Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2

 DS
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77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 25 Ratings

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  • Summary: As Monster Scouts, players can recruit wild monsters to build a team and battle against other players in this turn-based role-playing game. Each year, monster scouts from around the world gather to compete for the title of world's greatest scout. Players crash-land on a mysterious islandAs Monster Scouts, players can recruit wild monsters to build a team and battle against other players in this turn-based role-playing game. Each year, monster scouts from around the world gather to compete for the title of world's greatest scout. Players crash-land on a mysterious island after their airship is struck by lightning. They must rescue their missing passengers and crew members by fighting various enemies using their own monster parties. The only way off the island is to solve its many mysteries.
    … Expand
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E3 2011: Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 - Official Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Cubed3
    Dec 4, 2011
    90
    Square Enix and development team TOSE have delivered yet another superb entry into the series that may not challenge Pokémon in terms of worldwide sales, but certainly does match it in many ways in the quality stakes.
  2. IGN
    Sep 16, 2011
    85
    Joker 2 has its frustrations, like the level-grinding it sometimes demands and the offense that some monsters take when you try to recruit them. But that monster synthesis system is pure, addictive fun.
  3. Vandal
    Oct 25, 2011
    85
    Playing with Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 is a satisfying experience with some seldom frustrating situations derived from choices in the design of the capture system. Combat are intense, fun and attractive, but the real focus is in the monster synthesizer, which shines.
  4. Digital Chumps
    Sep 18, 2011
    78
    At first glance, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 is a typical monster hunting RPG, but its efforts to streamline some of the mundane foundational aspects of its brethren help to set it apart. Such conveniences don't come without sacrifice, however; with the shameless implementation of level grinding, a throwaway storyline, and a frequent problem with pacing, you'll have to look beyond its blemishes to if you wish to embrace its triumphs.
  5. 1UP
    Sep 27, 2011
    75
    It's a brisk, no-nonsense take on the monster-collecting style of role-playing game. Sure, it's also a bit heartless, but as corporate America has taught us, sometimes that's what it takes to be efficient.
  6. Eurogamer Portugal
    Nov 14, 2011
    70
    Dragon Quest Monster: Joker 2 is a game aimed at combating and only for this purpose can it be truly enjoyed.
  7. Metro GameCentral
    Oct 3, 2011
    50
    Dragon Quest meets Pokémon but the resultant synthesis really only inherits the worst of both parents, despite some impressive visuals.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Borg1982
    Aug 16, 2022
    10
    A great, tough catching system for high-end Monsters, nice zones to walk thru with a weather system that affects rare monsters, changing outA great, tough catching system for high-end Monsters, nice zones to walk thru with a weather system that affects rare monsters, changing out between up to 6 monsters (with 3 in battle and 3 waiting behind), 50% EXP if you dont use the three behind, 10% EXP for your entire farm (even if you dont use them)... I could go on all day about the quality of life. Its shameful that I didnt feel like playing this on release ten years ago, because I missed out on what would have been my first lifetime "100" score (ignoring ff4/dq11's 110 score). I literally hated absolutely nothing in this game. If i hated DQ3's slower NES grinding for just minutes, then that is why DQ3 is a 98, and Joker 2 is not a 98 score. It is without flaw.… Expand
  2. Sweet_paco
    Dec 11, 2021
    9
    This game is so addicting, lot of things to try, specially with shyntesis mechanic, the history is pretty good, the graphics are good, its sadThis game is so addicting, lot of things to try, specially with shyntesis mechanic, the history is pretty good, the graphics are good, its sad that they didnt relase the secuel in europe, great game… Expand
  4. Serin
    Nov 5, 2011
    8
    Capture monsters from around a fantasy world, build a team, and battle them against other teams. Sounds like Pokemon, right? I'd be lying if ICapture monsters from around a fantasy world, build a team, and battle them against other teams. Sounds like Pokemon, right? I'd be lying if I said this game wasn't a LOT like it, but it's the differences that make DQM a lot more fun and casual. For starters, capturing is much less of a pain. Once you spot a monster you want, you sic your team on him for one turn. They each attack and build up a bar to a certain percentage, and then you either get lucky or you don't. But you know EXACTLY how close you were. If something is nearly impossible to catch, you'll know you're wasting your time. And forget having to memorize moveset lists and worrying about eggs and daycare and junk. Here you just combine two monsters together and choose which new one you'd like along with any skills you want them to inherit. I'd nearly forgotten about the actual plot of the game as I spent hours messing with my teams, making huge dragons and angelic slimes and whatnot. In fact, the story is pretty forgettable overall, but that's on par for basically every Dragon Quest game. You come for the gameplay, the colorful art, the terrible/funny puns, and an enjoyable waste of time. Definitely worth your money if you're a DQ or Pokemon fan!… Expand
  5. sadsonicfan
    Oct 7, 2011
    8
    It's definitely a fun and addicting game. I think the game now has nearly twice the monsters as DQM 1 which was my main gripe in the previousIt's definitely a fun and addicting game. I think the game now has nearly twice the monsters as DQM 1 which was my main gripe in the previous instalement. I'm still not a fan of the synthesis in comparison with the breeding system found in Dragon warrior monsters 1 and 2, as it doesn't feel as natural. Despite how breeding has been omitted (which I think is because of the younger target audience), the synthesis of some monsters is extrodinarily time consuming. To make matters worse, monsters that are scouted once, or have been owned, are much harder to scout. The ranking system is also strange, and makes some monsters more valuable than others (though this doesn't usually reflect how valuable or how rare the monster is). Some cool features about DQM 2 Joker is that size was introduced. Now huge monsters actually are huge, and make up two or three monsters. This means that your team may consist of a single huge and powerful monster!

    I had fun with this game, just don't expect to collect every monster as this would require you to win some online tournaments.    … Expand
  6. skibum232
    Oct 16, 2011
    8
    Fun to any DQ or even JRPG player, I didn't realize where the time goes because you get immersed in the world and building/leveling yourFun to any DQ or even JRPG player, I didn't realize where the time goes because you get immersed in the world and building/leveling your team.

    For me the DQ and DQM series haven't been necessarily about story, it has been exploring and growing as well as changing my team. Moving from area to area is just a way to test and grow your team. At this DQMJ2 does an awesome job, you have a variety of monsters and moving them up is a fun process.

    The synthesis process, while fun, still is not 100% there. Changing classes, monsters is a crap shoot unless you go through lengthy online forums or even guides to say monster a is this and b is that. Through trial and error I managed to make a large dragon and some level B creatures, but never advanced beyond there. This also leads into the reason why the game is a solid 8.

    In synthesizing and leveling I guess I lost track of the games end goal as well and the ending, at least to me, seemed very sudden and I personally thought the game had more to it.

    But those gripes are minor at best, I still put in close to 30 hours into the game and again I would put this in the must buy for RPG fans and DS owners.    … Expand
  7. rubin
    Apr 28, 2012
    7
    I'm on fence right now whether this game's worth 6 or 7. On one hand, the game has certainly improved since it's first DS instalment. GiantI'm on fence right now whether this game's worth 6 or 7. On one hand, the game has certainly improved since it's first DS instalment. Giant monsters are now a prominent part of a gameplay, and can be both defeated and captured. The locations are also a lot better than the last time, even though they can still feel a little empty. Building and leveling your ultimate team is as fun as it's always been, while the graphics are quite nice to the eye. The monster's designs are a mishmash of both cute and badass, and many of them, in their sheer quirkiness, give Pokemon a run for the money (to give you an example, your starter monster is... two mutated peppers skewered on a BBQ spit). And yet, at the same time, the game manages to have an absolute worst plot I have ever seen, so bad that I had to write a sentence about it even though I normally don't give a crap about plot in those type of games. Many gameplay elements are flawed. Scouting (capturing) large monsters is a typical case of fake difficulty, while synthesising has an annoying rule about leveling monsters to level 10. Seriously, what's the point? To artificially bloat my gameplay time? No thanks, I'd rather do something else. Soundtrack was shamelessly cp'ed from the first game, which wouldn't even be that much of a problem if it was actually good. With all things considered, I'm giving this game a 6.5, rounded up to 7. If you're a plot sensitive type avoid this game at all costs. Those interested in a classic jRPG experience, though, should find something to enjoy in DQM:J2.… Expand
  8. Yojimbo2015
    Jun 4, 2023
    5
    A combat-based RPG-lite that's pretty much just a rather graphically ugly Pokémon rip-off. It may find fans amongst those who enjoy itsA combat-based RPG-lite that's pretty much just a rather graphically ugly Pokémon rip-off. It may find fans amongst those who enjoy its inspiration, but I personally find the Pokémon games pretty tedious.… Expand

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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best DS Game of 2011
20
#20 Most Discussed DS Game of 2011
11
#11 Most Shared DS Game of 2011