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 for all future games in the franchise.
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)