PixlBit

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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