Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince
- September 11, 2024
- Tose
- 80h median play time
Get on SteamIn DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince, players step into the shoes of Psaro, a cursed individual seeking to create a monster army. Traverse the ever-changing world of Nadiria, capturing and synthesizing over 500 monsters from the DRAGON QUEST series. Your goal: become the ultimate Monster Wrangler and uncover the secrets of Psaro's past.
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Reviews
- The monster synthesis system is engaging and allows for deep customization, making it a standout feature of the game.
- The game offers a nostalgic experience for long-time fans of the Dragon Quest Monsters series, with a large roster of unique monsters and charming art style.
- The gameplay is enjoyable with quality of life improvements like auto-battle and fast travel, making it accessible for both new players and veterans.
- The story is often criticized as bland and lacking depth, with many players feeling it doesn't live up to the standards of previous entries in the series.
- The absence of multiplayer features in the PC version is a significant downside, especially for fans who enjoyed competitive play in earlier games.
- Some players find the game to be overly grindy, with a repetitive structure that can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- story177 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince" receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its charm and connection to the Dragon Quest lore, while others criticize it as bland, generic, and lacking depth. Many feel that the narrative serves primarily as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling experience, with dialogue choices that lack meaningful impact. Overall, while long-time fans may find enjoyment in the familiar elements, newcomers might find the story underwhelming and reliant on prior knowledge of the series.
“The story unfolds beautifully, with plenty of plot twists, memorable characters, and rich world-building that makes every interaction feel meaningful.”
“This unique premise sets the stage for a compelling narrative, and Psaro’s quest for vengeance against his father, the demon lord, gives the game a personal and emotional depth that enhances the overall experience.”
“For long-time fans of the Dragon Quest franchise and newcomers alike, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince delivers an exhilarating, monster-catching RPG experience that rivals the best in the genre.”
“The story is boring and silly.”
“The story is absolutely awful; the main character is basically an observer in his own story with absolutely no agency and no purpose since the hero (not you) could literally solve every problem.”
“The plot is absolutely dull, generic, and simply bad, and the riddles and maps themselves are very tedious and annoying.”
- gameplay39 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the engaging monster-catching and breeding mechanics that stay true to the series' roots, while others criticize the lack of innovation and depth compared to previous titles. The introduction of new features like the egg mechanic and seasonal changes adds variety, but some players feel that certain mechanics are poorly explained and the overall experience can feel shallow. Despite these criticisms, fans of monster collection games find the gameplay satisfying and worth exploring.
“The addition of the egg mechanic is a welcome change, reducing the grind of acquiring new monsters.”
“This game has a really satisfying gameplay loop of going out to collect monsters and then breeding them with other monsters to create unexpected results which you can use gladiator style in conquest for the main story.”
“There are so many fun unique mechanics that make you excited to capture new weird-looking monsters to try and fuse them together, and to figure out the systems for large and small creatures, and their unique talents and the way they get transferred when fusing various monsters.”
“Certain mechanics could be explained better, and the HUD in battles could be more informative.”
“Overall I love that the gameplay is almost exactly like the original Game Boy game, but you would think it would have some upgrades by now; it just seems a bit lazy.”
“I like the graphics, storyline, and music, but the gameplay feels shallow, even compared to previous Dragon Quest Monster Joker games.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of "The Dark Prince" have received mixed reviews, with many noting that while the art style is charming and reminiscent of Akira Toriyama's designs, the textures and overall visual quality feel dated, particularly as a port from the Switch. Players appreciate the smooth performance and modern features on PC, but some criticize the simplistic graphics and occasional lighting issues, deeming them "passable" rather than impressive. Overall, the visuals are seen as adequate for enjoyment but not groundbreaking, aligning with the series' established aesthetic.
“The dark prince is a good game when it's about some brainless grinding, relaxing, enjoying the visuals and reliving some old nostalgic vibes.”
“His signature character designs, combined with beautifully rendered 3D environments, give the game a charming, timeless aesthetic.”
“Anyone who has played the switch version will understand how much of a tremendous upgrade this is in terms of visuals and performance.”
“There's just really bad textures and graphics in this, and way too simplistic and child-like approach to the story and plot.”
“You can tell it's a port from Switch as even in 1440p, max graphics, and even further anti-aliasing from the NVIDIA control panel, the graphics look okay at best.”
“Graphics: Switch port grade.”
- music20 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic elements and the orchestral compositions by Koichi Sugiyama that enhance the game's atmosphere. However, some tracks have been criticized for sounding subpar or poorly assembled, leading to a perception that the soundtrack lacks innovation and risks. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the experience, it does not reach the heights of previous Dragon Quest titles.
“The soundtrack, composed by Koichi Sugiyama, perfectly complements the game’s atmosphere.”
“The music ranges from epic, sweeping orchestral pieces during intense battles to more serene and whimsical tunes while exploring.”
“I love that there is voice acting, and the music is nostalgic with a bit of an upbeat twist.”
“Also, a ton of the music for this game was just copied and pasted from DQMJ2.”
“Music tracks that are not borrowed from the original game(s) all sound shockingly bad.”
“I have no idea how they put together the soundtrack for this game, but it sounds like either a bad AI or a tone-deaf kid put the tracks together at random.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding is a prominent aspect of the game, with many players finding it either tedious or enjoyable depending on their tolerance for time investment. While some appreciate the streamlined mechanics and auto-battle features that make grinding more manageable, others criticize the dull pacing and lack of engaging story elements. Overall, the game is recognized for its nostalgic appeal and visual quality, but it remains heavily focused on grinding, which may deter those seeking a more narrative-driven experience.
“Stay away if you don’t like grinding, can’t stand poorly designed monsters, or are looking for an intense story.”
“It's also still a very grindy process to level and synthesize good creatures.”
“Though a series known for its grinding, the tweaks to this one make said grind feel even more slow and languid at times, and the generally dull pacing and uninteresting characters didn't help make the game feel worth seeing through.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization on PC has received positive feedback, with users noting significant improvements in performance and visuals compared to the Switch version. While some players experienced minimal issues on lower-end hardware, concerns about potential late-game optimization remain. The consensus is that the PC version runs smoothly, making it a worthwhile upgrade for those familiar with the Switch's performance shortcomings.
“While the Switch has been no stranger to controversy regarding game performance on its hardware, I am happy to report that even my below-average PC had minimal issues running this game.”
“Anyone who has played the Switch version will understand how much of a tremendous upgrade this is in terms of visuals and performance.”
“Game runs perfectly on PC, as I know it had some performance issues on Switch.”
“Requested a refund because this game is just a port and not optimized for PCs.”
“That being said, the game's biggest flaw on Switch was performance, and that's not really a problem on PC.”
“Late-game areas may still be unoptimized, I don't know.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is seen as a positive evolution from previous titles, with a family-friendly approach that appeals to a younger audience. Players appreciate the witty interactions among characters, particularly the dynamic between Psaro and his companions, which adds depth and emotional resonance to the story. Overall, the humor enhances the gaming experience while maintaining a lighthearted tone.
“A direct upgrade from previous games, and while I think it's funny they switched breeding to fusion (synthesizing), I get that they want to appeal to a younger audience and get them into the game as well, so they took the family-friendly approach and I can get behind that.”
“Playing Dragon Quest games since childhood has fundamentally altered my sense of humor.”
“The interactions between Psaro and his companions are filled with humor, tension, and heart, creating a dynamic party dynamic that evolves as the story progresses.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, highlighted by its robust fusion system that allows players to experiment with countless combinations and builds, ensuring a fresh experience with each playthrough. Users emphasize its longevity, describing it as a classic with nearly infinite replay value.
“Classic banger with great replay value.”
“Longevity: endless replayability.”
“The robust fusion system alone provides nearly infinite replay value, as players can experiment with different combinations and builds to create the ultimate monster team.”
“Longevity: endless replayability”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its nostalgic music that evokes a sense of peace, alongside a compelling narrative centered on Psaro's quest for vengeance, which adds personal depth. This blend of heartfelt storytelling, strategic combat, and the joy of monster-raising contributes to its distinction within the Dragon Quest Monsters series.
“The music, whether it was nostalgia or just that good, made me feel peaceful enough that I woke up from a five-hour nap, and I am advocating this with zero gameplay experience.”
“This unique premise sets the stage for a compelling narrative, and Psaro’s quest for vengeance against his father, the demon lord, gives the game a personal and emotional depth that enhances the overall experience.”
“Its combination of heartfelt storytelling, strategic combat, and the joy of raising monsters makes it stand out as one of the finest entries in the Dragon Quest Monsters series.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a diverse roster of monsters with appealing and imaginative character designs, contributing to its charming and timeless aesthetic, enhanced by beautifully rendered 3D environments.
“It has a huge roster of monsters with cool, cute, and charming character designs.”
“His signature character designs, combined with beautifully rendered 3D environments, give the game a charming, timeless aesthetic.”
- stability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with minimal glitches or bugs reported, aside from a minor issue with a mandrake character. Additionally, it performs well on the Steam Deck, indicating good optimization.
“It runs great on Steam Deck.”
“I encountered frequent crashes that made it impossible to enjoy the game.”
“The game is riddled with bugs that disrupt gameplay and ruin the experience.”
“I experienced several instances of the game freezing, forcing me to restart.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is significantly enhanced by the soundtrack composed by Koichi Sugiyama, which is noted for its perfect complement to the overall experience.
“The soundtrack, composed by Koichi Sugiyama, perfectly complements the game’s atmosphere.”
