Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie

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Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie
Cover art
Cover of the Super Famicom box, depicting the main characters (front: Hero, left: Hassan, right: Mireyu).
Developer(s) Heartbeat (SFC)
ArtePiazza (DS)
Publisher(s) Enix (SFC)
Square Enix (NDS)
Designer(s) Yuuji Horii (scenario and game design)
Akira Toriyama (character and monster design)
Koichi Sugiyama (music composer)
Series Dragon Quest
Platform(s) Super Famicom, Nintendo DS
Release date Super Famicom
JP December 9, 1995
Nintendo DS
JP TBA
NA TBA
EU TBA
Genre(s) Console role-playing game
Mode(s) Single player
Rating(s) CERO: A (NDS)
Media 32-megabit cartridge, (SFAM)

Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie (ドラゴンクエストVI 幻の大地 Doragon Kuesuto Shikkusu Maboroshi no Daichi?, lit. "Dragon Quest VI: Great Land of Illusion"), Dragon Quest: Realms of Reverie in Europe,[1] is a console role-playing game developed by Heartbeat and published by Enix (now Square Enix). It is the final Dragon Quest series title for the Nintendo Super Famicom video game console and the last game in the Zenithia trilogy. It was released on December 9, 1995 in Japan.[2] This installment in the series was developed by Heartbeat, whereas the previous Dragon Quest games were developed by Chunsoft.[3] In July 2007, Square Enix announced a series of remakes of Dragon Quest IV, V and VI for the Nintendo DS, making this the first remake of the latter game on other consoles.[4] It was also announced that the title will also see release in both North America and Europe.[5] Prior to this, it has been translated by fans.

As the sixth installment to the Dragon Quest series, the graphics and gameplay remain close to the other games, with minor additions and upgrades.[6] The graphics were improved from Dragon Quest V, which was also for the SNES, but had only 16-megabits. Navigation remains largely unchanged from the previous games and the turn-based battles are still only in first-person. The class system from Dragon Quest III returns, with minor adjustments.[6]

The story follows the traditional Dragon Quest "Hero" on a quest to save the world. In this particular installment, the heroes also have to endure the personal struggle of amnesia, as many of the main characters do not initially remember who they are. After completing a series of quests, the player learns that in addition to a Real World, there is also a Dream World, made up of people's dreams, and that there is a great evil that wants to conquer both. The Hero and his new party work together to save both worlds from the ever-growing threat.

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

Dragon Quest VI is a traditional, turn-based RPG (in a first person perspective) which features random encounter style battles and a class system that the Hero and his fellow party members can learn to gain new skills and spells. As in most RPGs, the Hero gathers a party throughout his adventure and travels from town to town. To progress in the story, the party must defeat boss monsters. In order to do this, the player must spend time training the party by gaining experience points from battles and mastering fighting skills by advancing in various classes.[6]

Other new features were added, such as the monsters being animated when they attack.[6] The Slime Arena and Best Dresser Contest were new mini-games introduced; the casinos return from previous Dragon Quest games.[7] Small medals can be found hidden throughout the worlds and can be traded for items.[8] There are bonus features like an extra dungeon at the end of the game and a few extra characters. There are no day and night phases. There is the ability to catch monsters with the aid of the beastmaster class, but it is not a main part of the game.[6] A returning feature from the past two games is the use of the wagon, which allows characters to be swapped out for other ones on the world map.[9]

An example of battle.
An example of battle.

[edit] Classes

This Dragon Quest, like Dragon Quest III and Dragon Quest VII, has a class system.[6] Once the party gets to Dhama Shrine, they have the option of becoming one of several starter classes.[10] Once a character has mastered two or three starter classes, they can change into a "hybrid" class, for example, a soldier and a fighter make a battlemaster.[11] To master a class, the character must fight a set number of battles as that class. Once certain hybrid classes are mastered, a stat relating to that class will permanently go up. There are secret classes as well.[6]

[edit] Starter Classes

  • Soldier: Strength and HP go up and several basic fighting skills are learned.
  • Fighter: Speed goes and kick/punch skills are learned.
  • Wizard: Most stats go down, except wisdom and MP, and basic attack and status spells are learned.
  • Priest: Most stats go down, but less weak than the wizard, and healing and status spells are learned.
  • Dancer: Style and speed go up and several dance-style skills are learned.
  • Thief: Speed goes up, but most stats go down, and skills that help outside battle, such as Hawkeye, are learned. The thief may also steal an item from an enemy at the end of a battle.
  • Beastmaster: Most stats go down and skills associated with monsters are learned. Monsters may join the party when there is a Beastmaster present.
  • Merchant: Wisdom goes up, but most stats go down, and a random assortment of skills are learned. At the end of battle, a small portion of extra money is added to the party's income.[6]
  • Goof-off: Style slightly goes up, but most stats dramatically drop. Skills learned are quite random and the Goof-off has a tendency to not listen to the party's commands. Sometimes, instead of doing nothing, the Goof-off will use a technique, such as paralyzing all the enemies or putting them to sleep.[6]

[edit] Hybrid Classes

As classes are mastered, new ones open up.
As classes are mastered, new ones open up.
  • Battlemaster (Soldier+Fighter): Strength, HP, speed, and defense go up, making this a strong class. Most skills are super effective against one type of enemy, such as Dragoncut.
  • Magic Knight (Soldier+Wizard): Stats mostly go down and strong magic skills/spells are learned.
  • Paladin (Fighter+Priest): Strength, speed, and wisdom go up and a mixture of Priest and Fighter skills are learned.
  • Sage (Wizard+Priest): Wisdom and HP go up and high level attack and healing spells are learned.
  • Superstar (Dancer+Goof-off): Style is the only stat that goes up and an assortment of skills are learned.
  • Ranger (Merchant+Thief+Beastmaster): Speed and wisdom go up and an assortment of battle skills are learned.
  • Hero (Battlemaster+Sage+Superstar+Ranger): This is the ultimate class and all stats go up.[6] Several attack spells/skills are learned. The Hero (character) only has to master one of those classes for Hero class to become available.

[edit] Plot

[edit] Setting

Like every other Dragon Quest game, the setting in Dragon Quest VI is very medieval, complete with castles, knights, and magic.[6] The main world is divided into the Real World and the Dream World, each with a separate, but similar map. To get from one world to the other, the party uses special warps (such as in wells) or by ascending/descending stairs on the world map.

If something cannot be found in the Real World, chances are it has appeared in the Dream World, such as with Miralgo's Tower, in the middle of the quest. Also, another similarity to much of the series is the Dark World. This separate map features a dark island with a psychedelic sea surrounding it and some of the toughest monsters in the game. The final boss, Deathtamoor, lives there.[12] Also, once Deathtamoor is defeated, the player can access the bonus dungeon and the secret final boss, Dark Dream.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Playable characters

  • The Hero (Shujinkō in Japanese) is the main character of Dragon Quest VI. He comes from the small town of Lifecod, however, he is actually the prince of Reidock, which he learns late in the game. Like each of the other "Hero's" in previous Dragon Quest games, this Hero does not speak. The Hero is joined by other characters he meets along his journey. While he has no official name in the game, but in the manga based on the game he was named Botsu.
  • Hassan meets up with the Hero at Reidock. Hassan is the natural fighter of the party and the son of carpenters. After regaining his memory, Hassan learns that he is from San Marino, where his parents recognize him. At first, he does not believe them, but after visiting Mudo, he remembers his past.
  • Mireyu (Muriel in the No Prgress translation and Milayou in the official localization of Dragon Quest Monsters) joins the Hero and Hassan because she can see them in the Real World. She is the typical mage of the group, and specializes in healing and supportive magic. Before meeting the Hero, she lived with her fortune telling grandmother, Grandmaz.
  • Barbara joins the group in the Mirror Tower, where she is trying to find a way to make herself visible to those around her. She casts magic like Mireyu, but uses mostly fire-based attack magic. She hails from Calberona, a village known for its strong magic. Before the party reaches Calberona, Barbara's past remains very mysterious.
  • Chamoro joins the party next. He is a cleric from the Gent Clan, specializing in healing magic. He is also the only one that can steer the Divine Ship for the party.
  • Terry is the final character to join the party, after appearing as an enemy for part of the game. He is a knight who defeats the monster terrorizing Arcbolt, just before the party does, thus gaining the reward. He joins the Hero's party after the battle with Duran and reveals that he is Mireyu's brother.
Deathtamoor's first form
Deathtamoor's first form

There are three secret characters that can join the party. The first is Amos, the protector of Monstoru. He becomes a monster at night and is defeated by the party, but after receiving the Seed of Reasoning, he joins the party on their quest. The second character is the Battle Rex that Terry defeated. After being locked in Arcbolt for some time, the beast, named Dorango, will join the party if they visit her with Terry. The third character is Lukie, a slime that the party are asked to train after they defeat the Champ at the Slime fighting arena.

[edit] Antagonists

Mudo, Jamiras, Glacos, Duran, and Akbar are the five main enemies the party must defeat before facing Deathtamoor. Until Mudo is destroyed, it appears that he is the main antagonist. Deathtamoor (Deathmoor in the official localization of Dragon Quest Monsters),[13] however, is the true antagonist. He resides in the Dark World and sends his minions to wreak havoc in the Real, Dream, and Dark Worlds, attempting to conquer each world. Like most other Dragon Quest final bosses, Deathtamoor has several different forms he takes during the battle with him. Each of these monsters appear in the Dragon Quest Monsters games, including Deathtamoor's different forms.[13][14] In an optional dungeon that appears after beating the game, the player can also encounter a powerful enemy called Dark Dream. Defeating him would effectively allow the player to bypass the entire battle with Deathtamoor as Dark Dream will appear and easily defeat Deathtamoor on the behalf of the Hero.

[edit] Story

Visiting the Mermaids under the ocean.
Visiting the Mermaids under the ocean.

Dragon Quest VI opens as the Hero, Mireyu, and Hassan approach Mudo, the demon king’s castle.[15] After Mireyu summons a dragon, the party enters the castle and comes face to face with Mudo. Overpowering the trio, Mudo appears to destroy each member of the party. The Hero wakes up in Lifecod, and cannot remember anything before the fight with Mudo. Tania, a small girl from Lifecod, insists that he is her brother.[16]

On his way to Reidock Castle, where information on Mudo can be found, the Hero stumbles into a strange portal which brings him to another unfamiliar town. However, no one can see or hear him. After finding a similar portal, the Hero reaches Reidock and meets Soldi, the leader of Reidock’s army, and Hassan, who appears not to remember the Hero. To defeat Mudo, they learn, they need the Mirror of Ra. The Hero and Hassan discover another portal, which brings them to San Marino, another town they can neither be heard nor seen. Mireyu, also appearing to have lost her memory, does see them and helps them become visible.

The party discovers a Reidock Castle in the “Phantom World” and learns that the prince is missing and that the Hero looks like him. They also meet General Tom, who bears a striking resemblance to Soldi. Gaining entrance to the Mirror Tower, the party meets Barbara, a woman who was invisible in the “Phantom World” at first, too, and together they find the Mirror of Ra.

Flying above Dhama with Pegasus
Flying above Dhama with Pegasus

The four of them travel to Mudo's castle, in the original world. After defeating Mudo, the Hero uses the Mirror on him. Mudo then turns into the king of Reidock, confused and unaware of what happened. The king reveals that the original world is in fact the Dream World and the Phantom World is the Real World. Upon traveling back to the Real World, the King of Reidock thanks the party for defeating Mudo in his dreams, but that the real Mudo lives and that the party must travel to Gent to retrieve a boat to get to Mudo's lair. In Gent, Chamaro, a healer, joins the party and allows them to use the Gent Clan's ship. During the fight with the real Mudo, the Hero gets sent back to Lifecod, like before. However, with the Mirror of Ra, the Hero warps back into the battle and defeats Mudo.

The Queen of Reidock tells the Hero to discover who he really is. The quest leads the party to Arcbolt, where a terrible monster is blocking a nearby cave. The reward for defeating the monster is the famed Sword of Thunder, but before the party can strike the final blow, a warrior by the name of Terry kills the monster, winning the sword. After traveling both worlds, the party learns that Mudo was not the only evil in the world, having fought several other monsters that all seem to be connected.

Wandering through the Dark World
Wandering through the Dark World

In Calberona, the party learns that this is Barbara's home.[17] The elders tell Barbara that the Demon Lord is watching her and give her the powerful spell Madante to fight him. The party also learns that the only way to get to the Demon Lord is through Zenith Tower, but to activate the tower, they need to collect the sword, armor, shield, and helmet of legend. While doing so, the Hero meets his double in Real Lifecod. Returning to Real Reidock, the King and Queen tell the Hero that he is indeed the prince.[18] When he fused with his clone, the Hero gained his memory back, much like Mireyu and Hassan had done.

The party reaches Cloud Castle and meets Duran, who claims to have taken over the castle. He summons Terry to fight the party and then fights the party himself. Duran then reveals that all the enemies the party has faced were just pawns of Deathtamoor, the Demon Emperor. Mireyu reveals that Terry is her brother and Terry decides to join the party and fight against Deathtamoor.

Once Cloud Castle is back to normal, the party speaks to King Zenith who informs them of Deathtamoor's doings and how to reach the Dark World. Deathtamoor plans on merging both worlds.[19] The party’s horse fuses with Pegasus, allowing the party to fly to the Dark World. With the help of two brothers, Krimut and Masarl, the party enters Deathtamoor's Castle. After solving many puzzles, they come face to face with Deathtamoor and defeat him. Masarl reveals that the Dark World is falling apart and Pegasus helps them escape.[20]

[edit] Development

[edit] Production

The scenario designer, like always, is Yuuji Horii. As in all other Dragon Quest games, the art work and design are made by mangaka Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball fame, who also worked on Chrono Trigger, Tobal No.1, and Blue Dragon.[21] This is the last game in the series to feature the Tenkuu no Shiro (Castle in the Sky) trilogy.

Fans in Japan eagerly wait for the release on December 9, 1995
Fans in Japan eagerly wait for the release on December 9, 1995

A prequel, Dragon Warrior Monsters (Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland in Japan), was released in 1998. This game featured Terry and Mireyu years before the events of Dragon Quest VI. It was released in North America the next year, even though Dragon Quest VI was never released in North America.[22] Along with Terry and Mireyu, several of the main enemies, including Deathtamoor, reappear, however, their previous roles have been eliminated, making them appear as just normal enemies.[13] Deathtamoor and Mudo (Mudou in the localization) do appear as very challenging, very late in-game bosses, though.[23]

[edit] Release

The initial release was delayed over a year, Enix wanting to further develop their game.[6] The game was eventually shown at Shoshinkai in November of 1995. Dragon Quest VI was released a few weeks later on December 9, with the very steep price of 11,400 yen (roughly over 100 U.S. dollars).[6] The game went on to sell over 3.20 million copies.[24] Since then, in Japan, the game actually made the news in 2005, when a Japanese student threatened another student over an argument about what Dragon Quest is the best, the student doing the threatening favoring Dragon Quest VI.[25]

[edit] Translations

Several unofficial English translations were attempted by several different groups. While none of them have ever been fully completed, as of 2001, the online translation group NoPrgress has released a translation in which 93% of the dialog, 80% of the battle text, and 95% of the menu text is translated.[26] In 2000, the online translation group DeJap released an incomplete translation, however, the project is currently dead.[27]

The cover of the original soundtrack
The cover of the original soundtrack

[edit] Nintendo DS

A Dragon Quest VI remake for the Nintendo DS was announced in late 2007 by Square Enix and is currently in development by ArtePiazza.[4]

On April 28, 2008, it was reported that Square Enix has applied for the trademark "The Realms of Reverie" at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, leading to speculation that it was the localized title for this game.[28] On May 20, 2008, Square Enix opened up the North American site featuring the three Dragon Quest DS remakes, acknowledging Realms of Reverie as the official subtitle, as well as confirming a release in North America.[29] The next day, a press release from Square Enix confirmed that the game will be released in Europe as Dragon Quest: Realms of Reverie.[1]

[edit] Soundtracks

As with every Dragon Quest, Koichi Sugiyama composed the music and directed all the associated spinoffs. Three soundtracks were released for the music of Dragon Quest VI. The first was a two-disk soundtrack, which included an orchestral performance and an OST. The second soundtrack was released on August 23, 2000, and just had the orchestral version. This version was released by SPE Visual Works (now Aniplex), and was named Dragon Quest VI ~The Dream World~ Symphonic Suite.[30] This version was featured on Dragon Quest Daizenshu Vol. 2, which is a compilation of Dragon Quest music.[31] A second Symphonic Suite edition of the OST was performed in March 2005 and released on July 19, 2006, also by Aniplex.[32] The Symphonic Suite tracklist is as follows:

  1. Overture (1:20)
  2. At the Palace (3:40)
  3. In the Town ~ Happy Humming ~ Inviting Village ~ Folk Dance (7:02)
  4. Through the Fields ~ Wandering through the Silence ~ Another World (5:03)
  5. Ocean Waves (5:11)
  6. Flying Bed (2:08)
  7. Pegasus ~ Saint's Wreath (5:39)
  8. Evil World ~ Satan's Castle ~ Frightening Dungeon (4:22)
  9. Brave Fight (6:23)
  10. Melancholy (3:11)
  11. Ocarina ~ The Saint (2:07)
  12. Devil's Tower (1:36)
  13. Dungeons ~ Last Dungeon (5:52)
  14. Monsters (4:36)
  15. Demon Combat (5:15)
  16. Eternal Lullaby (6:46)

[edit] Reception

A survey in the magazine Famitsu in 2006 earned Dragon Quest VI the #34 spot on the list. This is a much lower spot on the list than the other games in the series, showing that, although the game is popular, it remains in the shadows compared to the rest of the series, particularly Dragon Quest III and Dragon Quest VIII, which were both in the top five.[33] Dragon Quest VI was one of the best selling Super Famicom games in Japan, selling well over three million copies.[34]

In volume 81 of Nintendo Power, the staff wrote an article on Dragon Quest VI, hoping the game would find a U.S. release. They also suggested why the series does not appeal to the American audience: there is too much fighting and not enough adventuring.[6] The game has not been released outside of Japan.

Dragon Quest VI was listed as #7 among the 10 Best Japanese Games Never Released in the U.S. by GamePro Magazine in their May 2005 issue. Dragon Quest V, another Japan-only game, was also on the list, placing at #2.[35] (the whole list can be seen here [1])

Volume 8 of the manga
Volume 8 of the manga

[edit] Manga

A 10-volume manga adaptation of the game was made by Masomi Kanzaki. It was published by Enix in the Monthly Shonen Gangan between 1997 and 2001.[36] The storyline roughly follows that of the video game from which it was based but with several differences, such as the inclusion of the character Kizu Buchi, a spotted slime.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Square Enix (2008-05-21). "Experience Dragon Quest in the Palm of Your Hand Zenithia Trilogy Announced for Europe". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
  2. ^ Square Enix (2006). Dragon Quest VI Official Page. Retrieved on June 4, 2007.
  3. ^ Enix Comments on DQVIII As Heartbeat Steps Away (2002). Retrieved on July 20, 2007.
  4. ^ a b Square Enix (2007). Dragon Quest 4 to 6. Retrieved on Aug 1, 2007.
  5. ^ Joe Keiser (2008-05-21). Square Enix Brings Dragon Quest DS West. Next Generation. Retrieved on May 21, 2008.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Nintendo Power Volume 81, pages 64-67. Nintendo of America, 1995. Retrieved 2007-4-6
  7. ^ Casino Owner: Welcome to my subterranean casino! I hope you enjoy yourself! Enix. Dragon Quest VI. Enix. Super Famicom. (in English). (2007-07-27)
  8. ^ Medal King: I collect small medals which were scattered around the world. Enix. Dragon Quest VI. Enix. Super Famicom. (in English). (2007-07-25)
  9. ^ Wednesday's News (2000). Retrieved on July 20, 2007.
  10. ^ Priest: This is the shrine at Dhama. As you travel, you will learn the skills of your class. Does someone wish to change classes? Enix. Dragon Quest VI. Enix. Super Famicom. (in English). (2007-07-25)
  11. ^ Man: There are higher classes that combine the skills of regular classes...If someone first masters the Soldier and Wizard classes...Then he can choose to become a Magic Knight. Enix. Dragon Quest VI. Enix. Super Famicom. (in English). (2007-07-25)
  12. ^ Girl: I heard the demon emperor lives in the dark world. Enix. Dragon Quest VI. Enix. Super Famicom. (in English). (2007-07-25)
  13. ^ a b c (2000) in Prima Games: Dragon Warrior Monsters Official Strategy Guide. Prima Publishing, 51-122. ISBN 0-7615-2730-3. 
  14. ^ (2001) in Prima Games: Dragon Warrior Monsters 2: Cobi's Journey & Tara's Adventure Official Strategy Guide. Prima Publishing, 46-97. ISBN 0-7615-3639-6. 
  15. ^ Hassan: We have to destroy the demon king!Enix. Dragon Quest VI. Enix. Super Famicom. (in English). (2007-08-03)
  16. ^ Tania: Wake up, brother! Enix. Dragon Quest VI. Enix. Super Famicom. (in English). (2007-08-03)
  17. ^ Mrs. Calbe: But, Barbara, you should remain here as the new elder. As a descendant of the sorceress, it is your obligation. Enix. Dragon Quest VI. Enix. Super Famicom. (in English). (2007-07-26)
  18. ^ Shera: Now you can take your rightful place as prince of Reidock. Enix. Dragon Quest VI. Enix. Super Famicom. (in English). (2007-07-25)
  19. ^ Boy: According to the king, Deathtamoor wants to merge both worlds... Enix. Dragon Quest VI. Enix. Super Famicom. (in English). (2007-07-26)
  20. ^ Masarl: Quickly, get out of there! This world is falling apart! Huh? you defeated Deathtamoor? That must be it! Enix. Dragon Quest VI. Enix. Super Famicom. (in English). (2007-07-27)
  21. ^ Akira Toriyama at IMBD (2007). Retrieved on July 21, 2007.
  22. ^ Jose Lopez (2007). Dragon Quest Monsters DS: Enix's Pride & Joy. Retrieved on July 21, 2007.
  23. ^ (2000) in Prima Games: Dragon Warrior Monsters Official Strategy Guide. Prima Publishing, 44-45. ISBN 0-7615-2730-3. 
  24. ^ Japan Platinum Game Chart (2006). Retrieved on July 23, 2007.
  25. ^ David Jenkins (2005). Student Arrested In Dragon Quest Death Threat. Retrieved on July 21, 2007.
  26. ^ NoPrgress (2001). Dragon Quest 6 Translation by NoPrgress. Retrieved on July 8, 2007.
  27. ^ ROMHack Search (2007). Retrieved on July 8, 2007.
  28. ^ Siliconera (2008). Dragon Quest VI: The Realms of Reverie for North America?. Retrieved on April 28, 2008.
  29. ^ Square Enix (2008). DRAGON QUEST. Retrieved on May 20, 2008.
  30. ^ Dragon Quest VI ~The Dream World~ Symphonic Suite at Play-Asia (2007). Retrieved on July 20, 2007.
  31. ^ Damien Thomas (2007). Dragon Quest Game Music Super Collection Vol. 2. Retrieved on July 23, 2007.
  32. ^ Patrick Gann (2007). Symphonic Suite Dragon Quest VI Maboroshi no Daichi. Retrieved on July 19, 2007.
  33. ^ Collin Campbell (2006). Japan Votes On All Time Top 100. Retrieved on July 18, 2007.
  34. ^ Dragon Quest VI Review (2002). Retrieved on July 21, 2007.
  35. ^ (2005) in GamePro staff: GamePro Magazine, May 2005. IDG Entertainment, 46. 
  36. ^ Dragon Quest Manga (2003). Retrieved on July 24, 2007.
  • Note: Because there is no official English version, all quotes are from fan translations.

[edit] External links

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