Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker

 DS
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
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  1. Nintendo Gamer
    72
    A welcome twist on the Pokemon formula, but only an English translation will really uncover the game's possible depths. For now, it's fun and a joy to look at. [Mar 2007, p.75]
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  2. Play Magazine
    70
    If you don't dig Pokemon, do DQM. Or, if you've already beaten Pokemon, take a stab at DQM. In the end, though, it's just more of the same. [Nov 2007, p.77]
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  3. GameDaily
    70
    Despite a horrendously nonsensical title and some time consuming level exploration, Square Enix's Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker has everything a monster battling role-playing fan could want, including sassy accented text and tons of monsters to recruit and battle.
  5. Gaming Nexus
    70
    Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker provides a good spin on the monster collecting style of gameplay, and it is definitely more challenging than what the other companies out there provide.
  6. NTSC-uk
    70
    As a monster-collecting game, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker isn’t in the same league as Pokémon. As an RPG however, it’s a big success.
  7. Eurogamer
    70
    It's difficult to shake off the suspicion that the game is a bit slight. You can get through the whole thing in little over 20 hours, which seems a bit short for an RPG - especially considering the amount of level-grinding.
  8. GotNext
    70
    Though the pacing is quite nice for a 40 hour quest, you spend way too much time gallivanting about the land to just level up. The scenery may be pretty, but it's a chore to go through.
  9. Gaming Age
    67
    Controls are rigid and unforgiving using the d-pad. Thankfully, you can use the R and L buttons to rotate the camera and move forward at the same time, this makes for much more fluid turning than using the d-pad.
  10. GamePro
    65
    Joker could've used a heaping helping of the friendly big touch-screen button style interface that the latest Pokemon mastered, but ultimately with these monster hunter games, it's really just just up to your brand preference.
  11. Modojo
    60
    SquareEnix did its hardest to push the Nintendo DS on a technical level, and this crude approximation of Level 5's graphical work with Dragon Quest VIII can at least be admired on that level.
  12. NintendoWorldReport
    60
    More frustrating than fun.

Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Best DS Game of 2007
26
#26 Most Discussed DS Game of 2007
14
#14 Most Shared DS Game of 2007

User Reviews

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User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 35 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 35
  3. Negative: 4 out of 35
  1. lustrofuria
    Dec 19, 2011
    8
    This game have a very good combat system, cool monsters, good system of fuse monsters and heir or evolve abilities from previous monsters. TheThis game have a very good combat system, cool monsters, good system of fuse monsters and heir or evolve abilities from previous monsters. The only bad aspect of game is in the scenarios. Is poor. But is a very good game. It's very cool see the monsters in your natural size in the scenarios.… Full Review »
  2. Tabbou
    Jul 19, 2022
    8
    Really good : the story, battles, stuff, skills, tame monsters, fuse them and create stronger ones, all are set for a good RPG.
    Too bad that    Really good : the story, battles, stuff, skills, tame monsters, fuse them and create stronger ones, all are set for a good RPG.
    Too bad that some monsters can only be obtained via wi-fi and online stuff (all of them are down right now) Still, you can play on emulator and enjoy ^^    … Full Review »
  3. DinoBeam
    Mar 26, 2022
    5
    This has a cool concept and monster-combining mechanic, but your walking speed and battles are super super slow, with long fades to black, andThis has a cool concept and monster-combining mechanic, but your walking speed and battles are super super slow, with long fades to black, and you cannot change the speed at all! The art design of the characters is also very cheap.… Full Review »
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