Dragon Quest IX Nintendo DS Exclusive

[HeroOfTimeGCN]

http://nintendonow.e-mpire.com/index...articleid=3989

Early this morning, Square-Enix presented some incredible news at a Japanese Press Conference. Rumor had it that Square-Enix planned on discussing an upcoming installment of the Dragon Quest series, possibly one that had already been announced. Everyone was shocked when the rumors were half true and half false.

The most recent installment of the series, Dragon Quest VIII, was a PlayStation 2 exclusive title. Many a gamer was hoping that the next main adventure would be a Wii exclusive title, mainly due to the console's intuitive control scheme. While it is true that an upcoming game was talked about, it had yet to be announced. It's also true that the next main installment will be Nintendo exclusive, but it will not be released on Wii.

Dragon Quest XI: Defender of the Stars will be developed and published exclusively for the Nintendo DS.

This is not a spin-off, not a side quest. Oh no, this is the full blown main adventure, people.

Development is being handled by Level 5, the developers of Dragon Quest VIII, and will feature 4 player co-op over Nintendo WiFi Connection and Local Wireless. The team stated that they are shooting for a 2007 release. This new development proves Square-Enix's newfound trust in Nintendo's technology and philosophy, and is sure to boost sales of the system to a meteoric rise when the game is released.

NintendoNow will have more on this story as it develops.

[Dorbin]

NNOW brings you the first screens and logo here: Click!

[D3adcell]

Damn, that was not expected. I believe I will have to purchase this game though. Since its on the DS it should be at a more affordable price too.

[Dorbin]

^ Righto, 35 bucks. Yummy.

[frosty]

didn't they show a trailer for the wii version at E3? I seem to remember seeing one. I may be thinking of the wrong game, but I remember seeing some kid running through the woods fighting baddies with the wiimote.

[Gookanheimer]

I think that's a spinoff game, not one from the main series like this one.

I've never played any of the games before, and had never heard of them before a few months back. So I'll wait for the reviews (if it makes its way out here...?)

[Dorbin]

^It'll make its way out here.

[Gookanheimer]

Oh, ok. Wasn't sure if the one on PS2 had made its way here or not because the only guy I know who raves on about it is currently living over in England.

[Lucent Beam]

Development is being handled by Level 5, the developers of Dragon Quest VIII, and will feature 4 player co-op over Nintendo WiFi Connection and Local Wireless. The team stated that they are shooting for a 2007 release. This new development proves Square-Enix's newfound trust in Nintendo's technology and philosophy, and is sure to boost sales of the system to a meteoric rise when the game is released.

At first this news kind of po-ed me, because I don't see why they're not making it for a console.. but multiplayer co-op over Wi-Fi?! Square-Enix can have babies with me, because that's awesome.

[dementia]

It's action oriented, too.

I always wanted a WiFi PSO for DS or PSP. This will suffice.

[Shadow Voa]

Wow Nintendo you never cease to amaze me... I really did peg this game as a PS3 release. Oh well Im quite happy anyway, I love my DS and the love for this machine from Square will just not stop!!

[Vishus]

At least the DS provided something new because this is like the first of anything in a long time. If the DS was just a really powerful Game Boy I would have been dissapointed because the only thing good about it would be the portability and price and that's not a seller to me. With PS2 graphics they put it on the DS. They could have put it on the Wii but they didn't and they made it exclusive. This news is just such a mouthful.

[Cofey]

^ Righto, 35 bucks. Yummy.

Could be 40. FFIII is 40, both are Square-Enix. I don't care, I'm getting it anyway.

[koten]

Square-Enix lurves Nintendo!

[Markopolo356]

Nice, I've never been into the dragon quest series by not having a PS or PS2, but multiplayer over wifi = awesome.

[Xer0]

Geez, like Japan needs more reasons to buy a DS

[Shadow Voa]

^ I bet Square exec's are all patting themselves on the backs and toasting this news with some Sake LOL

[Mr. Coww]

This is like throwing money in their pocket.. I mean RPG on the DS thats this popular is basicly instant income for square.

[pac4life]

Watch the next one become a Wii exclusive once the system takes off in Japan

[HolyPaladin]

I've been happy with this news since I ran across it yesterday. I've been a fan of the series since the original NES game, though I didn't get to play many installments on the PlayStation until Dragon Quest VIII. It really tickled me that I first ran across this news posted on a thread in the PS3 boards on GameFAQs, since they were all pissed off about it not being for Sony's hardware. They wondered why Square-Enix would put it on the DS, and I asked why not. The DS doesn't have an installed base like the PS2, yet, but it beats the living crap out of the PS3 and development costs for a DS game are a fraction of those for a next-gen system.