Dragon Quest VIII review - 8 Reasons It's the Greatest PS2 JRPG

[@LouisRMichael]

Absolutely BRILLIANT video. Proof that view count of a video means nothing to quality, this was a joyful return to one of my favourite games of my childhood, thank you so much for that!

[@JMoat13]

I got this game in a 3 for £15 ps2 game sale when ps3 was becoming the main console. The other two games were Age of Empires II and Ape Escape 2. I can safely say this was the one I thought about the least of the three and was a last minute throw in not knowing anything about jrpgs at the time. I didn't pick it up straight away but when I did I instantly fell in love with it. My dad started watching me play at some point after Alexandria and from that day on jrpgs have been the thing I have bonded over the most with my dad which I cherish greatly. I will always remember coming home after school and my dad telling me to go to my room, finding the 'beautifully made' piggyback guide on my bed. It's hard to explain how much this game means to me but from the fantastic synphony orchestra soundtrack to the meticulously designed overworld I can without a doubt say this game stands up to be a classic that everyone should try at least once!

[@mrglibb]

I found this game the exact same way. Having less than enough money growing up our family was always two or three generations behind and that's when we had access to a console at all, so when I got a second hand PS2 we went to the pawn shop and picked up 3 games for it in a bundle. One was Attack of the Toybots, absolute classic and I played it for weeks. After I got bored with that I took a look at the other two games in the bundle, the ones that in my opinion looked less interesting. One was so bland I forget its name entirely, the other was a game with a charming but childish cover that instantly had it filed away in my 8-year-old mind as a 'kids game'. I finally picked it up in the summer holidays and by god, the music in that intro cutscene like a chorus of angels, laid over the most stunning visuals I'd laid eyes on. I played without breaks for food or sleep for almost a week. I hadn't learned yet to manage and control the whimsy of autism, there wasn't a chance in hell my mum was going to rip me from that screen without significant screaming and possible violence, so for six days and six nights I immersed myself in this magical land and its colourful characters. I laughed with Yangus, I cried for Trode, I was terrified by Sir Leopold and I discovered I have a thing for redheads. No game will ever supplant DQVIII for my favourite of all time, it evoked the entire gamut of human emotion within me, an experience like that cannot be outdone.

[@ThisMyhandlenow]

Don't be fooled. This game was just another dumb turn based game

[@MaI2Me]

That strategy guide from Piggyback is still my favorite guide made by them next to the one for ‘The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker’.

[@greedo2660]

One of the best games of all time! I'm tempted to give it another play through...... again!

[@Ermagron]

The guide is exatly the problem, with out any insight the skill system is way too much obscure it's the reason why dq8 woulg get a point of 9/10 imo

[@arress1742]

Dragon Quest VIII is a crown jewel on a console that was stacked with amazing rpgs for its time. I was so hyped for it, as I was one of the 'Dragon Warrior' fans that was translation hacks of 5 and 6, and collecting the NES carts of 1-4. I was SO unbelievably hyped when this game was announced finally being localized. People told me not to set my expectations too high, and that I was too hyped. It didn't just meet my hype, but rather, surpassed everything I had hoped for.

[@LegendaryGlasses]

I appreciate the new HD-2D releases but Dragon Quest VIII remastered in XI’s engine is what would really make the world happy and SE rich.

[@antiquecardboard]

I recently purchased a secondhand Piggyback guide and wondered what those perforations were. I thought I was probably missing some DQ character bookmarks or something that had been ripped off. But, after watching this amazing video, now I know the truth. Thank you!

[@maxdishaw]

Wow you summed this up so well! Fantastic video. One of my all time favourite games

[@danielscott70x7]

Enjoyed this video SO much. More Dragon Quest in the future? Regardless, looking forward to seeing more!

[@Manobaru]

0:28 - That's freakin Go Nagai, not Akira Toriyama. I know the old meme that all non-Asian people think that all Asians look the same, but dude, that's just downright ignorant P.S. Love the rest of the video tho :)

[@backyard22936]

first jrpg i played in ps2, and it set so high my expectation on other jrpg, i always want same jrpg like this but i cant find one

[@somedude8791]

Found a PS2 on CL for $40 and just went right to eBay to get another copy. Oh it's been so long and I have kids now and we are playing it together with the guide. So much fun!!!

[@MaI2Me]

Simply an all-time classic 👍

[@sweetwheatsy]

Coming from Denmark, I had the same experience getting this on my birthday as a young teen. This was the game that sucked dozens of hours of my time after school, and also properly taught me more advanced English, courtesy of the excellent script and voice acting that you mentioned. Love this game.

[@michaelpennington3695]

This is a brilliant tribute to one of the best JRPGs ever made. I was lucky enough to be in Japan at the start of the year and picked up a Japanese guide of this game for 100 yen. 100 yen. Ridiculously good condition. I really wished PS gave this game the Rogue Galaxy treatment and allowed it to be playable as a PS2 Classic, but the ship might have sailed on that. I can but dream!

[@youngkingdom8131]

There are aspects of this game that can only remind me of Elden Ring. 16 years later some of these concepts are just beginning to be explored.

[@somedude8791]

Please go on

[@DracoMeteor91]

thats not akira toryama in the photo

[@jamie4099]

I loved this game so much

[@dizzyupthefool5180]

8 is the pinnacle of this series. They've not got close since. 11 was okay but not a patch on this masterpiece.

[@MaI2Me]

💯agree. One certain character in Dragon Quest XI was enough to completely destroy the experience for me 😐

[@zedrico8577]

I've only played DQ8 and DQ11 and DQ11 was good. But left me wanting DQ8. This difficultpy difference and map exploration what really makes dq 8 so special

[@TheDaniRainbow]

Well made, now I want to get my hands on that guide

[@TheSoulreaver32582]

Bought DQ8 and RE4 the same time for my PS. Had limited tin cases. Still have them to this day. My DQ8 copy and guide as well as my copy of Chrono Trigger and it's official guide are my most prized possessions game wise.

[@Mrcandles312]

Wow we have really such similar taste! RE4, DQ8, Chrono Trigger… what else are some of your faves? Shadow of the Colossus, Kingdom Hearts and Kotor?

[@EmceeProphIt]

Great work friend. Subbed, wish you all the luck. :)

[@silver_sky6276]

Great review dude, DQ VIII is my favorite jrpg :)

[@avideogameodyssey3204]

Ah, someone of taste haha!

[@uncleiroh6127]

I have two of the guides one is still sealed in plastic from 15 years ago and one is heavily used by my child self

[@nightmarishcompositions4536]

PS2 had so many brilliant jrpg gems it's insane.

[@SebastianFliri]

I am from Italy and it was also my first Dragon Quest back in 2006 or so. I am more into Final Fantasy, but i agree that this game was the "best". Better than FF X and FF XII. Its almost a perfect game. Maybe one of the best games of this console generation in general. The nearly perfekt Games of this Generation in my opinion are: -- Metroid Prime -- Zelda Wind Waker -- Half Life 2 -- Metal Gear Solid 3 (and maybe 2) -- Ico and Shadow of the Colossus -- Silent Hill 2 -- KOTOR .... and Dragon Quest VIII

[@TheSpartanS196]

Mai troppo tardi per buttarsi in Dragon Quest e lasciare FF ai corridoi spammaquadrato a cui si è ridotto da un po' ;)

[@SWOTHDRA]

Gta san andreas, fable , halo 2 , jade empire , ninja gaiden black

[@kennymichaelalanya7134]

I played the demo of the game in PS2 and loved it but never got a copy of it ..years later it was introduced in 3DS and I snatched a copy and beaten it just now in September 8th 2023. I can't believe how beautiful the game is on the PS2 though but yeah the 3DS has more scenes and features as you said.

[@MaI2Me]

The original version on the PlayStation 2 is definitely the superior one. Played on a CRT it’s just beautiful even today, an all-time classic.

[@jonrambodude]

So good I bought it for my phone can you imagine

[@dreadsire5086]

DQIV Will always be my favorite.

[@DragonKingX78]

I love DQ8, would really love a remake with DQ11's graphics and skill system. Though would be happy with just a HD remaster.

[@CharlesKudrow]

0:28 that aint the goat Toriyama dawg 😭🙏

[@mookiestewart3776]

I miss this game, got way back in the day when it came out when I was in high school . Maybe I should get. 3ds and ply it again lol

[@gracesandford1274]

Va va Voom!

[@YaaSalty...0_o]

Would love to know your opinion on the classic from the Xbox 360 called Blue Dragon. I don't know in my mind it's a masterpiece

[@danielwade7664]

Excellent video. Really been hankering for another play through of this legendary game. Been holding off on the hope it might come out on modern consoles (3ds isn’t for me) but I don’t think I can hold off any longer

[@deevesh]

You can mod the 3ds version to add the orchestral soundrack back in!

[@jigzyonline]

It's so good!

[@peterszalai6056]

Great review!

[@Mrcandles312]

Absolute FANTASTIC video! I first heard your review on apple podcasts and am so glad I found it here too. I can’t tell you how much I loved your review and the nuance you bring! Any chance you could cover some of the kingdom hearts games?!

[@DavidMiller-kv4we]

This game NEEDS an HD remake. Fucking BRILLIANT game. This game for the 3DS was THE REASON for me even BOTHERING with the system. My 3DS XL has only had this game in its card slot since it came out. lol

[@plazma2891]

R.I.P Toriyama I wonder if they'll be in trouble without him for the art anymore

[@sagepirotess6312]

Good video so will you review dqx offline? Its fun.

[@emmiranda2]

You missed to give some Sugiyama love, but yes I agree with everything you said. I played it when it came out and I was in love, and man that after credits section, I couldn’t believe it (it was also my first Dragon Quest)

[@patrickstrahm05]

This was my first Dragon Quest game when it came out for the PS2

[@nrrork]

The one big thing that kept DQ11 from eclipsing this one is I hated how 11 didn't have a proper overworld. They broke it up into segments like Final Fantasy X did. DQ8's map was probably just as fragmented, and they used clever tricks to hide the area transitions so it felt like one continuous overworld, but they _DID_ indeed make the effort to do that, unlike in 11. It's the difference between feekin6g like you have this vast world you get to explore versus being in a dolled up dungeon crawler. JRPGs have always been linear, but they used to HIDE THE LINEARITY. It helped with immersion and put you in that world.

[@shinyshiny82]

I still have my guide, but i had to tape up the back of it cause it was falling apart cause i read it so much!

[@MaI2Me]

In my opinion the best guide they have made next to the one for ‘The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker’ 👍

[@jordanjackson4840]

This game is such a classic. I only wish they would’ve made the remaster for the main consoles and not only the 3DS.

[@xRphustlehard]

Nice review mate 👌 you got my subscription

[@JoeMama-yd1ve]

I bought this game in a bargain bin at gamestop for like 10 dollars or something. I always remembered seeing previews for dragonquest games and thinking "oh cool that looks like DBZ animation." I ended up loving 8 so much. Had no clue I had picked up the best RPG for the ps2. I still say "Cor blimey!" to this day haha.

[@patrickharrison7839]

The first Dragon Quest game I played is XI. Because of Smash Bros having Hero. Ever since I love the series. I even completed the first one on the switch. It’s simply great!

[@whoknows8223]

Amazing vid. A lot of effort. Will play that on my android phone on the flight to thailand on an emulator 😊 for you Dragon Quest 8 is what Breath of Fore 3

[@Mintcar923]

Back when I wasn’t as knowledgeable I did think this game was a British thing between the VA & the music.. I’ll never forget I started playing it Christmas Eve 2006.. This coupled with Jeanne DArc round the same time just goes to show what an amazing dev Level 5 is

[@brandy6650]

good video and great editing

[@horusreloaded6387]

Grind, guide and localization... So you have 5 solid reasons for why it is good. Though Map one was kinda weak too.

[@jccusell]

I dont really like JRPgs anld this has to be one of the greatest RPGs ever made in my mind. Brilliant game from the very start to the very finish.

[@synthoslive6879]

I honestly didn't know that it was such a phenomena in other parts of the world. Europe and Britain always escapr my mind, its honestly so cool to have the same experience as soemone ont he other side of the world!!

[@dcashley303]

8 reasons or VIII reasons ;) Need to play the 3DS version one day.

[@MaI2Me]

The original on PlayStation 2 is far superior.

[@SP1DER1NTHEN1TE]

I've been looking for this game it was the very first dragon quest game I played crafting items and even food was great the open world was amazing

[@BruceVial]

Ffx no1 Ffxii no2 DQ8 no3 Top three RPGs on the PS2

[@keltarking]

DQ8 may not be my favorite of the series anymore thanks to 11, but I will *always* love this game

[@Mijdax]

With DQ11 I learned to love more simple mechanics that are utilized right rather than complicated and overloaded mechanics which got out of hand of the designers.

[@avideogameodyssey3204]

Oh yeah, that is the joy of Dragon Quest compared to FF. FF tries to reinvent the wheel, DQ just enjoys the ride. You'll never get anything ground-breaking from DQ but they are consistently heartwarming.

[@jonrambodude]

Yangus all day guv

[@sethkeown5965]

I have the cd of the tokyo symphonic orchestra performing the DQ8 soundtrack. Its beautiful

[@karimlaghrissi4992]

More success to you, and more loyalty to good quality.

[@dmen0563]

Can the next dq games please go back to this type of world map please

[@hamzamercury5658]

First dragon quest i played that time it was amazing !

[@cafemocha1870]

viii was not the first fully 3d dragon quest game. a remake of V was released earlier that same year in full 3d, which never came to the west, people seem to never mention it despite it being the first fully 3d mainline title.

[@tronderiksen3866]

I've got this game recently in a game bundle of 100$ and all to value 300$ My version is the NTSC U/C cardboard with FF12 Demo inside, in Norway. Lucky I have the backwards compatible ps3 NTSC U/C 😅 I got so caught up in the Drawn graphic game runing in that I look forward to play this one day. The hours worry me if I got time to play. I also bought myself the Dragon Quest 11 this Saturday for ps4

[@Hybris_Speedrun]

Looooove this game ❤️

[@plazma2891]

Yeah I love South Shady Graphics they actually stand the test of time very well

[@hundun5604]

Thank you for reminding me I've a j-rpg gem in my collection. I totally forgot how good any funny this game was when I played it for the 1st time years ago. I got distracted somewhere and never finished the game. Maybe I should give it a go.

[@cambam4251]

Yo. Make more stuff. Cool channel!

[@JoeFpoc]

One of my favorite games. I’ve only played the 3ds version kinda sucks i never played this on ps2. Thought about going back to play this one but im at the point where I can’t stand random encounters, there are just sometimes you want to be left alone lol

[@baalfgames5318]

Being honest, Dragon Quest 8 is debatabbly my favorite besides 5. My favorite Dragon Quest games have mon-taming, since mon-tamers are one of my favorite videogame genres. I wish more Dragon Quest games had mon-taming in them, but so far, just 5 and 8 of the mainline games (and, sorta, 6)

[@mexicanmax227]

I agree this is the best JPG I’ve beaten over 113 JPG on the PS2 and I’ve beaten over 80 other RPG‘s action RPG‘s JPG‘s PS two Xbox PC and all console RPG‘s this one trumps all of them everything from the music quality cinematics voiceovers variety diversity Gameplay battle systems, dungeon quality, world, map, quality, and any other thing you can think of many games, etc. this game is truly a masterpiece. Some other amazing games are Nino Kuni II, LOZ/OOTMM/MQ/TWP/all of them, Star ocean series, grandia series, and so many others lol

[@mexicanmax227]

Beaten without strategy guides BTW 😉

[@dmen0563]

I was so dissapointed in 9 being some weird nintendo experiment after this masterpiece

[@jainee4507]

Pickman reminded me of Peckham also. Yangus is your typical pie and mash geezer he was the best part of the game!

[@boomerbrock1295]

As a kid I never beat this back then so now I finally got a ps2 again and ordered this and the guide so I better beat it this time, I think I got lost while trying to get a good monster team if that makes any sense

[@Leondragon06]

I just beat DQ VIII yesterday while I enjoyed it some I do think FF X is better. Loved the interactions more in FF games in general. I feel like part of the problem to me in DQ vs FF that makes me like FF in general more but in particular here is DQ's main character being silent makes the character not feel as involved in the story just there to be controlled by player or told things. Tidus on the other hand is very much more involved in his game as in his words "This is my story."

[@itguru2037]

Did you say that you were 50 in 2006?

[@avideogameodyssey3204]

I was 15 in 2006 - though, who knows, I might have said 50 in the video haha

[@WilbertBeltman]

I never got into this game, tried it many times on many platforms. The random encounters stopped me from enjoying it, I never wanted to explore as I was scared for random encounters afraid I'd run out of items to heal before reaching my destination

[@skuli5526]

Lol

[@alanacevedoo]

try the 3ds version, no random encounters

[@bengalboypaco3140]

I liked the random encounters kinda reminded me of pokemon

[@MaI2Me]

The random encounters are part of what makes this game so good in my opinion. The sense of danger it delivers this way made it so much fun and exciting, like a real adventure, just brilliant 👍 The 3DS version completely destroyed this element of the experience, unfortunately.

[@ivan44botibola]

Best game ever!!

[@mab-q8l]

Most Final Fantasy have open world maps. You referred to FFX like the whole franchise was like that.

[@adrian_veidt]

Dragon quest is a more consistent franchise than pokemon and final fantasy. Pokemon's transition to 3d was okay in X and Y. But nothing remarkable. I find Platinum on the DS better and more revolutionary. Then the franchise went downhill on the switch. The last memorable final fantasy games I played were 9, X and 12. 13, that trash vii remake are all terrible in my eyes. I still enjoy DQ 11. I'm currently replaying DQ 8, VI and IX. All fantastic rpgs.

[@AngelOfNoMercy]

@0:25 sooo about that

[@AngelOfNoMercy]

@1:27 65 hours? buddy im almost 200 hours deep and haven't beaten dark castle yet.

[@AngelOfNoMercy]

and keep in mind im playing a MODDED version which makes the game SO much easier and grind free and i STILL haven't hit cap yet.

[@AngelOfNoMercy]

like every gold golem gives me 1k and every metal slime gives 2k exp and i STILL am grinding.

[@AngelOfNoMercy]

i just beat dark bird island and i STILL am grinding.

[@AngelOfNoMercy]

so how are you beating it in 65 hours? are you a speed runner or something?

[@lorekinyin]

My best game ever after that it’s shenmue

[@cedrikthibert7033]

The battles look simillar to XI.

[@avideogameodyssey3204]

Yeah, all DQ games have very similar traditional turn-based combat. Which might sound boring to some but it is increasily hard to find in modern RPGs

[@Rams-ram]

💯

[@neoroger510]

There's a mod to get the best of both worlds: 3DS version + orchestrated music. That's how I played it and it was wonderful. Avoid the mobile version with discrimination because it's in portrait mode and such a masterpiece should NEVER be played like that.

[@gothard5]

one of the best RPGs on the PS2, but not THE best. That would be Grandia 2.

[@avideogameodyssey3204]

Hot take, I prefer Grandia 3!

[@id_avalon3451]

sylvando ruined DQ 11 for me completely..

[@avideogameodyssey3204]

WOAH!! Are you kidding? What did you not like about him? Did you get to the bit in the late / post game where he reunites with his Dad? That storyline tipped me over the edge into loving him

[@MaI2Me]

Same here, just annoying and completely ruined the game for me 👍 Glad to see I’m not the only one.

[@Thenewbagman]

The fact that you picked a picture of the horribly looking Wind Waker HD to make a point about you liking cell shading dont speaks good about you xD

[@nrrork]

Cel shaded graphics age better, too. This game and Wind Waker still look great. Hold them up against games from the same time that tried to look "realistic" and tell me how well THOSE aged. Amd photorealism is just BORING and speaks to a lack of imagination. Like the same lunkheads who think the only kind of paintings that look good are the ones that look real. That's why I always dismiss hyper-realistic shooters and shit as "dudebro games".

[@MaI2Me]

💯 If I want ‘realism’ I just go outside and do a little walk in the park.

[@Nubone92]

Best DQ Game on earth ;) PS2 wins

[@MaI2Me]

💯

[@blazingsonic]

Port to current consoles and steam and add those sweet sweet 3DS endings and keep rated T in all countries, no censored Jessica outfits and no balls of light over stabbings.