This ia bit of a strange one for me. I'm about 9 hours in now, and I really can't say whether I'd recommend it or not. It's a bit like that tatty, yet favourite old jumper you own. You know there's better to be had, but you're just too comfortable with it.
A few reviews have said stuff along the lines of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", but while it works, it kinda feels old in places. Just because it ain't broke, it doesn't mean you can't spruce it up a bit.
The music during the intro is by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (it tells you on-screen), but when you're in-game, it resorts to sounding like it's from a PS1 FF era game (and while not bad, isn't exactly great either). I also think I've become numb to the b&*%y awful sound effect that happens at the end of a battle (I assume it's a throwback to the preceding games).
Graphics are fine, but I wouldn't say they're impressive (sorry new boy, can't agree). There's an element of polish missing somewhere - maybe it's a lack of post-processing/lighting effects, but it all looks a bit flat.
Then there's you character, who for some reason they thought it best not to record dialogue for. Ok, you name him, but then there's no other customisation, and he's given a moniker that he's referred to anyway, so there's no reason for him being utterly mute. For example it's just plain weird when another character asks you a question, then continues on as if you've replied to them without saying a thing.
And don't talk to me about it being so very, very twee...
I think I'm missing the nostalgia from not playing a Dragon Quest game before, so that could be a big part of it for me. However, after all that, I still kinda like it. It's something you can plug away at without feeling swamped with mechanics (because what's there is so old, it's second nature), so it's actually fairly relaxing to play.
Like I say, it's a strange one.
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