The very first issue of Nintendo Power I ever received contained a special pull-out feature on a new game called Dragon Warrior (or Dragon Quest in Japan, though I'm still not sure why anybody thought that name wouldn't work in the states). While the game seems primitive in hindsight -- offering fewer dungeons than any Legend of Zelda title, weaving a storyline less complex than that of a modern Mega Man game and not being impossible to complete in a long afternoon -- it was a keystone in the construction of one of videogaming's most beloved genres as well as a downright good time for us children of the eight-bit era.
The many sequels in the Dragon Quest lineage have always honored tradition and this latest spin-off for the Nintendo Wii is no exception. Favorite enemies, items, sound effects and other homages to the roots of the franchise abound. The plot is straight out of the Dragon Quest playbook as well: many years ago the kingdom was threatened by a horrible fiend who was sealed away and now, as the son of the hero, you are charged by the crown with investigating the strange happenings of late along with your best friend the prince and a girl who uses magic. Fortunately, the gameplay is a lot more fresh than the scenario.
Combat is where this game shines and, like most RPGs, there's plenty of it to go around. With little practice, the Wii remote can be used to slash horizontally, vertically and diagonally to carve up entire rows of slimes. A press of the button turns the remote into a shield that, if used properly, can enable an adept player to traipse through entire regions of the map without taking any damage. Allies can be asked to wait while you take care of business, launch an all out attack or concentrate on healing support.
Perhaps the only real problem with this game may be its length. If you typically spend ten hours or more each day with a controller in your hand, your may feel that this game does not deliver your money's worth. However, if, like me, you only turn on your console for an hour in the evening, you'll get a solid two weeks of enjoyment. If, like me, you've been a fan of all things Dragon Quest since the descendent of Erdrick first came to Alefgard, this game will draw you in with the first familiar notes of the score.