Welcome to our review of Dragon Quest 1, the newly ported classic game where it all started!
Dragon Quest, the classic RPG that started it all, comes to Nintendo Switch. Discover where it all began! The legendary RPG comes to Nintendo Switch with updated controls. Whether you’re a veteran fan in need of a nostalgia trip or a newcomer to the series looking for a fresh take on an old classic, there’s something here for everyone.
The peace of fair Alefgard has been shattered by the appearance of the nefarious master of the night known as the Dragonlord, and the Sphere of Light, which for so long kept the forces of darkness in check, has been stolen! It is time for you, a young warrior through whose veins flows the blood of the legendary hero Erdrick, to set out on a quest to vanquish the Dragonlord, and save the land from darkness!
Experience the first episode of the Dragon Quest series loved by millions in Japan and worldwide! Created by a legendary trio with the master creator Yuji Horii, the revolutionary synthesizer score and orchestration by Koichi Sugiyama, and art by master manga artist Akira Toriyama .
Dragon Quest is the game that not only started it all, but it is also the game that became a trendsetter. As this game is also available on iOS, you are not limited to the Switch only. I actually own the game on my iPhone as well, but the touch controls never really got my attention. I prefer the good old controller and no, sadly my Nimbus does not work either.
But on with the actual game. As much as this is a trendsetter, it is also an incredibly tough son of a … game to be playing. I recall playing this one in the past, while I was studying Japanese and even back then, I was facing tons of problems, not game wise but story-wise.
The story in itself is quite skimpy and though the main route is clear, defeat the evil guy, in the end, it does little to fully guide you. In the age when this game came out, this was sadly not unheard of. No internet so you had to do some good old legwork yourself to figure things out and let me tell you, grabbing a guide for this guide will shave at least three hours off of the ten hours average needed to finish the game.
All that will be left, is the grinding of enemies to grab experience and money alike. This is the classic RPG genre after all. I had quite a few nasty encounters straight from the start with enemies when I wandered too far off and got killed a few times too many…
As this game is on the harder side of the spectrum, it is hard to say whether a game aged well or not. I do feel it is on the tougher side and it might not be totally open for all newly added fans of Dragon Quest since the release of 11. Dragon Quest 11 (ps4) being my Game of the Year last year and a strong contender for this year’s title as well. This time the S version on Nintendo Switch.
I decided to rate this game as I would rate any current-day games and not let my personal affection for the series affect my rating. So I got a harder game on my hands with little to no guidance given. That gives it a tough nut to crack. Luckily my RPG experience teaches me not to go in dark places without torches, to stay clear of poisonous swamps and so on.
In conclusion, Dragon Quest is a true classic but in modern-day standards, I must honestly admit it did not age so well. More guidance would be preferred and well, Dragon Quest shows its age very well… It did feel like doing chores at times…
