Over its seven year career, Nintendo’s dual screened handheld has become the bastion of new, old and forgotten RPGs – counting the likes of Pokemon, Final Fantasy and accumulating a number of original gems under its belt.
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie is by no means an exception but a unique addition to this catalogue, one which at the ripe old age of 16 you’re unlikely to have experienced before.
Or maybe you have. After all the Dragon Quest series has played it fairly safe over the years and Realms of Reverie harbours no surprises. Turn-based action, harsh grinding and a steep difficulty curve all represent what fans of the series are likely to revel in.
The game’s story however falls short of the mark. Beyond the self-contained fables of each town you visit on your adventure, the overarching tale is a dizzying mess as you drift back and froth between reality and the dreamy phantom worlds.
It’s not a bad RPG, far from it, but Realms of Reverie follows a tough act.
Last year’s Sentinels of the Starry Skies was a tailor-made fit for the Nintendo DS complete with the bells and whistles that Dragon Quest VI barely uses (even the touch screen is omitted from the main game).
Playing Realms of Reverie is like unearthing a time capsule from the mid 90′s: a traditional, quirky slice of Dragon Quest history but still an awkwardly dated one.
Briefly speaking:
Localised 16 years too late, a minor visual upgrade doesn’t bring Dragon Quest VI into the same leagues as its contemporaries. Those eager to sample more of the series’ quirks and archaic gameplay should look no further.
PlayZine Score: 6
Tags: Dragon Quest VI Realms of Reverie
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