Dragon Quest Monsters
Encyclopedia
or Dragon Warrior Monsters, as it was known in North America
, is a spin off series of the Dragon Quest
games. Published by Enix
Corporation (now known as Square Enix
), it sets the player in a medieval/fantasy world filled with magic, monsters and knights. Unlike the original Dragon Quest games, the player's character does not do any of the fighting in battles; instead the player has to rely on capturing, breeding and raising monsters to do the fighting for them. The concept originated from Dragon Quest V (1992). The character and monster designs are by Dragon Ball creator, Akira Toriyama
. The series spans several handheld gaming systems and each game has received positive reviews from critics. Upon the series' debut in the US, it was quickly labeled as a "Pokémon clone" by critics.
For the first two US releases, the titles used Warrior instead of the original Japanese Quest. This was due to Dragon Quests North American name being changed due to a trademark conflict with the role-playing game
DragonQuest
, which was published by Simulations Publications
in the 1980s until the company's bankruptcy
in 1982 and purchase by TSR, Inc.
, which then published it as an alternate line to Dungeons & Dragons
until 1987. In 2003, Square Enix registered the Dragon Quest trademark
in the US, making the Dragon Warrior name obsolete.
the next year for the Game Boy Color
. The Japanese version was called Dragon Quest Monsters. It was released for the Game Boy Color
before the console itself was released, however the cartridge was backward-compatible with the older Game Boy
in black-and-white
. Its sequel, Dragon Warrior Monsters 2
, also for the Game Boy Color, was released in 2001 in both Japan and North America. There are two versions of the game, similar to Pokémon Gold and Silver
, called Cobi's Journey (Ruka's Journey in Japan) and Tara's Adventure (Iru's Adventure in Japan), named after the main characters the player controls. Each version features slight differences, such as monster appearances. Both games were developed by TOSE
and published by Enix
. Dragon Quest Monsters 1+2
, a remake of these two games with updated graphics and interface, was released in 2002 in Japan, for the PlayStation
. The game is compatible with the i-Mode adapter for PlayStation, allowing players to upload monsters to the i-Mode cellular phone version, Dragon Quest Monsters i.
Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart
is the third game in the series, released in Japan in 2003 for the Game Boy Advance
. Developed by TOSE, the game was the last Dragon Quest game Enix published before merging with Square
. It features Keifer, a prince from Dragon Warrior VII
. Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker
, for the Nintendo DS
, was released in Japan in 2006 and was the first in the series to feature 3D graphics. It was brought to North America the next year, and in 2008, was released in the PAL region, making it the second game in the series to do so. Initially revealed through the publication Shonen Jump
, the game is set around a tournament referred to as the Joker GP. It also features Wi-Fi
multiplayer play through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
service and full 3D movement and battles. Unlike the other games in the series, this game has no random battles.
It was released in Japan on April 28, 2010 and a US release on September 19, 2011, as revealed at the 2011 E3.
and are turn-based. Monsters are able to gain experience points just like humans in the main series would and can learn spells and skills straight from the Dragon Quest games.
monsters in a first-person view. Joker changed this by allowing players to see enemies on the field as well as making battles three-dimensional
. The player controls up to three monsters at once and their HP
and MP
are displayed onscreen. The player can then choose from several options on what to do.
Typically, the player does not directly control the monsters and instead gives them suggestions. Charge tells monsters to use their most direct and powerful attacks. Mixed suggests to monsters to use support abilities, such as shields, stat enhancements, or summons and Cautious tells monsters to use defensive abilities, such as healing and reviving spells and abilities that remove harmful stat effects. During battle, the player can select Plan, which allows the player to change any of the commands. Command gives the player direct control of the party and cannot be used in arena battles. Fight simply makes monsters follow their set commands. The player can also use items during battle, many which are from the Dragon Quest games. The party can also attempt to flee random battles.
Basically this means a monster high in one of the three stats will be better at using an attack of that type and more likely to obey, for example a monster with the Personality type Reckless (which is high in Bravery but low in Prudence and Caring) will be more likely to use a Charge attack, whereas a monster with the Personality type Careful (a type high in Caring but low in Bravery and Prudence) will be more likely to use a Cautious attack. Personalities change quickly at lower levels than at higher levels, also monsters with a high wildness are harder to change personalities. A monster can have one of 27 personalities.
As with other RPG's once the player's party defeats the opposing monsters and the battle ends, the party is awarded a certain amount of experience points (EXP) which are used to level up monsters. At the end of the battle, there exists a small chance the opposing monster may join the party. The chance of a monster joining the party is increased by the use of meat items which lowers a monster's wildness. The more the player uses, the lower the monster's wildness will be and the more likely it is to join. Certain types of meat lower a monster's wildness more, thus increasing the chance of catching them. This is true in the first three games.
In Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker, the player can actively scout for monsters during battle. Unlike previous games in the series, this is a battle command, and not the result of using items in battle. The player can make any number of scouting attempts during a battle, until the monster decides to join, or takes offense. Success depends on the relative strengths of the monsters making the attempt versus the relative defense of the monster that is being scouted.
Each of the games in the series has sold well, particularly in Japan, where the Dragon Quest series has gained immense popularity. In Japan, Dragon Warrior Monsters sold 2.35 million copies. The North American version sold 60,000 copies by April 2000.Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 has sold 1,592,728 copies in Japan. Dragon Quest Monsters 1+2 was the 38th best-selling game of 2002 with 292,275 copies. Caravan Heart was a top-seller during the time of its release, with over 538,000 units sold within three months of its release and 593,000 units sold to date. Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker sold 593,994 units in the first four days after release in Japan. To date, it has sold over 1.9 million units worldwide.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, is a spin off series of the Dragon Quest
Dragon Quest
, published as Dragon Warrior in North America until 2005,Due to the inconsistent usage by sources since Square Enix obtained the naming rights to Dragon Quest in North America. Dragon Quest has been used by sources to refer to games released solely under the Dragon Warrior titles...
games. Published by Enix
Enix
The was a Japanese company that produced video games, anime and manga. The company was founded by Yasuhiro Fukushima on September 22, 1975 as and renamed Enix in 1982...
Corporation (now known as Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
), it sets the player in a medieval/fantasy world filled with magic, monsters and knights. Unlike the original Dragon Quest games, the player's character does not do any of the fighting in battles; instead the player has to rely on capturing, breeding and raising monsters to do the fighting for them. The concept originated from Dragon Quest V (1992). The character and monster designs are by Dragon Ball creator, Akira Toriyama
Akira Toriyama
is a Japanese manga artist and game artist known mostly for his creation of Dragon Ball in 1984. Toriyama admires Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy and was impressed by Walt Disney's One Hundred and One Dalmatians, which he remembers for the great art...
. The series spans several handheld gaming systems and each game has received positive reviews from critics. Upon the series' debut in the US, it was quickly labeled as a "Pokémon clone" by critics.
For the first two US releases, the titles used Warrior instead of the original Japanese Quest. This was due to Dragon Quests North American name being changed due to a trademark conflict with the role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
DragonQuest
DragonQuest
DragonQuest is a fantasy role-playing game originally published by Simulations Publications in 1980. Where first generation fantasy role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons restricted players to particular character classes, DragonQuest was one of the first games to utilize a system that...
, which was published by Simulations Publications
Simulations Publications
Simulations Publications, Inc. was an influential American publisher of board wargames and related magazines, particularly its flagship Strategy & Tactics, in the 1970s and early 1980s...
in the 1980s until the company's bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
in 1982 and purchase by TSR, Inc.
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, which then published it as an alternate line to Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
until 1987. In 2003, Square Enix registered the Dragon Quest trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
in the US, making the Dragon Warrior name obsolete.
Games
Dragon Warrior Monsters, the first game in the series, was released in 1998 in Japan and in North America and the PAL regionPAL region
The PAL region is a television publication territory which covers most of Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Western Europe...
the next year for the Game Boy Color
Game Boy Color
The is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
. The Japanese version was called Dragon Quest Monsters. It was released for the Game Boy Color
Game Boy Color
The is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
before the console itself was released, however the cartridge was backward-compatible with the older Game Boy
Game Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
in black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
. Its sequel, Dragon Warrior Monsters 2
Dragon Warrior Monsters 2
Dragon Warrior Monsters 2, known in Japan as , is a video game published by Enix for the Game Boy Color. It is the second Dragon Warrior Monsters game for the Game Boy Color and features two different versions of the same game, Cobi's Journey and Tara's Adventure Dragon Warrior Monsters 2, known...
, also for the Game Boy Color, was released in 2001 in both Japan and North America. There are two versions of the game, similar to Pokémon Gold and Silver
Pokémon Gold and Silver
are the second installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. The games have dual-mode capabilities allowing them to also be played on earlier Game Boy models. They were first released in Japan in 1999 and to...
, called Cobi's Journey (Ruka's Journey in Japan) and Tara's Adventure (Iru's Adventure in Japan), named after the main characters the player controls. Each version features slight differences, such as monster appearances. Both games were developed by TOSE
TOSE
is a video game development company based in Kyoto, Japan. It is most known for developing Nintendo's Game & Watch Gallery series, various Dragon Ball games, as well as other Nintendo products...
and published by Enix
Enix
The was a Japanese company that produced video games, anime and manga. The company was founded by Yasuhiro Fukushima on September 22, 1975 as and renamed Enix in 1982...
. Dragon Quest Monsters 1+2
Dragon Quest Monsters 1+2
is an enhanced remake of two Game Boy Color games, Dragon Quest Monsters and Dragon Quest Monsters 2, for the PlayStation. It was released only in Japan...
, a remake of these two games with updated graphics and interface, was released in 2002 in Japan, for the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
. The game is compatible with the i-Mode adapter for PlayStation, allowing players to upload monsters to the i-Mode cellular phone version, Dragon Quest Monsters i.
Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart
Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart
is the third game in the Dragon Quest Monsters series, released only in Japan by Enix for the Game Boy Advance. The game was simultaneously announced with Dragon Quest VIII in Famitsu in 2002...
is the third game in the series, released in Japan in 2003 for the Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
. Developed by TOSE, the game was the last Dragon Quest game Enix published before merging with Square
Square Co.
was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 and became part of Square Enix...
. It features Keifer, a prince from Dragon Warrior VII
Dragon Warrior VII
Dragon Warrior VII, known in Japan as is a Japanese console role-playing game developed by Heartbeat and ArtePiazza, and published by Enix for the PlayStation in...
. Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker
is a Nintendo DS role-playing game published by Square Enix, and the fourth installment of the Dragon Quest Monsters series. Square Enix released the game on December 28, 2006 in Japan and in North America on November 6, 2007....
, for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
, was released in Japan in 2006 and was the first in the series to feature 3D graphics. It was brought to North America the next year, and in 2008, was released in the PAL region, making it the second game in the series to do so. Initially revealed through the publication Shonen Jump
Shonen Jump (magazine)
Shonen Jump, officially stylized SHONEN JUMP and abbreviated SJ, is a shōnen manga anthology published in North America by Viz Media. It debuted in November 2002 with the first issue having a January 2003 cover date...
, the game is set around a tournament referred to as the Joker GP. It also features Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
multiplayer play through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
The is an online multiplayer gaming service run by Nintendo to provide free online play in compatible Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Wii games. The service includes the company's Wii Shop Channel, DSi Shop, and Nintendo eShop game download services...
service and full 3D movement and battles. Unlike the other games in the series, this game has no random battles.
It was released in Japan on April 28, 2010 and a US release on September 19, 2011, as revealed at the 2011 E3.
Gameplay
Although each of the games have distinct differences, they all have similar gameplay to the main Dragon Quest series. Players control the main character, but, unlike in Dragon Quest, the main character does not fight. Caught or bred monsters participate in battles instead of humans, although this changes slightly in Caravan Heart. Battles for the first three games are fought in first-personFirst person (video games)
In video games, first person refers to a graphical perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character. In many cases, this may be the viewpoint from the cockpit of a vehicle. Many different genres have made use of first-person perspectives, ranging from adventure games to flight...
and are turn-based. Monsters are able to gain experience points just like humans in the main series would and can learn spells and skills straight from the Dragon Quest games.
Battle system
Up until Joker, battles were fought against randomly encounteredRandom encounter
A random encounter is a feature commonly used in various role-playing games whereby encounters with non-player character enemies or other dangers occur sporadically and at random...
monsters in a first-person view. Joker changed this by allowing players to see enemies on the field as well as making battles three-dimensional
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
. The player controls up to three monsters at once and their HP
Health (gaming)
Health is a game mechanic used in role-playing, computer and video games to give value to characters, enemies, NPCs, and related objects. This value can either be numerical, semi-numerical as in hit/health points, or arbitrary as in a life bar....
and MP
Magic point
Magic points are units of magical power that are used in many role-playing, computer role-playing and similar games as an expendable resource that is needed to pay for magic spells and other abilities, such as special attacks...
are displayed onscreen. The player can then choose from several options on what to do.
Typically, the player does not directly control the monsters and instead gives them suggestions. Charge tells monsters to use their most direct and powerful attacks. Mixed suggests to monsters to use support abilities, such as shields, stat enhancements, or summons and Cautious tells monsters to use defensive abilities, such as healing and reviving spells and abilities that remove harmful stat effects. During battle, the player can select Plan, which allows the player to change any of the commands. Command gives the player direct control of the party and cannot be used in arena battles. Fight simply makes monsters follow their set commands. The player can also use items during battle, many which are from the Dragon Quest games. The party can also attempt to flee random battles.
Personalities
A message may appear that says "will attempt" for some of the commands; this is because each monster is given a certain personality depending on the player's actions used in combat. Those actions are Charge, Mixed and Cautious, which when used can raise/lower one of three hidden stats, Bravery, Prudence and Caring.Basically this means a monster high in one of the three stats will be better at using an attack of that type and more likely to obey, for example a monster with the Personality type Reckless (which is high in Bravery but low in Prudence and Caring) will be more likely to use a Charge attack, whereas a monster with the Personality type Careful (a type high in Caring but low in Bravery and Prudence) will be more likely to use a Cautious attack. Personalities change quickly at lower levels than at higher levels, also monsters with a high wildness are harder to change personalities. A monster can have one of 27 personalities.
Wildness
Another reason monsters might not obey commands is their wildness (WLD in the game). A monster with a high wildness is less likely to obey commands. Newly caught monsters and monsters kept in the farm for long periods of time will have high wildness. To lower a monster's wildness, the player needs to keep it in the party for a while or feed it meat items.Obtaining monsters
In Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker, the player can actively scout for monsters during battle. Unlike previous games in the series, this is a battle command, and not the result of using items in battle. The player can make any number of scouting attempts during a battle, until the monster decides to join, or takes offense. Success depends on the relative strengths of the monsters making the attempt versus the relative defense of the monster that is being scouted.
Breeding
Breeding monsters has been a large part of the series and is often cited as one of the series' highlights. In the first two games, the player was able to breed two monsters together and create a different monster, usually a combination of its two parents. The parent monsters would disappear after breeding. Caravan Heart changed the system, instead using Monster Hearts to create new monsters. Joker returned to the first system, although the name was changed to Synthesizing.Reception
Each of the games in the Dragon Quest Monsters series has met praise by critics. Each game has sold well in Japan. US releases for the first two games brought on comparisons to the Pokémon franchise, another monster-collecting RPG. However, with the release of Joker for the Nintendo DS game, these comparisons were not as much of a focus in reviews, but still existed. 1UP.com, when reviewing Joker, noted that "the Monsters series has always felt like it belongs in the Dragon Quest universe first and foremost; it's more than a bunch of bastardized Pokéclones. The latest installment of the subseries -- Joker -- is a perfect example."Each of the games in the series has sold well, particularly in Japan, where the Dragon Quest series has gained immense popularity. In Japan, Dragon Warrior Monsters sold 2.35 million copies. The North American version sold 60,000 copies by April 2000.Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 has sold 1,592,728 copies in Japan. Dragon Quest Monsters 1+2 was the 38th best-selling game of 2002 with 292,275 copies. Caravan Heart was a top-seller during the time of its release, with over 538,000 units sold within three months of its release and 593,000 units sold to date. Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker sold 593,994 units in the first four days after release in Japan. To date, it has sold over 1.9 million units worldwide.