download Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

Delightfully goofy writing keeps the game’s 60+ hour quest bouncing along at a comfortable pace, with the minor exception of a few backtracking quests along the way. The story is a compelling one, less because of its relatively simple plot of magic and corruption, but more because of the rich smorgasbord of lively characters you encounter throughout the adventure. Combining many different abilities and skills to level up, in addition to alchemy crafting and equipment management, all the beloved role-playing conventions are ever-present here.

Combat is the old-school turn-based variety, complete with super-simplified menus, but don’t let that fool you into thinking depth and strategy are absent. Quest and map markers are absent, leaving the sleuthing entirely up to the player. There is no handholding from the outset, throwing players straight into combat and exploration without the overbearing guidance many current games are guilty of. True to its origins, Dragon Quest VIII’s port leaves much of the core game intact, allowing for a classic JRPG experience. Regarded as one of the all-time classic JRPGs on the PS2 alongside Persona 4 and Final Fantasy X, the 2005 adventure Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King weaves its magic tale on the 3DS with several modern refinements.

Download Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King