Well, I'm done with Dragon Quest Heroes on PS4 for a while. Banner Saga is out this week and I want to get on that. It's been a few years since it hit PC. Finally I'll get to play it on a console. I can't wait.
It's a crowded battlefield most of the time.
I think, after 16 hours in DQH, I got to a major crossroad in the story that begins another section of the game. I'd like to say I was halfway through it, but I think not. I cleared the current world map of monsters, but there could always be more. One thing that tells me I'm not even a quarter through is I just got a boost to my Tension meter that gives me 20 extra levels of damage, however, the creature that trains you suggests you might get to 100 extra levels. So maybe I'm only 1/5th through. It would make sense since the DQ games are always really long. Anyway, I have more to do when I come back to it.
What I played I really liked. It's mostly like a straight RPG, only with real-time battles. There's everything that you find in a normal DQ game, only it's pretty streamlined and easy to comprehend. You always have a hub, or base, from which you can upgrade equipment and get quests. Then you go battle monsters in various locations on the map. Each location is a smallish environment (compared to open world games) you have to clear. I guess one thing it doesn't have much of is exploration. There are a few chests around and vases to break, but mostly you get your stuff from monster drops. So the world feels like a collection of battle arenas where it's nonstop action, then you return to base. Rinse and repeat. It is neat to see all the monster types from the games though. Akira Toriyama's monster design is delightful.
You run with a four person party even though you gain quite a few characters from the DQ games over time. I moved some characters around from time to time (I had to add Bianca because she's an archer, and I love archers) but mostly focused on Luceus. You can quickly switch to any of your four characters in battle though, if you like doing that. The few times I got knocked down, I had to play as one of my other characters, but I just ran them over to my guy and picked him back up. I just wanted to focus on one character. But the game does make you equip and choose skills for each of your characters as they level. I eventually, grudgingly, paid attention to them.
I really liked the monster coin mechanic in the game. Once you beat an enemy, sometimes a coin will appear. If you pick it up, you can now summon that creature to fight for you. This is a critical strategy in areas where you have to protect something while you run off to close down a monster gate. I had fun grabbing the biggest foes I could find and them unleashing them as guards and just watch them fight it out. You can't watch too long though. Those beasties always manage to sneak around them sometimes.
I have to say, I really enjoyed this game. It did seem a bit easy, but sometimes a boss would make me think a bit. I think I'll hold on to this game and not trade it in. I'd like to go back to it for some more when I have time.
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Like I said, if I had a PS4, Dragon Quest Heroes would be one of the games I would consider getting for it. I saw a demo of it at the game store the other day.
The game controls really well. There is button mashing, but not as much as you might think. Each character has three attack skills, then there's your special when your tension meter maxes out, and then there is dodging and blocks. That's a lot of variety.
This game is definitely on my list of games to get if I ever get a PS4, it looks so good.
It does look good. I was a touch disapointed that crafted accessories don't appear on your character. But weapons and shields do, and you pick up new sets of clothing too.
I don't rfeally play JRPGs due to sucking at them, but I gravitate towards easy ones. You beat this one quick.
I didn't beat it, just got to a major turn in the story that made a good place to stop for now. And yes, this one isn't very hard or mentally taxing with loads of stats and items. I mean, there's some stuff to make in the alchemical pot, but it's a managable list of recipes.
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No matter how many times I see this bullshit, I keep wishing it were true.
Do want. But I have so many expenses right now I can't get a PS4 or upgrade my PC.
Huh, it was also out for PS3 and Windows. I kinda wish it came out for Wii-U as well. It's cartoony style seems well suited for that system, and I might have bought one for this game.
I was going to message you about Banner Saga, but I guess you've already heard about it. I keep meaning to get back to it, whether on PC or iPad, but I keep getting distracted. It is a truly lovely game, even if the battle system is a little thin compared to classics of the genre. But the storytelling and art is wondrous.
I was really excited about the art style when it first came out.
The main story of the game is not super long, the side quests and other things to do make it way longer for sure. But some of the side missions are harder than the actual main story in my opinion.
Also its super fun when the monsters get even harder....it made have to go level grind lol
Maybe I'm nearer the end than I think. I've been doing all the side quests. There's those boss battle rehash battles and then all the collection quests. Sometimes I had to jump around from town to town to find the one that had the monster I was looking for. I wished for a note in the monster descriptions telling you where they occur. It didn't matter much though, because I found them all pretty quickly.
As interesting as the game sounds, I know the actual gameplay isn't my thing. Good to read that you enjoyed the game.
Yea, it's mostly just running around slashing the heck out of hoards of baddies with some light RPG equipment tweeking and crafting. It threatened to bore me several times but I kept going.