Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince Reviews
While the narrative slightly stumbles in its execution and the post-game content feels somewhat shallow, the core gameplay loop is undeniably fun and provides immense satisfaction for monster collectors. The Dark Prince serves as a welcome celebration of the Dragon Quest Monsters series’ 25th anniversary and is a strong recommendation for fans of the monster-collecting genre and any Dragon Quest fans.
The Dragon Quest Monsters series makes a great return on Nintendo Switch, but in regards to its story it does very little to properly honor the legacy of the game it takes inspiration from.
"Sometimes too simple despite the variety of monsters."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
There are over 500 monsters in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, and over 40 hours of main story to trudge through. Fans will get a lot of bang for their buck, but expect to wince at the presentation which is embarrassingly low for Dragon Quest standards. The battles in the colosseums are a little tense to watch as the AIs smack each other around, but are otherwise tedious. The substance of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is in being the coach to a team of cartoony-looking Toriyama monsters.
Overall DQM: The Dark Prince is a fine and serviceable game that would be a perfect pick up for any Dragon Quest fan. Also fans of games like Pokemon or Yokai watch may get a kick out of the gameplay, but do not expect a deeper battle system like those games. Other than that I would find it hard to recommend to a casual player especially if performance is not patched. I personally hope this sells well enough that we see future games in this story get a western English release!
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a fun traditional, monster-collecting RPG with plenty of homages to the classic Dragon Quest IV.
Dragon Quest Monsters: Prince of Shadows has a few things going for it, but overall I found it rather average. I'm a long-time fan of the main series, and I don't think this one can hold a candle to Dragon Quest XI. If you're looking for a game in this genre, you'd be better served by a Shin Megami Tensei V or a Persona 5.
Review in French | Read full review
Much like Dragon Quest Treasures last year, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a fun entry point into a long-running series that doesn’t ask too much of players in terms of prior knowledge (though that surely helps). If you’re after a solid monster-training game with colourful cast of characters, it delivers solidly on that front.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince does the monster catching, raising, and battling loop better than any similar game I've played. It has some good dungeon puzzles on top of that. The story isn't amazing and the performance isn't great either, but if you enjoy monster-catching JRPGs, it's certainly worth picking up.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a middling entry into a once legendary spin-off series. For every element or system the game nails, there's a confusing design decision that holds them back. While The Dark Prince is far from terrible, it doesn't reach the heights of recent entries into this storied franchise.
For my first Dragon Quest Monster game and first Dragon Quest title in a very long time, I have to say I had mixed emotions. You have this trailed and tested turn-based combat with the monster-focused gameplay loop which is enjoyable but then it feels ruined with the dull storyline and performance issue that makes playing this game on the Switch frustrating. The Nintendo Switch has been out for a while now, so making games perfectly for it shouldn’t be an issue.
Years after the release of the previous iteration of the Monsters genre, The Dark Prince had the opportunity to rejuvenate the historic playful formula of the spin-off and ferry it to still unexplored lands. Despite the predictions, however, the development team seems to have almost completely given up on the idea of renewing the mechanics of recruiting monsters and especially the combat system of the product, which appears tired and dated.
Review in Italian | Read full review
By rigidly following Dragon Quest traditions, we end up with flat, cartoonish characters who inhabit a repetitive, cyclical world. But The Dark Prince plays to its strengths to deliver a solid RPG experience with a cozy narrative seasoned by a long list of charismatic creatures and entertaining dungeons.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a solid and enjoyable RPG that plays it very safe. If you enjoy Dragon Quest gameplay, then there's a lot to like, and the monster customization and fusing systems allow you to create some truly ridiculous monsters. Overall, it's a nice and breezy RPG. It doesn't break any molds, and it may not engage players who don't already enjoy Dragon Quest-style gameplay, but it knows exactly what it is and goes for it. Some technical issues hold it back and can drag down the experience, but Dragon Quest fans should be able to overlook that with ease.
This new Dragon Quest part is fun for new players, but also for gamers who have been fans of the series for years and have been looking forward to a sequel/Spin-off. This strategy RPG distinguishes itself from its peers in several areas and is easy to play. The game is smooth enough to pick up quickly, but complicated enough to spend hours playing. Highly recommended if you are looking for hours of entertainment with the possibility of extra content and online expansion
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a stellar RPG that anyone who enjoys monster-catching games has got to play. The technical issues can be frustrating and surprising, but they don’t impede the game enough to be a serious hindrance. The depth of the synthesis system and the intriguing story make The Dark Prince easily stand as one of the best RPGs of the year.
In a lot of ways for someone like me, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is weirdly validating for a video game product you purchase. This series has been living in relative obscurity for decades, either going unlocalized entirely or simply being seen as a niche within a niche destined for handheld gamers looking for more Pokemon. But there’s so much meat, life, and ambition in this one. It’s a console game, it’s got a story it wants to tell, it has ideas beyond “catch slimes, win tournaments”. I hope this is the direction Dragon Quest Monsters keep moving in. It’s no Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, but what is?
Dragon Quest Monster The Dark Prince does very little to differentiate itself from the great number of similar games on the market, and still does everything right if you look at its bestiary and its gameplay loop. Therefore, it can be recommended to anyone looking for a good (but no great) monster catching RPG.
Review in Italian | Read full review
While its best ideas are held back by its lack of refinement, the adventure remains surprisingly compelling, even as you’re wasting hours away on levelling up your favourite monsters, and experimenting with battle tactics. It doesn’t quite live up to its competitors in the monster-catching genre, but it’s certainly a memorable game, and one defined by its devotion to being fun, silly, and wonderfully weird.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince emerges as a triumph in the evolution of the Monsters subseries, celebrating its 25th anniversary with an incredible feat. By harmoniously fusing an engaging plot with fun game mechanics, the title transcends expectations, positioning itself not only as a standout among its predecessors, but as one of the best examples of creating and battling little monsters.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review