I’m 45 hours through Dragon Quest 8, with my main party of four leveled a bit past the 30 mark, and I know things aren’t going to get easier. Granted, I’ve been able to bulldoze my way through enemies thanks to group spell attacks and powerful weapons thus far. But this game is going to make me grind them to higher levels, as bosses continue to get stronger.
Despite all of that, I’m more than ready to pick this adventure up again and work that grind. At least until Dragon Quest 12 comes out.
For those unaware, Dragon Quest 8 was developed by renowned developer Level-5 for the PlayStation 2 and quickly became an acclaimed RPG. Even now, the Akira Toriyama-inspired visuals are a delight to the eyes and the classic turn-based gameplay is as addictive as ever. It’s no Dragon Quest 11, but this is easily one of the best-looking games on the PlayStation 2.
The story is fine for what it is and pretty simple to follow. A powerful sorcerer has turned your king into a monster and his daughter into a horse, so it’s up to your nameless protagonist to bring them back to normal. You’re joined by bandit-turned-friend Yangus, the busty magic user Jessica, and playboy templar Angelo, all of whom have different reasons to hate this sorcerer.
Believe it or not, this four-person party doesn’t increase and you’re stuck with these characters for the rest of Dragon Quest 8’s entirety. On paper, that sounds limiting, but it does streamline the gameplay and lets you customize these characters however you like. Do you want the protagonist to specialize in swords or spears? That’s up to you. Should Jessica use a whip or a knife? It’s your choice.
Unfortunately, getting to that level might be a drag for some, because the grind in Dragon Quest 8 can be rough. Enemies don’t give a ton of money or EXP, making grinds a bit of a chore. This does become a bit easier once Yangus learns the Whistle ability, letting him summon enemies whenever players are in dungeons or the map, but it takes a lot of time.
Bosses can also take a while to beat, with the infamous fight against Dhoulmagus being a clear example. They take a ton of damage and can dish out a ton of it as well. These become more manageable once Angelo learns Multi-Heal, but this will take longer than you’d like.
Luckily, the game’s classic turn-based battle system is pretty addictive, and grinding for hours on end can be fun if players plan these out in advance. Fans of the recent Dragon Quest 3 remake know this, but dishing out group spells and attacks always feels good, as do last-minute heals from Angelo when things are getting tough. It helps that all of the animations are stellar, from the spell effects to the monster movement, so each battle can be a treat.
We do want to point out that the 3DS version fixes a ton of these problems. Enemies drop more EXP and gold, bosses have been nerfed, and the devs have even removed random battles, opting to put enemies onscreen. This version even adds new party members, though I personally prefer the PS2 version’s four-man party.
Dragon Quest 8 is still a great JRPG to pick up, despite all of its faults. The Akira Toriyama artsyle continues to be charming and those classic turn-based battles remain addictive. If you've finished Dragon Quest 3 and are waiting for the 1&2 remake bundle or an English port of X Offline, give this PS2-era RPG a shot.