Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen | 
| From: Square Enix
List Price: $39.99
Buy New: $35.95
You Save: $4.04 (10%)
New (18) Used (4) from $34.00
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 241
Platform: Nintendo Ds
Genre: role_playing_games
ESRB: Everyone 10+
Media: Video Game
Batteries Included: No
Operating System: Nintendo DS
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0 x 0
MPN: 90813
Model: 90813
UPC: 400009416572
EAN: 0662248908137
ASIN: B001AF1NVY
Release Date: September 16, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Features:
| • | Embark on a journey to explore the land, seas and skies of the DRAGON QUEST universe in this grand entry from the Zenithia Trilogy. Soon to follow are DQ V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride and DQ VI: Realms of Reverie, never before released in North America | | • | Indulge in the colorful DRAGON QUEST world created by Yuji Horii, combined with the charming characters and monsters designed by Akira Toriyama and memorable soundtrack from famed composer Koichi Sugiyama to create an unforgettable gaming experience | | • | Experience the world of DRAGON QUEST through the perspectives of multiple characters with a unique, chapter-driven storyline while you journey through a beautifully rendered 3D world, with dynamic dual screen presentation and newly animated monsters | | • | Enjoy an all-new English translation that incorporates 13 known dialects from around the globe, bringing the diverse world and characters of DRAGON QUEST to life | | • | Unravel the ancient mystery behind a cursed kingdom by expanding your town via Chance Encounter mode, available through local wireless connection |
|
| Accessories:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
In a far-off land, a group of disparate individuals soon will come together to embark on a journey they never could have imagined. Among them are two sisters seeking to avenge their father's death, a merchant longing to open his own shop, a princess desiring to test her skills outside the palace walls and a respected army captain. As the hero of this compelling tale, you will join these seemingly unrelated companions for an incredible adventure. Battles, mysteries and an engaging cast of characters await as you take off on an epic journey. | Dragon Quest IV Features - Embark on a journey to explore the land, seas and skies of the DRAGON QUEST universe in this grand entry from the Zenithia Trilogy. Soon to follow are DQ V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride and DQ VI: Realms of Reverie, never before released in North America
- Indulge in the colorful DRAGON QUEST world created by Yuji Horii, combined with the charming characters and monsters designed by Akira Toriyama and memorable soundtrack from famed composer Koichi Sugiyama to create an unforgettable gaming experience
- Experience the world of DRAGON QUEST through the perspectives of multiple characters with a unique, chapter-driven storyline while you journey through a beautifully rendered 3D world, with dynamic dual screen presentation and newly animated monsters
- Enjoy an all-new English translation that incorporates 13 known dialects from around the globe, bringing the diverse world and characters of DRAGON QUEST to life
- Unravel the ancient mystery behind a cursed kingdom by expanding your town via Chance Encounter mode, available through local wireless connection
Exclusive to the Nintendo DSWith Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen, a full-fledged Dragon Quest adventure comes to Nintendo DS for the first time. The talents of series creator Yuji Horii, world-famous manga artist Akira Toriyama and renowned composer Koichi Sugiyama combine in this thrilling, chapter-driven tale that preserves all the beloved charm of the original game while infusing it with additional excitement with incredible 3D graphics, dual-screen presentation and newly animated monsters. Multiple character perspectives bring the game to life as you explore a fantastic, dazzlingly rendered world filled with adventure and surprises. | 
 |  |
Product Description
A prestigious army captain, an adventurous princess seeking to test her skills beyond palace walls, a humble merchant aspiring to open his own shop, and two sisters who wish to avenge their father's death? These seemingly unrelated individuals will soon cross paths when fate brings them together to journey alongside you, the hero. Dive into this unique adventure, and discover an epic tale told through the experiences and emotions of characters from all walks of life. Experience an adventure of epic proportions, presented through a unique portrayal of multiple character perspectives. While retaining the classic look and feel of the original release, this remake breathes new life into a much-loved entry in the DRAGON QUEST series with 3D graphics, dual screen presentation and newly animated monsters.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 A legend. Long overdue. September 19, 2008
M.D.C. (San Diego, CA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
UPDATED 10/5
OK.
I'm figuring you, the reader, are in one of three categories:
A: A "newbie" who never played this game, either because it came out before you were born or you skipped it because you were too busy playing Mortal Kombat and Virtua Cop.
B: A non-RPG'er who got converted sometime in the past, and now is trying to make up for lost time.
C: Someone who played the original, and want to know if this game fits the bill.
I'll be as detailed as I can for all of you.
First, Dragon Warrior is indeed the 4th in the series, however it is the first in a trilogy called the Zenithia Trilogy. Part 4 we received stateside way back years ago on the NES. We never got parts 5 and 6; in my opinion, neither really had the appeal of part 4. This one attempts to tell a story the way I feel a story should be told: introduce each core character separately, as 'chapters', then bring them all together and finish on a strong note. IF you've ever played Phantasy Star III, it's kind of the same thing, only these peeps aren't related to one another. Note that when you beat Chapter 5, there is an additional Chapter which you must save after the credits and load to get access to. The NES version had no such additional Chapter.
Sometime in the late 90's-early 2k, Enix announced it was remaking Part 4 on the PlayStation. Needless to say, fans were absolutely ecstatic. It released in Japan, and it was like the world had ended...mobs of people picking up the game. Shortly before its US release date...Enix announced that we were not getting it due to what they claimed was the lack of ability to work with the translation and code. Needless to say, fans were absolutely irate. It wasn't pretty, trust me.
Now, here we are, almost a decade later. The reason I told you the background, is that this is the exact same game as the PlayStation version. That's important, because if you're expecting some touch screen controls to navigate, you'll be sorely disappointed. "Port" is a perfect word for this. If you're the kind of person who doesn't care, great. Keep reading....
Your first task is Ragnar. He's a soldier in a kingdom where the children seem to have gone missing. It's up to you to find them...and to help a creature in need. Next is the tomboy princess Alena, who along with her companions wants to be free from the burdens of being royalty, and prove herself in the tournament. Next up is "Torneko" (more on why I quoted that later), who is on a quest to be the world's greatest merchant. Rounding out the crew is "Maya" and "Meena", twin sisters who are trying to solve their father's murder, and lastly, your hero, where you'll meet up with all of the previously named and embark on the final quest.
If you've played the original, you've played this one; there are few differences in the core gameplay. Of note is the now-common addition of the Tiny Medal sidequest to the game. Find enough and you'll be rewarded with various specialty items. There is one very unexpected change...in the NES version, during the final chapter, you only had control over the Hero, none of your party members. In this version, you can control everyone individually. The auto control wasn't really a big issue except at the last boss, because Brey (more on why you're just now hearing that name later) would always cast that ice spell on him which did almost no damage instead of using Bikill which would have resulted in an easy win. There were ways around this, but still, it was annoying.
The music is now orchestrated, and tracks that you may remember from the NES version make quite the triumphant return. It's immediately evident that at the time, it would have stood out in a lot of people's eyes had we gotten it stateside.
Graphically, the game looks way dated; almost a mirror image of Dragon Quest VII, if you ever bothered to play that game (I did, never beat it). It uses a 3D environment, and 2D sprites stretched to 3D (but still 2D when you look directly at them). Pixels abound, and small things are a little difficult to see, but not too much.
You can see pictures for the weapons, armor and items! This is a great thing for me. I used to love looking at the pictures of the things as I equipped them, from the instruction book. After a point you had no picture to reference, and you were left wondering what certain weapons looked like. Now you can see them in the game, and it's pretty cool. Also, the shop tells you in advance what sell price you can get for your stuff before you sell it, so you don't have to pick each one and guess. Major improvement; that annoyed me before.
Now, for the complaints. And there are a few - mind you, I'm an old school gamer, and Dragon Quest IV was designed with me in mind; I've never played a more enthralling RPG in my life, not even the mighty Chrono Trigger.
- Game is TOO EASY. I don't know what happened, but in Ragnar's scenario in particular, I distinctly recall it being much more challenging; I even remember the minor strategy guide that was in the back of the book on the NES version. You needed to be at least level 3 or higher to go to the second town, like level 6 or something to go through the first true "dungeon", and then some higher levels to even stand a chance at the tower. I'm waxing through people like it's nothing, half trying. Plus with the items now scattered all over the place it negates you having to really grind for money to buy those healing herbs you needed; just break some jars.
- The dialogue was screwed up BIG time. I know a lot of people hated the Old English way of speaking before, but I much preferred it over this. I can barely understand anyone in some parts of the game. You've got Scottish speakers, slang speakers, etc. And what's worse is that the translators thought it'd be funny to purposely misspell certain words to "emphasize the accent". I find it just way too hard to understand what they're saying. Stuff like "I dinnae kno any wee bit o path up the hill". Come on now.
- Names were changed; detracts from the nostalgia. Ragnar did not have a last name. Everyone else's first name was changed besides Alena. No "Brey", "Cristo", "Taloon" (I HATE the name Torneko), "Mara", or "Nara". I'd say more, but I'd spoil stuff.
- Creature names not true to the original. It's not "Bubble Slime", it's Babble. There are others, trust me. It really bothers me, I don't know why.
- They changed some of the Weapons/Armors. Not just the items themselves, but their locations and names. "Sword of Malice" is now "Cautery Sword". I can't tell you how much I hate the new name. "Malice" is automatically equated to pain. "Cautery" makes me think of a chef in a kitchen. Again, there are others. In the NES version you could buy all of the Metal Babble Equipment with the right key and enough cash; now you can buy the armor, but the helmet takes the development of a town that's otherwise useless, and I only found one shield. Just a couple of examples of butchering things that should have been left well enough alone.
In short: do I recommend it? Absolutely. But just know...this is old school at its finest. IF you can't handle a TRADITIONAL RPG, one that sticks to the basics as close as it can...skip this game, please.
Slime after Slime September 21, 2008
Kelly A. Ohlert (Philadelphia, PA USA)
5 out of 9 found this review helpful
I was fairly excited about this release. I tore the box open this week, ready and willing to relive hours upon hours of my wasted youth. I squeed with delight as the Dragon Quest theme began playing in all its tinny regal splendor. And then the game began.
Let me say, first and foremost, that I did enjoy playing Dragon Quest IV. Arte Piazza, the art directors from Dragon Quest VII, took the lead on this remake, and it shows. The refresh on the art is welcome, but not intrusive or overdone. Akira Toriyama's monster design is still charming and bright, including the bosses. The sound is a near-perfect translation of the original and still rings true after fifteen years. The problem is that most of the mechanics are also still the same after fifteen years, and they don't quite stand the test of time.
JRPGs are known for slow-paced combat, and DQ is the grandaddy of them all. Twelve year-old me had no problem with this, probably because I didn't know anything else. DQIV is turn-based, and forces you to go through several menus to choose exactly what everyone wants to do, every time. Unlike the recent re-release of Final Fantasy IV, there is no Auto-Attack option. This means is that early fights can take forever as you whittle down slime after slime.
Inventory is annoying. When I didn't know that only being able to hold eight items per person (plus one overflow bag) was an arbitrary difficulty modifier, it didn't bother me. Today, trying to stock up on Medicinal Herbs that don't stack and cannot be used except by the player who is holding them is nearly unforgiveable. This is particularly true in the early stages, when those herbs are your lifeline, and its a long way back to the save point.
Ah, yes, saving. Another "fun" DQ innovation. In DQ, you save by "confessing" at a church. That's it. No save points in dungeons, no way to port out and port back in, nothing. This means that if you trudged all the way out to some Light forsaken tower and spent two hours grinding through it just to die on the final boss, you are out of luck. Do it all again. This time with feeling. And mana regeneration? Forget it, until you can obtain items that will do restore your juice. So make those spells last. They're the only ones you've got.
Finally, level grinding. I'm a 4-year WoW player, so level grinding is nothing new to me. That being said, years of playing WoW and Final Fantasy games have conditioned me to expect that if I play through a game normally, entering dungeons and facing bosses in sequence as I meet them, I stand at least a fair chance of prevailing. Not so in DQ. Most of the time, if you try to take on a challenge as soon as you encounter it, you're going to die. End of story. Expect to wander around aimlessly looking for fights for at least an extra level, better two, beyond the level you are when you first encounter The Next Big Thing. Oh well, at least you make lots of gold, right? Wrong. Forget being able to get the latest and greatest gear available from each new town, at least at first. DQ is stingy with the money, and dungeons drops are rare. Be prepared to wander.
I knew all of this going into the game, though. I knew that there were things that were going to bug the heck out of me because I've come to expect more from my RPGs since 1992. That's why I still enjoyed DQIV so much.
The storyline is still fairly epic, even by today's standards. The characters have life, and feeling, and the localization teams have done their best to make each Chapter feel like it takes place in a completely different part of the game world. Even if this does lead to some horribly funny Japanese-to-Russianesque-to-Rusjapenglish in Chapter 2, it gives you the feeling that you are a large world with varied ethnicities and real danger.
My favorite Chapter is still 3, the tale of Mara and Nara, the dancer and the fortuneteller. As a kid, these ladies inspired me even more than warrior princess Alena. That part hasn't changed a bit. Fighting with clubs and daggers is de rigeur, but using fans, claws and cards as weapons is a blast. Grinding through the merchant quest still sucks, though.
I also have to give credit where credit is due. What little new stuff there is here really works. The DS two-screen approach offers a lot of screen real estate for this game. This is invaluable in dungeons because it lets you get a better sense of where you are going, and cuts down on the random lost roaming of the original. The towns look lovely, almost on par with Dragon Quest VII. There is an online Chance Encounter mode that allows you to expand your own town through Nintendo WiFi play. If you have other nostalgia-starved friends who pick this title up, you'll enjoy sharing your own little piece of Heaven with them.
All in all, I think Arte Piazza did a good job updating this classic for the modern era. I hope this brings a new generation of proto-geeks to DQ, and to the appreciation of substance over style (I'm looking at you, Final Fantasy X-2). I'm looking forward to the ports of Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride and Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie, the second and third titles in the so-called "Zenithia trilogy". Most Americans (including me) have never had the chance to play DQV and VI. DQV was released in Japan in July, so hopefully the U.S. release isn't far behind. Maybe they'll even evolve out some of the rough parts this time.
(From PlayingWithMyWeiner.com - gaming at the mercy of miniature daschunds.)
 Simply amazing September 21, 2008
Justin C. Harvey (Greer, SC)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
If you loved the old school rpgs from the nes and snes days then you'll love this game. As stated in other reviews, if you're a new gen gamer into awesome graphics and cut scenes with minimum strategy and storyline, then you may want to look somwhere else.
The other reviews pretty much hit it dead on so i'd just like to add a little more about the extra content that wasn't mentioned.
The original game consisted of 5 chapters and when you beat the Final boss in chapter five you completed the game. Now there are 6 chapters. After you beat the main game and finish the credits you can't start chapter 6. I don't want to spoil too much for you so i'll just say that there is an extra(and really long) dungeon with access to new items. There is also a mini game where you build your own village kind of like the one in DQVII. If you build your village to its maximum level, you will have access to some really strong items not found in the main story. There is also a secret character you can recruit. Again i won't spoil too much but this character is a powerhouse and an amazing addition to your entourage. Lastly, there is a new final boss, but you can only fight him with the addition of the secret character in your party.
I really think anyone could get into this game as long as they can get over the outdated graphics, but i think DQIV was already one of the best rpgs i've ever played, and the DS version perfected it in my opinion.
 Good game, but only 30 hours worth October 6, 2008
Spooky
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Like many previous reviewers, I grew up with Dragon Warrior and look forward to the newest Quest games. I'd been a little worried that a DS game would be simpler than a full release - and it is. This is a 30 hour game, and at $40, it just isn't worth it yet. It has great game play, same basic plot, and the same mechanics and casino logic as all the previous ones. But you can beat it (even with spending way too much time getting the best gear in the casino) too quickly. I'm regretting not waiting till it went down in price.
A Return to Old School Styling September 19, 2008
Sean (Aurora, Colorado)
Pros:
+Updated visuals, script and battle animations
+Long quest
+Lots of things to do off the beaten path
+Not too hard
+Beautiful Soundtrack
Cons:
-The visuals are a little sloppy
-Good animations in battle, but the battle engine is very dated
Dragon Quest IV first dropped down in North America as Dragon Warrior IV in 1992. This is just a year after the release of the Super Nintendo in America and also a year after the release of Final Fantasy IV. Needless to say, it was one of the last RPGs to be on the NES. The Dragon Quest series has never been too big in America so it's possible that for a lot of gamers, this is the first encounter they've had with Dragon Quest IV. It stacks up pretty nicely on the DS, but it also keeps very true to its NES roots. If you were one who played the original NES version and were expecting a Final Fantasy IV DS revamp, you'll be disappointed. However, it is a treat for those who never got the chance to play the original NES title. If you did play the original NES game to completion, I repeat, there's really nothing new here.
Dragon Quest IV begins by actually taking four chapters to introduce you to the game's four main characters and the last Chapter to be the actual quest. Dragon Quest differs from Final Fantasy in terms of story. Dragon Quest puts a lot more emphasis on exploration and from time to time, battling. So there's not much of an emphasis on story here, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have merits. It's a fairly good story overall.
The most obvious update to Dragon Quest IV is the game's graphics. Japan got a Playstation remake in 2001 and the graphics here are right on par. However, it uses Dragon Quest VII's graphics engine. So there are 2D Sprites on a 3D world. The facelift is nice, but it looks a little sloppy. The sprites don't look that much better than what you'd find in a Super Nintendo game and they're pretty pixelated. It overall looks good, but it could look better.
The second major update is the game's translation itself. Character names, towns, etc., have been changed. The script has also been rewritten as well. So if you played the original NES game, there are quite a few changes in terms of dialog as well. It's also a little neater.
The game's updated music is perhaps the best part. It's now completely orchestrated and it sounds very good. There are a few old school sound effects that come through as well, but they're appropriate.
When battling, however, this is where a lot of the game's old school charm really comes out. Dragon Quest has the most basic of basic menu battle systems. Dragon Quest IV doesn't do a thing to update it in the slightest. The enemies now move in battle, but not much. You actually see enemies attack and some of the spell animations look good. However, you never see your enemy go up and strike the enemy. Beautiful backgrounds and enemies that move a little are nice, but it shows that there's no real update to the battle system. It probably won't bother you in the long run. After all, battling is actually pretty fun, but graphically, it's hard not to wish that Dragon Quest IV would've upped the ante a little bit.
In many Dragon Quest games, level grinding was a must. This isn't really true of Dragon Quest IV, at least not in the remake. Much of the game is pretty simple. There's no level grinding necessary.
There isn't really that much else added to Dragon Quest IV at all. It stays very true to its NES roots. You may be getting a game that looks like it belongs on the DS, but it is very much an NES game and holds true to everything the original NES game has including some of its limitations. If you don't mind that, then the game will be an excellent buy. If you're not really big on RPGs from the NES era it might not be for you.
|
|
|
