Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride

"Simplcity done astoundingly well, Dragon Quest V is a game any RPG fan can love."

The Dragon Quest series is one of the longest-running RPG series of all time. Each game is known for keeping true to old RPG roots while still adding enough originality and charm to make it fun (that, and selling millions in Japan). Every DQ game from I to VIII has put its own spin on the series, and Dragon Quest V is easily the best of the bunch, being on a higher tier than the rest of the series. Despite being at heart a simple game, everything about it is done exceedingly well.


Gameplay: Everything that makes up the core of RPG battle systems - that's what the Dragon Quest series has used since 1989, and Dragon Quest V doesn't stray much from it. At the start of each turn, you choose each of your 4 party member's actions. Those actions can vary from attacking, to defending, to casting a spell, to running away. After every party member has something to do, they and every opposing enemy will act out the action. The faster characters and enemies will generally go before the slower characters and enemies. When someone's HP reaches 0, they die. When all of your party members or all of your enemies are dead, the battle ends.

And…that's about it. Dragon Quest V doesn't put any real spin on RPG battle systems; it sticks to the tried-and-true stuff. However, that doesn't mean it's boring. Random battle occur randomly after walking a certain amount, but the encounter rate isn't overbearing in the slightest. Battles are fast-paced, with there being an option to increase the battle speed. The bosses are lengthy enough that defeating one is very gratifying, but not too lengthy so that having to re-do a boss after losing is a hassle. And you very well may lose; while not being overly hard, Dragon Quest V has an element of difficulty that keeps on your toes. You will have to grind, but the fast pace of the battles and the existence of Metal Slimes that give off a ton of experience make it much less of a chore than you would think. It should also be noted that you can change equipment whenever you want, without losing a turn, which is a nice addition.

Outside of battles, the towns and their inhabitants are all charming and full of personality, with each person you talk to seeming unique in their own way. Money is somewhat scarce, forcing you to think carefully about what equipment you want to buy. Weapons are divided into several categories – those that hit one enemy, those that hit all enemies in a sub-group, and those that hit every enemy on the screen. Choosing which type you buy will affect the battles to come. Traveling around the world map is easy, as you gradually acquire spells that let you travel from to any previously visited city and items that let you travel across any terrain while ignoring random battles.


Story: Dragon Quest games are not known for their unique and innovative, traditionally having variations of the standard ‘save the world from the evil demon god'. Dragon Quest V is no different, but what it lacks in plot it makes up for in sheer immersion and emotional involvement. Dragon Quest V spans across three generation – you as a child, you as a teenager and then husband, and then you as a father. You watch yourself, your friends, and the world grow up and change. Touching and heartwarming things happen. So do tragedies, but life goes on. The ‘save the world' plot takes a backseat to your life, and it works very well. Despite none of the characters having excessively developed angst-filled backstories or character development, you become very attached to them, and genuinely care about what happens to them. It's a different kind of plot, but it's one that Dragon Quest V pulls off completely.


Graphics: The overworld graphics of Dragon Quest V are pretty good. They're vibrant, colorful, and surprisingly detailed at times. While the game is 2-D, the camera is fully rotatable (except in certain dungeons), allowing you to view your surroundings from any angle you wish. There are many unique character sprites, adding to a lot of variety.

The in-battle graphics is where Dragon Quest V shines. You can't see your party members – only your enemies - as if you were watching the battle unfold from their perspective. This causes you to feel like you're the one getting hit by every crushing blow, not just the characters, adding to the immersion. As for the battle animations, praise must be given where praise is due – and a lot of praise is due towards them. Random enemies all have several detailed and highly stylized animations for their attacks. Bosses have even more animations, and especially impressive ones at that. Every weapon you can equip has a unique animation. Every spell has a unique and detailed animation, as well.


Music and Sound: Dragon Quest V's soundtrack is nothing spectacular, not containing any real stand-out songs or themes. Its simplicity fits the game, though, and while none of the music is something you would put on a Top 10 List, all of it is still entertaining, and you never get tired of any of it.

The sound effects deserve mention, though. There are many different stylized sound effects for battles – including a unique sound effect for every single weapon - which go a long way to bringing the battles to life.


Playtime/Replayability: Dragon Quest V's length is a bit on the short side for an RPG – completing the main quest should only take 25+ hours, while completing every side quest should only take 30-35+ hours. However, considering that the game doesn't try to artificially extend playtime in any way, with events happening at a relatively fast pace, this isn't so bad.

There aren't many incentives for replayability besides just wanting to experience the game again – except for being able to choose from three different wives, who are all vastly different in personality and ability in battle.


Final Recommendation: Buy this, buy this, buy this. I cannot stress enough how well everything in the game comes together. Dragon Quest V is something that's greater than the sum of its parts, and no amount of writing can properly express the experience this game provides. If you're a fan of RPGs, even if you've tried previous Dragon Quest games and didn't like them – try this one. Its on a whole different level.

Final Score: 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/16/09

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