Chunsoft and starring DQ8's hirsute ruffian Yangus rather than Torneko, this import-only dungeon crawler hewed closely to its Mystery Dungeon predecessors with tough, random, turn-based gameplay.
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker
Formats Released on: DS
Joker should probably be considered a sort of prelude to Dragon Quest IX; running on DS hardware, it's a nice-looking (if expectedly collection-obsessed) take on the Monsters spin-off series, though hardly surprising in terms of mechanics.
Dragon Quest: Monster Battle Road
Formats Released on: Arcade
This one is all Sega's fault. After the success of Love 'N Berry, every publisher in Japan jumped on the card-driven arcade game bandwagon. Here's Square Enix's take: a monster-coliseum battling game aimed right at 8-year-olds.
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
Formats released on: Wii
Following directly in the footsteps of Kenshin Dragon Quest, Swords marked the franchise's "next-gen" debut -- although the Wii's status as a "true entry" into the current generation of consoles is hotly debated on forums the world over. Semantics aside, it significantly expanded on the gameplay of its predecessor, with more varied quests and added depth in the RPG components of the game. Even so, it still felt fairly primitive, with sluggish movement in towns and imprecise sword mechanics -- a fun novelty, but ultimately less satisfying than a real RPG.
