Sunday, June 5, 2011

The 25th Anniversary of Dragon Quest

On May 25, 1986, Japanese publisher Enix published what would go on to be one of the most influential games of all time -- not to mention launching one of the medium's most enduring (and best-selling) series, too: Dragon Quest, known in the U.S. as Dragon Warrior. The original Dragon Quest may not seem like much today, but 25 years ago it was a refreshingly original take on the well-established role-playing genre. It was an RPG designed to work on consoles instead of the usual personal computers, which meant it was stripped-down and simplified; rather than letting its target platform make it feel limited or primitive, though, its designers played up its streamlined design by offering players a wonderfully accessible adventure: deep but uncomplicated, challenging but never impossible. Its whimsical character artwork and amusing dialogue helped it stand out amidst the slew of impersonators it inspired. Two and a half decades later, the Dragon Quest games remain incredibly popular in Japan (and has quite a few fans elsewhere in the world, too). And above all, unlike so many series that have endured through the years, each and every Dragon Quest release is still unmistakably a sequel to the original game.

East and West, Warrior and Quest: A Dragon Quest Retrospective

An anniversary look back at the most influential console RPG ever made.
By Jeremy Parish [READ]

Clone Warriors: RPGs Inspired by Dragon Quest

A look at Dragon Quest's legacy, encapsulated in the games that ripped it off.
By Jeremy Signor [READ]

Dragon Quest and the Art of Efficient Exploration

What game design lessons are hidden in the depths of a 25-year-old RPG?
By Jake Alley [READ]

Joker's Wild: The Tale of a Dragon Quest Grudge Match

A tribute to one of the Dragon Quest series' most under-appreciated gems.
By Aaron Littleton [READ]

A Retronauts Dragon Quest Comic

Everyone's favorite explorer of game history, Oat Turner, looks at the series' origins.
By Philip Armstrong [READ]

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