Unlike Final Fantasy, the Dragon Quest role-playing games have never caught on the US market. Square Enix is taking another chance at it today by releasing Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King for PlayStation 2 console. In addition to launching a multimillion dollar ad campaign, Square Enix has positioned the game for success in the market with new updates exclusive to the North American version of the game. Among the changes made are new voice-overs, a full orchestral soundtrack, a reworked menu system, new battle abilities, and revamped animations. And if that"s not tempting enough, the company is also including a playable demo of the much-anticipated Final Fantasy XII.
Brief Story:
After an evil wizard steals a magic scepter, the castle from which it was taken is cursed, and the king is turned into a toad like creature, with the princess becoming a horse. Now it"s up to players, as the lone unaffected resident of the castle, to set out with a portly companion (the king) and the princess to track the wizard down, reclaim the scepter, and break the curse.
Dragon Quest VIII is rated T for Teen and retails for $49.99.