While Pokémon has lengthy been the undisputed king of the monster-catching RPG area of interest, there have at all times been different releases which have supplied up their very own distinct tackle that distinctive model of recruitment gameplay. Megami Tensei, for instance, pioneered the idea with ‘Demon Negotiation’ in 1987 and Dragon Quest took a crack at it with monster recruitment in Dragon Quest V in 1992, earlier than increasing it right into a sub-series with Dragon Quest Monsters in 1998.
Though it at all times had its followers, Dragon Quest Monsters by no means fairly discovered its ft within the West, and its reputation began to peter out even throughout its small handful of Japan-only releases within the final decade. After a number of years of letting the franchise cool, Square has now determined to convey the collection again with Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. While it might not fairly be the roaring revival that longtime followers hoped it will be, this new launch is nonetheless a enjoyable and interesting new entry that we’d recommend you think about choosing up.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is about earlier than the occasions of Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen, and follows the origin of a younger Psaro earlier than he turned the menacing Manslayer that terrorized the celebration within the mainline entry. In a fairly drawn-out opening sequence, we’re launched to the monster-human hybrid when he was only a little one and witness a number of traumatizing and tragic occasions throughout his younger life that lay the groundwork for his hatred of people.
His human mom, nevertheless, implores that he use his energy for good, and his love for her drives him to try to actual revenge on his depraved father, the king of the underworld, Nadiria. Psaro fights his strategy to his father’s throne room however is defeated and cursed with a hex that forestalls him from having the ability to hurt different monsters. Not one to have his resolve damaged, Psaro takes up monster coaching upon returning to the world of people, commanding his cronies to do his soiled work for him as he builds his fame and powers up his staff for a last confrontation together with his father.
Though narrative doesn’t take middle stage in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, we appreciated the hassle that went into making a surprisingly darkish and layered plot, notably for a Dragon Quest recreation. Beneath all of the goofy character designs and tacky wordplay, that is finally a bitter story a couple of man out for revenge after being a sufferer of circumstance one too many occasions. It’s nonetheless a Dragon Quest recreation, so it’s not like issues get too angsty, however having an anti-hero because the lead offers the sport a definite tone inside the broader collection. Fans of Dragon Quest IV will respect the context this provides to that story, as loads of acquainted faces and locales make an look, although newcomers can relaxation assured that the story remains to be fully satisfying even with out data of the NES recreation.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince sticks to the sub-series’ conventional gameplay, which appears like a extra developed tackle the monster-catching components Pokémon made well-known. The fundamental gameplay loop consists of exploring an open space the place you recruit and practice a staff of monsters, taking over a gauntlet of foes in a event or conquering the boss on the finish of a troublesome dungeon, after which shifting on to the subsequent space to do it once more with new monsters and stronger opponents. There are over 500 monsters so as to add to your Monsterpedia, and it’s numerous enjoyable to find new sorts and experiment with how they may slot into your staff.
Every monster has a rank which determines its species’ relative power, whereas distinct stats and abilities give every monster a novel edge. New monsters are ‘caught’ by scouting them in battle, however success is much from assured. When you scout, every of your energetic monsters will assault concurrently in a ‘present of drive’ that raises the probabilities of the chosen monster becoming a member of you, with weaker monsters typically having larger percentages. There are some gadgets you should use to offer your self a bonus, however ready for the monster to make up its thoughts is at all times tense, notably given that you simply solely get two or three tries earlier than it turns into angered and uncatchable.
In addition to scouting, new monsters will also be added to your staff by fusing any two monsters who’ve reached degree 10. Not solely is that this the quickest path to getting among the strongest monsters onto your staff, however a number of monsters can solely be gained by means of this methodology. The ensuing monster of fusion will at all times inherit just a few talent bushes you choose from the 2 mother and father which might result in some actually damaged results should you plan forward and get sure talent bushes on monsters that in any other case wouldn’t have them. We want it have been simpler to reacquire monsters you delete by means of fusion—there’s no SMT-style demon compendium you should use to purchase them again—however the system nonetheless provides numerous enjoyable to team-building by means of the fixed renewal of your lineup.
Combat unfolds in a typical turn-based model whereby your 4 energetic monsters battle both autonomously or in accordance with your orders. Each monster may be set to prioritize sure actions, akin to attacking or therapeutic, and we discovered that the auto-battling AI does a terrific job in most trash mob encounters. When you’re arising in opposition to more durable enemies and groups it is often finest to order your items round individually, a lot akin to straightforward Dragon Quest fight. Sure, the system right here is about as simplistic as turn-based fight will get, however the fundamentals are well-executed, and it’s made way more attention-grabbing by means of the utilization of abilities.
After a monster ranges up a few occasions, it’ll achieve a handful of talent factors you may distribute amongst its talent bushes. These will both supply flat stat boosts or unlock new actions that the monster can use, with new unlocks coming at set thresholds for every tree. This signifies that even two monsters that belong to the identical species can have radically completely different roles within the celebration based mostly on which bushes you’ve chosen to construct up, supplying you with numerous approaches for constructing your staff. Plus, there’s one thing carnally satisfying concerning the sense of progress this talent system provides the participant; almost each accomplished battle will lead to at the very least one in all your monsters leveling up and gaining extra stat boosts or talent factors, so it at all times feels such as you’re progressing at a superb tempo.
There’s nothing notably revolutionary concerning the gameplay loop in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, however there’s one thing about how all its parts come collectively that proves to be thrillingly addictive. Exploring new areas for brand new monsters, constructing out your talent bushes, agonizing over who to throw away for fusion fodder, all of it feeds into a really gameplay-first expertise that feels prefer it simply retains getting higher because the scope slowly widens. Add within the choice to play on-line to check your groups in opposition to different gamers, and there’s an terrible lot of content material to find and simply plain enjoyable available.
That stated, the gameplay loop typically feels somewhat too secure. It’s been seven years for the reason that final Monsters recreation (which didn’t even launch exterior Japan), but the components feels fully unchanged regardless of this new entry being on considerably extra superior {hardware}. Granted, it will be unreasonable to anticipate the collection to stray too removed from its roots, however even Pokémon—the poster little one collection of secure, unimaginative sequels—ultimately gave us an attention-grabbing evolution with Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Make no mistake, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince remains to be a totally satisfying monster-catching RPG, we simply want that it dared somewhat extra—the potential that it had feels a bit squandered.
Unfortunately, this launch additionally struggles noticeably within the efficiency division, which is particularly discouraging contemplating that it was constructed from the bottom up for the Switch. Huge intermittent FPS drops occur on a regular basis once you’re out exploring the sphere, there is a ton of pop-in for belongings that aren’t that far within the distance, the hand-held decision is kind of blurry, and we even had just a few cases the place the sport crashed when a battle was triggered with an enemy on the sphere. It feels an terrible lot like Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a poor port of a recreation launched for a lot stronger {hardware}. Eventually, you form of regulate to the quirks and it’s a testomony to the robust recreation design that it’s nonetheless a lot enjoyable to play, however this can be a launch that we really feel deserves simply as a lot criticism as Pokémon Scarlet & Violet did for his or her subpar efficiency issues.
From a visible perspective, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince adheres strictly to the collection’ signature look from Akira Toriyama. Though environments are somewhat ho-hum, the monster designs are actually the star of the present right here with all types of quirky and foolish options, with new monsters such because the Vegandragora becoming in properly alongside classics akin to the enduring Slime. We would’ve appreciated to have seen somewhat extra effort put into visible spectacle, as this launch can look a bit too plain, however general it feels prefer it meets the bar set by the newest Dragon Quest releases.
Conclusion
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is an satisfying monster-catching RPG that mixes charming visuals with addictive gameplay to make for a genuinely gripping expertise, making it really feel just like the lengthy wait for the reason that final entry to depart Japan has been price it. Even so, its normal lack of ambition and struggles with efficiency points maintain it again from greatness—it’s excellent, however it’s additionally undoubtedly acquired its points. If you’re in any respect a fan of Dragon Quest or monster-catching RPGs, we’d recommend you decide this one up, although maybe wait just a few months to see if Square can kind out the worst of its efficiency points.
