Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen

"A fun RPG. And...yeah. FIND OUT WHY!"

As a newcomer to the series, I didn't really know what to expect (especially since it was a holiday present that I didn't request). And, well, here's the review.

STORYLINE

Before getting to the main plot, Chapters of the Chosen tells the stories of your companion characters. I guess that's unique, but I don't have enough new games to know that. You might consider this a spoiler, but the plot involves some guy who discovers the key to evolution so monsters can rule the world. Of course, the main character is the chosen one and must stop him.

I don't care that the core plot is basic. The way it's presented is well-done, and more like easing you in than shoving the news at you, or so I think. There's not always a set area to go to, or a linear path. You go places and eventually get more of the story so you can go more places.

But really, it's a typical RPG at heart and I think that's awesome.

OVERALL: 9/10

GRAPHICS

The graphics are just...amazing. The scenery in town is fantastic, the areas are fitting and well-made, the character icons are nice, the battle animations are really fluid...is there anything more to say? There's not much bad I can say about the graphics, unless you count a few palette swaps among enemies.

OVERALL: 9/10

SOUND/MUSIC

There aren't too many tracks in this game, but they're fitting for their respective areas and all really good. If I must say something else about it...the boss music wasn't as good as the standard dungeon tune, I thought.

The sound is fitting and nice to hear, too. Not much else to say.

OVERALL: 9/10

GAMEPLAY

Ah, here we are. The core of the game. Like I said, it's a standard RPG and that's what counts. You gain experience, you use magic, you have hit points, you equip equipment. Since I didn't grow up with Nintendo Hard role-playing games, I can only assume that this isn't as hard, but it's very much like them. I think. The difficulty level is easy enough to have a learning curve, but it'll probably kill you and your party sometime. You'll have to do some grinding at some points, too. All in all, it's very fun.

This might belong in Storyline, I'm not sure, but who cares much. At one time or another you'll probably think "Well, how am I supposed to do THAT?" or "Where am I supposed to get THAT?". You can figure things out with intense thought or by asking yourself about the one area you haven't revisited yet, but sometimes getting to the next part of the story can be a pain. That's one probably-nostalgic-for-some thing I DON'T want to go through.

OVERALL: 8/10

REPLAY VALUE

Unless you really like playing the same game with a different main party, or facing the same final boss over and over again, or finding every single monster, I don't think you'll come back to this game after the storyline is over. I guess it really varies, but for me, personally, the game hooked me in from the start but ended when I beat the final boss.

OVERALL: 7/10

Pros:

+ Old-fashioned RPG goodness
+ Graphics are great
+ Sound is...also great
+ Depending on who you are, could be nostalgic

Cons:

+ Some will need a guide to pass certain parts (like me!)
+ Occasional tiring grinding

BOTTOM LINE:

Storyline: 9/10
Graphics: 9/10
Sound/Music: 9/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Replay Value: 7/10

Total: 84%

Same exact score I gave Kirby: Canvas Curse. But how!?

It's a great RPG, but it's not for everyone. You might want to rent it before you buy it unless you know the Dragon Quest series, or maybe unless you know the RPG genre.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/21/09

Game Release: Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen (US, 09/16/08)