@Darkstorm:
DQV is one of the greatest games ever made because of it's story. It sure as hell isn't because of it's gameplay. Monster raising was the only thing of interest there.
… Actually, it was its gameplay. Alongside its art, sound direction, and musical scoring. That charming atmosphere was combined with some really enjoyable characters and in the end, it made the game very whole. But even without those characters, it still would've held up quite strongly. Not as much truly, but it's all about the complete package with DQ. DQV certainly did have a fantastic storyline, but that complete package is what made it such a great game.
@Darkstorm:
Firstly, I'm not American. And if I was so what.
My apologies for generalizing. I mostly was illustrating that western perceptions on gaming can be incredibly polarized when compared to the east, which is why Dragon Quest seems to give lots of different impressions from Japan westwards.
@Darkstorm:
What the hell are you talking about. Why shouldn't rpg's have an interesting story. When did I ever say it had to be "cinematic". I don't want some MGS style borefest, I just want what DQ games before have had. Why is this so difficult for you to get your head around.
I never said they shouldn't. I said that it should never be such an incredible priority to the extent that first and foremost, people look to the story of an RPG as its most important judgement. I notice far too many people who just look at RPGs and think of this universal standard.
@Darkstorm:
I own every single DQ game save for VI. I have played them all and I know perfectly well what dragon quest games do "remarkably perfectly". V does it. VI does it. VIII does it. IX does not. It has plenty of other things going for it, such as changes to the gameplay, but it does not suck you into its world as previous instalments have.
I'm not sure if you "get" Dragon Quest then, as bizarre as that statement is for what is essentially the standard popular JRPG franchise.
@Darkstorm:
Ha ha ha. "It's not the game that's wrong, it's you". IX loses more then it adds from previous instalments. For someone trying not to be rude you're doing a pretty terrible job of it.
You're faulting the game for something that isn't of much consequence. The story_telling_ in DQ has really always been quite well done and I think even here, it's not flat at all, nor is it something that pulls it down any bit. I was just as enthralled as I was in any DQ universe.
I can understand someone who plays RPGs for "story", however, not enjoying DQIX, considering the characters are roughly inconsequential. But if that is your major fault with it, then you're playing DQIX for, I'm afraid, the wrong reasons. I'd just call it missing the point. Don't fault DQIX for not being the game you want it to be. Earlier in the thread, somebody basically called DQIX "MMO Quest". That's right. It's basically questing, making characters, getting armor, questing some more, just "playing". It does it incredibly well and it was exactly what it was designed to be.