Dragon Quest 8

[Finch]

No harm, man. I'm not trying to be too drama, i was just responding to something i thought was aimed at me. I appreciate it, more so since i like Akira Toriyama drawings, especially the ones with British accents and spikey hats.

Hm... Maybe i realized this before, but you made me think about it again. DQ VIII is a lot more relaxing than most of the games i've been trying my best to defend. You can just sit back and let the game take you along. You don't have to time circles or match elements to whatever and it does it all at a pace just fast enough so it doesn't become boring. That's the appeal. You don't have to work or even pay too much attention. Just sit back and enjoy the scenery.

[blueskied]

Hm... Maybe i realized this before, but you made me think about it again. DQ VIII is a lot more relaxing than most of the games i've been trying my best to defend. You can just sit back and let the game take you along. You don't have to time circles or match elements to whatever and it does it all at a pace just fast enough so it doesn't become boring. That's the appeal. You don't have to work or even pay too much attention. Just sit back and enjoy the scenery.

I find little to agree with in this post. During much of the first half and all of the whole second half of the game I had to really plan out my alchemy mixes and get all the right ingredients and stuff--it was really a lot of work and a lot of things to keep track of. I had a big notebook next to me as I played and I jotted things down all the time just to keep everything straight. And in a lot of the fights (especially the later boss fights) you have to pay A LOT of attention or you'll get your ass kicked.
This game is also not very linear and you are free to do things in different orders and skip a lot of things entirely. So in summation it's not fair to say you can just 'sit back and let the game take you along'. You do have to work (=use your brain and think and strategize) and you do have to pay attention if you want to beat the game.

[Finch]

Alright, so i'm wrong. I'm just trying to figure out things. Is it ever frustrating? Do you ever feel like your up against a wall with 1hp left and there's nothing you can do cause the dad gum enemies overpower you no matter what? Do you have to constantly switch your tactics to keep moving? Do you ever have the fear that the whole game will crumble right in front of you? I know you get to continue with half your gold, which is nothing near as bad as starting from the last save point. At least the visual style is relaxing. I don't mean it's an animal crossing-type game, i meant it's a game, to borrow from a Tim Rogers review*, to play after you've taken your shower and ended your day. It seems you have the option to really get into it, or not, the way every DQ game has made me feel. It's kind of a slow-paced relaxing thing that i can't put my finger on. Well, missing IV, V, and VI, i can't vouch for all of them, but The other 5 must count.

*I do not suggest or support reading a Tim Rogers review.

[blueskied]

Is it ever frustrating? Do you ever feel like your up against a wall with 1hp left and there's nothing you can do cause the dad gum enemies overpower you no matter what? Do you have to constantly switch your tactics to keep moving? Do you ever have the fear that the whole game will crumble right in front of you?

The game can be frustrating for some, but it is a frustration caused by a lack of proper preparation and/or strategizing on the player's part, rather than an inherently cheap or unfair enemy. You do have to keep switching tactics for different enemy types, and there can be moments when you get down to nothing and all hope fades. However, this game rewards those who spend the time to make good alchemy mixes and be at the proper levels. And of course, play smart in the battles and have good strategies. It punishes those who don't mix stuff and don't keep in proper levels and don't think & strategize as they play.

I love the game because it is fair and challenging, and that challenge not only makes the boss fights more adrenaline-inducing but also all the more satisfying after a successful conclusion. The few times my entire party was wiped out it was due to errors on my part, and instead of chucking my controller at the TV screen I actually aqcuiesced in my seat and involuntarily smiled at the game thinking "Ah, you bested me. Clever girl!"

[Opaque]

I've defenetally been running around alot for alchemy; but other than that this game is really easy to play. There's not a whole lot to battle, there's no overlong dungeons or crappy puzzles, and any time you want to not fight random battles so you can get somewhere for the first time you just bust out a holy water.

[Finch]

Out of curiosity, what did you think of the rest of the series compared to VIII? Does the atmosphere have anything to do with your like for the game? No one ever mentions the story as a strength, which is probably why the series never does well in the states. [edit] whoa, falling asleep typing.

[blueskied]

I've defenetally been running around alot for alchemy; but other than that this game is really easy to play. There's not a whole lot to battle, there's no overlong dungeons or crappy puzzles, and any time you want to not fight random battles so you can get somewhere for the first time you just bust out a holy water.

How far into the game are you? Judging from this post I'd say less than halfway. Holy waters stop working after awhile, and actually I never really used them. You should fight all your battles if you want to be at decent levels for the dungeons and bosses. Once you get the different modes of transportation, you don't really need the holy waters anymore anyway.

Out of curiosity, what did you think of the rest of the series compared to VIII? Does the atmosphere have anything to do with your like for the game? No one ever mentions the story as a strength, which is probably why the series never does well in the states. [edit] whoa, falling asleep typing.

I've only played a bit of VI and some of VII. I have the JP PS2 version of DQV on the way and I should be getting the JP PS1 version of DQIV for christmas.
Anyway I didn't like VI (thought it was boring) and from what I played of VII I didn't like that either.

I loved DQVIII's story. It has one of the best endings I've seen in an RPG in a long time as well.

[Opaque]

How far into the game are you? Judging from this post I'd say less than halfway. Holy waters stop working after awhile, and actually I never really used them. You should fight all your battles if you want to be at decent levels for the dungeons and bosses. Once you get the different modes of transportation, you don't really need the holy waters anymore anyway.

I'm about to go to the Dark Ruins.

[blueskied]

I'm about to go to the Dark Ruins.

OK, you're still in the first half of the game. I was there at about 25-30 hours I think, and I beat the game at 65 hours. To give you some idea of how far along you are.

[Opaque]

Yeah, I just got Holy Aura or whatever the name of the spell that does the Holy Water effect is.