[PS2] Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

So hey, I finally got this game and came on GFF looking for info and tidbits only to find that no one's made a v.2 thread for it yet.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Release Date:
04/2006 (EU)
11/2005 (US)
11/2004 (JPN)



Gamespot Review (9.0)
IGN Review (9.0)
GameFAQs Page

I've been playing the game for several hours now and I totally love it. I'm not too far into it, about to leave the second town, but I can't believe how much better the game is on my TV than in the screenshots. I have to admit, I was unimpressed by the way the game looked until I saw it being played by my friend at his house. I felt like I was watching a living, breathing cartoon play out on the TV screen, for the most part. It may not be as fluid as Zelda: Wind Waker is, but it looks the part pretty well.

The combat system is refreshing as well. I'm so used to the bloated battle systems of the RPGs today, like SO3's or FFX's, even the convoluted Xenosaga's system. Returning to the battle system of olden days is like a breath of fresh air from that favorite haunt you used to love when you were a kid. It's simple, clean, does what its supposed to do, and doesn't get in the way. I like that.

I also have to hand it to the voice actors, great work. It's so much better than I could have hoped for. King Trode sounds about right, Jessica's voice matches, even some of the less important characters like the townsfolk are acted out good and well.

Of final note before I go to play it some more, I have to confess my unoriginal hero name: Hiro.
At least I didn't name him 'Eight'.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I've really been enjoying DQVIII as well, the old school elements are very welcome in today's age of complicated systems, and although I wasn't quite sure how I would feel about the graphical style at first having never been into DBZ I have to say I love it (it's just another welcome change).

I'm about 80 hours into it, I'm sure some people probably finish the game in less time but I've just gotten so into the side stuff with alchemy and the casinos that I've been taking the long way for just about everything (I like "gearing up"). Might as well, and from what I understand there is post game content like Xeno2 so there should be plenty to keep one busy even after the main story comes to an end.

The music really needs no additional fanfare, it's nice that gaming technology has come as far as it has now that we essentially get to play with the "symphonic suite" as the actual game soundtrack instead of just as a soundtrack album.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I just got this game. I've only heard good things about this, and I can't wait to play it after I finish SotC and Gun.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Matt

I felt like I was watching a living, breathing cartoon play out on the TV screen, for the most part. It may not be as fluid as Zelda: Wind Waker is, but it looks the part pretty well.

Sorry, come again? No offense to Wind Waker, but hell no. Dragon Quest 8 looks much more clear and vivid than Wind Waker does. If you need proof, look at the differences in the water. Granted, Wind Waker is a lot more cartoony than Dragon Quest 8 is though. DQ8 is probably the closest cel-shading will come to photorealistic, at least until Rogue Galaxy come sout (which is done by the same team, Level 5.)

Anyway, I adored Dragon Quest 8 for all that it is. I now firmly believe that anything Level 5 works on is an instant classic and a perfect example of how games should be made, especially RPGs. I love the use of British VAs, even though they were toned down from the PAL release -- I heard that the European version had some really heavy British voice acting compared to the the U.S. release.

The battles are great and very, very turn-based, but that's not a bad thing. It's good to step back into nostalgia. I dunno, I really can't say anything else except that I really enjoyed this game. It's on my list of top games I've ever and probably will ever play. Every RPG fan should own this, and everyone else should at least rent it.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I beat this game recently and loved it. Was nice to play an RPG that isn't so terribly complicated, but still requires some strategy and has a totally addictive leveling system(atleast I thought so). Music was astounding and the monsters were some of the best.

I'm going to play through again to use some of the weapons I didn't on my first run. I used Swords with Hero, Bows with Angelo, Whip with Jess and Axe with Yangus.

Oh and here's a hint for beating metal king slimes easily. I figured this out on my own one day and it really helps. If you get the spear skillk that has a chance of auto-kill(forgot the name but its early) and also get the axe skill that does the same (executioner), then you have two chances a turn to automatically kill a Metal King Slime. I've gotten 60k exp in a fight doing this....quite helpful indeed ^^

I was speaking idiomatically.

I haven't seen a better new (non-remake) RPG in 6 years. (since the 90's).

Music: Holy god it sounds like you are hearing music from a movie. 10/10.

Graphics: Excellent use of PS2. Full and giant world to go into with huge and realistic towns. 10/10.

Gameplay: Classic random battle & menu fighting with classic spells, weapons and armor. The only downfall is that I find many DQ games harder/more challenging, and thus better because of that. DQ8 was too easy. 9/10.

Story: Characters that I'll never forget, and a plot that I'd love to re-read over and over, unlike 99% of video games I've played. 10/10.

In my top 10 of RPG's ever.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

The battles were really easy....until you got to the part where you fought Dhoulmagus. That was an insanely hard battle, and all the rest of the enemies also got stronger. Even still, you may be right -- this game as a whole was a bit easier than previous DQs.

FELIPE NO

I didn't think the game was easy, but I do think it was easier than some of the other DQ games. After playing the demo version, I was surprised how much easier the same section of game was in the final version. But still, I felt that the level of challenge was well balanced, never too easy or too hard. I still haven't gotten around to tackling the Dragovian trials, though...

How ya doing, buddy?

i got the game a few weeks ago, im search of the moonshadow harp(i think that was the name.) i have 20+ hours, and this game is good, really good.
i love the world theme is so inspiring, and the hero in super high tension, looks exactly as a super saiyan gohan!
i love this game, and i think i have a long way to beat it!
3 hooray fot square-enix!!!

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I am at the Dark Ruins right now, ca 50 hours into the game. It's pretty enjoyable, the first 20 or so hours were addictive as hell. The graphics are pretty cool, the characters are likeable and the battle system is not bad although they could have given it a little more speed. The story is pretty much straighforward, atleast it has been up until the dark ruins.

I think that Level 5 have made a very good and enjoyable game.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Prinnydood

I beat this game recently and loved it. Was nice to play an RPG that isn't so terribly complicated, but still requires some strategy and has a totally addictive leveling system(atleast I thought so). Music was astounding and the monsters were some of the best.

I'm going to play through again to use some of the weapons I didn't on my first run. I used Swords with Hero, Bows with Angelo, Whip with Jess and Axe with Yangus.

Oh and here's a hint for beating metal king slimes easily. I figured this out on my own one day and it really helps. If you get the spear skillk that has a chance of auto-kill(forgot the name but its early) and also get the axe skill that does the same (executioner), then you have two chances a turn to automatically kill a Metal King Slime. I've gotten 60k exp in a fight doing this....quite helpful indeed ^^

So how long did it take you to finish the game?
I've heard it's about 80 hours or so, is that right?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I think only 50-60 for the regular game and 10 more for the bonus.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Ehhh, I got around 120 doing everything. If you only spend 50~60 hours on the main game, I severely doubt 10 hours will be enough time to powerbuff your party to beat all the Dragovian Trials.

Maybe if all you meant was beating the first trial for the "good" ending but otherwise, no; not without walkthroughs or something to tell you exactly what to do to minimize time spent with alchemy and the like.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Hmm I forgot my exact time....I saw my brother do most of the Dragovian Trials so I only did the 1st one to get the other ending....I'm assuming around the 80-90 hour mark?

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

My brother just finished the game. He's got over a hundred hours and has finally decided that he's done with it. I'll be starting it up next week. Between playing through this one as well as the upcoming release of KH2, gaming will certainly suck my free time away.

Most amazing jew boots

Picked it up, tried it, got bored. My tolerance of RPG stories that insult my intelligence is pretty low these days, and DQ8 was a very bad offender. A few quirks aside, the whole thing felt like something that was cranked out of RPG Maker, the whole works is so generic. Maybe it's every other developer leeching bits here and there from the original DQ games, but not a damn thing feels original anymore. Or maybe Akira Toriyama's slimes and skeletons were never that innovative to begin with.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Or maybe you expect too much.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Yeah no kidding.
Those 20 zillion Japanese fans who bought DQ8 on day one knew what to expect, after all.

Hoping a DQ game will be a totally fresh experience is like buying a Metallica album and hoping that the lyrics have deep symbolic and emotional depth.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Matt

Yeah no kidding.
Those 20 zillion Japanese fans who bought DQ8 on day one knew what to expect, after all.

Hoping a DQ game will be a totally fresh experience is like buying a Metallica album and hoping that the lyrics have deep symbolic and emotional depth.

The gameplay is just as classic (with the new skill point idea and massive tension ability), but for a DQ game, we got something that we've never seen in DQ before:

Voice storyline
"Infamous" Monsters (enemies walking on worldmap)
Sabrecat (fast worldmap ride)
Alchemy Pot
Real / Full 3d Graphics
Orchestra Music
Story with Full Plot and memorable characters that have characterization

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Forsety

Maybe if all you meant was beating the first trial for the "good" ending but otherwise, no; not without walkthroughs or something to tell you exactly what to do to minimize time spent with alchemy and the like.

what???? there more than one ending???
shheesshhh, this game is long, and i have to beat it several times?
i wont have time to beat Suikoiden Tactics!!!!!!
hehehehe
anyway, its better to have more endings, how many ending is in the game?

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

It's not necessarily a separate ending so much as it is a different version of the same ending, ya dig? Anyway, it's only that one thing. And no, you don't have to play though the game again.

When you beat it, you're given the option to go back to a point just before you fought the boss, at which point you take the time to explore, do any sub-quests like the Monster Arena, etc.

Most amazing jew boots

i see, thanx for the info dude.
now that you mention the monster arena, i found it really enterteining, who is your party member?
i got Salsa, Brickman and the axenosaur(dont remeber the name) and i climbed easily to rank D in the first try.
I guess there should be more monster.
which one are the strongest ones, or more valuable?
just give the name, i dont want any additional info, i dont want to spoil the discovery feeling of the game.

How ya doing, buddy?

It's been so long, I don't remember my final party. But I know that the trio of the robots and the brickmen each had a few wins. There are a couple GFFers who used the Brickmen team to win.

FELIPE NO

yeah, brickman is really powerful, and have some tendency to raise his tension level.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Yea I used the My Three Golem team which consists of Brickman, Goldman, and er...Stoneman(?) kinda forgot. Anyway they make a great team and I guess I got lucky, but I beat the last rank on my first try with em.

Jam it back in, in the dark.