Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (2004)
The eighth main entry in the Dragon Quest franchise. It was the first game in the series to utilize a full 3D environment and featured a cel-shaded graphics style which would become standard in the main series until the release of Dragon Quest X.
First released
Nov 27, 2004
Aliases
DQ8, Dragon Quest 8, Dragon Quest VIII: Sora to Umi to Daichi to Norowareshi Himegimi
Franchises
Dragon Quest
Developed by
Level-5, Armor Project, Shloc Ltd., Bird Studio
Published by
Square Enix, Nintendo
Platforms
PlayStation 2, iPod, iPhone, Nintendo 3DS, iPad, Android, Nintendo 3DS eShop
Genres
Strategy, Adventure, Role-Playing
Themes
Fantasy, Anime
Rating
CERO: A, ESRB: T, PEGI: 12+, CERO: All Ages, OFLC: PG
Releases
- 3DS - Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King United States
- 3DS - Dragon Quest VIII: Sora to Umi to Daichi to Norowareshi Himegimi Japan
- 3DS - Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King United Kingdom
- 3DS - Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King Australia
- 3DSE - Dragon Quest VIII: Sora to Umi to Daichi to Norowareshi Himegimi Japan
- 3DSE - Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King United States
- 3DSE - Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King United Kingdom
- 3DSE - Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King Australia
- IPHN - Dragon Quest VIII: Sora to Umi to Daichi to Norowareshi Himegimi Japan
- PS2 - Dragon Quest VIII: Sora to Umi to Daichi to Norowareshi Himegimi (Ultimate Hits) Japan
- PS2 - Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King United States
- PS2 - Dragon Quest: The Journey of the Cursed King United Kingdom
- PS2 - Dragon Quest VIII: Sora to Umi to Daichi to Norowareshi Himegimi Japan
- PS2 - Dragon Quest: The Journey of the Cursed King Australia
- PS2 - Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (Greatest Hits) United States
- PS2 - Dragon Quest: Journey of the Cursed King (Platinum) United Kingdom
Community reviews
One of the best JRPGs made
Game: Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Genre: RPG
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
System: Nintendo 3DS (3DS)
Year of Release: 2017
Length of Playthrough: 81 Hours
Total Score: 98/100
Value Score: 9.8/10
• Story: 10/10
• Characters: 10/10
• GamePlay: 10/10
• Graphics: 9/10
• Sound: 10/10
• Music: 9/10
• Length: 10/10
• Replay Value: 10/10
• Player Value: 10/10
Pros
+No more random encounters, all monsters can be seen and you can avoid them - arena monsters have a special icon
+A Fast forward mode that enables quicker battle animations
+Alchemy pot can create more than 1 type of item and there is no wait time for creation unlike the PS2 version
+Easier access to certain controls and the map in the bottom screen
+Keep skill points gained and not forced to use them as soon as you receive them
+Inclusion of two new playable characters only for the 3DS version
+New costumes added for the 3DS version
+World Map available from the beginning
+Menus re-done to modernize the appearance
+Extra ending exclusive to the 3DS version
+New recipes and items
+More monsters added for both Monster Arena and outside of battles
+Additional post game content which allows you to fight stronger versions of previous bosses
Cons
-Some costumes are censored
-Some cutscenes are altered
-Music is not orchestrated like the original
---
Score wise comparison sake
Dragon Quest I (NES): 62
Dragon Quest II (NES): 65
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (3DS): 98
Genre: RPG
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
System: Nintendo 3DS (3DS)
Year of Release: 2017
Length of Playthrough: 81 Hours
Total Score: 98/100
Value Score: 9.8/10
• Story: 10/10
• Characters: 10/10
• GamePlay: 10/10
• Graphics: 9/10
• Sound: 10/10
• Music: 9/10
• Length: 10/10
• Replay Value: 10/10
• Player Value: 10/10
Pros
+No more random encounters, all monsters can be seen and you can avoid them - arena monsters have a special icon
+A Fast forward mode that enables quicker battle animations
+Alchemy pot can create more than 1 type of item and there is no wait time for creation unlike the PS2 version
+Easier access to certain controls and the map in the bottom screen
+Keep skill points gained and not forced to use them as soon as you receive them
+Inclusion of two new playable characters only for the 3DS version
+New costumes added for the 3DS version
+World Map available from the beginning
+Menus re-done to modernize the appearance
+Extra ending exclusive to the 3DS version
+New recipes and items
+More monsters added for both Monster Arena and outside of battles
+Additional post game content which allows you to fight stronger versions of previous bosses
Cons
-Some costumes are censored
-Some cutscenes are altered
-Music is not orchestrated like the original
---
Score wise comparison sake
Dragon Quest I (NES): 62
Dragon Quest II (NES): 65
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (3DS): 98
Obra Maestra (10)