Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
2009
- role-playing (rpg)
- turn-based strategy (tbs)
- adventure
- fantasy
- sandbox
- open world
- single player
- multiplayer
- co-operative
The story
In Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, players begin their adventure as a city guardian who is sent to retrieve a sacred trees fruits, which have the power to grant wishes. Players travel the world, conquer fearsome monsters and unravel an epic storyline. During their journey, players will encounter mighty opponents in fast-paced battles, and also interact with a colorful cast of characters.
What it’s like
Bright, storybook overworld in soft pastel daylight: rolling green hills, sleepy villages with thatched roofs, snowy peaks and sun-dappled seas, all rendered in the warm, rounded, hand-drawn style of Akira Toriyama's character art on the Nintendo DS. The soundtrack is cheerful and orchestral, with a light, chiming score that swells gently during town visits and turns brisker in battle, and the flat, tinny rhythm of the DS speakers gives the whole thing a nostalgic, cartoon softness. Pacing is unhurried and cozy: you wander, tidy up side quests, decorate and rebuild a village, and fight turn-based encounters that come and go without much tension. Tone is light and whimsical with a low, steady warmth, its heroes a mismatched group of wide-eyed townsfolk and quirky companions, and the emotional arc is about a small community finding its purpose and working together. Intensity is mild: cartoonish monster combat, undead and ghostly foes, no gore, and deaths are brief and bloodless. Fits a rainy Sunday, a long flight, or a comfort playthrough, and suits players who want a gentle, sprawling adventure with plenty of things to tinker with and no real pressure.
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