The recent success of Dragon Quest 11 has skyrocketed the series back into the spotlight among JRPG fans, and for a good reason. The influence of the series on video games can not be understated, and it deserves to be preserved with other memorable classics. The first three games in the series have ports on the Nintendo Switch and a remake of Dragon Quest 3 is currently in the works by the team behind Square Enix's HD-2D series of games. With all the buzz around Dragon Quest recently, fans have been hoping for more recognition towards Dragon Quest 8.
Dragon Quest 8 is arguably one of the most iconic games in the series. Its main character was one of the four representatives for the series included in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate along with the protagonists from Dragon Quest 11, Dragon Quest 3, and Dragon Quest 4. Dragon Quest 8 had a port to the Nintendo 3DS some years ago with added features from the PlayStation 2 version. However, with copies of physical Nintendo 3DS games becoming harder to come by and the Nintendo 3DS store shutting down soon, it is time to consider a new remaster of Dragon Quest 8.
A Remaster For Dragon Quest 8 Could Revitalize Its Soundtrack
One of the best parts of the Dragon Quest series is its masterful soundtrack, and Dragon Quest 8 is no exception. The soundtrack was composed by the late Koichi Sugiyama since the very first game and has been one of the biggest draws to the series ever since. Parts from different Dragon Quest games were even chosen to be played alongside many other video game songs at the Japanese Olympics. However, the music in most of the Dragon Quest games is not fully orchestrated and opts to use a digital sound. Dragon Quest 8 is one of these games that has not had its soundtrack orchestrated outside of live performances.
While the North American version of Dragon Quest 8 on the 3DS did not get a remastered soundtrack, the Japanese version of the game actually did. While this is an odd choice, it gives the chance for another release of the game to include an orchestrated soundtrack. One of the major changes that the release of Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age made over the original was to include a new version of the OST. In cases of more extreme remakes by Square Enix, like the Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the soundtrack is completely redone. It is likely that if Dragon Quest 8 does get a remaster or a remake, then a completely new soundtrack would come with it.
A Graphical Update to Dragon Quest 8 Could Make Its Art Style Shine
Dragon Quest 8 originally came out on the PlayStation 2 in 2004. With a game that old, one would expect the graphics to feel outdated, but its art style helps the visuals hold up. The unique art direction is thanks to Akira Toriyama, who also worked on Dragon Ball and Chrono Trigger. While Dragon Quest 8 was remade for the 3DS, there was no major change in the visuals other than some lighting. It would be difficult for the 3DS to revamp the visuals from a PlayStation 2 game, so it is clear to see why the visuals were not updated so much. However, when compared to modern titles, there's a case for a graphical overhaul.
The most recent release in the Dragon Quest series, Dragon Quest 11, adapted Akira Toriyama's art style perfectly. Every enemy and character is expressively animated along with the vibrant color palette of the world. A remake of Dragon Quest 8 in the same engine as Dragon Quest 11 could work very well. To see fan-favorite characters and locations remastered in glorious modern graphics would be a treat for fans of the original game. Fans could already see a glimpse of what that could look like, as Dragon Quest 8's protagonist's outfit was available to wear in Dragon Quest 11. One could only imagine how fan favorites from Dragon Quest 8 like Jessica and Angelo would look in modern graphics.
A Remaster Can Give Fan-Favorite Characters From Dragon Quest 8 More Content
The Dragon Quest series has many strong characters that make up their games' casts One thing that the rerelease of Dragon Quest 11 did to improve over the original game was giving the game's side characters more time to shine. Sections of the game that focus entirely on one character can go a long way for the development of that character. The port of Dragon Quest 8 went a long way in adding extra content for that very purpose. There were many new backstories and additional storylines added to the game that help flesh out characters that wouldn't get as much development otherwise. Even side characters like Kalderasha got more backstories and side quests associated with them.
While the 3DS port of Dragon Quest 8 has good additions for side characters, they could go the extra mile and include more for party members. In the rerelease of Dragon Quest 11, this was done at a significant turning point in the game and let players see what party members were doing during a certain period of time. A dedicated side quest for the player solely plays as Yangus could let players experience his life as a bandit before he joined the party. This could also tie in with Red and players could learn more about their relationship. The same concept can be applied to Angelo, Jessica, and Morrie where having dedicated time separated from the protagonist can help players understand their characters more.
A remaster for Dragon Quest 8 sounds like a simple idea on paper, but the reality is that the Nintendo 3DS version of the game added a lot of what fans wanted. It added quality-of-life fixes, new monsters, new quests, new cutscenes, new dungeons, and even a new ending. The problem is that it isn't easy to get games on the 3DS anymore and the game could be lost on the system.
All a remaster for Dragon Quest 8 has to do is remake the music, and update the visuals to line up with how Dragon Quest 11 looks, and include the additions from the 3DS port. Any other additions would be a bonus. Dragon Quest 8 is too important of an entry in the series to not get a remaster for modern consoles.
Dragon Quest 8: Journey of the Cursed King is now available for the Nintendo 3DS.