Gamertell

Title: Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Price: $39.99
System(s): DS
Release Date: February 17, 2009
Publisher (Developer): Square Enix (ArtePiazza)
ESRB Rating: “Everyone 10+” for Alcohol Reference, Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes and Simulated Gambling
Pros: Wonderful characters, fantastic story, plenty of recruitable monsters, fun mini-games, interesting knick-knack creating/sharing element and some replay value since there are three possible brides.
Cons: Sancho’s dialect and dialogue could be considered insulting. More challenging than the previous game, so prepare to spend substantial amounts of time level grinding. No quick saving in dungeons.
Overall Score: Two thumbs up, 95/100, A, * * * * 1/2 out of 5

I know I should be thinking of Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride as a remake, but it’s impossible. The original game was never released outside of Japan, and neither was the PS2 remake. So instead of feeling like some rehash, it comes across as an entirely new, and wonderful, property.

The most striking part of Dragon Quest V is how realistic it is. Well, you know, for a fantasy game set in a medieval world populated with monsters and other mystical creatures. Instead of having some young kid set out to save the world in one grand adventure, you’re instead looking at the life of a warrior over a substantial period of time. You grow attached to your character, his family and their struggles - a rarity in games.

An lifelong adventure.

Players begin Dragon Quest V as the son of a fairly famous warrior named Pankraz. Pankraz has venturing throughout the world for as long as his son has been alive, searching for something. You don’t learn what, exactly, Pankraz was looking for until at least five hours into the game. Until then, you get into some relatively minor adventures like banishing monsters from an abandoned castle so the ghosts there can rest in peace and some neighborhood kids will stop bothering a cat or venturing into the fairy realm to retrieve an enchanted instrument. Typical quests for a future, world-saving hero.

It isn’t until the main character grows up that the world-saving elements come into play. Once the main character comes of age, he must take up his father’s quest. Along the way, he’ll be joined not only by monsters he can befriend, but also by his family. It’s only with their help that the world has any hope of salvation.

Prepare yourself - DQV is a force to be reckoned with.

Dragon Quest V isn’t for beginners or impatient gamers. The game isn’t going to always hold your hand and tell you exactly where to go and what to do. You’re going to need to experiment and explore on your own. Level grinding is a mandatory endeavor as well. If you don’t, the local boss is going to beat you up and send you all the way to the last church with half your money. Not fun. You’re going to have to save at every town, quick save outside the entrance to every dungeon and take your time.

The good news is, DQV is worth every moment spent leveling up the main character, trying to recruit a specific monster or metal slime farming. It’s a fantastic game that you could probably spend an entire month savoring.

Only one person mars the experience - Sancho. Sancho is Pankraz’ man-in-waiting/sidekick. It isn’t that he’s a bad person, or really a bad character. It’s the dialogue localization. As those familiar with Dragon Quest IV will know, Square Enix is using dialects in the DQ DS remakes. Sancho has a Mexican/Spanish dialect. Instead of sounding authentic, it comes across as insulting. I know it isn’t intentional, but I loathe talking to the character all the same.

A memorable, legendary story.

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride is, hands down, going to be one of the blockbuster DS games of 2009. It has everything - a well-crafted story, lots of character interaction, party customization, gorgeous sprites and graphics, mini-games and collection elements. Square Enix fans will be more than pleased with the company’s latest release.

After all, how often does a company decide to localize and release what has long been a Japan-only game in other regions. DQV is a fantastic opportunity for gamers to experience a classic game and proves that older games can have the same sparkle and sensational qualities as new releases.

Just try to avoid talking to Sancho.

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