

A legendary RPG showdown




Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy are the most iconic console RPG franchises so let’s discover these historic series and pick out a winner.
Mainline games
Of course, I can go over these series all day lengthy but I will maintain this as short and complete as I can. 1st up, Dragon Quest debuted back in 1986 and even though the original is super-straightforward, its two sequels that compose the Erdrick trilogy took factors to a entire new level and are nonetheless terrific entertaining to play presently. Then, Dragon Quest IV released and knocked everyone’s socks off with its campaign exactly where every single chapter focuses on new characters with the final one particular bringing absolutely everyone collectively. In reality, IV’s cast is the most recognizable with Torneko, Alena, and Maya and Meena becoming a couple of fan favourites. The following two games only saw light in North America by way of DS remakes and they are each stellar even though VII introduced a 3D planet. VIII solidified the franchise in the west with its English voice acting and spectacular anime visuals that carried more than to the current XI. Meanwhile, IX was a cool transportable game and X is a Japan-only MMORPG.
Final Fantasy released in 1987 and permitted players to build their extremely personal celebration which created it stand out as it felt like you have been on an adventure with your buddies. Final Fantasy II had a much more structured story with predefined characters and a lot of fetch-quests even though III implemented a revolutionary job method. It really is secure to say that IV is the 1st entry to have a definitely epic story with a phenomenal cast of characters and a lot of humour and drama all through and V continued that trend even though reintroducing the job method.
VI definitely went the added mile with its cast, story, and gameplay and VII took the franchise in a entire new path with its much more sci-fi setting, 3D visuals, CG cutscenes, and revolutionary Materia method. VIII presented a comparable encounter and introduced a junction and Guardian Force mechanic even though IX took the series back to its roots with a medieval aesthetic and familiar systems. X was the 1st to function voice acting and a complete 3D planet and it remains a superbly fashionable and colourful RPG. XI and XIV are MMORPGs and XII took MMORPG-style combat and place it in one particular of the most epic game worlds ever and it really is my private favourite entry in the franchise. Subsequent, Final Fantasy XIII featured a extremely underrated paradigm shift combat method and even though XV disappointed me, at least it presented anything new.
Following saying all of that, it really is pretty secure to say that the Dragon Quest series has remained extremely constant more than its quite a few installments as its gameplay hardly ever strays from the standard turn-primarily based formula that fans initially loved about the franchise. Heck, even the music in every single game is comparable with quite a few tracks persisting all through Dragon Quest‘s lengthy history. Meanwhile, Final Fantasy unquestionably functions significantly much more selection and is far from constant. It really is this threat-taking that has each delighted and frustrated fans with every single new game more than the previous couple of decades but all round, I admire the reality that they’ve regularly attempted new formulas and varieties of memorable worlds and stories. In the finish, I have to choose Final Fantasy as the superior mainline series since every single game is normally a wholly exceptional encounter.
Spin-off games
Each Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy have featured loads of entertaining spin-offs more than the years. For starters, Dragon Quest Monsters is essentially a Pokémon-inspired sub-series that is cute and a ton of entertaining. A single of the finest spin-offs is Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime for DS which is super-addictive and an absolute blast. On the other hand, the two most current spin-off series (Dragon Quest Heroes and Dragon Quest Builders) are so effectively completed that they rival and typically surpass the mainline series in terms of top quality. They are extremely fleshed-out experiences that really feel like Dragon Quest by means of and by means of even though providing exceptional gameplay that you unquestionably will not obtain in the key series.
Final Fantasy has its fair share of spin-offs, as well. In my opinion, the greatest spin-off by far is the epic Final Fantasy Techniques which functions complicated SRPG battles and an awesome visual style with equally amazing music. Then, there are the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII games which are fairly cool and the surprisingly dark Final Fantasy Kind-. Plus, I have to mention the action-focused Crystal Chronicles series as effectively as the Dissidia fighting games. There was even a kart racer for PS1 known as Chocobo Racing which was impressively entertaining and then there is The four Heroes of Light, Final Fantasy Explorers, Globe of Final Fantasy, and much more mobile games than I care to list. Honestly, there are so quite a few Final Fantasy spin-offs that it really is absurd but extremely couple of of them essentially stand out as need to-have games.
Think it or not, Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy share a couple of spin-offs. For instance, they each have rhythm games in the Theatrhythm series as effectively as Mystery Dungeon games in the type of three titles starring Torneko and 1 with Yangus plus a couple of Chocobo’s Dungeon games. Ultimately, the Monopoly-inspired Itadaki Street (AKA Fortune Street) had a couple of games that boasted a cast of characters composed of familiar faces from each the Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy series. Also negative most of these titles under no circumstances created it westward!
Effectively, this is a hard one particular. Final Fantasy could have quite a few much more spin-offs but the top quality of the Dragon Quest ones are out of this planet. Sorry, Final Fantasy Techniques I am going to say that in the end, Dragon Quest has the superior spin-offs, specifically the current ones.
I’ve been dreading this but it really is time to choose an all round winner! In the finish, I believe the superior franchise is…
Seeing as it really is taken terrific dangers more than the previous couple of decades that have largely resulted in wealthy and memorable gaming experiences, Final Fantasy deserves significantly respect even although, dare I say, the franchise is not fairly as epic as it utilised to be. That becoming stated, Dragon Quest is a phenomenal series of RPGs but I obtain that its consistency more than the years has created the franchise rather repetitive. It really is a very good issue that they are making such awesome spin-offs! Anyway, no matter which series you choose, there is no denying that they each offer you amazing experiences in their personal distinct techniques.
That is just my opinion. Agree? Disagree? Vote now!