Anarchic Fox on 18/5/2020 at 09:46
Oh man am I looking forward to that chapter. Licking and all.
Near the castle where most of Cantlin's residents died, a ghost gave me the ability to double jump. I didn't even know that was a thing in this game.
Yakoob on 18/5/2020 at 18:52
@Renz ah man, if only more people heard this advice before the pandemic :/
Renzatic on 18/5/2020 at 20:08
I can honestly say that not letting sick people lick me is the only reason why I'm alive today.
Anarchic Fox on 31/5/2020 at 02:16
Quote Posted by Renzatic
It's funny that I still love the DQ games as much as I do, despite the fact that they've all been pretty much the exact same game for the last 35 odd years.
Okay, I came up with a theory. The games have light plot continuity (at least, up until the Builders series started), and then only in bundles of three, so a fan's passions are not explained by an overarching plot. Their iterative gameplay innovations are welcome and sturdy, but invariably a generation or two behind the cutting edge.
Instead of these good things, the Dragon Quest series has a tremendous aesthetic unity. All games share the same (brilliant) composer Koichi Sugiyama, whose work has developed and matured in the series' life span. Akira Toriyama's art contributions lessened over time, but as they did the series' own artistic staff first learned to mimic Toriyama's style (reaching greatest parity in DQ VIII), and then (in IX, XI, and Builders 1+2) took that Toriyama style in their own direction, one nevertheless true to its source. Yuji Horii has no great talent for overall plots, but he
does have a talent for tight dialogue that provides rapid, clear characterization, much of which carries over to the English; like the other leads, his writing skills have grown over time. Every world atlas is constructed along similar principles: they all look alike, but they all
feel natural and interrelated in play. The first game's UI was crisp and pleasant two console generations before those qualities became fully appreciated, and they have retained not only that crispness but also an instantly recognizable individuality. This is not to say the individual DQ games have superior aesthetics; hell no. But this unity is something most games, most series rather, lack entirely.
The net effect of this aesthetic unity is something magical, but also something that requires long investment to even experience. For a casual fan it provides a reliable nostalgia trip, for a normal fan a reliably fun game. For someone like me, I can immerse myself in a DQ game, and it feels like pure liquid joy. The closest comparisons of a similar age are the Mario and Zelda series, which have their own (slightly lesser, in my opinion) aesthetic unity. Those two series inspire devotion that's just as bewildering to outsiders as Dragon Quest's. Meanwhile, the closest
modern comparison that comes to mind is the Monster Hunter series. Like Dragon Quest, each Monster Hunter game is basically the same, with small improvements, yet for devoted fans each one is somehow a greater joy than the last.
So. That's my theory. Fuck all you people who think nostalgia or loyalty suffice as explanations.
Anarchic Fox on 31/5/2020 at 17:53
The slimes in the Cantlin canyons can form King Slimes. :eek:
This is amazing, and no-one but Renzatic will understand why. :p
In the previous two playthroughs I did not understand what the cute little friendly slime meant when it said it was "oozeless." It means the poor critter can't merge like other slimes.
Anarchic Fox on 4/6/2020 at 19:16
The Evil Trees in the Cantlin swamp can cast a spell that depletes your hunger.
Also, the excavation revealed gold ore. I didn't know that existed on map one.
Knights have a stagger animation, but only if you jump and strike them in the head.
Also, it amuses me that people think this game is in an alternate universe to Dragon Warrior. Did they forget that there were two Dragonlords?
My tomb was sealed by the Jailor's Key. The slaves used to build it were sealed inside, and died huddled in the corner. Thankfully, I have buried them properly.
Renzatic on 5/6/2020 at 17:27
Quote Posted by Anarchic Fox
The slimes in the Cantlin canyons can form King Slimes. :eek:
Wait. They can? I don't remember that.
I think the only time I fought a Slime King was when I caught one fishing.
Anarchic Fox on 5/6/2020 at 17:57
If you fight a small slime in Cantlin area four (the canyon maze, aka the Elgin Plateau) for long enough, it will summon help. If enough help gets summoned, the slimes will smoosh together and form a King Slime. The first time it happened the King Slime kicked my ass, though, so I haven't been back yet to see what they drop.
To explain the "two Dragonlords" thing... in Dragon Warrior 2 you can visit Alefgard, though it holds little of interest. However, if you visit Charlock castle and descend to its bottom, there's a NPC there, his line: "I am the Dragonlord's son."
Renzatic on 5/6/2020 at 19:11
I take it you haven't actually beaten the game yet, right? It explains pretty well how it's connected to the original DW towards the end.
Anarchic Fox on 14/6/2020 at 18:38
Oh. That's disappointing. Anyway, here's a photo tour of Cantlin before the attack.
[imghide=The view from the watchtower.]http://barknet.org/anarchicfox/Cantlin1.jpg[/imghide]
[imghide=Everybody gets their own desk, bed, bag and chest. I am very generous.]http://barknet.org/anarchicfox/Cantlin2.jpeg[/imghide]
[imghide=The changing room and, ahem, pots.]http://barknet.org/anarchicfox/Cantlin3.jpeg[/imghide]
[imghide=A party at the forge.]http://barknet.org/anarchicfox/Cantlin4.jpeg[/imghide]
[imghide=An eatery, based off a mole design.]http://barknet.org/anarchicfox/Cantlin5.jpeg[/imghide]
[imghide=My apartment.]http://barknet.org/anarchicfox/Cantlin6.jpeg[/imghide]
[imghide=A public bath. It uses saloon doors because otherwise a certain bearded fellow would spend all day in there.]http://barknet.org/anarchicfox/Cantlin7.jpeg[/imghide]
[imghide=A nice place to meet up, in the park area.]http://barknet.org/anarchicfox/Cantlin8.jpeg[/imghide]
[imghide=The path to the tomb.]http://barknet.org/anarchicfox/Cantlin9.jpeg[/imghide]
[imghide=The boneyard.]http://barknet.org/anarchicfox/Cantlin10.jpeg[/imghide]
[imghide=My tomb. Constructed by slaves, who were later sealed inside.]http://barknet.org/anarchicfox/Cantlin11.jpeg[/imghide]
[imghide=The excavation, showing gold at the site of Erdrick's Token. It leads me to conclude that Erdrick's Token was a simple bribe, all along.]http://barknet.org/anarchicfox/Cantlin12.jpeg[/imghide]