Mar 2017
In a world where dragons are more common than good WiFi, arrives 'Dragon Quest Heroes II' for the Nintendo Switch. This game is like that friend who always insists on showing off their new dance moves—fun at first but ultimately, it leaves you scratching your head and wondering why you're still watching. If hack-n-slash and RPG crossed paths in a delightful whirlwind of absurdity, then this is the offspring. But should you bring it home for dinner or just give it a polite wave from across the street? Let’s dive in, shall we?
'Dragon Quest Heroes II' serves as a crossroad where the mighty hacks of Omega Force and the whimsical worlds of Dragon Quest meet to create one massive, seemingly endless brawl. Players control cousins Lazarel and Teresa, who, when they’re not frolicking in the beautiful land of Accordia, spend their time trying to solve a murder mystery worthy of a daytime soap opera. Gameplay cleverly combines hack-and-slash combat from the 'Dynasty Warriors' series with RPG elements. There’s character dashing, random monster encounters, and the joy of hoarding thousands of treasure boxes—like an overzealous hoarder on a reality show. Missions are often designed like battle areas from the first title, and players can swap parties at the local bar—a splendid place for all your RPG needs. Co-op gameplay adds a layer of 'let's team up and be less lonely!' fun, allowing players to tackle challenges with friends. Multiplayer missions might make you forget all about your social anxiety as you collectively scream at the Metal Slimes that are decidedly harder to take down than your high school crush. To top it off, you can change classes like most change socks—who wouldn’t want to be a Martial Artist one minute and a Mage the next? Also, they added Zoomstones. No, not a new line of personal transportation; but they allow players to teleport back to towns. Because sometimes walking back is just too much of an ask—especially after engaging in epic monster-slaying.
Visually, 'Dragon Quest Heroes II' pops like a kid’s birthday party. Character designs remain colorful, vibrant, and joyfully exaggerated, thanks in part to master artist Akira Toriyama. The world is filled with whimsical landscapes that make Instagram filters look dull. However, on the Switch, the graphics occasionally tiptoe into the territory of 'slightly less shiny.' Think of it like seeing a beautiful sunset but through a layer of mist. It might not be as crisp as its PS4 counterpart, but you’ll still find it hard to look away. Load times are commendably fast, allowing you more time to ponder why you haven’t yet figured out how to cook instant ramen properly.
'Dragon Quest Heroes II' isn’t trying to be the lord of the RPG genre, and that’s okay. It’s a fun diversion, a momentary escape from the horrors of reality. While it may not win any awards for groundbreaking storytelling, it serves up enough hack-and-slash goodness to keep players entertained. It leans into its grindy gameplay, offering moments where you feel powerful—as powerful as a kid wielding a cardboard sword in a backyard duel. So, should you add it to your Switch library? If you enjoy the sound of slashing monsters, collecting loot like a glorified scavenger, and a plotline that’s busy slipping on banana peels, then 'Dragon Quest Heroes II' has your name on it—just make sure to have popcorn ready for the occasional over-the-top narrative twist. In the end, it's an enjoyable game that will have you both laughing and scratching your head, and isn't that what gaming is all about? 'Dragon Quest Heroes II' earns a solid 7.5 out of 10. Slay on!
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