Dragon Quest VII: Journey of the Cursed King

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 31

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A JRPG classic that has been considerably improved on the 3DS.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 31

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 31

A JRPG classic that has been considerably improved on the 3DS.

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Awards & Recognition

Critic Reviews for Dragon Quest VII: Journey of the Cursed King

Critic Reviews

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31

Reviews

High Score - 100/100

100%

Average Score - 86/100

86%

Low Score - 60/100

60%

8.8/10

John Robertson (IGN)

Dragon Quest VIII was one of the finest JRPGs upon its initial release and it manages to retain that lofty status through this 3DS edition. Its adherence to the traditional rules of the genre is where it pulls its strength from, the familiarity of the template allowing the design team to worry about making sure each element is as good as it can possibly can be.

January 10, 2017 |

Full Review

Simple, charming, and considerably improved on the 3DS. Dragon Quest isn’t for everyone but this bridges the gap between retro and modern games very well.

January 11, 2017 |

Full Review

7/10

GameCentral (Metro GameCentral)

4.5/5 stars

Dean James (Attack of the Fanboy)

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King was already in the premiere class of RPGs with its initial release on PS2, and now Square Enix has somehow found a way to make it even better on the Nintendo 3DS in its definitive form.

February 28, 2017 |

Full Review

John Robertson (IGN)

8.8/10 - (Read Review)

GameCentral (Metro GameCentral)

7/10 - (Read Review)

Simple, charming, and considerably improved on the 3DS. Dragon Quest isn’t for everyone but this bridges the gap between retro and modern games very well.

Dean James (Attack of the Fanboy)

4.5/5 stars - (Read Review)

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Read the Reviews (31 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Attack of the Fanboy	Dean James	4.5 / 5 stars	01-17-2017	Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King was already in the premiere class of RPGs with its initial release on PS2, and now Square Enix has somehow found a way to make it even better on the Nintendo 3DS in its definitive form.	Read review
CGMagazine	Cole Watson	8 / 10	01-21-2017	The charm of Dragon Quest VIII for me has always been how it feels like a child’s fairy tale, crafted with the mediocre English impressions and memorable adventures that our parents used to read to us when we were young. While the writing can be cheesy at times, and the gameplay may appear barebones in comparison to newer titles, I actually enjoy that kind of campiness from a series like Dragon Quest and it never detracted from my personal experience.	Read review
COGconnected	Scott Sullivan	90 / 100	01-24-2017	Dragon Quest piles on the enhancements in the 3DS version, and these tiny improvements are so numerous, that Dragon quest VIII feels far less dated than an RPG over a decade old should feel.	Read review
Critical Hit	Umar Bastra	9 / 10	01-10-2017	As it stands, Dragon Quest 8 on 3DS is the best version of this game right now with fantastic new content and improvements. If you’ve never played it before, and you like RPGs then you owe it to yourself to give this one a go.	Read review
Cubed3	Rudy Lavaux	9 / 10	01-10-2017	Even with its handful of changes, or regretful omissions, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King on 3DS is a grandiose adventure that manages to evolve the series in terms of technical achievement and presentation, story-telling and overall convenience. It takes advantage of the enhancements of technology to help make this adventure a joy to work through, unlike some older RPGs can be nowadays. It is a definite pleasure, while still delivering the classic feel of a Dragon Quest title that most of its devoted fans, more so in Japan than anywhere else, expect to find with every new release that the series has seen to this day. Lack of orchestrated soundtrack or minimal censorship should definitely not put anyone off this historical masterpiece, even on the humble and ageing 3DS hardware. This, along with perhaps Ever Oasis, might be the last major RPG release for the system, as it probably sees its last year of relevance in 2017, and it could not hope to go out with a bigger bang than with this impressive port.	Read review
Destructoid	Kevin McClusky	9 / 10	02-01-2017	Dragon Quest VIII was without question one of the best RPGs on the PlayStation 2, and 13 years later it's one of the best RPGs on the 3DS as well. If you haven't played it before, this version offers a lot of features that make it very easy to recommend over the PS2 and mobile versions. Even if you have, there's more than enough new content to make DQVIII worth revisiting. As I said in my review in progress, this game is a classic in every sense of the word, and I'm overjoyed that it's available for a new generation to get their hands on.	Read review
Digitally Downloaded	Matt Sainsbury	4.5 / 5 stars	02-08-2017	What makes Dragon Quest so special is that each game manages to straddle a line between nostalgia for simple, elegant combat mechanics, and the modern game design world, where it can poke fun at itself and laugh along with players. Dragon Quest VIII isn’t the perfect port in coming to the 3DS. It is, however, very close to the perfect classical JRPG.	Read review
DualShockers	Ryan Meitzler	8.5 / 10	01-25-2017	Though the 3DS version falls short in a number of ways from being the definitive way to play Dragon Quest VIII, the newly-portable version of the title is still, nevertheless, an excellent way to experience an excellent RPG despite its few technical shortcomings. More than anything the pros far outweigh the cons when it comes to a title that, even after a decade after its release, still plays remarkably well and manages to put a smile on my face. Dragon Quest VIII was charmingly old-school even back when it released in 2005, but like the best and timeless stories, the 3DS version shows that this story has only gotten better with age.	Read review
Eurogamer	Simon Parkin	Recommended	01-10-2017	A JRPG classic is revived for 3DS, and the years haven't dimmed its charm in the slightest.	Read review
Everyeye.it	Andrea Fontanesi	8.4 / 10	01-10-2017	The 3DS version of Dragon Quest VIII is realized very carefully, with new added features able to refresh the gameplay experience.	Read review
FNintendo	Diogo Caeiro	9 / 10	01-10-2017	Dragon Quest VIII: The Journey of The Curse King reaches the 3DS after several versions in other formats and this is most likely the best version of the game so far. Showing the best of what can be done in RPGs, Dragon Quest VIII is already a strong candidate to the title of game of the year on the 3DS and there's virtually no aspect in which this title does not excel. A true masterpiece, that can be enjoyed by RPG fans and non-fans alike.	Read review
Game Rant	Riley Little	4.5 / 5 stars	02-02-2017	Square Enix and Nintendo team up to release Dragon Quest 8: Journey of the Cursed King outside of Japan, providing gamers with a wonderful JRPG to take with them on the go.	Read review
GameMAG	OkaRin	9 / 10	10-19-2017	Dragon Quest VIII is an amazing JRPG, which has become even better on 3DS thanks to great new features. As a result, we got one of the most beautiful and well-designed JRPGs on the platform, where all aspects work competently, allowing you to enjoy the atmosphere of a fabulous adventure with a company of bright and very memorable characters.	Read review
GamePro	Mirco Kämpfer	87 / 100	01-20-2017	Well made handheld port of one of the best JRPG with some sensible innovations.	Read review
Gaming Nexus	Nicholas Leon	8.5 / 10	04-11-2017	This game is good. I have made good memories, and hope to make many more. I'm going to miss these characters, their quirks, their catch-phrases, and their flaws. It's a good egg.	Read review
GamingTrend	Amy Kay Purcell	65 / 100	02-25-2017	Dragon Quest VIII is a massive world with well over 50 hours of gameplay. It stands out thanks to stellar voice acting and a huge, quirky set of monsters to battle. While there’s plenty to do, both the plot and the majority of the characters are flat and uninteresting. The quicksave feature and the ability to increase battle speed are significant quality of life improvements over the original, making this a solid title sure to entertain JRPG fans, but the dated and grind-heavy mechanics can make it a bit of a slog.	Read review
God is a Geek	Chris White	8 / 10	01-10-2017	Whether you’re returning, or you’ve always wanted to play a Dragon Quest game, this is the perfect place to start.	Read review
IGN	John Robertson	8.8 / 10	01-10-2017	Dragon Quest VIII was one of the finest JRPGs upon its initial release and it manages to retain that lofty status through this 3DS edition. Its adherence to the traditional rules of the genre is where it pulls its strength from, the familiarity of the template allowing the design team to worry about making sure each element is as good as it can possibly can be.	Read review
IGN Italy	Biagio Etna	9 / 10	01-10-2017	A wonderful JRPG, although with twelve years behind him. It's still manages to shine, thanks also to the excellent work of revision by the developers.	Read review
IGN Spain	Carlos G. Gurpegui	8 / 10	01-10-2017	Dragon Quest VIII for the Nintendo 3DS is the best way to get into the Dragon Quest mood. A nice way to understand why everyone loves the franchise. But for the veteran player is not mucho of an exercise of nostalgia.	Read review
Impulsegamer	Tony Smith	4.3 / 5 stars	01-29-2017	Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is an enjoyable classic RPG on the 3DS with a few 21st century mechanics thrown into the pot. I like how it has been ported to the 3DS as it works on all levels from not just the control system but how the game plays out. It’s the perfect title for this console as it allows you to get lost in this world for either quick or long gaming sessions. Fighting is a challenge, creating items is easy and all in all, it’s a game that has been tailored for lovers of role-playing games.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	GameCentral	7 / 10	01-11-2017	Simple, charming, and considerably improved on the 3DS. Dragon Quest isn’t for everyone but this bridges the gap between retro and modern games very well.	Read review
MonsterVine	Spencer Legacy	5 / 5 stars	02-03-2017	Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is the crown-gem of RPGs on the 3DS, and one of the most enjoyable JRPGs of recent memory.	Read review
Nintendo Life	Morgan Sleeper	9 / 10	01-10-2017	Dragon Quest VIII is something special. It tells a lovely story with memorable characters in a captivatingly colourful style, features fun combat and a beautiful world to explore, and — most importantly — sparks a true sense of adventure and wonder throughout. This isn't just one of the best RPGs on the 3DS, it's one of the best RPGs full stop — and one of the best Dragon Quests to dive into for the uninitiated. Perfectly paced, well written and superbly scored, it's a trip worth taking for any RPG fan, and the updates in this 3DS remake — from faster battles and on-field enemies to a fantastic photography mode — make it a worthwhile return journey for veterans. A true classic.	Read review
NintendoWorldReport	Zachary Miller	10 / 10	02-08-2017	Dragon Quest VIII is a magnificent RPG that is an absolute highlight and showcase of the entire genre. It’s a long journey, but it’s one worth taking, especially if you’ve never played it before. I know that, after getting through this game, I need to reassess my personal favorite RPGs of all time. This game is that damn good.	Read review
NZGamer	Matthew Codd	8.5 / 10	02-22-2017	The best Dragon Quest game gets bigger, but deserves a better port than this.	Read review
Slant Magazine	Jed Pressgrove	3 / 5 stars	01-30-2017	Dragon Quest VIII‘s almost random plot and character moments carry complex emotional weight.	Read review
SpazioGames	Gianluca Arena	9 / 10	01-09-2017	Dragon Quest VIII Journey of The Cursed King was an amazing JRPG back in 2006 and it stood the test of time brilliantly, thanks to the great work by the developers. There's much here to be loved by both the newcomers and the old fans, as we're talking about one of the best Japanese role playing games of all time, all considered.	Read review
Stevivor	Matt Gosper	8 / 10	02-22-2017	Even then, there are some concessions made in the name of more effective gameplay that aren't exactly native to the series.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Dave Irwin	9 / 10	01-10-2017	Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King truly stands the test of time. Having this PS2 classic on the 3DS, despite its slightly inferior presentation, is a mind boggling feat. Each new gameplay addition or tweak is smart, not taking anything away from the original vision. It helps that the basis for this version was one of the better instalments of the franchise, but Square Enix could have easily just have ported it over and be done with it. If you don’t mind the slight presentation downgrades, this is the definitive version of a modern classic.	Read review
Wccftech	Dave Aubrey	8.5 / 10	01-11-2017	Dragon Quest VIII is hailed as a classic, and rightly so. Dragon Quest VIII on 3DS is a great place for new fans to jump on, as well as a perfect way for those who played it to relive a classic – and on the go, too! One of the PS2’s very best JRPGs is back, and it hasn’t aged a day.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

Uncover the story of the Cursed King as you save the world from a twisted magician in this genre-defining role-playing game. Across the vast world you’ll wage turn-based battles against more than 250 monsters designed by artist Akira Toriyama. This updated classic also includes new dungeons, bosses, items, quests, scenes, and a new possible ending!

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