Board 8 > Herein lies a list of 20 video games that may or may not be the best ever! Pt. 2

(+) Yeah! (+)

No, you really can:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/snes/588284-donkey-kong-country-3-dixie-kongs-double-trouble/cheats
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Team Rocket Elite posted...

No, you really can:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/snes/588284-donkey-kong-country-3-dixie-kongs-double-trouble/cheats

Those are the bonus coins. You need the other ones in order to get all of the banana birds and awaken the BANANA BIRD QUEEN to get the full ending.
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Oh, I forgot about those. I was just thinking about unlocking the final levels but that isn't sufficient for the true end.
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Nelson_Mandela posted...

Those are the bonus coins. You need the other ones in order to get all of the banana birds and awaken the BANANA BIRD QUEEN to get the full ending.

If there is any reason to poo poo all over DKC3, its those forsaken Banana Birds. Thats doing 1080s all over a pit of sharksa true sign of the monster to come in Donkey Kong 64. We still need an actual, fully realized 3D Donkey Kong.

3 | Dragon Quest V (DS)

Does it still count as a SNES game if its a remake based on another remake OF a SNES game? Im calling this one a loophole! Also, it was my first real, and best, experience with DQV, so DS it isits also the only way to legitimately play in English.

Anyway, more Dragon Quest, my favorite RPG series of all!

Dragon Quest VII was structured around small vignettes about seemingly no one special, and that has its own appeal to me, but Dragon Quest V? DQV opts instead for a very personal story, and journey, of the main character.

Like all main characters (maybe like all the BEST main characters, hoho), he is completely silent, no real dialogue to speak of, but his emotional, and physical, journey over the course of the game is anything but what you might assume. Far from a characterless avatar, hes the main draw of the story. Its a rare video game explores a character so fully as to see their birth all the way through maturity, and into parenthood, but thats the sort of experience DQV gives you. The Hero makes friends, enemies, gets married and even has kids that can join you in battle! No other DQ game is so focused on fully exploring a single characters existence.

Thats where it so strongly resonates with me! Its very intimate and personal, its about one persons experience and life, his development and growth, his sacrifices and tribulations, and the emotional toil that comes with all of it. There are highs and lows, victories and defeats, and every step of the way you feel part of journey. Its a story that gets better as you age, too, because of the themes it explores. Dragon Quest V resonates stronger today for anyone whos in their mid-to-late 20s or 30s than someone first playing it as a teenager. Its powerful!

Even with all the cinematic flair of small sprites that walk in place, there is a moment in DQV that affected me in a way few video games have. Were talking Aeris levels of spoiler, only with a way stronger emotional gut punch and a kind of heartbreak that I am still not overall in a context that I cant remember many other games using.

It might seem strange, to be espousing a Dragon Quest game almost exclusively on its narrative and silent main character, but thats how GOOD it is! To be sure, the usual Dragon Quest hooks of leveling up, hearing that addictive jingle, the fast and fun turn-based battle system are all here in top form. There is even a monster catching component very similar to what would later become Pokmon, and Dragon Quest Monsters!

When I think about the best RPG, Dragon Quest V has all my bases covered. I love to play it almost as much as I love revisiting its story. If EarthBound came with caveats about being a mid-90s RPG, DQVs DS version has no such warnings. I would recommend it to anyone that could get their hands on it. Provided you dont exclusively play the latest Final Fantasy games, this should be in everyones library for a rainy day.

bzzt
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fun fact, the best version of DQ5 is the PS2 version
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The PS2 version is way better than the SNES original, no doubt, but the DS game has all those good changes, plus a few more, and portable!

Portability is king around these parts, yknow.

heroicmario posted...

but the DS game has all those good changes, plus a few more, and portable!

The PS2 version has a full orchestral soundtrack and runs on a different engine.

If we're talking portability, phones is the way to go
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https://hg101.kontek.net/dragonquest/dq5ps2-1.jpg
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/detail-page/B001NJMMHG.02.lg.jpg

Give me those colorful sprites, those isometric angles! But really, I just meant that the DS has the extra party members, the increased monstersand it even has another bride option that no one could possibly want!

Im not anti-mobile by any means, but playing console-esque games on a phone is always a struggle for me. I like those quick, pop in-pop out experiences rather than something to dive deep into for extended periods of time.

heroicmario posted...

Does it still count as a SNES game if its a remake based on another remake OF a SNES game?

Yes
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so much for no more rpgs huh
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heroicmario posted...

I like those quick, pop in-pop out experiences rather than something to dive deep into for extended periods of time

then why do you like the DS version
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I did smile when I saw you made that prediction! The good news is that NOW there are no RPGs, here at the very end.

I thought this was next. I make fun of DQ7 but that one's a lot easier to mock with its length and whatnot -- my strongest negative DQ opinion is that DQ5 is not anything close to special, with the exception of that one scene.
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iiicon posted...

then why do you like the DS version

It has its own, non-essential, battery that it eats through and it doesnt have a giant joystick on the screen. Did they fix the sprites by DQ5? DQ1, maybe 3, had some awful sprite filter stretching or something.

Anyway, most importantlywho has a Japanese PS2 hooked up with a Japanese copy of DQ5 at the ready?

Earth bound, man.

I don't hate it but I think I agree with HM's take on it from that 4/10 review more than this one.

And I grew up on those archaic RPGs the menus and combat system are designed around so it ain't that. What it's missing compared to those games is that the world is a lot less fun to just explore-- lacks the feeling of mystery and scale that something like Dragon Warrior or Final Fantasy has. It's basically a (relatively) modern styled RPG with an archaic coat of paint on it which is kinda the worst way I think.

Hard to really get into the plot either cause the game is never taking itself even a little seriously-- more balanced writing would have helped it a lot I think. I actually like the style it has but pulling it back a bit more than like twice in the game would be nice.
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honestly, i think if you dislike any dragon quest between 3 and 8 i question why you even like dragon quest to begin with.

heroicmario posted...

Anyway, most importantlywho has a Japanese PS2 hooked up with a Japanese copy of DQ5 at the ready?

i am currently posting on my japanese ps2
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they're fine games. they're just not special. 3 and 8 are special, 4 is close and 6 is pretty good.
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5 is 8 with a more personal story told with better presentation in a third of the time. there's no question why it resonates.
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I don't hype it up as much as VI and VII (because those two are super underrated), but Dragon Quest V is a really fantastic game. It's typically the one I'll recommend to people to get them into the series because it has a pretty universal appeal.

As far as mobile goes I actually did recently replay I and II on iOS, and they played surprisingly well! That said, phone battery life is a precious commodity whereas 3DS battery life is not.
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I played the iOS versions of I and III and they were both really good.
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Fuck mobile gaming. Yuck.
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i don't like the mobile versions of 1 + 2 because the sprites are kinda junk, but there's something to be said about having pretty good mobile versions of dq1-6 with me at all times. it's way better than final fantasy games on mobile, which depending on the game is a real monkey paw situation
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dq1 mobile's translation is something else, man.
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WotL is fine on mobile.
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ate my pu
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(squeak)
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i just realized how ugly the word squeak is
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redrocket_pub posted...

WotL is fine on mobile.

I will actually agree with this just because the PSP version runs at like 10fps. But only on an iPad mini or small tablet.
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FFT is a great mobile port. there's also no direct movement in that game which helps.
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It may not be as widespread, but I would consider DQ5 way more special than DQ8. DQ8 is good and all, but its standard fare with a modern presentationthats what really elevates it, along with being peoples first or lapsed experience with DQ. To me, DQ5 stands out as unique because of its narrative, and then shines with classic DQ gameplay. Im not sure I would give DQ8 any leg up over DQ5, really.

Lopen posted...

I grew up on those archaic RPGs the menus and combat system are designed around so it ain't that. What it's missing compared to those games is that the world is a lot less fun to just explore-- lacks the feeling of mystery and scale that something like Dragon Warrior or Final Fantasy has. It's basically a (relatively) modern styled RPG with an archaic coat of paint on it which is kinda the worst way I think.

Hard to really get into the plot either cause the game is never taking itself even a little seriously-- more balanced writing would have helped it a lot I think. I actually like the style it has but pulling it back a bit more than like twice in the game would be nice.

Youre right that EarthBound lacks the mystery of Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy, but I think it makes up for, in some ways, with how quirky and weird the locations get. Theres basically a town dedicated to a cult of happy blue people, or Threed being a ghost town in more than one sense. Its familiar, modern, but twisted in a crazy way. Thats why I like it, anyway!

more Dragon Quest talk huh

zzzzz
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i guess dq5 would be the most likely to be played by me, since it's on ds and highly regarded

5 more stages + wily first tho
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many Dragon Quest games are on the DS and are highly regarded
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You can play four mainline DQ games on the DS and six on the 3DS! (Soon to be seven)
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LordoftheMorons posted...

(Soon to be seven)

optimistic
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I really wish Nintendo would bring the 3DS version of DQXI over. I think it looks more appealing as both a 3D game, and it has the 2D sprite mode! My hopes are not high for anything but the Switch version.

Speaking of which, have we seen anything about the Switch version yet?

iiicon posted...

awe in its beauty:

What kind of phone are you sportin?

Also, is that the Pocket Edition of FFXV I see? A true super fan.

samsung s8+

heroicmario posted...

Also, is that the Pocket Edition of FFXV I see? A true super fan.

please, help me, i am very sick
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I may have met my match in the FFXV fandom

seems like every day icon is making an FFXV topic
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I think 5 is probably the most liked DQ game among big fans. I wouldn't say it's overshadowed by DQ8 -- the only difference here is that DQ8 is the only one with a modern look and it came with the FF12 demo which exposed it to a lot more people. oh, and it came out here on time. but amongst true fans, 5 and 8 are on par at worst.

I don't think 8 is standard fare though. that feels a little dismissive. it certainly isn't within the DQ series.
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Haha, yeah, that was kind of harsh, Ill admit.

I think DQ8 has a nice castreally memorable and colorfulbut theres so much about the game that I would have a hard time revisiting. That slow paced battle system, and infinite time grind, are some real barries to entry for me. I dont DISLIKE DQ8, but its probably not a top 5 DQ at this point, or just barely slipping through!

not a top 5 dq game what am I reading
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I am a lover of the original Dragon Quest.

7 > 6 > 5 > 8 > 4 > 3 > 9 > 2 > 1 imo

(Probably need to replay 3 and 9 to be sure of their placements)
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Dragon Quest rankings seem to be even more inconsistent than FF ones.
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5 > 7 > 3 > 4 > 1 > 8 > 6 > 9 > 2 is how I would go, I think.

9 is a fantastic game