Review: Dragon Quest VIII – Journey of the Cursed King
First and foremost, I apologize for the length of time it took me to write this review. Those of you who follow me closely certainly noticed that this title hung around on my “Now Playing” banner for quite awhile. Aside from being a massive game, Dragon Quest VIII also captured my attention and sucked me in to the point that I wanted to experience every single thing this game had to offer. Combine that with all of the other projects I have going on and well, let’s just say it took a while for me to finish the game.
It’s been a little over two years since I last checked in with the Dragon Quest series. So, if you’ve not seen my reviews for the first seven games, you may want to give them a look before continuing. This review assumes that you are familiar with the previous games in the series. With that out of the way, let’s get started.
Dragon Quest VIII is unique among its peers for a number of reasons. For starters, it is the first game in the series to be released in the west under its original name. Until this game, every DQ title in the US originally went under the “Dragon Warrior” banner. This game also marks the series’ first release on the Playstation 2 console. And, in the eyes of many (myself included), the PS2 allowed the developers to visually present the game in a way that they had only dreamed about before. To date, DQVIII has seen two proper western releases; the original PS2 release and an updated version for the 3DS. For many players, the 3DS version is considered to be the definitive version of the game. This is due to the inclusion of new story content, new monsters, new playable characters, and new items and equipment. However, it should be noted that some functionality in the 3DS version was dependent on Nintendo’s StreetPass and other online technologies that have since been decommissioned. This means that players firing up the 3DS version today will not be able to get the full experience unless they are comfortable with hacking their 3DS and/or running an unofficial version of the game. The 3DS version is also highly criticized for having a lower quality soundtrack and lower quality graphics than the PS2 original. Also, one final difference in the 3DS release is the way monster encounters are initiated. In the original release, battles were treated as blind random encounters. In the 3DS version, players are able to see monsters as they explore and thus, are able to avoid encounters if they choose.
With all of this in mind, I find it very difficult to suggest one version over the other. The 3DS release certainly has some advantages over the PS2 version. But at the same time, it also deviates from the original vision of the game in some ways. Also, both versions are now out of print and difficult to come by. Thankfully, Dragon Quest seems to be having a resurgence here in the west and updated releases of games in the series are consistently seeing the light of day. Hopefully, a version of DQVIII is released for modern consoles in the near future. Until then, I unable to recommend one version over the other. For this review, I played the 3DS version of the game because it was the one I had at my disposal.
As is usually the case with Dragon Quest games, you play as an unnamed hero. In this game, the hero is a former member of the royal guard from the Kingdom of Trodain. This kingdom was recently attacked by an evil mage known as Dhoulmagus. During his assault, Dhoulmagus transformed the people of the kingdom into statues and cursed the King by morphing him into a toad-like troll, while also turning the princess into a horse. The game begins with the hero, his companion Yangus, and the King and Princess as they pursue Dhoulmagus. Over the course of the game players will encounter new characters who will join them on their quest. As the game progresses, more and more details about Dhoulmagus and his motives are made clear. The end result is a truly epic story that you’re unlikely to forget.
In many ways, Dragon Quest VIII follows the conventional JRPG formula that players have come to expect from the series. But there’s plenty of new surprises in the store for fans of the series. For starters, this game is the first Dragon Quest title to feature a fully three-dimensional open world. That’s right, the days of the classic bird’s-eye perspective are officially over. Instead, we now have an over-the-shoulder seamless world explore. But fret not, DQVIII still features the standard turn-based combat system that have been a staple of the series since the beginning. The Vocation system from the previous game is gone. Instead, characters in DQVIII each have their own area of expertise. This game features a skill point system that allows the players to fine tune the characters however they choose (but still within in unique parameters of that character).
Other staples from the series are still present in this game. This includes, but is not limited to, casino games, monster recruitment, and a slew of side quests. So, if you’re worried that the new presentation might somehow cast a shadow on the legacy elements of the series, fear not.
If the plot summary above seems over simplistic, don’t be fooled. While the set up for the game is pretty basic. The storyline is anything but. As the player explores the world and interacts the with various NPCs, they will take on additional quests. These side quests provide additional lore and detail that enrich the experience and actually unleash a living breathing world unlike anything the Dragon Quest series has seen so far.
The rich storyline, deep customization, and open world really captured my imagination with this title. Until now, I’ve always enjoyed the Dragon Quest games. But I never really connected with them the way I had with other JRPGs. This game changed that. Without a doubt, Dragon Quest VIII is the shining jewel of the series thus far. All of the classic DQ elements are here, the Toriyama art direction, the classical score, and the silly linguistics. But in addition to all of that, we now have a very immersive world that you are able to explore at will. All of this together really captures a certain kind of magic. It’s like lightning in a bottle. THIS is the Dragon Quest I’ve always wanted to play. The other games always came close. But somehow, they just felt like they were missing something. That’s not the case with this game at all. If you’re a JRPG fan, you owe it yourself to play this game. The only downside is that there’s no version available for modern consoles.
Version Reviewed: Nintendo 3DS
Difficulty: Medium – As with recent titles in the series, players who progress through the game at a normal pace will find the challenge to be just about right. Of course, being an RPG there’s always the option to grind and get ahead of the curve. For this game in particular, a little grinding goes a long way. Just a few hours of powerleveling drops the difficulty of the title down significantly. Players who experience the 3DS version of the game may be tempted to try to avoid combat encounter since they can see the enemies roaming out in the open. But doing so too often will result in players not leveling up which can make boss encounters harder than they should be.
Multiplayer: N/A
Story: In a genre often plagued with “save the princess” or “save the planet” tropes, the concept of the cursed king is a unique and fun change. Of course, as the story progresses, things certainly evolve past that. But the set up is a refreshing change of pace.
Originality: While many classic DQ elements are present here, this new chapter introduces a number of big changes. A largely open world with a 3D view breathes new life into the series.
Soundtrack: As always in the Dragon Quest series, this game contains some amazing classical-style compositions. The PS version features CD quality music. But sadly, the 3DS version is not quite as good. On the other side of the coin, the 3DS version does include additional voice acting that isn’t present in the original game. So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag regardless of the version you play.
Fun: This is the most fun I’ve had with a Dragon Quest game since the original trilogy. This game is the perfect example of what a JRPG should be. Everything about this game hits the mark – graphics, music, characters, and even the storyline itself. It’s the perfect formula for an amazing game.
Graphics: Dragon Quest VIII continues the tradition of featuring Akira Toriyama’s art. The cel-shading art direction made possible by the PS2 really makes Toriyama’s visuals come to life in a way that the series has never been able to accomplish before. If you thought that DQVII looked good, you’ve seen nothing yet. This is the best Dragon Quest has ever looked.
Playcontrol: No real complaints. This is a turn-based game that doesn’t rely too heavily of precise controls.
Downloadable Content: Free DLC items available in the 3DS version. – SERVICE NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Mature Content: N/A
Value: Getting your hands on a copy of this game is going to cost you. Unopened copies of the 3DS version often sell for over $100 and used copies are not far behind. Used copies of the PS2 version can often be found for significantly less, typically in the $30-$50 range. It’s worth nothing that the game has also been ported to mobile phones, and these ports are probably the cheapest way to enjoy the game. However, these mobile versions are not the best way to experience the game. Until this title sees a modern re-rerelease, you’re going to pay a pretty penny to get your hands on a preferred copy.
Overall score (1-100): 100 – Dragon Quest VIII is truly an amazing game that really stands out as a pinnacle for the JRPG genre. In my eyes, it’s the perfect representation of an early 2000’s role playing game. I’ve always been a fan of the series. But I’ve never had any problem pointing out the shortcomings of the various games. This entry, however, is nearly flawless. It’s a shame that it’s so hard to get your hands on a copy today. If you’ve never played a DQ game, and you can manage to snag a copy of this game, it’s a great place to start.
Original System: Sony Playstation 2
Available today on: Currently unavailable – (Updated as of Spring 2026)
Best Experience: 3DS – (Updated as of Spring 2026)
Other Reviews In This Series:
Dragon Quest – Dragon Quest II – Dragon Quest III – Dragon Quest IV – Dragon Quest V – Dragon Quest VI – Dragon Quest VII – Dragon Quest VIII – Dragon Quest IX – Dragon Quest X – Dragon Quest XI
Dragon Quest Swords – Dragon Quest Heroes – Dragon Quest Heroes II
Dragon Quest Builders – Dragon Quest Builders II
