Review - Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (Nintendo DS)

A storm is upon us

In this latest entry in the Dragon Quest universe you take the part of a Celestial тЂ“ a group of guardian angels of towns and people in the mortal world. As a budding caretaker, you"re finally ready to fly solo and be sole guardian of the small, secluded hamlet of Angel falls. Needless to say, your protector ship doesn"t go either smooth or entirely as planned. The title starts out slow, a series stable, but picks up pace within the first two-three hours. The game"s manuscript is lighter than previous games, but still retains its cute characters, funny dialog and distinct Japanese flavor.

Evolve or become extinct

Dragon Quest IX is instantly recognizable to fans of Japanese roleplaying games. You explore a huge world filled with dungeons, cities and adventure. You fight monsters of every kind and spend hours tinkering with your party, ensuring that they have the best possible equipment and survival skills. Combat is turned based yet engaging тЂ“ with options to control every one of your party members individually or let the capable AI decide for faster execution.

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But producer Ryutaro Ichimura wasn"t satisfied with abiding with conventions, and the development team looked towards western games like Oblivion for inspiration. The result is a Dragon Quest game, which is streamlined, modernized and enjoyable even after many, many hours.

Pandora"s box тЂ“ be warned

As expected and demanded - the main story in Dragon Quest IX is a lengthy one тЂ“ to put it mildly. Square Enix didn"t stop there though; up to four players can join each other via local network. Doing so, players are free to explore the host"s world, participate in the storyline or just help out with battles. Multiplayer is a fantastic experience, perfect for families and friends with DS"s lying around.

Compared to Square Enix" previous Dragon Quest titles on the DS, Sentinels of the Starry Skies takes a giant stride forward presentation wise. A fully realized 3D engine brings the game firmly into the current millennium, and Koichi Sugiyama has again composed a fitting and elegant soundtrack.

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Grab it while you can!

Dragon Quest IX is amongst this year"s best releases тЂ“ on any platform, on any continent in any genre. Square Enix has deftly managed to stay true to the series core, remove old stagnant truisms and deliver of some of the best multiplayer fun on Nintendo DS. Best game in ages on Nintendo"s handheld тЂ“ essential purchase, and worth getting a DS for.

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Verdict: Get it! (Verdict list: тЂ˜Get it!", тЂ˜Rent" or тЂ˜Never mind")

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For in-game screenshots, trailer and additional portable game reviews, please check: Dragon Quest IX review.

More reviews and news from the handheld video game scene at Handheld Gaming Age.

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