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Dragon Quest V: Heavenly Screens
The website for the Dragon Quest V re-remake (probably to be titled Dragon Quest V: Heavenly Bride in its probable U.S. release) has been updated with character art and a little bit of history about the game. Most importantly for English readers, it's been updated with screens -- tons of them, in one- and two-screen format. You can look at pictures of the party (tiny horse and carriage and all) walking in towns, fields, and dungeons and pretty much get the idea. Dragon Quest V appears to be cleaning up beautifully, proving that even if developer Artepiazza isn't the most adept at creating Wii RPGs (except by default), they're certainly up to the task of recreating RPGs on the DS. [Via NeoGAF]
New Square trademark points to DQV localization
Dragon Quest fans, this could be a very good day for you. You see, the fine folk over at Siliconera stumbled upon an odd Square Enix trademark on file with the U.S. Patent Office. It's a trademark for "Hand of the Heavenly Bride," which you may know is just a longer version of the Japanese game's subtitle, Heavenly Bride. Coincidence? We should think not! This means that the chance of Dragon Quest V being localized to the United States just got a lot better. The catch is that we probably won't see the game for quite some time, as it's due for release in Japan this July. Sadly, you still have some waiting left to do. %Gallery-12146%
Dragon Quest V date confirmed for Japan -- July 17th
If you've been anxious to hear an official announcementon Dragon Quest V: Tenkuu no Hanayome's (Bride of Heaven) release date, you'll be happy to hear that you can finally mark your calendars ... for the day someone else in Japan can buy the game. Square Enix has posted three updated screenshots and confirmed the rumor we reported just two days ago about a possible July 17th release for the 3D remake. While this is all great news, we're anxious to hear when Square Enix plans to finally bring DQV (and DQIV DS!) to the states, as the original Super Famicom game never left Japan. While we're at it, when are we getting the next non-remake for the series, Dragon Quest IX? %Gallery-12146%
Rumor: Dragon Quest V dated for Japan
Word is that we're about to find out that Dragon Quest V will be released in Japan this summer, thus ensuring that nation has just as great a summer as we'll have here in the U.S. The remake was originally slated for this spring, but, clearly, it's been delayed. Of course, we've still not heard whether or not Dragon Quest IV will make it across the ocean, but that doesn't mean they won't. After all, in recent memory, Professor Layton was all over Japan long before we heard about the English localization, and we're pretty sure that Square Enix enjoys money, so it seems likely that the Dragon Quest remakes will make it over here eventually. For now, however, those of you with an eye toward importing DQV, look toward July, and keep your fingers crossed for us poor saps who can't read it in Japanese. %Gallery-12146%
Oodles of Opoona
Someone really wants to make sure you're not forgetting about poor little Opoona, the nunchuk-controlled RPG set for release later this month. To that end, a sudden burst of videos seems to have appeared, demonstrating everything from the battles to the futuristic world of the rotund protagonist. And frankly, we're pleased that we're getting to see so much of the title. Let's hope Opoona has a chance out of the gate this time, though with Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the horizon, we're a little worried about every other game releasing this month (and maybe next!).Head past the break for a few more tantalizing video snippets.%Gallery-15530%
Delve a little deeper into the Opoona-verse
We've told you pretty much all you need to know about Koei's upcoming RPG, Opoona, which will hit North American Wiis this March. Yet, if you like a good dose of visuals with your information, you might want to check out these videos.The trailer embedded up top is an introduction to the storyline, and not unlike what we've seen before. You'll find out more about the conflict going on in a text-heavy (but interesting) opening. To see some gameplay footage (and to find out why the characters have "bonbons" on top of their heads), though, make sure to venture past the break. %Gallery-15530%
Koei to roll Opoona out late March
If your days are spent yearning for a game in which you play a bald kid with an orange orb hovering over his head, circle March 25th on your calendar, the date Opoona, that other Wii-exclusive epic RPG, makes its stateside debut. Then you can put a happy face in that circle, draw a smaller circle above the face, and, will you look at that, you've got a picture of the game's titular hero!After a spaceship-wreck interrupts his family vacation, Opoona finds himself stuck on Planet Landroll, forced to begin a new life in the strange world while searching for his siblings and parents. Opoona's hardships range from trying to find a job to fighting against the Dark Rogues terrorizing Landroll's people. We assume he also has to deal with the self-esteem issues that often come with balding at such a young age.As with the entire game, combat during the turn-based battles is handled with just the Wii's nunchuck -- you can fire projectiles and direct the trajectory of your attacks with different nunchuck movements. Without having tried the single-hand controls out ourselves, we're still not sure about them yet, but it won't be long before we'll get that chance! Hit the gallery below for Opoona's packshot, artwork, and a huge pile of screensshots from the US release.%Gallery-15530%[Via press release]
Everything you ever wanted to know about Dragon Quest
For gamers not living in Japan, Dragon Quest tends to be considered "that other" Square-Enix series. There's no question that the franchise is constantly overshadowed by Final Fanasy, at least here in the U.S. That's not to say Dragon Quest doesn't have a respectable fanbase, but compared to the support that the series gets in Japan, anything else is peanuts. There's much to be learned about this classic franchise, though. If you're a fan and want to brush up on your Dragon Quest knowledge, be sure to check out Gamasutra's in-depth history. We have to warn you, however -- reading it will only make you hungry for some localization announcements. Hopefully, it's only a matter of time before we hear something tangible.
Opoona won the battle easily!
It's no secret that Koei's Opoona sank in Japan. But numbers that low don't really say much about the game's quality, because nobody tried it. Perhaps a lack of marketing is more to blame than anything. In any case, we'll get our own chance to try out the Artepiazza-developed RPG when it is released stateside this spring.The latest video to show up takes us through a simple battle. Aside from a couple of graphical flourishes (as in, monsters actually moving) and really cute narration, Opoona's combat is your basic Dragon Quest turn-based fighting. Except, appealingly, in the future. We don't actually know if Opoona's any good, but we don't want any original game to suffer the fate Opoona did the first time.
Dragon Quest V: like the PS2 version, only smaller
Square Enix's remake of Dragon Quest V looks to be taking more than just a graphical cue from the PS2 version. Since the DS remake seems to be retaining some of the gameplay changes made when the original Super Famicom game journeyed to the PS2 in 2004, like four-character-combat (as opposed to three in the original), Siliconera's Spencer Yip is theorizing that some of the other changes may remain in place as well -- and we hope he's correct. The PS2 version came complete with a higher difficulty level and more content, and we're all in favor of anything that packs more into our DS games. Dragon Quest V is set for a release in Japan sometime in the spring of 2008.
Dragon Quest V screens for comparison and perusal
Square Enix has released new images from the upcoming DS remake of Dragon Quest V, and that means two things for you: a gallery of spiffy new(ish) shots, and several comparison images. With two earlier versions to look at, we just couldn't help finding some comparable shots and setting them up side-by-side for your viewing pleasure. You can check them out after the jump, and the new DS images are all safely tucked away in our gallery below, along with some character art. %Gallery-12146%
Dragon Quest V scans color us impressed
Will Dragon Quest V ever be released outside of Japan? We certainly hope so. As for now, though, we'll just have to look at scans of a game that we very well may never get to play, like kids outside of a candy store. Oh Square Enix, how you can be so cruel to us sometimes. Quest on past the break to see some scans for the next remake in the series.
Dragon Quest V coming out (again) in spring 2008
Square Enix has announced a release window for the next in their series of rapid-fire Dragon Quest remakes. Dragon Quest V: Bride of Heaven is scheduled for a spring 2008 release in Japan. This is one that we should be really hoping for, because it has actually never been released outside Japan. Unlike Dragon Quest IV, which just hasn't been released outside Japan in a long time. But with the Enix side in charge of Square Enix, and with Dragon Quest IV selling like it is in Japan, expect to see the money spent for localization of all three remakes. Dragon Quest V features the ability to catch and tame monsters. Much like Torneko's quest in Dragon Quest IV spun off into its own game (and then the Mystery Dungeon series in general), this mechanic was the genesis of the Dragon Quest Monsters games. Japan loves their Dragon Quest.
Koei to put the "NA" in Opoona?
Opoona's visual style -- sci-fi spaceyness with adorable, rounded characters -- is as arresting as ever in this trailer, and the story of a child searching a space station and surrounding planet for his lost parents. Also, despite the lack of motion control, we think that one-handed Nunchuk controls are a smart design decision for an RPG. In short, we are pro-Opoona. Which is why we were quite happy to see this new trailer with some English subtitles.But what's that at the end? "Spring 2008?" Well, the game's already out in Japan, so that means that Koei is planning to release the game outside of Japan in the spring! We question the wisdom of such a decision, since the game bombed spectacularly in its first release (really, just a breathtaking sales failure) -- but it benefits us, so we aren't going to complain too much.
Checking out the look of DQIV
They must be hungry for details on the Dragon Quest IV remake over at Jeux France -- they took scans from a few weeks ago and blew up the screenshots within to get a peek at the look of the title. Since we also yearn to see how things will look (and for an English translation of the game!), we thought we might share them with you. Please note, however, that the scans are cut up; you'll have to slip back in time if you missed the full scans the first time around. But if it's grainy, oversized screens-from-scans that pique your interest, head over there and get your drool on.
Opoona's website does not require the Nunchuk
Koei has opened the official website for their adorable Wii "Lifestyle RPG" Opoona, and the site is as colorful and, well, round as everything else we've seen about the Nunchuk-only game. There's not much English to be found, but the links all have English labels, allowing you to navigate with ease and find visual content. Clicking around will get you plenty of screenshots, and the "dark rogue" link takes you to a gallery of enemy creatures. They are mostly-- that's right-- colorful and round. It's kind of a major theme in the design.
