[quote name='Killbomb']DQVIII is definitely in my top 5 PS2 games if not #1 and also probably my favorite JRPG ever. I really hope they make another single-player game in the series on consoles and with a memorable party. I just could get into DQIX due to both it being on DS and the generic player-created party.[/QUOTE]
In my mind, DQ8 was a classic SNES rpg...except on the PS2 and with better graphics
. I also wasn't a huge fan of DQ9. I started playing it stopped. Considering how rpg starved I've been this console generation (Valkyria Chronicles is the only one I've truly enjoyed, yet to play Xenoblade Chronicles), I was really surprised when I lost interest.
[quote name='Flowstance']Ehh, not every single DQ needs to be a story based coming of age journey. DQ9 was much closer to DQ3 and 7. A very gameplay focused RPG with highly customizable characters. Since the story will be godawful no matter how you slice it, I usually prefer the gameplay to be the focus personally.[/QUOTE]
Fair enough on the first point. I can't speak to the latter as 4/8/9 are the only 3 games I've played, but certain games just have an inherent and intrinsic charm that others don't. This is why I still feel that Final Fantasy 6 is better than 7. I know it sounds wishy-washy, but there was a certain charm that DQ8 that, in my mind at least, 9 failed to replicate.