Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

Genre: RPG
Developer: Square Enix
Platform: Nintendo DS
Release: 2010
Rating: E10+

- Graphics -

An impeccable demonstration of the DS's graphic capabilities: Anime-style cutscenes (drawn by Akira Toriyama, as the series is well-known for), incredibly detailed 3D environments, and yet the developers knew where it was okay to cut corners: You'll notice many NPC characters are, in fact, 2D sprites, as the environments were so large that adding any more polygons could cause severe lag. Some lag is already noticeable on the overworld when you have 3-4 characters in your party and several enemies are on the screen (which were always 3D models, as opposed to sprites).

Graphics: 10/10


- Story -

I am not familiar with the other games in the Dragon Quest series, but I do know that the plots are generally fairly silly and should generally not be taken too seriously. DQIX definitely lived up to this, though I must admit I'm not a fan of the style. Was good for what it was.

Story: 7/10


- Gameplay -

There were several gameplay elements I found very odd. Firstly, the player is forced to start as the minstrel class, and is not allowed to switch until about a third of the way through the game. The Luminary class is also virtually useless, from what I've been told. It's the last class you will ever unlock (unless you're purposely ignoring the much easier ones to unlock), and requires hours and hours of luck and patience to do so (I personally have not yet accomplished this task). Another strange point is the ability to have full customization over your party members: Appearance, skills, class, gear, name, everything. This creates so many possibilities it becomes overwhelming to the player.

I was, however, lucky enough to also be able to experience the multiplayer with a full party: truly the best non-PC multiplayer RPG experience you will ever find as of this game's release. Up to four players can convene in one person's game for a full party, but it doesn't stop there: Each person has free reign over the world, with the exception of plot-advancement. If the player who's game you're in is not the one to talk to certain NPC's, they will use a different line of dialogue until that player talks to them. Players who were goofing off across the world or being jerks and trying to steal all the items on the ground could be called to battle by other players from anywhere in the world. This was particularly useful for bosses: I once showed up late for our meeting and my team could instantly summon me to help with the boss they were fighting. The only downside is the inability to play over wifi, but considering there is too much communication generally required for not-being-in-the-same-room, and the strain a game like this would put on networks to run smoothly, I can understand the decision.

Gameplay: 7/10 (10/10 for multiplayer)


- Music -

I don't even understand how this music is so catchy, because it's certainly not your traditional catchy-game-music. However, I've got at least three tracks stuck in my head at this very moment! The Observatory also has one of the most gorgeous tracks I've ever heard in a game.

Music: 9/10


Total Score: 8 to 9/10

Not available for other systems.

Animal Crossing

Genre: Simulation
Developer: Nintendo
Platform: Gamecube
Release: 2002
Rating: E

- Graphics -

I understand that this is a remake of a Japan-only title for the N64, but the lack of any sort of upgrade to the graphics aside from anti-aliasing is a bit disheartening. The gamecube is capable of so much more-- They could have at least smoothed out the textures a bit! Definitely not a shining point as a gamecube graphics example.

I do admit that the cel-shading and cartoon-proportions work great for the game... though why not have the cel-shading be done by the renderer, not the textures? The gamecube was proven capable of this in the same year with Wind Waker, so it's certainly not impossible.

Graphics: 1/10


- Story -

N/A

Story: --/10


- Gameplay -

Addictions galore! A bit disappointing that it's impossible to share your town online, but I was able to play with a friend by passing the game back and forth each week. It was actually really fun living in the same town, and that was certainly a huge bonus. So much to do, and yet the game pretty much forces you to stop playing and rest. An ingenious way to get players hooked, but make them still rest: make the shops close at a certain time. Once that happens, not much left to do for the day... now I'll go to bed and log in again tomorrow to reap my rewards!

Gameplay: 8/10


- Music -

A bit repetitive, but catchy, and a huge variety considering the 50-something KK-tunes, and the 24 different town themes--Wait! Make that 72, because each theme varies depending on rain, sun, or snow! Then of course there are the different shop themes and event music-- I can't even count it all!

Music: 7/10


Total Score: 5/10

Also available for Nintendo 64 (Japan only)