Why is DQ so popular in Japan?

[Mystical Spork]

There are dozens of similar JRPGs where you play as a party of four characters, the main character being a silent protagonist that is meant to be a self-insert for the player, and the somewhat band of other characters that do come across as basic archetypes.

Honestly, on the surface level at least, this game does not look as unique as much when you compare it to other similar games. I figure this game being so beloved is mainly due to the legacy of it existing before other JRPG franchises became prominent in Japan and that's mainly it. Because I can honestly not find anything that stands out about these games, maybe except for the art style of Akira Toriyama. But overall, it does come across as generic-looking if you played other RPGs before Dragon Quest.

[Lucas the Thief]

A few things
1. As you mentioned Toriyama worked on it
2. This is seen as the grandfather of the modern RPG, most other RPGS take elements of this game in some way, shape or form. From customizable parties, twist world at the end, gathering X to summon Y etc. Most modern RPGS can trace roots back to DQ3
3. Final Fantasy, the only other competitor at the time, took heavily from Dungeons and Dragons more so then making it's own original creations
4. Light attitude, the game doesn't take itself super seriously and is nice, simplistic and calming. To a Japan audience where the culture is very work driven that is a welcome respite, especially 30 years ago.
5. Knights and Dragons. Japan has an insane amount of love for the medieval era type of stuff like knights, dragons, castles etc.
6. More presence. Japan has had continual release of Dragon Quest games in Japan as opposed to the US where it came and went, particularly with many games not even making it to the US till Nintendo ported them over via 3ds (with X still in the pipeline).

[Call Sign: Raven]

Interesting take. I would say that many other RPGs look the way they do BECAUSE of Dragon Quest, not the other way around. Wizardry came first, it was a hit because of how hard-core it was; brutally difficult, to be sure. Then Dragon Quest came as a direct inspiration of Wizardry, and combined with Toriyama's art as Lucas mentioned, you have a combination for a great time.

Also great point about medieval fantasy having a very large draw in Japan. To a westerner, it may look generic because that's a part of our history. But to an easterner, it straddles the "exotic becomes erotic" theory. In other words, it's so different from their culture that it gives them a strong pull towards it.

[Mystical Spork]

Originally posted by Lucas the Thief:

A few things
1. As you mentioned Toriyama worked on it
2. This is seen as the grandfather of the modern RPG, most other RPGS take elements of this game in some way, shape or form. From customizable parties, twist world at the end, gathering X to summon Y etc. Most modern RPGS can trace roots back to DQ3
3. Final Fantasy, the only other competitor at the time, took heavily from Dungeons and Dragons more so then making it's own original creations
4. Light attitude, the game doesn't take itself super seriously and is nice, simplistic and calming. To a Japan audience where the culture is very work driven that is a welcome respite, especially 30 years ago.
5. Knights and Dragons. Japan has an insane amount of love for the medieval era type of stuff like knights, dragons, castles etc.
6. More presence. Japan has had continual release of Dragon Quest games in Japan as opposed to the US where it came and went, particularly with many games not even making it to the US till Nintendo ported them over via 3ds (with X still in the pipeline).

I can say for Final Fantasy that it has it's own unique aesthetic and gameplay style that does stand out from other games. Dragon Quest on the other hand, though, it doesn't come across as particularly special because most Western audiences have more options to choose from when it comes to Western-style RPGs, and they especially prefer more realistic-looking RPGs with an interesting story premise rather than a basic one like with Dragon Quest.

I also imagine because of how foreign the world of Dragon Quest looks from an Eastern perspective, due to it mainly featuring a lot of Western-style medieval aesthetic, though also pretty stylized to appeal to a Japanese audience, it comes across as more approachable and fascinating to someone who has never seen something like this before.
Like you mentioned, the game featuring a lot of Western-style dragon's, architecture, and armor/weapons. It also being developed by Japanese game developers means that a Japanese audience is more likely to approach it knowing that it is was probably made with their own sensibilities in mind since they understand their own culture more than other developers do.

[Jouchebag]

Probably not the best version of DQ to have this kind of conversation on. The old DQ's were obviously more unique at the time. Less competition in the gaming industry for RPGs in 1988. This remake is really only for nostalgia bait, though. That much is true. I doubt more than 10% of their sales go to people who have never played a DQ before.

It's a bit odd to me that DQ11 gets the praise it does. It's gameplay is still the same old stuff. I don't see how I could convince my kids to get into a series that clings so tightly to it's 80's roots. Also, the story is super bland. DQ8's plot is a much better narrative.

While I haven't played this remake, I would assume it's pretty faithful to the original, which by today's standards is a bland-ass boring game.

[Ikagura]

Originally posted by Jouchebag:

Probably not the best version of DQ to have this kind of conversation on. The old DQ's were obviously more unique at the time. Less competition in the gaming industry for RPGs in 1988. This remake is really only for nostalgia bait, though. That much is true. I doubt more than 10% of their sales go to people who have never played a DQ before.

It's a bit odd to me that DQ11 gets the praise it does. It's gameplay is still the same old stuff. I don't see how I could convince my kids to get into a series that clings so tightly to it's 80's roots. Also, the story is super bland. DQ8's plot is a much better narrative.

While I haven't played the remark, I would assume it's pretty faithful to the original, which by today's standards is a bland-ass boring game.

I'd argue that it's because turn based is less common for AAA JRPGs so it makes the classic style more interesting to see for non indiegames.

[Jouchebag]

Originally posted by Ikagura:

I'd argue that it's because turn based is less common for AAA JRPGs so it makes the classic style more interesting to see for non indiegames.

I think maybe indie games are a reason it's hard for me to see this $60 price tag. Is this game really better than:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1244090/Sea_of_Stars/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1321440/Cassette_Beasts/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1229240/Chained_Echoes/

Or from other AA and AAA devs:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1113000/Persona_4_Golden/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/251290/The_Legend_of_Heroes_Trails_in_the_Sky_SC/

Or from that other half of their company that does remakes that look like this for only $10 more:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1462040/FINAL_FANTASY_VII_REMAKE_INTERGRADE/

I sure hope people have a reason as good as "nostalgia" for paying $60 for stuff that RPG Maker can turn out a reasonable facsimile of.

[Sage Pirotess]

Dq is popular as it goes far beyond video games. Basically its everything final fantasy wish it could be.

Manga, anime, clothes, amusement parks, houseware. It's the Disneyland, Mickey mouse of japan.

Yes even baby blankets are sold with the classic slime on them. And teddy bear, nope dq big plussie.

These things in a sense make dq a cradle to adulthood brand in Japan.

[Mystical Spork]

Originally posted by Sage Pirotess:

Dq is popular as it goes far beyond video games. Basically its everything final fantasy wish it could be.

Manga, anime, clothes, amusement parks, houseware. It's the Disneyland, Mickey mouse of japan.

Yes even baby blankets are sold with the classic slime on them. And teddy bear, nope dq big plussie.

These things in a sense make dq a cradle to adulthood brand in Japan.

I though Mario and Nintendo were the "Mickey Mouse/Disney" of Japan.

[Call Sign: Raven]

Originally posted by Jouchebag:

Originally posted by Ikagura:

I'd argue that it's because turn based is less common for AAA JRPGs so it makes the classic style more interesting to see for non indiegames.

I think maybe indie games are a reason it's hard for me to see this $60 price tag. Is this game really better than:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1244090/Sea_of_Stars/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1321440/Cassette_Beasts/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1229240/Chained_Echoes/

Or from other AA and AAA devs:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1113000/Persona_4_Golden/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/251290/The_Legend_of_Heroes_Trails_in_the_Sky_SC/

Or from that other half of their company that does remakes that look like this for only $10 more:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1462040/FINAL_FANTASY_VII_REMAKE_INTERGRADE/

I sure hope people have a reason as good as "nostalgia" for paying $60 for stuff that RPG Maker can turn out a reasonable facsimile of.

The key takeaway I got from this post is that the better your reputation, the more money you can charge.

[Sage Pirotess]

Originally posted by Mystical Spork:

Originally posted by Sage Pirotess:

Dq is popular as it goes far beyond video games. Basically its everything final fantasy wish it could be.

Manga, anime, clothes, amusement parks, houseware. It's the Disneyland, Mickey mouse of japan.

Yes even baby blankets are sold with the classic slime on them. And teddy bear, nope dq big plussie.

These things in a sense make dq a cradle to adulthood brand in Japan.

I though Mario and Nintendo were the "Mickey Mouse/Disney" of Japan.

Nope. Heck Nintendo is just opening a museum this year. Amusement park in the world, now. But dragon quest has been around many, many years, and more family friendly.

You see Mario manga, the cartoon of long ago didn't do well either. But dq chugs on.

[Abacus]

Legacy is a huge part of it.

The creators involved and their impact on gaming. Who's work still echos today.

Some of the games had some pretty creative features.

The battle system is tight and calibrated for what it is, and is as old school as you can get.

There are many RPG franchises what I would say surpass DQ in many qualities.

However, DQ has maintain it's style as a game consistently. Few other JRPGs could be said to be as consistent with the traditional concept.

[aDew]

I have many Japanese friends when I was in university. Girls and some of them didn't play game regularly but be Dragon quest fans. They said DQ is a very relaxing rpg. The story in the early installments are more strath forward, artstyle is lovely not too serious. You can open up the game and kill monster /explore and moving on the story just a bit and done for the day. It was kind of relax and enjoy before go to bed.

[Mystical Spork]

Originally posted by aDew:

I have many Japanese friends when I was in university. Girls and some of them didn't play game regularly but be Dragon quest fans. They said DQ is a very relaxing rpg. The story in the early installments are more strath forward, artstyle is lovely not too serious. You can open up the game and kill monster /explore and moving on the story just a bit and done for the day. It was kind of relax and enjoy before go to bed.

So it's best to describe Dragon Quest as a comfort game like Super Mario Bros., correct?

[Sage Pirotess]

Originally posted by Mystical Spork:

Originally posted by aDew:

I have many Japanese friends when I was in university. Girls and some of them didn't play game regularly but be Dragon quest fans. They said DQ is a very relaxing rpg. The story in the early installments are more strath forward, artstyle is lovely not too serious. You can open up the game and kill monster /explore and moving on the story just a bit and done for the day. It was kind of relax and enjoy before go to bed.

So it's best to describe Dragon Quest as a comfort game like Super Mario Bros., correct?

Game, topic. You also forget they have dq online. PC cafes across japan full of gamers. Its not uncommon for groups to go out, think of a guild and do events together in a cafe. Play drink, eat, cheer.

[I'm Gumii]

It's mainly legacy.
Sure it looks like a generic fantasy game, but so does Skyrim.
And you have to remember, Dragon Quest (specifically DQ3) was basically Skyrim on the NES, it was a technical marvel for its time.
Kids literally got arrested for skipping school to go buy it.
While, yes compared to many JRPGs that came later it mechanically is very bare, those games would also not exist without DQ's influence to build off as, the same way DOOM changed shooters.