Dragon Quest IX: Protectors of the Sky (Japanese: ドラゴンクエストIX 星空の守り人) is the ninth entry in the renowned Dragon Quest game series and marks the first release on a handheld console. Initially launched on July 11, 2009 in Japan, the game later made its way to North America on July 11, 2010, Europe on July 23, 2010, and Australia on August 19, 2010.
Gameplay
Dragon Quest IX upholds the long-standing tradition of turn-based combat, but with a modern twist. One notable feature is the inclusion of cooperative wireless multiplayer, allowing up to four players to embark on their adventure together.
Setting itself apart from its predecessors, Dragon Quest IX introduces the innovative feature of character customization. Players have the freedom to create and personalize their party members, including the Hero/Heroine, the main protagonist. This customization extends to both the appearance and attire of the characters.
In a departure from the series’ traditional random encounters, enemies now physically appear in specific regions. When the protagonist comes into view of an enemy, their behavior will depend on the collective statistics of the party. The enemy may either pursue or flee from the party accordingly.
A new quest system adds depth to the gameplay experience. Players can engage in side-quests that not only contribute to the main story but also offer additional side-stories. These quests are given by non-player characters and can be accepted simultaneously, although not all quests are immediately available. The tasks within the quests range from fetching materials and defeating monsters to running errands for various characters. Additionally, Dragon Quest IX introduces open-ended mini quests, a departure from the more linear structure found in previous games of the series. The progress of quests can be conveniently tracked in the Quest Log.
Battle
Battles incorporate both a first-person perspective for decision-making regarding the party’s moves during a turn, as well as a third-person perspective that tracks the movement of both the party and the enemies in action.
Furthermore, there exists a combo system that can be utilized by both the party and the enemies when they attack the same target with identical moves. This combo counter acts as a multiplier, accumulating with each move and increasing the damage of consecutive attacks.
Experience points obtained from battles are distributed among the party members based on their individual levels. Characters with higher levels receive more experience points, while those with lower levels receive fewer. Additionally, if a character falls during battle, they still receive experience points depending on the number of turns they were alive for.
In battle, there is a Coup de Grâce system, which grants each character a random opportunity to utilize this system. When a character gains access to Coup de Grâce, they can unleash a special ability that aligns with their vocation, offering various effects and advantages. If all characters have access to Coup de Grâce simultaneously, they can perform a Co-op de Grâce. It is important to note that access to Coup de Grâce does not carry over between battles and is lost after being used.
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