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Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: ArtePiazza
Genre: RPG
Release Date: September 16, 2008
Platforms: Playstation, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, NES
Reviewer: Eric
 If its one thing the Nintendo DS does right it’s bringing out remakes of old
Nintendo games. The latest role playing game to make it out on Nintendo’s
popular portable system is Dragon Quest IV. Will the remake of this
groundbreaking RPG find new fans after all these years?
Both Final Fantasy remakes did real well on the Nintendo DS. Instead of pushing
out a remake of Final Fantasy VI (please make this Square Enix) they decided to
go ahead and bring out Dragon Quest IV (Dragon Warrior IV was the original
name). Out of all the Dragon Quest games this was the one that brought out new
role playing game elements and it was the last game in the United States until
Dragon Quest VII on the original Playstation.
This game was going to come out in the United States when Dragon Quest VII came
out, but that day never came. With the game now coming out on the Nintendo DS we
can experience it on the road or in the comfort of our own home. Dragon Quest IV
was one of the first RPGs that featured numerous stories at once. You got to
play different characters at first and when the final chapter came around
everyone joined together to finish what was started in the beginning.
Having a RPG like this is real neat. You get to experience all of the characters
in the game and you have to give Square Enix credit (Enix technically) for
creating a story like this. Everything fits so perfect together at the end, it
feels like you are playing more than one role playing game at once.
Since Square Enix likes to give the special treatment to remakes on the Nintendo
DS I was a little disappointed. For starters they decided to change the names of
most of the characters in the game for some reason. Not only that the first
character you play is completely different. Instead of being a merchant he is
now a well known warrior. Does Square Enix hate the little man?
 All of the graphics are nice and bold now, much better looking than that old
Nintendo release. What the developers forgot to add was any real animations.
There are only a set amount of animations so the battle system is defiantly
showing its age after all these years. It doesn’t help either that there are no
real cutscenes, something that always makes it way on remakes from Square Enix.
Though there is a lack of cutscenes it was nice to be able to turn the camera in
a new semi-3-D world, sort of like Dragon Quest VII.
The games menu system seems weird too. The button layout is real weird; it never
feels right when you are trying to look through the selection screens to find
out what new items you just bought/found. It also sucks that you still have to
go to the priest to save the game. This is 2008 we are use to being able to save
our games on the world map.
Here is the real buzz kill for Dragon Quest IV. The dull screen does not real
serve a huge purpose in this game. The top screen (when in dungeons, caves, and
towns) will show what’s above you and in battle you will see your characters
stats. Below is the main part, your main focus is always here, from battles to
moving your characters. Oh yeah don’t expect to use your stylus in this game.
You heard me, you can not use the stylus in this game at all. This is strictly a
d-pad and button game.
Final Verdict
For a Square Enix release on the Nintendo DS it feels like Dragon Quest IV is
lacking a little from each category. Dragon Quest IV is a great RPG and it did
start something new in the genre, but this remake can not live up to Final
Fantasy III or IV. No matter what this is a good game, just don’t expect
something mind blowing.
Rating
8 out of 10
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen Trailer
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