Biggest Surprise of 2018
I haven't played a Dragon Quest game since VIII, but this is easily the best JRPG I've played since then. While I'm not the biggest fan of modern JRPGs, the occasional one grabs me, and this game drew me in from the minute it began. The visuals immediately grabbed me, as did the simple but effective combat. The dialogue is cheesy but fun and well executed, and I actually find myself listening to the voice acting, something which is pretty rare for me in games these days.
There's a serious nostalgia factor in this game, especially for anyone who has played the original Dragon Quest games. Many of the sound effects are the same as they were 30 years ago in the first Dragon Quest (then Dragon Warrior) game. The music cues are either the same or similar, and the character design and music are done by the same people who have been doing them for the past 10 games. This kind of cohesive vision which carries through all of the games is definitely one of the series strong points, and really shines in the newest installment.
I can whole-heartedly recommend this game to anyone, especially if you have any nostalgia for classic RPGs. Even if you don't typically play JRPGs, this game's simple yet charming design and gameplay have a great deal of appeal for gamers across the spectrum. In a year with amazing releases ranging from God of War to Dead Cells, this game could easily become my Game of the Year.