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Dragon Quest IX

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Dragon Quest IX Hoshizora no Mamoribito
Developer(s)Level-5
Publisher(s)Square Enix
Designer(s)Yūji Horii
Akihiro Hino
Artist(s)Akira Toriyama
Composer(s)Koichi Sugiyama
SeriesDragon Quest
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
Genre(s)Role-playing game
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Template:Nihongo title is a video game for the Nintendo DS released on July 11, 2009. It is the ninth installment in the acclaimed Dragon Quest series, developed by Level-5 and published by Square Enix. Dragon Quest IX is the first main game in the series to be initially launched for a handheld system.

Gameplay

Dragon Quest IX continues the Dragon Quest tradition of turn-based combat,[2] but is much harder than its previous titles.[3] The game allows players to have a cooperative wireless multiplayer experience with up to four players; there is not, however, multiplayer mode via Nintendo Wi-Fi.[4]

The game includes a quest system. Quests serve as side-stories helping non-player characters around the game's world. Multiple quests can be performed simultaneously with some even interlocking and unlocking various stages in fellow quests.[5] Early quests include gathering magical spring water, slaying monsters and stealing for a fellow thief. Unlike previous Dragon Quest installments, Dragon Quest IX contains many open ended mini-quests. Upon completion of the quests, a "Quest List log," serving as an in-game achievement list.[6]

The game includes only one save slot.[3][7]

Plot

As of January 2009, plot details are scarce. However, the game is believed to involve angels, as the game's title might suggest. Dragon Quest IX is known to begin in a kingdom where angels reside, and the player is made to believe that the protagonist created by them is one of these angels. These angels have been trying for some time to move into the God's Land. However, before they can leave, they require a fruit - the Goddess fruit. The fruit is very rare and the "World Tree" it grows on must be empowered with "Star Auras."[6]

The main character begins the game as an angel but after falling to earth in an accident awakens to find themself in the form of a human.

Development

Dragon Quest IX was primarily designed around the idea of attracting a wider overseas market by "giving the game a more action-oriented premise than previous games in the series.[8] In mid-2006, Dragon Quest series composer Koichi Sugiyama confirmed that Dragon Quest IX is in development. He is quoted by Japanese video game magazine Famitsu as saying, "I'm not sure when Dragon Quest IX will be released, but it seems that progress is continually being made. I'm personally excited."[9] On December 12, 2006, during a press conference celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Dragon Quest franchise, Square Enix announced that Dragon Quest IX will be released exclusively for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console making it the first numbered Dragon Quest title to debut on a handheld.

The Japanese release of Dragon Quest IX was subsequently delayed from 2007 to 2008. The company cited the need for more time to make a better game as reason for the delay.[10] At the 2008 Tokyo Game Show, a new trailer was shown at the Square Enix booth which showed a glimpse of the changes made to the gameplay and graphics. At the end of the video, a confirmation of the release date (set for March 2009) was unveiled. Square Enix released another new trailer for the game, showing various aspects of the storyline, boss battles, along with cutscenes; the end of the trailer showed a then-correct release date for March 28, 2009, along with a price point of ¥5,980, which still stands.[11]

On February 12, 2009, after having delayed the release of its quarterly financials by a week, Square Enix announced the game would be delayed once again to a Japanese release on July 11 of the same year. The game's release delay worried Final Fantasy fans, who were told by Square Enix president Yoichi Wada that Dragon Quest IX's delay may affect Final Fantasy XIII's release, stating that he "[could] not say there [would not] be an effect."[1]

Dragon Quest IX was designed to be the hardest Dragon Quest game yet. The rationale is that, according to Brian Ashcraft, Night Editor for Kotaku, the Dragon Quest IX developers say "people can always find out information on the internet　— like that's part of the game experience." In addition the game has only one game slot.[3] Ryutaro Ichimura, producer of Dragon Quest IX, clarified the reason explaining that there is not enough space on the system for two traditional save-slots given the amount of freedom the game allows. Instead the save area is used for a backup save-slot in case of battery failure.[7]

Release

Dragon Quest IX shipped with over 2 million pre-order sales.[12][13] While the official release date for Dragon Quest IX is July 11, 2009, some retailers had already shipped orders; one such dealer asked its customers to not play the game until the official release date.[14] In spite the large number of pre-orders and additional release shipments by Square-Enix, lines still formed for the release.[12][13] Within a two period the title had sold 2,318,932 copies out of an estimated 3 million copies that had been shipped. Some analyst say that 3 million may be too conservative and expect 5 million copies sold in Japan alone with large overseas sales expectations that could break previous Dragon Quest sales records.[15][13] The sale is the largest post 2000 debut week sale which was previously held by the former title, Dragon Quest VIII.[13]

Impact and Reception

A malware version of the ROM was released early on 2chan. Instead of the actual game, it is a hentai slideshow that bricks the Nintendo DS.[16]

While Nintendo expects a boost in their DSi sales with the simultaneously timed launch of the red DSi in Japan,[13] Square-Enix is expected to not fair as well despite the record sales. After a last minute delay in the release date from March 11, 2009 to July 11, 2009 Square-Enix dropped its expected yearly earnings by 17 percent and profits by 62.5 percent. The company hopes to bolster the appeal of the series with the redesign of the game.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

Since the day of the game's launch, it has largely received mixed to highly negative response from fans on the Internet, particularly towards Sandy the gyaru-ish fairy.[17] According to Kotaku night editor Brian Ashcraft, however, it could have been an organized attempt to "slam" the game.[18] Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu has scored the game with 40/40, the tenth game to achieve a perfect score.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b Ashcraft, Brian (February 12, 2009). "Square Enix: "Dragon Quest IX Delay May Affect Final Fantasy XIII"". Kotaku. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  2. ^ "Scan featuring the turn-based system". Jeux-France.com. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  3. ^ a b c Ashcraft, Brian (2009-07-06). "Dragon Quest IX Is Gonna Be Hard, Yo". Kotaku. Retrieved 2009=07=10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (December 12, 2006). "Dragon Quest 9 Set for DS". IGN.com. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  5. ^ "スクエニ、DS「ドラゴンクエストIX」新情報「クエスト」や超重要キャラクタなどを公開". Game.Watch.Impress.co.jp (in Japanese). January 5, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  6. ^ a b Spencer (January 5, 2009). "What Is The Story In Dragon Quest IX About Anyway?". Siliconera.com. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  7. ^ a b Ashcraft, Brian (2009-07-08). "Dragon Quest IX's One Save Data Slot Explained!". Kotaku. Retrieved 2009=07=10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. ^ Mangiro, Tom (2009-07-13). "Dragon Quest IX opens to 2.3M in Japan - Report". Gamespot. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
  9. ^ "ファンの声を反映したプログラムで、今年もドラゴンクエストコンサートが盛大に幕開け [[:Template:Ja icon]]". Famitsū. 2006-08-11. Retrieved 2006-09-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  10. ^ "Dragon Quest Delayed". IGN. 2007-08-27. Retrieved 2007-08-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Dragon Quest IX new video". Gamekyo. 2008-12-22. Retrieved 2008-12-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ a b Ashcraft, Brian (2009-07-10). "Look! People Lining Up For DQIX". Kotaku. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  13. ^ a b c d e Tanaka, John (2009-07-13). "Dragon Quest IX: Two Million Served:Mega numbers for Square Enix's RPG epic." ign. Retrieved 2009-07-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  14. ^ Ashcraft, Brian (2009-07-09). "Broken Street Date Or Not, Don't Play DQIX Just Yet!". Kotaku. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  15. ^ Tanaka, John (2009-07-14). "Dragon Quest IX Ships Three Million: Series crosses fifty million mark". ign. Retrieved 2009-07-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  16. ^ Ashcraft, Brian (2009-07-09). "Hey Pirates, Beware of Fake Dragon Quest IX Hentai Boobies!". Kotaku. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  17. ^ Ashcraft, Brian (2009-06-30). "Why Is There A Tanned Fairy In Dragon Quest IX?". Kotaku. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
  18. ^ Ashcraft, Brian (2009-07-13). "These Amazon Japan Customers Do Not Like DQIX". Kotaku. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
  19. ^ "Famitsu July 14 (DQ9 review)". NeoGAF. 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
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