One of my favorite games on the platform, Dragon Quest Heroes may be a different brand of Dragon Quest, but it's still a top-tier game in every way. Worth it for fans of the series, gamers brand new to the World of Dragon Quest, fans of anime, action-RPGs and action games alike, Koei Tecmo's Omega Force - the developers of Dynasty Warriors, Winback, Toukiden and Attack on Titan - have really delivered an awesome game to welcome the series to the new Sony hardware.
Dragon Quest Heroes is an action RPG take on the long-running Dragon Quest/Warrior RPG series. A spiritual successor to Omega Force's last (and quite obscure, it seems, considering so few people ever mention it in reviews for this game) action RPG, "Trinity: Souls of Zill O'll" for Playstation 3. A game that was solid and fun, but painfully lacking in the personality department. Well, that's quickly remedied by adapting it's design to Dragon Quest here, and then improving upon it further with more intense combat a la Dynasty Warriors (but much, MUCH better) and new, original elements all it's own! The game flow is built around a central hub that acts as a small town, with shops and people to talk to - it's here where you'll accept missions and sidequests and pore over a World Map (like any good RPG!). If you've played a title like Phantasy Star Online, Monster Hunter or Toukiden Kiwami, you'll be quite familiar with this setup. Once you assemble your party and your gear, and accept your mission, it's off to that level to do combat with scores of enemies ripped straight from the main RPG series!
And the combat is indeed the core of the game - good thing it's so well done! On a base level it resembles Dynasty Warriors as you charge into battle with 3 other party members against waves of faceless, easy bad guys. Add in special moves for your characters - and yes, like any good RPG, there is a skill tree with dozens and dozens of abilities and new moves/spells to add to your repetoire! - and the fact that everyone plays noticeably different with differing styles in the first place (REALLY helps cut down on repetition), and we're starting in a much better place than Dynasty Warriors already! The enemy types - owing largely to Dragon Quest as a series - are varied as well, so unlike fighting the faceless, identical goons of a normal Warriors title, the variety here keeps thing far more interesting as the game continually throws new monsters at you that provide a new challenge. There are also massive boss battles, stage specific gimmicks like Lava and Ballistas (Turrets/Cannons), and the Monster Medal system and the game's combat is well ahead of the dreadful monotony of standard Warriors games - and even better than Hyrule Warriors! The Friendly AI on your party is also MASSIVELY improved versus those games too - you'll definitely see your guys fighting well, keeping alive, and helping you out regularly. Such a welcome improvement!
What is the Monster Medal system? When you're slashing through foes and knocking enemies out left and right, they drop items like Health and Magic potions, but also occasionally they'll drop a medal with their face on them. Pick it up and it'll be slotted into an inventory on the bottom of the screen that can be navigated with the Dpad (up to activate, down to get rid of, left and right). Once you activate them, that enemy unit will show up to fight for you or deliver a devastating attack. So in addition to just killing everyone, this opens up some simple strategic elements, since you'll be able to create bottlenecks for enemy forces by dropping monsters in good places and then going off and taking care of business elsewhere on the map. It's quite satisfying! A great new wrinkle to brawlers in general!
All of this combines to really, really make the combat enjoyable, and the game design one of the most interesting Koei Tecmo has ever pumped out! It all launches DQH WELL AHEAD of any other Warriors game, or most other "dumb action" brawlers in general. Better than stuff like Transformers Devastation easily, for example. It's no DMC or Bayonetta, of course, but as far as dumber brawlers go, this is front of the pack. So entertaining!
The story is simple, but very effectively done with great voicework and endearing, likeable characters throughout. The music and presentation is also top-notch; this game is gorgeous. I know in Japan it's also out on PS3, but I can't imagine a nicer looking PS4 game at the moment. I mean yeah, stuff like Battlefront and Arkham Knight are technically more ambitious, but so much more boring looking versus Akira Toriyama's vibrant fantasy world. And this is without a doubt the nicest Dragon Quest has ever looked, and probably will until Dragon Quest Heroes or the PS4 version of DQ11 comes out. It's one of the nicest looking games to come out of Japan in a long time, period! It's technically accomplished and artistically strong - it makes for a charming, awesome looking game from beginning to end, which should last you anywhere from 40 to 70 hours.
I can't say more positive things about this. It looks fantastic, it bleeds charm effortlessly, it's incredibly satisfying to play... it's the definition of a 5 star review. Pick it up. If you don't like Warriors games, you'll like this -- it's easily a thousand times better. The RPG DNA is here and stronger than most action-RPGs, thanks to their prior experience with games like Toukiden and Trinity. It's a very strong showing for Dragon Quest's signature personality as well. It's just... just buy it you guys. It's so much fun :D
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From the manufacturer
The DRAGON QUEST HEROES: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below
DRAGON QUEST HEROES: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below comes to PlayStation4 as a full scale, real time, action RPG in the storied franchise. Created in cooperation with w-Force (Omega Force) from KOEI TECMO GAMES, the title also brings together series luminaries including Yuji Horii, general director and creator of DRAGON QUEST, Akira Toriyama, the world-renowned artist who gave the series its signature visual style, and Koichi Sugiyama, the composer of its countless masterpieces.
When a dark shockwave sweeps through the city of Arba, the monsters that once lived alongside the people in peace are driven into a frenzied rage. As either the hero Luceus or the heroine Aurora, the player joins forces with a cast of fan favorites from previous DRAGON QUEST titles, such as Alena, Bianca and Yangus, to bring the rampaging hordes of monsters to their senses and restore order to the kingdom.
- Overpower Hundreds of Monsters: Become the hero of the battlefield as you swing into action against seemingly impossible odds. Cleave through the relentless swarms of monsters and battle gigantic foes in epic clashes of good versus evil!
- Fight Alongside Legendary Characters: Players can embark on a journey with some of the most beloved characters of the DRAGON QUEST series – all voiced – to form their own party of four and stride into battle. From the sultry Maya of DRAGON QUEST IV fame to Yangus, the thief with a heart of gold from DRAGON QUEST VIII, the player’s party will always be full of character.
- Strategy-Oriented Battles: Players can level up each character and upgrade their unique spells and abilities. Swapping between characters strategically and unleashing the right skill at the right time will help players survive the toughest battles.
- Collect Monster Medals to Turn the Tide: Gather monster medals from defeated foes to bring them back to the battlefield as allies or to take advantage of their special skills. Up to 24 monsters can fight by the player’s side at any one time.
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Party based combat |
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Gamer Review - Dragon Quest Heroes PS4
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Reviews with images
Honest Review of Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below For PS4
Dragon Quest Heroes occupies a similar place as games like Hyrule Warriors and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. The combat that makes up the majority of gameplay is fun but forgettable, and there's little else to keep you engaged unless you're sufficiently attached to the license. In that regard,Dragon Quest Heroes looks delightful and is bursting with characters and creatures from the history of the franchise, so anyone who has been glued to each new release since the heyday of Enix will find enough familiar sights to stay invested. However, if you're still puzzling over the differences between Dragon Quest and Dragon Warrior, there are much better fights to seek out.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2016
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2015
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2016
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2015
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
R. Torres
The game is good.
Reviewed in Canada on October 24, 2019Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Aldo Peña Lopez
Excelente juego, de lo mejor que hay en PS4.
Reviewed in Mexico on April 21, 2016Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
GamerGod
Game was not as advertised.
Reviewed in Canada on July 29, 2021Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Cliente de Amazon
No es edición Day one
Reviewed in Mexico on December 22, 2020Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Julio C. Fernández
Excelente producto.
Reviewed in Mexico on January 17, 2016Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
