Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King Critic Reviews

DQ8 is the epitome and ultimate maturation of traditional role-playing, nothing more, nothing less.

Sure, the story may be a little weak, but that doesn't stop Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King from being among the best, not to mention most polished, role-playing games of the generation. If you’re at all a fan of the genre, don’t miss it.

This game stays truer to its roots than any other currently surviving hit game series from the 80s, and it's all the better for it; it shows us that radical rethinking isn't always the key -- that developers can preserve the look, feel, and soul of a series across decades.

Thanks to careful balancing, rewarding pacing, and an excellent translation, Dragon Quest VIII is one of those rare games that's more than the sum of its parts.

The ease of play and deep gaming experience are a perfect blend for whiling away far too many hours, and marathon sessions with this game are going to be commonplace. It is just really hard to put down.

10 / 9 / 10 / 10 - 39 platinum

In its elegant simplicity DQVIII comes together as one damn near flawless RPG that exemplifies superb game design, narrative work and presentation all in one sweeping stroke.

But those willing to give it a chance will find the best role playing GAME -- emphasis on the game part -- they've played in a long time. It might just be enough to make a fan out of you.

The reason I know Dragon Quest VIII is 90 hours long is because that was my time when I finished it. It's that good.

Just an extremely enjoyable, beautiful, nostalgic, and engaging RPG for the PlayStation 2. This charming, atmospheric RPG is not to be missed.

There's also a powerful shot of nostalgia for folks who grew up on NES "Dragon Warrior," as the menus are patterned after that style - and yet as usable and slick as anything you'll find in an RPG. All told, Dragon Quest VIII is one of those rare games that can be fairly called a masterpiece.

Dragon Quest hits every check-mark on the list: it looks and sounds great, plays well, and tells a heart-warming and comical story that is never heavy-handed and is always enjoyable.

This was absolutely worth waiting for, and credit must be given to Squenix for releasing a game that bravely sticks to its guns in the face of all these ridiculously complex additions to the formula that Dragon Quest got right all along.

You can’t go wrong with a game that’s got beauty, personality, and fun, and Dragon Quest VIII has all these in abundance.

Dragon Quest VIII succeeds brilliantly by taking time-tested traditional-RPG gameplay and placing it in a uniquely vast and beautiful world that is a pure joy to explore and inhabit.

Dragon Quest VIII may not revolutionize the console RPG genre, but it has done one thing that all the older RPGs have strived to be: it has become the greatest classic RPG experience of all time.

One of my favorite games of the year. Great graphics, storyline, characters, gameplay, controls and polish, this is simply a fantastic title. I have not been this addicted to a Dragon Warrior (Quest) game since the original on the NES.

The game’s presentation is second to none, and serves as a new benchmark for role-playing games in general.

Dragon Quest VIII's world flows. It moves. It's utterly huge. It reminds one of "Zelda: Ocarina of Time" on a "Grand Theft Auto" scale. It is an adventure. It's possible to get hopelessly lost in mountain paths, or on tributaries in rivers that dissect giant continents with no place to land a boat outside of a shady hidden casino in the rocks.

The blend of cel-shading with the more realistic, yet light-hearted, world works really well.