Story time you guys.
Earlier today I went to GameStop to pick of a copy of DQIX, since I had lost my copy when I moved and wanted to play it again. When I went in and asked the woman working there if they had a copy, she said yes but informed me that it wasn't boxed. I was a bit bummed but settled on a generic box instead. But then, when I got home and popped open my new game DQIV was sitting in the case instead.
Instead of returning it I decided to start up a blind play through since I was in the mood for something a bit more old school. I'm glad I did, because so far I'm really enjoying it. I just started chapter 2 and it's been a blast so far.
Chapter 2? Tsarevna is very cool!
Glad to hear you're enjoying it, either it or 5 is my favorite, I really struggle choosing. If the DS version had party talk in English I'd probably go with IV, but I prefer playing on DS to phone so I think I have to give it to V, but either way they're both fantastic games. I hope it continues to impress in it's old school charms, although I always think it's actually fairly modern feeling compared to most of the RPGs released 1 console later than it even (IV was an NES game, and though obviously the DS version is a remake, it maintains much the same structure).
I realise I never reviewed Dragon Quest Heroes, but it's a bit late now, so I'll just say a few things:
Positives:
The monster medal and objective defending make for an interesting tower defense type gameplay which is really unexpected and quite fun.
The dialogue is incredibly charming, and the English dub is delightful, except for Healix, but after the tutorial he doesn't get that many lines, and for the tutorial I can switch over to Rie Kugimiya and everything is great! (I have a voice crush on her, okay, leave me alone!)... oh, and the Walla's pretty bad too, but again not often an issue.
The weak point system make bigger enemies really interesting, if sometimes very frustrating... less conceptually interesting than the items in Hyrule Warriors, but doesn't feel like you're waiting around like in that game.
The spells are interesting and fun to play about with, adding a unique twist and another layer of strategy, at least until you get enough MP to spam things.
Cons:
The combo move sets aren't that great. Some are interesting (Nera particularly), but generally they rely on the spells to make the characters fun. They lack the versatility and the much of the fun flashiness of Hyrule Warriors or One Piece and so you normally end up doing one of two combos on repeat (one for groups, one for stronger enemies).
Apart from the Tower Defense it's really not that good objective-wise. For the faults of Musou games they do tend to keep you busy with defending from raids, beating lieutenants and generals, going to story objectives, capturing outposts and just trying to balance all of these at once. Heroes feels far more repetitive than that, with defend and objective while destroying warp points interrupted by occasional boss fights...
You move very slowly for the size of the battlefield. The non tower defense objectives thus end up feeling like a slog because you can't sprint or grab a horse (or even a Wagon, though I imagine that will be added in the sequel)... Zoom only makes up for it so much.
Basically I recommend it, a little more than the usual Dynasty Warrior games, but I can't recommend it as much as Hyrule Warriors, and that's coming from someone who is a much bigger DQ fan than Zelda.
