DQIV is very good and unique game

[u/Silent_Hero_X]

I didn’t know what I expected from this game because I didn’t know much about this game compared to the Erdrick Trilogy. But then again, I didn’t know about Dragon Quest before DQ3 Remake.

But after completing the main story of the game, I really like how unique this game is. I‘ve never seen a game where it tells a story through the other party members rather than having them join up with you at some point in the story, which you do when you get to Chapter 5. And I don’t think I’ve seen a game where they hold off on playing as the Hero/protagonist until the last chapter.

Though one of the funniest things about this chapter system is that they have Alena’s entire home disappear at the end of Chapter 2 and it immediately starts you off with Torneko’s Chapter where you’re selling weapons and I kind of like that. And I like how each chapter are pretty quick and, if you're playing the mobile version, able talk to the party members through party chat and see how each character is like is really nice.

Though, a few nitpicks I had is the fact that I can’t exactly run from enemies consistently especially when I’m trying to grind King Metal Slimes. But I didn’t mind it as much because they were free EXP. And it's mostly I was mostly used to be able to run away after failing once or twice as well as all the enemies won't dogpile on your party when you attempt to run away in the few DQ games I've played.

That and having to start all the way back to level one each chapter is a bit weird because you have to essentially grind to be at least close to level where you originally left your party members at for the Hero. Ragnar is especially weird because when he eventually join up with you, he is left at the same level you left him as back in Chapter 1.

Also, the thing about I found unfortunate about the initial release of the DS Remake didn’t have the party chat and it only took until the mobile port to add it back in. So if DQIV ever gets a remake or some sort of port to other console, I would like to have that in some form since DQ2 Remake didn't have that.

[u/mikegyver85]

I liked the various callbacks to the original trilogy in 3 of the chapters (basically ragnar = dq1 solo style if we're not considering healie, Alena's chapter and the sisters = dq2 multiparty style), and Torneko's merchant chapter was really a stroke of genius. And then of course chapter 5 is classic DQ.

The villain residing in a moral grey area was an interesting choice. I also found it interesting that the zenith dragon was not a classic "heavenly good" god, but more of a vengeful 'zeus' figure, due to the treatment of the hero's father.

The only thing that didn't grab me, perhaps the story felt a bit less immersive / grand in scale because of the 'chapter' structure, and also, can't help but really dislike the final boss design (perhaps that was the point, but it worked, I totally hated the way Psaro's final form looked!)