Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride

"A True Generational Tale"

I am a huge Dragon Quest fan, I love the series more than any other. Personally I have waited for this game for a very long time. I actually own the original Super Famicom cartridge which shows my true anticipation for this game. Does it live up to my expectations? 100% YES!!!

The story of the game is very different than that of many other Japanese RPG's. You(the hero), actually progress through stages of your life beginning from the day you are born to your next of kin. The story is actually very similar to Phantasy Star III, but no other RPG's actually attempt a generational storyline. The story is my absolute favorite part of the game because it's theme of family and love are heart-warming yet never cross the line of cheesiness(a la Final Fantasy). It's a truly amazing story to say the least.

The gameplay is more or less standard Dragon Quest. There are a high amount of random encounters and there are pretty tough bosses. Since I'm a DQ vet, I personally didn't have much frustration with the game, but I can't say the same for others. I would actually say that this is the most forgiving Dragon Quest game and the best difficulty curve. This game would make an excellent starting point for Dragon Quest newcomers.

What's different about this DQ is that the majority of your party members are monsters that you can recruit along the way, which may be annoying to some people or loved by others.

Another innovation in the gameplay is the multiple game changing decisions that the player is forced to make. You can actually choose which wife that you want to marry which will have an effect later on in the game. There are multiple mini games and casino games to play.

I was absolutely blown away by this game. The story is something that every RPG fan should experience. The journey into manhood and the message that everyone starts as a child is truly amazing. Who knows, if this game was originally released in the states, it might have been highly regarded as Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy III. This game is a great starting point for someone interested in the DQ series. Every RPG fan owes it to himself to experience this landmark game that was lost in history, but now enhanced for the DS. This game is making a strong case for my favorite game of all time right now.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/10/09

Game Release: Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (US, 02/16/09)