Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King Reviews
Square Enix and Nintendo team up to release Dragon Quest 8: Journey of the Cursed King outside of Japan, providing gamers with a wonderful JRPG to take with them on the go.
Dragon Quest VIII was one of the finest JRPGs upon its initial release and it manages to retain that lofty status through this 3DS edition. Its adherence to the traditional rules of the genre is where it pulls its strength from, the familiarity of the template allowing the design team to worry about making sure each element is as good as it can possibly can be.
A JRPG classic is revived for 3DS, and the years haven't dimmed its charm in the slightest.
Dragon Quest VIII is something special. It tells a lovely story with memorable characters in a captivatingly colourful style, features fun combat and a beautiful world to explore, and — most importantly — sparks a true sense of adventure and wonder throughout. This isn't just one of the best RPGs on the 3DS, it's one of the best RPGs full stop — and one of the best Dragon Quests to dive into for the uninitiated. Perfectly paced, well written and superbly scored, it's a trip worth taking for any RPG fan, and the updates in this 3DS remake — from faster battles and on-field enemies to a fantastic photography mode — make it a worthwhile return journey for veterans. A true classic.
Whether you’re returning, or you’ve always wanted to play a Dragon Quest game, this is the perfect place to start.
Though the 3DS version falls short in a number of ways from being the definitive way to play Dragon Quest VIII, the newly-portable version of the title is still, nevertheless, an excellent way to experience an excellent RPG despite its few technical shortcomings. More than anything the pros far outweigh the cons when it comes to a title that, even after a decade after its release, still plays remarkably well and manages to put a smile on my face. Dragon Quest VIII was charmingly old-school even back when it released in 2005, but like the best and timeless stories, the 3DS version shows that this story has only gotten better with age.
Dragon Quest VIII for the Nintendo 3DS is the best way to get into the Dragon Quest mood. A nice way to understand why everyone loves the franchise. But for the veteran player is not mucho of an exercise of nostalgia.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Dragon Quest VIII was without question one of the best RPGs on the PlayStation 2, and 13 years later it's one of the best RPGs on the 3DS as well. If you haven't played it before, this version offers a lot of features that make it very easy to recommend over the PS2 and mobile versions. Even if you have, there's more than enough new content to make DQVIII worth revisiting. As I said in my review in progress, this game is a classic in every sense of the word, and I'm overjoyed that it's available for a new generation to get their hands on.
Simple, charming, and considerably improved on the 3DS. Dragon Quest isn’t for everyone but this bridges the gap between retro and modern games very well.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King truly stands the test of time. Having this PS2 classic on the 3DS, despite its slightly inferior presentation, is a mind boggling feat. Each new gameplay addition or tweak is smart, not taking anything away from the original vision. It helps that the basis for this version was one of the better instalments of the franchise, but Square Enix could have easily just have ported it over and be done with it. If you don’t mind the slight presentation downgrades, this is the definitive version of a modern classic.
A wonderful JRPG, although with twelve years behind him. It's still manages to shine, thanks also to the excellent work of revision by the developers.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King was already in the premiere class of RPGs with its initial release on PS2, and now Square Enix has somehow found a way to make it even better on the Nintendo 3DS in its definitive form.
Dragon Quest VIII is an amazing JRPG, which has become even better on 3DS thanks to great new features. As a result, we got one of the most beautiful and well-designed JRPGs on the platform, where all aspects work competently, allowing you to enjoy the atmosphere of a fabulous adventure with a company of bright and very memorable characters.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Dragon Quest piles on the enhancements in the 3DS version, and these tiny improvements are so numerous, that Dragon quest VIII feels far less dated than an RPG over a decade old should feel.
Dragon Quest VIII is hailed as a classic, and rightly so. Dragon Quest VIII on 3DS is a great place for new fans to jump on, as well as a perfect way for those who played it to relive a classic – and on the go, too! One of the PS2’s very best JRPGs is back, and it hasn’t aged a day.
This game is good. I have made good memories, and hope to make many more. I'm going to miss these characters, their quirks, their catch-phrases, and their flaws. It's a good egg.
Dragon Quest VIII‘s almost random plot and character moments carry complex emotional weight.
The 3DS version of Dragon Quest VIII is realized very carefully, with new added features able to refresh the gameplay experience.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dragon Quest VIII: The Journey of The Curse King reaches the 3DS after several versions in other formats and this is most likely the best version of the game so far. Showing the best of what can be done in RPGs, Dragon Quest VIII is already a strong candidate to the title of game of the year on the 3DS and there's virtually no aspect in which this title does not excel. A true masterpiece, that can be enjoyed by RPG fans and non-fans alike.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
As it stands, Dragon Quest 8 on 3DS is the best version of this game right now with fantastic new content and improvements. If you’ve never played it before, and you like RPGs then you owe it to yourself to give this one a go.