"None of the charm of the original, but still fun"

The original Dragon Warrior Monsters was a wonderful idea, making the monsters of the Dragon Quest universe the focus of a new, almost insidiously addicting game. That Game Boy Color game set a high standard for the sequels to come. Unfortunately the charm is lost almost completely in DQM: Joker. Perhaps it is because my younger self was more willing to overlook some actual flaws in the original DWM, or perhaps the original really was so good that the bar was set too high for this game. Regardless, DQM: Joker falls flat for some reason.

In the light of its predecessor, this new version feels somewhat contrived; the hero's plunge into the adventure is unceremonious, and this sets the tone for the rest of the game. The story would be ridiculously abrupt if it weren't for the intense amount of monster levelling that is required. A perfect example of the artificial feel of this game is the complete absence of any mystique surrounding monster synthesis; whereas in the original it was a revered, mysterious process, DQM: Joker makes it feel as if you simply pop two monsters into a machine, which mashes them together and spits out a new one. Obviously these are minute details, but they make an analogy with the games as wholes.

Still, the gameplay is as addicting as ever, and any turn-based RPG fan (or should I say junkie) will find him or herself quite at home with this game. Of course it's fun to see all of the Dragon Quest monsters fully animated in shining 3D. Also, to be fair, there are some interesting battle dynamics that set DQM: Joker apart from other games; for instance, recruiting monsters off of the battlefield involves impressing them with a show of your own monsters' strength. This aspect can be both frustrating and fun - while it would be nice if physical strength was not the only factor in impressing wild monsters, it is still an entertaining concept. Another interesting aspect is that monsters can either fight according to your direct orders or choose an action based on a set tactic. This can make healing much less stressful in battles, since monsters set to a healing tactic can immediately heal monsters that were hurt in the same turn.

However, while DQM: Joker has the ingredients for a fun game, somehow it is not greater than the sum of its parts. My message boils down to this: if you're looking for a fun time killer and you're tired of Pokemon (I don't blame you), buy this game. If you're looking at all for an inspirational gaming experience, look somewhere else.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 01/03/08

Game Release: Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker (US, 11/06/07)