[PS2] Dragon Quest VIII

[Falke]

Just got this game and started playing it today. I haven't played any of the other games, but I'm really liking this game. It's just plain fun. Anyone else like this game?

[IntegralENT]

I love it. Though I put it on pause to play some newer games I bought since, but it keeps calling to me to play it.

I just keep saying no because I have horrid luck in the casino and I -want- stuff from the casino. It's just not fair I got a bad random number generator. ;)

Someday I'll break down and play it again, and say heck with it and ignore the casino prizes.

[Mostlyjoe]

There is a 'trick' to the casino. Some of the machines are rigged.

Otherwise, this game is the largest rpg world I've ever run across. Everything is so spread out and takes quite some time to walk.

[SPrintF]

Suggestion: it's worth your time to assemble a quality monster team.

[Falke]

I still haven't had Jessica join up with my group yet. I'm at the beginning. I'm enjoying the cute Imps that fall down when they don't have enough MP to cast a spell. It's just really light-hearted. It's a nice change of pace.

When do I get to the Casino?

[Jay]

When do I get to the Casino?


You come across the first casino when you get to Yangus' hometown.

[Falke]

You come across the first casino when you get to Yangus' hometown.



Cool. I'll look forward to it.

[Corax]

Awesome game. I really really like the whole Angelo storyline. To me it was well done and kicked ass.

[BuzzW]

Serious nostalgia trip. I couldn't believe it the first time my party got wiped out, and instead of a game over screen, I appeared back at the church with half my money. How frickin' old school is that?

[Falke]

Serious nostalgia trip. I couldn't believe it the first time my party got wiped out, and instead of a game over screen, I appeared back at the church with half my money. How frickin' old school is that?

I've been thinking that as well. So much about how the game works is like the old computer rpgs I played in the 80's and stuff. The reappearing at the church after being wiped out, etc.

[IntegralENT]

Serious nostalgia trip. I couldn't believe it the first time my party got wiped out, and instead of a game over screen, I appeared back at the church with half my money. How frickin' old school is that?

Not only that but nearly all the treasure you find in the game world comes from going into some complete strangers house, pilfering their valuables right before their eyes, and having them say the same thing to you now as they did when you talked to 'em 2 minutes ago.

I love that. ;)

[JAZilla]

Look for the "Puff-Puff Room" on the continent to the west.

It's just a door nestled into a cliff beside a waterfall.

You'll get a laugh.


Also, certain items can only be created through Alchemy. You get recipes in-game, but you might find it more usefuol to look them up online.

(Put a lot of time into it, but it was worth it)

[Mostlyjoe]

The Alchemy system alone is half the fun of the game.

[Falke]

The Alchemy system alone is half the fun of the game.

I made some bunny ears for Jessica. :D

[DrNate]

I saw this game at two different stores for $19.99, the Nice Price. I've never considered it, but now I am...that said:

Is it ping-pong type combat?

What is alchemy like? I like non-combat skill elements in a game (like professions in World of Warcraft or the cooking in Tales of Symphonia or that skill system in The Third Age) enough that I might consider overlooking the ping-pong.

Thanks

[Jay]

Is it ping-pong type combat?

If you mean turn based, then yes. If you mean single character turn based, ala 'Clix, then no. It's just like playing a tabletop rpg with an initiative mechanic, except that there's no simultaneous actions.

[JdRavnos]

I made some bunny ears for Jessica. :D

If you get the right combination of clothes, Jessica's appearance will change. The bunny ears along with something else (I forget what it's called off hand) will have her dress up as a bunny girl.

It's kinda neat, but I wish all the armors for all the characters did that.

[JdRavnos]

What is alchemy like? I like non-combat skill elements in a game (like professions in World of Warcraft or the cooking in Tales of Symphonia or that skill system in The Third Age) enough that I might consider overlooking the ping-pong.

At somepoint after the first town, you're given access to the "alchemy pot" which lets you toss into two items (later three when you get a better pot) and then as you walk around, it cooks up and eventually when you'll hear a chime and you can check it (if you're not in a dungeon) and you hope you got something better then what you threw in (this is where GameFAQs comes in very handy).

A lot of the best equipment in the game can only be gained by using the alchemy system.

[JonAcheson]

I just finished the game, and a couple hints:


As usual for RPGs, you want to specialize, and specialize early. This is important for two things: skills, and high-end weapons. You will only have time to max out one or two skills, so pick which ones you are going for. Likewise, there are a limited number of high-end alchemy items, so you should decide which of your characters gets which uber weapon, or uber armor.
You should only bother learning one weapon skill for each character. There are uber versions of all weapon types.
As others have mentioned, do the Monster Arena right away. You will gain the ability to call in your monster team to fight for you, which builds them up and helps whittle down boss monsters. Plus it's fun. You won't be able to complete the Monster Arena until later in the game, because the best monsters only become unlocked later on, but do what you can and then come back later.
Leave no pot or barrel unbroken, and be sure to comb areas thoroughly for treasure and things to smash. The Mini Medals are very important, so try not to miss any.
Yangus's Nose for Treasure ability is very useful when trying to figure out if you've cleaned out an area. It doesn't work for most open areas on the world map, just inside towns and dungeons.

[Caduceus]

I love how, after all these years, this game still evokes the feel of the first DQ game. Awesome.

[Falke]

Crap, I wish I had known about the specialization thing. I've been concentrating on a couple for each, but still keeping the points spread out.

[IntegralENT]

If you get the right combination of clothes, Jessica's appearance will change. The bunny ears along with something else (I forget what it's called off hand) will have her dress up as a bunny girl.

It's kinda neat, but I wish all the armors for all the characters did that.

Bunny ears+Fishnet Stockings+Bunnysuit = Bunny Jessica

There's also like 6 or so Jessica outfits. Her original. Her adventuring dress. Bunny. Dancer. And some bustiers.

[Gema]

Crap, I wish I had known about the specialization thing. I've been concentrating on a couple for each, but still keeping the points spread out.

How many levels have you been doing this? If you've only been doing this for a couple levels, it shouldn't hurt you that badly, but you really should start specializing.

And Nose for Treasure is the most usefull ability in the game.

[Falke]

How many levels have you been doing this? If you've only been doing this for a couple levels, it shouldn't hurt you that badly, but you really should start specializing.

And Nose for Treasure is the most usefull ability in the game.

If I had been specializing from the beginning? I'd be in the 40's or low 50's with the skill on Hero and Yangus.

[Unseenlibrarian]

If you get the right combination of clothes, Jessica's appearance will change. The bunny ears along with something else (I forget what it's called off hand) will have her dress up as a bunny girl.

It's kinda neat, but I wish all the armors for all the characters did that.

There is one suit that will do so for Hero, but you can't get it until after you beat the game the first time.

[Gema]

If I had been specializing from the beginning? I'd be in the 40's or low 50's with the skill on Hero and Yangus.

You're fine, and don't worry about keeping all the points in one ability, you can afford to level up 2 at a time or even 3 with a decent amount of skill seeds.

[JonAcheson]

Crap, I wish I had known about the specialization thing. I've been concentrating on a couple for each, but still keeping the points spread out.

It shouldn't be the end of the world. You can use the skill seeds to compensate, though you will never get a huge number of those. Pick a weapon skill and one other, and max them out, then go back if you have time.

It seems that the seeds work best when you only use one at a time. Doing two or three in a row seems to yield diminishing results.

Just remember to pick your roles for the characters and make the uber weapons that match those roles. And be careful that you don't accidently use up the uber alchemy items on something you don't want. I made the mistake of making the Shamshir of Light for Angelo, when I was using him as bowman and healing machine, and it prevented me from making the uber armor for Jessica (used the same alchemy ingredient, and I had only one).

Another hint: it's easier to comb the world map for treasure later in the game when you can get around more quickly. Also, the Brady Games book has a very nice map detailing the locations of all the treasures in the world map.

Jon Acheson

[Falke]

It shouldn't be the end of the world. You can use the skill seeds to compensate, though you will never get a huge number of those. Pick a weapon skill and one other, and max them out, then go back if you have time.

It seems that the seeds work best when you only use one at a time. Doing two or three in a row seems to yield diminishing results.

Just remember to pick your roles for the characters and make the uber weapons that match those roles. And be careful that you don't accidently use up the uber alchemy items on something you don't want. I made the mistake of making the Shamshir of Light for Angelo, when I was using him as bowman and healing machine, and it prevented me from making the uber armor for Jessica (used the same alchemy ingredient, and I had only one).

Another hint: it's easier to comb the world map for treasure later in the game when you can get around more quickly. Also, the Brady Games book has a very nice map detailing the locations of all the treasures in the world map.

Jon Acheson


Yeah, I have the book. :)

I refuse to play console RPGs without the book these days. I don't have the time or patience anymore to spend 10 hours combing through one area in the game to make sure I've found everything possible. I just don't read ahead in the books when I play the game.

[JonAcheson]

Yeah, I have the book. :)

I refuse to play console RPGs without the book these days. I don't have the time or patience anymore to spend 10 hours combing through one area in the game to make sure I've found everything possible. I just don't read ahead in the books when I play the game.

That's pretty much what I do as well. It really helped when I was combing the world map trying to get medals.

Jon Acheson

[Narshal]

I have the game. Started playing it. My first ever console rpg was the first in the series Dragon Warrior. I played it and enjoyed it. For DQ8, I played a bit but there's other games I want to finish first. My girlfriend started it but then a friend played it for large amounts of time. My girlfriend saw most of the story through him and thus she's pissed off since for her the story is ruinied and thus she doesn't want to play it for a while.

[Dindrane]

Did anyone else have zero luck stealing things with Steal Sickle? For me at least, it was not at all worth the point investment. I think we tried the skill a couple a' dozen times and never stole a thing.

[Unseenlibrarian]

Did anyone else have zero luck stealing things with Steal Sickle? For me at least, it was not at all worth the point investment. I think we tried the skill a couple a' dozen times and never stole a thing.


Stainless Steal Sickle's got a much higher success rate; it's also good to make items that lower Yangus' attack power to 0 or so so he gets multiple attempts.

[bv728]

Stainless has about 10x the chance of stealing. The key problem is that many mobs have rare items for stealing, so it's a pretty low chance to begin with.

[IntegralENT]

For skills, it is indeed best to choose just one to specialize in. For 3 of your people. For Hero, it's actually best to take another weapon skill also...

The "best" formula for a strong party is:

Hero gets Boomerangs until its skill 18, for the ability it gives.
Hero then focuses on Spears (it's the best boss killer he has).

Jessica focuses on Whips (it does the best -overall- damage, but not the best single target damage).

Yangus focuses on Axes, it gives him the best damage potential.

Angelo focuses on Swords, because when you get to play the good casino, a sword he gets there can make 4 attacks a round for him only.

And EVERYONE also focuses on their special skill (the 5th slot).

Say you get 4 skill points on leveling up. Put 2 in your weapon, two in your special. Jessica will then get skills that confuse or charm the enemy, Yangus will get abilities that strengthen him, heal the group, etc. Hero gets good boost skills, and Angelo gets some spells he normally doesn't get to be a backup mage to Jessica.

Why put 18 in Boomerang on Hero though? Because he can then use Power Throw, and hit all enemy targets for the same damage, instead of the incrementally decreasing damage it normally does. Then the common random encounter will bebeat all the easier. Slap him into a spear for tougher monsters, solo monsters, bosses, etc when a Boomerang is useless.

Of course, that's just me. Next play through I'm doing, I'm making Fasticuffs (and special skill) only. My party will do nothing but punch the monsters I beat up. Well, that and spells from their own abilities.

[Falke]

Still playing this game. I haven't had as much time to sit and play the last couple of months, but I still love this game. I just got the Dancer's outfit for Jessica. :) That's just fun. :D

I wish all my games were this enjoyable to play. There are other games that I like more, but this one is just so much fun.

[Mostlyjoe]

The later half the game is where things get hard and REALLY fun. The bosses get smarter and the uses of your skills get critical.

[James Weatherby]

I've played through the game a couple times, and maxed levels for my characters (that was a LOT of metal slimes - ugh) and fiddled around with most of the skills. Here are my observations:

Hero:

Sword: There are nice skills here and when you have the points to fill it out - go for it, but . . .

Spear: is better overall. Spear has Lightning Thrust (which will allow you to kill Metal Slimes more effectively than Metal Slash in Swords) and it's last skill, Lightning Storm is one of the best hits all skills.

Boomerang: is good early in the game but it gets seriously outclassed later. If you are just using it to clean up trash you really can just use the boomerang without investing points in the skill and for tougher stuff you can pull out your power attacks from Sword or Spear.

Fisticuffs: For challenging yourself deliberately. It's a gimp set.

Courage: Excellent ability. Healing, AoE attack, teleportation etc. Its a grab bag of nothing but good stuff. 100 points in this.




Yangus:

Axe: great to a point. That point being 82. Good single and multitarget attacks fairly early on. Executioner is great for killing Metal Slimes. The Final skill is pretty much a waste of time.

Club: Sucks. Don't waste your time.

Scythe: Long term investment. Stainless Steel sickle is the only way to get additional chunks of Orichalcum outside the few pieces you find as you go through the game. As Orichalcum is needed for most of the best goodies this is a must have skill if you are an insane stat-monger completeist type (like me). Big Banga is also a great hits-all skill - once Yangus has leveled up enough to actually have the MP to cast it a few times.

Fisticuffs: See Hero

Humanity: Mediocre overall. Whistle at 4 points is vital if you like to level. Saves running around. Kabuff at 34 is nice. Kerplunk at 82 is ok, but not really worth all the points in junk you have to invest to get there. Underpants Dance and Golden Oldies are amusing but that's all.


Jessica:

Knife: Never bothered much with these. Maybe there's something there but overall seems like a weak set.

Whip: Very good stuff - up to a point. 68 points is all you need here. The last two abilities are underwhelming. Twin Dragon Lash at 23 is arguably the best physical attack in the game. Unlike most of the abilities that give you a multiple strike TDL actually increases the power of each hit over its base (instead of decreasing it), so you do more than double damage.

Staff: If you want to get the most mileage out of Jessica's magic Staff is the way to go. Max MP up, MP regen, and a Rez Spell at the end. Good stuff.

Fisticuffs: See Hero . . . EXCEPT if you are planning on maxing out your characters and are willing to devote 100 points to Fisticuffs you can unlock Magic Burst. This is (or can be, given you have the MP to fuel it) hands down the most brutal spell in the game. It converts ALL your MP into a massive explosion.

Sex Appeal: Cute but a waste of points. The auto-charm ability is far too random to really be of any practical use and the attacks are substandard at best.


Angelo:

Sword: Excellent. A Multiple hit attack, Metal Slash for leveling, and an excellent hits-all final ability.

Bow: I wasn't terribly impressed with this, but I never relied on it heavily. The MP gaining abilities sound nice on paper but arent so hot practically. The instakill abilities are far too random.

Staff: Ok. If you like to cast spells this is handy. Kathwack can be brutal, Oomph is very nice.

Fisticuffs: See Hero.

Charisma: 13 points for Sarcastic Snigger (very handy for some bosses) is all you really need here the rest is nothing to write home about.





Overall an extremely enjoyable game. If you enjoyed the upbeat feel of the game you might also want to try Skies of Arcadia for the Gamecube if you have access to one, DQ8 is the first game I've played since Skies that had a similar fun lighthearted vibe.



EDIT: I should add that the game is not so difficult that you have to min/max your skill points to play through it enjoyably. Put your points where you will enjoy them most. The only things that are really important are Clubs really do suck, Fisticuffs is there to increase your difficulty, and if you want to level up past 65 or so you MUST have metal slash (swords both Hero and Angelo), lightning thrust (spear) , and executioner (axe) since these are the only things that can reliably kill Metal Simes.

[enoto]

Overall an extremely enjoyable game. If you enjoyed the upbeat feel of the game you might also want to try Skies of Arcadia for the Gamecube if you have access to one, DQ8 is the first game I've played since Skies that had a similar fun lighthearted vibe.THAT, right there is the reason I am enjoying DQ8 so much. Both games are fun, light-hearted, and have angst-free protagonists. Both games are essentially about the joy of exploring.

Thanks for the great skill write-up, by the way. When I first picked up the game I decided to specialize in one weapon for each hero. I'm glad that of my arbitrary choices (axe, spear, stave, and bow) at least two of them are optimal!

[James Weatherby]

THAT, right there is the reason I am enjoying DQ8 so much. Both games are fun, light-hearted, and have angst-free protagonists. Both games are essentially about the joy of exploring.

Thanks for the great skill write-up, by the way.

My pleasure. And I really agree with you about enjoying angst free protagonists.

[nonsense]

I love the vibe of DQVIII, the combat is fun and inventive, and the characters are groovy... but I just can't get over the number (and length) of random encounters. I still play it once in a while, but it's relegated to a "small doses" sorta game.

[enoto]

I love the vibe of DQVIII, the combat is fun and inventive, and the characters are groovy... but I just can't get over the number (and length) of random encounters. I still play it once in a while, but it's relegated to a "small doses" sorta game.Yeah, that's the one BAD way that it's similar to Skies of Arcadia.

I'm enjoying the game enough that I'll play through it no matter what, but I'm really hoping for finding some way of reducing encounters down the road. Delaying exploration of certain areas until Holy Water will hold the monsters off is the only effective way I've found so far.

[James Weatherby]

Yeah, that's the one BAD way that it's similar to Skies of Arcadia.

I'm enjoying the game enough that I'll play through it no matter what, but I'm really hoping for finding some way of reducing encounters down the road. Delaying exploration of certain areas until Holy Water will hold the monsters off is the only effective way I've found so far.




28 Points in Courage will get you a spell, "Holy Protection" that duplicates the effects of Holy Water, if you don't want to use up items all the time.