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Dragon Quest Swords gets a slimey sale
Most reviewers rank Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors as mediocre, but $17 sounds like a fair price for the game. If you happen to agree (and can buy games from Amazon.com), you should probably hit up Amazon's "Deal of the Day." The battle system might take you to "Waggle City" and the story might fall a little flat, but cheap prices tend to make up for these things. Then again, the price of Dragon Quest Swords has been dropping steadily at Amazon for a while now, and might even go lower in the near future. Unfortunately, we're too busy to get into our time machines and check.
Brawl, WiiWare and Nintendo Channel dated in Europe
The latest Nintendo of Europe release schedule contains fairly awesome news for the neglected continent, as there's finally a concrete release date for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Nintendo's wildly popular fighter is hitting stores in the region on June 27th, and there's more happy tidings, with WiiWare and Nintendo Channel set to launch on May 20th and May 30th respectively.There's little else in the list that both interests us and has a specific date (de Blob and Blast Works have both had a vague "Q2 2008" slapped next to them, though it appears that Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors will be out on May 9th), but heck, why are we yammering to you about this? Check out the latest European dates for yourself past the break![Update -- Corrected date for Nintendo Channel]%Gallery-16727%
Reminder: Last day for your chance at DQ Swords
That's it, folks. Today is the last day in our latest Fanswag giveaway. So if you haven't hit up the contest post today and left a comment, you're missing out on your last chance to toss your name into the hat for Square Enix's Dragon Quest Swords. Get on over there already!%Gallery-3929%
Reminder: Dragon Quest Swords is up for grabs
Did you forget about something? Of course you did! We're trying to unload this game onto one of our lucky readers! And what do you need to do to enter for your chance to nab Square Enix's latest Wii offering? Hit up the contest post.Remember folks, you can enter once every day, so be sure to stop back this weekend and leave a comment on the post each day so as to increase your chances of winning. The contest will conclude on Sunday night.Best of luck to you all!%Gallery-3929%
Wii Fanswag: Win a copy of Dragon Quest Swords
We've been sitting on this copy of Square Enix's Dragon Quest Swords (retails for $50) for a little longer than we would've liked, but we're now ready to gift it to one lucky reader. As with the majority of our giveaways, there are some rules that must be followed. First of all, you must be 18 years of age or older to enter, as well as a current resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). Sorry, no getting around these two. Also, in order to enter, you only need leave a comment telling us what your favorite Dragon Quest (or Dragon Warrior) game is. And you may only leave one comment per day, or else you'll be disqualified from the giveaway. We'll be ending the contest on Sunday, March 16th at 11:59PM Eastern. All comments after that time will be disqualified and we'll announce the winner (chosen via random drawing) on Monday. For a full and very complete list of rules, click here. %Gallery-3929%
Wii Fanboy Review: Dragon Quest Swords
In a lot of ways, Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors is a lot like the Wii itself. It appeals to a new kind of gamer by making sacrifices for the greater good, and introduces them to a genre they might not have known of or cared enough about in the past. However, in making these sacrifices, Dragon Quest Swords ultimately fails as a RPG. But that's not the end of the world, necessarily, because this is a title to ease gamers into the genre, ignoring the best features and aspects of modern RPG titles and replacing them with simple gameplay and an overall easily accessible package. But longtime fans of the Dragon Quest (previously Dragon Warrior) franchise will find that this game is a lackluster spin-off. Most folks will tell you that a RPG ultimately needs two things: a good story and an engaging battle system. This game, sadly, falls flat on both accounts. %Gallery-3929%
Wii releases for the week of February 18th
It looks like Balloon Pop got pushed back a week, meaning that it did not release last week, but is hitting retail shelves this week. We're sure that's not the game you are all dying to play, however. No, we look at this list of releases and know only one experience can satisfy your lust for a worthwhile gaming experience: Pimp My Ride. That's right, if you've got the disease, then Xzibit and his car-modifying friends are the doctors, ready to force a bottle of antibiotics down the throat of your craptastic car. Oh, and some Square Enix game is coming out, too. Apparently, it's like some kind of spin-off from one of their huge franchises or something. Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors Pimp My Ride Balloon Pop MX vs. ATV Untamed Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection %Gallery-3929%
Dragon Quest Swords release date pushed up
Square-Enix fans (in North America, at least) will be happy to know that the release date for Dragon Quest Swords has been bumped up, perhaps to put a little more space between itself and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. That's right, this isn't news about a delay -- the game will actually be coming out earlier than it was originally planned for. The initial release date for the spin-off was February 26th. The game was only pushed up one week, but still, we like the sound of February 19th a lot better. Does that make any of you Dragon Quest lovers breathe easier? Or, is it still a little too close for comfort (and possibly too hard on your wallets) to, you know, the release of that other game? [Via press release] %Gallery-3929%
We almost forgot what Dragon Quest Swords looked like [update]
Seriously, we're looking forward to the title and all, but it's been so long. The game released in Japan months ago, yet the rest of us are left sitting and waiting for Square Enix's Dragon Quest spin-off. Now, with just about a month until it releases here in the states, it would appear the first ad for the game has found its way onto the internet. Sadly, we're not sure if this is the first of many or the entirety of Square Enix's television marketing campaign. Update: Reader strongbad80 writes in to inform us that this is a video to be played inside game stores such as Gamestop and not a television ad.
DQ Swords slashes wallets in February
Word hits that North American gamers can get their Dragon Quest fix come February 26th, when Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors releases to hungry fans. And, Dragon Quest fans are their own kind of breed of hungry fans, eagerly clawing and destroying anything in their path to that game. We suggest you stay locked indoors when that day comes. For any of you who might have forgotten exactly what the game is like, check out some videos and screens for the game. And, care to comment on whether you're looking forward to this or not? Are you hoping for a more traditional Dragon Quest game on the Wii sometime in the future?
Dragon Quest Swords unsheathed Feb. 26
And be sure to have your brain thank us for the last-minute headline edit which saw the removal "unshwiithed." It's best we use a concise sentence to inform you that Dragon Quest Swords is, in fact, a Wii game due for release in North America on February 26th, 2008. Oh, and there's a subtitle too: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors. Where most games would settle for just a masked queen or a tower of mirrors, Square Enix goes the extra mile and gives you both for the price of one game. Watch out, Orange Box! As for the game itself, the press release dutifully reminds us that it's essentially a foray into first-person fencing, placing "a mighty blade, protective shield and special attacks all in the palm of your hand." We're not sure how much of a chance you stand with such teeny tiny weaponry, but hardened Dragon Quest fans should do alright.
Getting your sword dirty in Dragon Quest Swords
Siliconera has gotten their hands on a Japanese copy of Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors. In taking the game for a spin, they carefully document the beginning portions of the game and let us all know what to expect from the upcoming Square Enix title. First, navigation sounds like it will be a pain. Unlike most 3D titles, you will not have analog control over your character, instead requiring you to move as if you're "walking around in Resident Evil 1." Ouch, that's not very good. Also, when navigating the enemy-infested areas, the game goes semi on-rails. There's two strikes. Battling seems to add lots of flavor, though. In describing the many formations of enemies and their own distinctive attacks, as well as the art of blocking, we've found the thing that offsets the lack of navigational freedom, in our eyes. Seriously, it could probably get repetitive after a bit (we're just speculating here, having never played the game), but overall it looks to be very fun. See also: Massive amount of Dragon Quest Swords videos
New Dragon Quest Swords footage is looking ace
The Wii exclusive Dragon Quest Swords was released in Japan this week and GameVideos has begun to slash and waggle their way through the first Square-Enix title for Nintendo's console. It's come a long way since its original debut and is looking quite nice by any standards. A knack for pleasant art will do that for you. Using the Wii remote as a sword and a shield, Swords appears to play like an intensely updated Crossed Swords -- a true, unsung classic of the Neo-Geo. IGN was the last outlet to go in-depth with the title, should you wish to learn more. [Update - What? No nunchuk shield? Weak.]
Massive Dragon Quest video update
We may have had screens to drool over recently, but we'll always take video over screens any day of the week. And it's video overload at the Japanese site for Dragon Quest Swords as the site houses not one, or two videos, but an incredible nine different snippets from the game. So, without further ado, let's check out the videos: Video - Encountering and fighting the enemy Video - Taking a stroll Video - Selecting enemies Video - Character assistance Video - Narration Video - NPC interaction Video - Navigating a river Video - Activating sword powers Video - Monsters montage [Via Codename Revolution]
Gossipy Dragon Quest Swords screens
The latest batch of screens of Square Enix's rail-RPG Dragon Quest Swords focuses entirely on everyone's favorite part of any RPG: talking to townspeople. We don't know about you, but we were afraid the game would be all about swordfighting! Sometimes we rush through the tedious boss fights and story progression so we can get back to town and hear the single, repeated piece of information from every citizen. We just want to hear all about their lives. It reinvigorates us for more hours of grinding right outside of town!
Dragon Quest Swords slashes its way into the news
Dragon Quest Swords made an appearance at the Square Enix Party over the weekend, and now the official website is updated with new trailers, screens, and wallpapers for your perusal. IGN's Craig Harris got some hands-on time with the demo, and he detailed the combat system (or rather, the portion in the demo) pretty extensively. Harris reports that combat is fun, but maybe a little too simple, and exaggerated moves translate more clearly to on-screen attacks than do simple flicks of the wrist. With two months to go until the game's release in Japan, some of that may change. Check out the brand new trailer after the jump for your own (visual) impressions.
Japanese Dragon Quest Swords boxart
When anything at all happens related to a Dragon Quest game, we pay attention. Therefore, we felt that the newly-released Japanese boxart for Dragon Quest Swords was worth posting. Take an early look at something that's going to be in pretty much every Japanese home after July 12th! The boxart looks pretty nice, actually. We appreciate it when publishers put actual hand-drawn art on the cover instead of action poses of the main character's 3D model. Especially when it's Akira Toriyama art, which we continue to like despite Dragon Ball Z.
Dragon Quest Swords makes with the new gameplay screenshots, details
Some new screenshots for Dragon Quest Swords were recently posted on Famitsu. There're some gameplay shots, a companion select screen and a few bits of in-game scenery. It looks like the Wiimote is going to be fully integrated into the game; what looks like a pointer can be seen in the battle shots. The article promises that the game will detect the sword strokes made by the player, with the direction of swing apparently matching the players action.How well the first person swordplay works could well be the critical factor in the success of this game.The game's 3 companions are also pictured, choose from soldier Dean, fatherly Boudo, or monk Seteia, who appears to have skipped on the brown cloth tunic and gone straight for the traditional pink bodice and leather wrist strap. We know who we'd choose.Dragon Quest Swords is penciled in for a July 12 release (Japan).
New scan shows some of Dragon Quest Swords' swords
Some gameplay details about Dragon Quest Swords have trickled out in the form of this Jump magazine scan and the accompanying NeoGAF thread. It seems that you'll be able to upgrade your sword during your adventure, which in itself is not a surprise, given the title of the game (it's not Dragon Quest Sword, after all). The swords themselves are cool enough to be noteworthy, as is the method of upgrading. You collect elements on your journey (the fire/ice sense of "elements" more than the molybdenum sense) and take those to a blacksmith to have swords forged. Those swords, then, naturally, have elemental attacks. Also, you gain the ability to have a freaking cool-looking sword. We've posted the scan after the break.
New screens from Dragon Quest Swords
While what we really want are closer impressions of the intriguing character designs, we'll take whatever screenshots we can get from Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors, because we eat RPGs like sweet, sweet candy. Behind the jump, we have loads of screens for you -- check 'em out! As an aside ... wtf, isn't that bridge in Lufaise Meadows? It looks like a place we may have lain, all corpsified and angry.
