Dragon Quest

Dragon Quest is a series of games created by Enix, now Square Enix. It is in competition with the Final Fantasy game series. It has graced the MSX, NES, SNES, Gameboy Color, Playstation, Playstation 2, and cellular phone.

The series is very popular in Japan, to the point that queues of people wishing to buy the game could be seen at shops days before the release. As this included children, who skipped school so they could queue for the game, the Japanese Diet passed a bill outlawing the release of Dragon Quest games on days other than a Sunday or a holiday - the fourth, fifth, and sixth installments were released in Japan on holidays. The seventh installment is the first Dragon Quest game to be released in Japan on a Sunday.

Dragon Quest is called Dragon Warrior in North America, but is not nearly as successful there, having been eclipsed by the Final Fantasy series. None of the games had a European release, and the Final Fantasy series also has a stronghold in Europe. Dragon Warrior VIII likely will be released in Europe.

Unlike Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest is to feature cartoonish ("cel shaded") graphics if it goes new school. Dragon Quest VIII would be the series's first new school installment. Dragon Quest's soundtracks rival those of Final Fantasy.

Table of contents

1 Dragon Quest I 2 Dragon Quest II 3 Dragon Quest III

Dragon Quest I

Dragon Quest I was originally developed for the MSX computer system and later ported to a less advanced system, the NES. It originally required passwords. The password feature was replaced by the save feature on the Dragon Warrior version. It was remade for the SNES alongside Dragon Quest II, combined into a two-in-one package. The SNES versions of Dragon Quest I and II were marketed exclusively in Japan, due to the absence of Enix of America. They were ported to GBC and then released in North America. The GBC version did not sell well in North America. However, the SNES versions have been unofficially translated into English and Spanish by an online translation firm called RPG-One. There are two versions of the Dragon Quest I and II SNES fan translation, the DQ version and DW version. The former is a straight Japanese-to-English translation. The latter is based on the Dragon Warrior NES translations of Dragon Quest I and II. RPG-One also translated the GBC versions into Spanish. Dragon Quest I takes place in Alefgard and puts the player in the shoes of a descendant of the legendary Erdrick (or Roto in Japanese releases), i.e. Dave or Eiyuu. Eiyuu was to save Alefgard from the clutches of Dragonlord (or DracoLord in U.S. GBC version) and his servants. Gwaelin (or Lora in U.S. GBC version), the princess of Tantegel (or Radatoma in Japanese releases), daughter of King Lorik (or Lars), was captured by servants of DracoLord. First Eiyuu rescues her, then he defeats Dragonlord. Many of Eiyuu's friends were killed by Dragonlord's servants. Mercado (or Cantlin), guarded by Golem, has a graveyard for people who were killed by Dragonlord's servants.

Dragon Quest II

Like Dragon Quest I, Dragon Quest II was originally developed for the MSX and later ported to the NES, and it originally required passwords. The password feature was replaced with a save feature on the U.S. version. Dragon Quest II comes with Dragon Quest I in remakes. The NES version sold well, but the GBC version did not sell very well in North America, and it did not sell as well as its predecessor did. Dragon Quest II is the first game in the series to have more than one enemy fought in one battle. It is also the first game in the series to have more than one playable character and to have more than one save point. Dragon Quest II happens 100 years after Dragon Quest I. The object was to save Alefgard and its surrounding lands from the evil clutches of Hargon. The introduction begins in Moonbrooke castle ("Moonbrook" in the GBC version). Hargon's servants invade the Moonbrooke Castle and destroy it. They killed the King of Moonbrooke, but the Princess of Moonbrooke hid underground and then fled to a town nearby. A Moonbrooke soldier left to inform Midenhall Castle (or Lorasia in GBC version) about the conflict. The Prince of Midenhall, hereafter, known as the Dragon Quest II Hero, begins the quest from Midenhall and travels to Leftwyne then to Cannock. The Prince of Cannock meets with the Hero, for the Hero cannot travel near Moonbrooke by himself. After the Princess of Moonbrooke joins along with them, the plot requires them to visit Alefgard, the land where Dragon Quest I takes place.

Dragon Quest III

Dragon Quest III was originally developed for the NES, released in Japan in 1988, and released in North America in 1991. This was the time Japanese Congress, the Diet passed a law restricting the release of Dragon Quest games to Sundays and holidays. The law went into effect after Dragon Quest III. It was remade for the SNES in 1996, but the SNES remake was marketed exclusively in Japan, and the NES was already out of production in North America. For this reason, Enix of America was closed at the time. However, it has unofficially translated into English by online translation groups called DeJap Translations and Illuminus. The GBC version is based on the SNES version, but it did not sell very well in North America. Many Dragon Quest fans chose to play the SNES version instead of the GBC version by imports or through emulation in the United States. Those who know the GBC version also know the SNES version that way. Dragon Quest III has a gender and class feature. The hero as well as companions can be male or female, but male is the actual gender of the hero. The classes are Hero, Warrior, Wizard, Cleric, Thief (SNES and GBC only), Fighter, Jester, and Sage. Jesters later become sages. Dragon Quest III also introduced the day and night feature, indicating the passing of time. Time passes when the hero walks in the world map. Some places are open only in the daytime, but some places are open only at night.

Dragon Quest III is the prequel to Dragon Quest I. It tells of the legend of Erdrick. It begins in the Kingdom of Aliahan. The first world of Dragon Quest III looks similar to the real world. Erdrick must save the world from the evil clutches of Zoma and Baramos. The hero is dubbed Erdrick at the end of the game on the American NES version and the SNES fan translation, and dubbed Loto on the American Gameboy Color version. He is dubbed Roto in the Japanese releases.