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Etrian Odyssey is 'the last great turn-based RPG'
Etrian Odyssey director Kazuya Niinou has been posting fascinating, and disarmingly honest, blog entries on the game's official website. The fourth page was just posted, and contains a rather bold statement: "So I've decided! Etrian Odyssey will be the last great turn-based RPG." This was a reaction to the rumors of Dragon Quest IX going action-RPG-- rumors that turned out not to be true. While we admire Niinou for his confidence that his game is good enough to exemplify a genre (confidence that increases our frothing demand for the game significantly), we're afraid Etrian Odyssey is going to continue to face stiff competition from Dragon Quest. And we doubt that any number of awesome blog posts will put down that particular cultural phenomenon.
Dragon Quest IX in full color
We've seen some of this before, particularly the lower right panel, but only in scans -- look at the difference in the full color screenshots! The production values on this are staggering; remember the jaggy screenshots from Chocobo Tales? The backgrounds in Final Fantasy III? Those games are beautiful in motion, but suffer somewhat in stills. If this comparison is any indication of what's in store for us with Dragon Quest IX, we're not sure we can handle that much awesome.
Dragon Quest IX stays turn-based, ups customization
Contrary to previous rumblings, the upcoming Dragon Quest IX for DS will not abandon its turn-based roots for a more action-oriented system. According to the latest issue of Japanese magazine Weekly Shonen Jump, enemies will be visible on screen and contact will commence battle, where you will input commands in a turn-based style classic in Dragon Quest titles. A similar system will also be implemented for the multiplayer.Also revealed is the ability to visually customize your main character. Weight, height, face, hair and clothing will all be adjustable. Will this affect the protagonist's immersion into the storyline? According to the translation by 1Up, Dragon Quest IX: Defenders of the Sky will be shown at a Square Enix party May 12 along with nearly a dozen (seriously) Final Fantasy titles.[Via DS Fanboy]
Dragon Quest IX screenshots fly into view
Supplementing this afternoon's Dragon Quest IX gameplay details post, we have some new screenshots of the much-anticipated RPG. Square Enix hasn't skimped on this production at all, as it already looks to be one of the most visually impressive games on the Nintendo DS. Graphics aside, the scanned Shonen Jump pages also give a glimpse of this title's character customization options and turn-based multiplayer combat. Head past the post break for a couple of the Dragon Quest IX scans.
New details to feed your Dragon Quest IX addiction
It seems some people were concerned that in trying to keep Dragon Quest fresh, the upcoming iteration might be heading too far away from the basics of the franchise -- specifically, by moving away from a turn-based combat system in favor of something a little more action-oriented. But don't worry, DQ buffs; the rumors were just that, and according to the latest Shonen Jump, DQIX will in fact retain a turn-based combat system. Also, players will be able to customize the appearance of their characters, from height and weight to hair and face, and even their costumes. There's no word yet on how extensive this system may be, but even a small dose of customization can go a long way. Next month, we hope to see more than a trickle on the upcoming DS exclusive at the Square Enix party.
FFV: Dragon Quest IX already rocking airwaves
We didn't expect a commercial for months yet -- but it seems fitting that just days after Dragon Quest IX was announced for the DS, there's already a commercial airing in Japan. Big news for big franchises demands big gestures ... or very short, teaseriffic ones. The brand new commercial is this week's Featured Friday Video, and you can check it out after the jump.
Today's hottest game video: Dragon Quest IX
Today's most-watched YouTube video shows a Japanese-language financial news report on Dragon Quest IX coming out only for the DS. (Many YouTubers have Dragon Quest fever; several top videos are about the game.) Gamers and industry watchers were expecting the Square Enix property to be announced for the PS3, so the news surprised many. And the one-minute video includes a pull-back-the-curtain shot -- the best part of any announcement.See the video after the break.
Dragon Quest IX announced as DS exclusive
The strange and somewhat pathetic sobbing you hear in the background originates from the offices of Microsoft and Sony, where once diligent executives have now completely broken down and given up on much of their lives. Square Enix just handed Nintendo the keys to the Death Star. As if the DS wasn't already an unrelenting steamroller in terms of sales and popularity, it was announced today that Dragon Quest IX would be released exclusively on the most touchy-feely of portable systems. In the unlikely event that you've been stuck in some sort of spatial anomaly (like Disneyland) for the last few years, it's important to remind you that the Dragon Quest franchise is one of the most popular properties ever in the minds of Japanese gamers. It was widely expected that the next instalment in the franchise would move to the PS3, an expectation that has now been crushed beneath Satoru Iwata's diamond-encrusted boot. Expect more news on the title as the week continues -- for now, all we know is: it's being developed by Level 5, it supports multiplayer battles and the subtitle is something along the lines of "Protector of the Starry Sky." [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
