I LOVE this game. Despite a bucketful of flaws that you'd have to be a real nitpicker (which I am) to find, I really enjoyed this game. If I had to rate this game off the bat, then I wouldn't be fair to you guys, would I? These categories are rated in DQMJ spirit, F, E, D, C, B, A, S, and X. F=AWFUL. X= Incredible.
Story: B
You start off as a kid (you name him
at the start). This kid ran away from home and tried to join the monster
scout challenge, got caught, and was put in jail by his father, the warden.
You might be saying "This is worth a B?" Well it wouldn't be; if this was
all the game was bout then it would have got an E. Back to the story. The
warden lets him go and complete as long as he does his job by spying on
the commissioner. The kid later on meets a dog-type monster that
has been protecting the islands where
the scout challenge is being held from an evil force that comes around
every few centuries. Who is causing the evil to come, though? Who cares
about that annoying girl known as Solitaire? Why are there so many playing
card jokes in this game? Most of these questions will be answered after
playing through the game.
Difficulty: B/D
This game can be easy or hard depending
on a number of different specifications, including the monster you decide
to start off with, how you use synthesis (explained later in the Review)
to make stronger monsters, or the use of specific equipment.
Graphics: A
The graphics are done quite well for
many of the monsters. The field graphics, however, can only be summed up
in one word... Disappointing. I thought the DS could handle N64 graphics,
and the N64 always had incredible backgrounds. But the backgrounds here
are not very good, they are average. Since you spend most of your time
in battle you don't often notice the backgrounds. This was one of those
flaws only a nitpicker would notice.
Characters: C
There’s Solitaire, the kid you start
off with, Dr. Snap (the commissioner), the warden, Black Jaques (another
playing card joke), and a bunch of minor characters that you can trade
monsters with... doesn't really add up to a lot.
Monsters: S
There are a ton of monsters. They range
from many different categories including Slime, Nature, Dragon, Zombie,
Beast, Material, Demon, and Incarnus (the dog thing you meet on Infant
Isle).
Length: X
So many hours of synthesis, so many
tries to beat the fourth boss, so many days of my life wasted trying to
get Mumboh Jumboe. This game took me 80 hours to complete. I could definitely
have completed it in less, but I wanted to collect the best possible monsters
for my team. The areas of the game can also take up to 2 hours to complete!
Originality: B
Pokemon Clone? Maybe. But since when
have Pokemon died? When have two Pokemon been fused together to make a
new monster? When has a Pokemon been given more than 4 attacks to use?
NEVER! DQMJ is not a Pokemon clone, no matter what anyone says. A Digimon
clone... now that is debatable.
Music: X
Absolutely divine. The music has been
completely perfected without being orchestrated. If you've played Dragon
Quest 8 you will remember every theme. The loss theme still brings a tear
to my eye even after so many years. And the battle music, it really makes
you want to fight. I was put on edge so many times from the boss battles
with the Moosifer and the Demon at Arms.
Replay Value: B
I believe this game is quite replayable.
You can start off with different monsters, use different strategies, try
to get ALL 15 pieces of Darkonium (the last 5 can be sold for 2,500 GP
each), or you can even try scouting more monsters.
Synthesis: S
Why is this a section, you may ask?
Well it's such an important part of the game, why shouldn't it be a section?
The synthesis system is not perfect. But it works very well. The problems
I've found are that you can't see the stats of the new monster. If I could
have seen the stats, I might have been able to make better choices. By
using simple math (each total stat of the combined monsters divided by
4 equals the stats of the new monster, x / 4 = y) you can find the stats
yourself, but who has time for that?
Humor: A
The humor in this game is done very
well, from a few tiny in-jokes, like from the profile of Mumboh Jumboe;
“these guys are living proof that a sum can be greater than the parts it's
made of”. Or from a certain evil final boss: “He never did get along with
the other kids at school”. Or from just looking at the COW on Palaish islandI
you will find yourself smiling, or flat out giggling.
Overall: S
This game is stupendous, If you like RPGs, buy it. If you don't like RPGs, buy it. If you are a hobo and only have 200 dollars to your name, FOR THE LOVE OF DAD BUY IT!!! If on the off chance you don't like it, exchange it for Elite Beat Agents (stupid ripoff of Owendon) or something.
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