The wait for Dragon Quest 12 won’t stop anytime soon, as Square Enix is taking its time with this installment. We don’t want the JRPG to be rushed, but given all this talk about a mature direction and rumors of a new battle system, some sort of update would be nice.
Since this game doesn’t have a proper release date yet, fans should keep themselves busy with other titles in the series. If they haven’t already, gamers should try out the Dragon Quest Heroes by Koei Tecmo, which often go under the radar. Despite the Musou-style battle system, these spinoff games are pretty good.
For those unaware, the Heroes games are spinoff titles with a Dynasty Warriors-style twist. Instead of those classic turn-based battles from Dragon Quest 11, these are more action-oriented games with some unique elements.
Differentiating itself from the Musou series, the first Dragon Quest Heroes has a unique tower defense-style mechanic. As players defeat the game’s various monsters, they can get medals and summon them to protect bases. It’s an integral part of the game that players will have to master, ensuring this isn’t just another button-mashing experience.
A feature shared across both games is the playable characters from other Dragon Quest titles. While the lead characters are made for their games, they are joined by characters like Alena from Dragon Quest 4, Bianca from Dragon Quest 5, and Jessica from Dragon Quest 8.
Both titles have some shared heroes, while others are exclusive to their games. For example, Jessica is in both games but is joined by Yangus in DQ Heroes 1 or Angelo in DQ Heroes 2. It does feel like assets are reused, but the gameplay differences in both games do make the rosters feel fresh.
How does Dragon Quest Heroes 2 differentiate itself from Musou titles and the first game? Surprisingly enough, by being a straight-up action RPG.
While the first Heroes specialized in tower defense mechanics, the second game decided to be a typical Dragon Quest game with a Musou combat system. After story missions, players can wander around a huge map with real-time enemies to fight. Players can also do side quests or level up their preferred character job, adding plenty of replayability.
Although the first Heroes is good enough, Dragon Quest Heroes 2 feels like a game that should get more love. There are times when the levels are lacking in enemies, which is pretty poor for a Musou game, but it’s still a unique take on the RPG genre. Honestly, while it’s not Dragon Quest 12, this game should scratch that itch for series fans.
It might seem like this series didn’t do a lot in the long run, but the game did inspire similar titles. The original Fire Emblem Warriors pretty much copies this formula but with characters from Nintendo’s RPG series. From the player avatars with similar move-sets to classic heroes joining your party, the game had a completely different spinoff to thank for this.
Luckily for fans, both Dragon Quest Heroes games are readily available on PS4, PS5, and PC.