Dragon Quest, as a whole, gracefully achieves what any other given long-running JRPG franchise strives for. It simultaneously adheres to a canon of familiarity and tradition while managing to find fun ways for each entry to feel not only like a member of the family, but also wholly unique. The latest release, Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation, is the third in a “trilogy” of remakes on the DS, and like Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, this is the first time the game has been officially available in North America. However, unlike Dragon Quest V, the original Super Famicom version of part VI never had a complete fan translation. So not only are gamers getting a new, delicious helping of Dragon Quest goodness, but for most it will probably be a very new experience.
Dragon Quest VI is a traditional turn-based RPG which features random battles and a character class system that the Hero and his party members acquire new skills and spells. The Hero travels around the world gathering a party throughout his adventure. To progress in the story, the party must defeat specific boss monsters or trigger specific flags. In order to defeat the bosses, the player must spend time training the party by gaining experience points from battles to advance in character and class levels.
From the review:
"I'd love to sit here and write this review for Dragon Quest VI in the full knowledge that I'm a hypocrite, that rose tinted spectacles cloud my judgement and it would certainly be an easier piece to put together if that were so. The admiration and enjoyment I've derived from this most firm standing of titles comes not from a place of sentimentality, but one of an appreciation of the pursuit of perfection. Though DQ has never had its revolutionary moment of change, such as the aforementioned FFXII, it has continually refined and sharpened exactly what makes JRPG's appealing. "
GameDynamo - "Finally released in the United States for the first time (only a 16 year delay!), Dragon Quest VI comes to us on the DS with all the greatness that makes the Dragon Quest series hard not to love (for JRPGers, that is)."
