Nintendo has announced the release date of the next Dragon Quest title to grace North American shores, and it’s much sooner than you might think. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King will make its Nintendo 3DS debut on January 20. A fan favorite for its memorable characters, beautiful visuals, and sweeping orchestral score, Dragon Quest VIII arrives on Nintendo’s handheld with a suite of new features. The biggest of these is the addition of two new playable characters to the mix: Red, a sultry bandit and old friend of Yangus, and Morrie, master of the monster arena and accomplished martial artist.
This new version of the game also features additional story content that fleshes out the hero’s past, as well as his connection with the villain Dhoulmagus. There’s also new side quests to undertake, new dungeons to explore, and a new ending to uncover. A Streetpass feature allows players to swap photos taken during the game with one another; photos can be customized with filters, stickers, and frames as well, making them perfect for those rare instances when Instagram goes down. Even if you don’t want to share your pictures, you can still flex your photography skills in-game by fulfilling requests from Cameron Obscura, a new character who will reward you for being a diligent shutterbug. Other quality-of-life improvements include quick save functionality and the ability to fast-forward through battles. Thank you for setting that precedent, Bravely Default. I bow to you.
Now, if only I could find the time to finish Dragon Quest VII before this one comes out. Back to the grind!
Source: Press Release