Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

Despite some obvious technological flaws, this remake not only preserves all the proven and innovative qualities of Dragon Quest VIII, but also improves them in every possible way, crowning the Journey of the Cursed King with its most accomplished rendition. A blessing for the series' already best episode.

A masterpiece that you simply must play. I feel stupid for not having done it on PS2 12 years ago. [03/2017, p.49]

Dragon Quest VIII is a magnificent RPG that is an absolute highlight and showcase of the entire genre. It’s a long journey, but it’s one worth taking, especially if you’ve never played it before. I know that, after getting through this game, I need to reassess my personal favorite RPGs of all time. This game is that damn good.

Dragon Quest VIII is one of the best Japanese RPGs ever. This 3DS version doesn't fully reach the visual quality we enjoyed on the PS2, but adds very interesting new content and features.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is the epitome of how a remake should be made: it adds new elements and improves the original formula, without compromising the feeling and the fun of the original game.

Dragon Quest VIII was one of the best JRPGs, now is available for Nintendo 3DS. More fresh and agile, with better exploration mechanics and tons of new and great content. Characters, bosses, Quest Photo Mode... It's the best version of the best Dragon Quest game.

Dragon Quest VIII is a JRPG-lover's JRPG that holds up fantastically more than a decade after its original release on the PlayStation 2. It may do nothing to change your mind if you're not a fan of the genre's tried and true formula, but every JRPG fan owes it to themselves to check out this classic.

Dragon Quest VIII is a fun RPG that will attract fans looking for that traditional experience. The game is on the lengthy side. The main story took me roughly 60 hours, and that number doesn’t include sidequest completion or the new postgame content. Either way, the game’s rich story and polished traditional battle system will keep RPG enthusiasts engaged throughout. This is one of the most accessible Dragon Quest titles, offering an epic story with fully-voiced cutscenes and likable characters. While the graphics and music may not be the most ideal, Square Enix makes up for it by removing random battles and improving quality-of-life. New characters, cutscenes, and sidequests may even entice veterans to journey on a second time. With all of its upgrades and additions, the 3DS port of Dragon Quest VIII is the definitive version of this classic RPG.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is one of the best Quests you could play. [Issue #26 – March/April 2017, p.75]

Dragon Quest VIII isn’t the perfect port in coming to the 3DS. It is, however, very close to the perfect classical JRPG.

Dragon Quest 8: Journey of the Cursed King is an incredibly long game filled with standard offerings from the tried and true JRPG genre. While the battle mechanics remain traditional, the narrative and characters that push it forward are incredibly charming. So much so that they surround the game’s design with ample incentive to keep playing until bitter sweet farewells are made. DQ8 is goofy, charming, and endearing, but more importantly it’s still constantly enjoyable even after spending an absurd amount of time with it.

While Dragon Quest VIII doesn't try anything new or stray from formula, it's a great example of how execution can outweigh novelty. It may not be the HD remaster some were hoping for, but this is - in my book - the definitive version of Dragon Quest VIII.

This game is a classic in every sense of the word, and I'm overjoyed that it's available for a new generation to get their hands on.

Dragon Quest piles on the enhancements in the 3DS version, and these tiny improvements are so numerous, that Dragon quest VIII feels far less dated than an RPG over a decade old should feel.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is a fantastic addition to the 3DS, and easily one of the best games on the system. Everything is well crafted and highly polished, and there is enough new content and variations that even if you played the PS2 version to death, you will still find lots of surprises and nuances. With high presentation value, a charming story, tons of depth, and a traditional-yet-fun JRPG battle system, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is a must-own for 3DS RPG lovers, and easily an early contender for 2017 game of the year.

"Dragon Quest VIII is one of the best classic jRPGs" - this notion still stands today, in 2017. Fans of the genre certainly can't miss it and there's a chance this fantastic adventure will be interesting even for people who prefer different games.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King was already in the premiere class of RPGs with its initial release on PS2, and now Square Enix has somehow found a way to make it even better on the Nintendo 3DS in its definitive form.

Dragon Quest VIII 3D is every bit as good as the genuine PS2 game with a huge life and an awesome OST. The new features like the ability to speedup the fights are a welcome touch that will surely attract a younger audience.

Even with its handful of changes, or regretful omissions, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King on 3DS is a grandiose adventure that manages to evolve the series in terms of technical achievement and presentation, story-telling and overall convenience. It takes advantage of the enhancements of technology to help make this adventure a joy to work through, unlike some older RPGs can be nowadays.

An indispensable JRPG for Nintendo 3DS.

Dragon Quest VIII on Nintendo 3DS lacks the outstanding visuals of its original PlayStation 2 counterpart but definitely makes up for them with lots of new content and enhancement.

Dragon Quest VIII Journey of The Cursed King was an amazing JRPG back in 2006 and it stood the test of time brilliantly, thanks to the great work by the developers. There's much here to be loved by both the newcomers and the old fans, as we're talking about one of the best Japanese role playing games of all time, all considered.

A wonderful JRPG, although with twelve years behind it. It's still manages to shine, thanks also to the excellent work of revision by the developers.

As it stands, Dragon Quest 8 on 3DS is the best version of this game right now with fantastic new content and improvements. If you’ve never played it before, and you like RPGs then you owe it to yourself to give this one a go.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King truly stands the test of time. Having this PS2 classic on the 3DS, despite its slightly inferior presentation, is a mind boggling feat. Each new gameplay addition or tweak is smart, not taking anything away from the original vision.

Dragon Quest VIII is something special. It tells a lovely story with memorable characters in a captivatingly colourful style, features fun combat and a beautiful world to explore, and — most importantly — sparks a true sense of adventure and wonder throughout. This isn't just one of the best RPGs on the 3DS, it's one of the best RPGs full stop — and one of the best Dragon Quests to dive into for the uninitiated.

Dragon Quest VIII may have been around for a while but the 3DS is getting what can be the ultimate version of this cult RPG. Featuring a stunning audiovisual environment, an immersion that will plunge the players into the game's setting and new content that sets it apart from previous incarnations of the same chapter, Dragon Quest VIII: The Journey of The Curse King is setting the threshold very high for upcoming RPGs.

Dragon Quest VIII was one of the finest JRPGs upon its initial release and it manages to retain that lofty status through this 3DS edition. Its adherence to the traditional rules of the genre is where it pulls its strength from, the familiarity of the template allowing the design team to worry about making sure each element is as good as it can possibly can be.

Well made handheld port of one of the best JRPG with some sensible innovations.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is an enjoyable classic RPG on the 3DS with a few 21st century mechanics thrown into the pot. I like how it has been ported to the 3DS as it works on all levels from not just the control system but how the game plays out. It’s the perfect title for this console as it allows you to get lost in this world for either quick or long gaming sessions. Fighting is a challenge, creating items is easy and all in all, it’s a game that has been tailored for lovers of role-playing games.

This game is good. I have made good memories, and hope to make many more. I'm going to miss these characters, their quirks, their catch-phrases, and their flaws. It's a good egg.

The best Dragon Quest game gets bigger, but deserves a better port than this.

Journey of the Cursed King on Nintendo 3DS is the definitive version of Dragon Quest VIII. All the improvements and upgrades from the basic PS2 version work great and new content makes it appealing to old fans. I'm certain that every jRPG fan should own this particular game.

More than anything the pros far outweigh the cons when it comes to a title that, even after a decade after its release, still plays remarkably well and manages to put a smile on my face.

Dragon Quest VIII is hailed as a classic, and rightly so. Dragon Quest VIII on 3DS is a great place for new fans to jump on, as well as a perfect way for those who played it to relive a classic – and on the go, too. One of the PS2’s very best JRPGs is back, and it hasn’t aged a day.

This is the best version of one of the greatest JRPGs, a game every fan of the genre should play. If you played its original version, though, the additions might not be relevant enough.

Dragon Quest VIII Journey of the Cursed King is a special gem that has been made ready for the 3DS. The game offers an epic adventure and an even more epic soundtrack. The only downside to the game is the loading time in between fights.

The 3DS version of Dragon Quest VIII is realized very carefully, with new added features able to refresh the gameplay experience.

This was and still is a very special and charming J-RPG. It might not be as pretty as we remembered, while some of its problems got worse over time. But this still is a captivating gem straight out of Japan’s colorful roleplaying history.

A superb JRPG that, outside of its visuals, doesn't feel as though it's aged a single day since release. [Feb 2017, p.72]

The intriguing storyline and fluidity of the game make it a good one to play.

Occasionally, the gameplay changes up by throwing different mechanics every now and then, including one section where you assume control of a hamster to explore small nooks and crannies. However, these sections just feel tacked on and the hamster section felt fiddly and imprecise to control on the 3DS. These sections are irregular, allowing the focus to remain solely on the solid RPG mechanics.

Dragon Quest hasn't been about top-notch production values in recent years, but having them for this game certainly doesn't hurt. VIII has been a constant pleasure for me to experience in depth at last, and is now my favorite in the series. Anyone who didn't experience it on PS2 and has even the tiniest iota of interest should check it out immediately, and the additional content serves as a good inducement to get veterans interested in a revisit. This won't convert anyone who despises the stereotypical JRPG, but it shows just how well such a thing can be done.

While it is a bit of an odd duck in the series – many of the unique elements such as voice acting were reverted in the subsequent release of Dragon Quest IX – VIII it still holds a special place in the hearts of many gamers. The re-release also offers curious first-timers such as myself the ability to experience this hard to find gem in its full glory, rather than the tweaked versions available to smart devices. If you’re ready to stomach some old-school hangups with your goofy fun, this one’s worth a look.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King’s definitive home is now on 3DS.

Dragon Quest VIII is a game that's one big nostalgic nod to the past, for better and for worse. Despite this, its vibrant world and memorable characters will pull you through to journey's end.

If you have a 3DS, love RPGs and never played the PS3 original, consider Dragon Quest VIII an almost essential purchase. If anything, its easy-going style and accessibility make it a better fit for the handheld console than for the original platform, and you’ll struggle to find a JRPG that’s easier to pick up or harder to put down.

Dragon Quest VIII for the Nintendo 3DS is the best way to get into the Dragon Quest mood. A nice way to understand why everyone loves the franchise. But for the veteran player it's not much of an exercise of nostalgia.

Whether you’re returning, or you’ve always wanted to play a Dragon Quest game, this is the perfect place to start.

The new version of Dragon Quest VIII is perfect for both new and old players. The graphics and the OST are less impressive on the 3DS, but the overall experience is still amazing. The new mechanics and gameplay elements are great, turning the original experience in something better and more enjoyable.

Dragon Quest VIII is a pretty lengthy game, with the total playtime for the main story racking up to around 40 hours. However, despite the somewhat basic battle system, the game keeps itself fresh by letting us explore dungeons, grab loot and givingour characters costumes, it never feels like it’s been padded out like so many other JRPGs...Dragon Quest VIII is just a joy to be in, with the world being the main reason you come, evil wizards and looming destruction be damned.

Simple, charming, and considerably improved on the 3DS. Dragon Quest isn’t for everyone but this bridges the gap between retro and modern games very well.

The 3DS version of Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is a simple way of playing this amazing jrpg classic, but it is not as good as the original.

Dragon Quest VIII is a massive world with well over 50 hours of gameplay. It stands out thanks to stellar voice acting and a huge, quirky set of monsters to battle. While there’s plenty to do, both the plot and the majority of the characters are flat and uninteresting. The quicksave feature and the ability to increase battle speed are significant quality of life improvements over the original, making this a solid title sure to entertain JRPG fans, but the dated and grind-heavy mechanics can make it a bit of a slog.