Wow, this game is good. I haven't play a DQ since I and II on the NES, but I have to say I'm having a lot of fun. Of course, to enjoy this game you have to 1) enjoy grinding, 2) not mind random encounters, 3) like old School JRPG. Fortunately for me, I fall into all 3 categories.
First of all, I love the graphics. The anime inspired cell shaded graphic a beautiful, and goes to show how art style can triumph over technology. In fact, I would love it if the next Zelda game would stylized cell-shaded graphics like this game. Now I'm not talking about the Wind Waker, but a style inspired by the Zelda I/Zelda II instruction manual from the NES days. Here's what I'm talking about Man, try and tell me a Zelda game that looked like the screen above wouldn't kick ass? Here's hoping.
Back to DQ VIII, the music is also fantastic. Everything if fully orchestration and sounds beautiful.
Gameplay is totally old school--lots of grinding but there's something satisfying about grinding and just trying to get to the next level...
Of course, not all is peachy--I do wish they advanced the game a bit. I realize that it's a tradition in the DQ games to only save in the churches, but really? This is 2009 (er--released in 2005). Also, it's a bit annoying to go to an INN then a church to save/heal. Oh well, hopefully in DQ IX they will decide to stream line some of the game for us.
