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Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen

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8.8 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 44 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 16 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Square Enix

Developer: ArtePiazza

Genre(s): Role-Playing Game

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)

Release Date: September 15, 2008

Summary

A tale of epic proportions told through a unique chapter sequence that enables players to experience multiple character perspectives. Embark on an adventure with characters from different walks of life, all destined to unite with you, the hero, to save the world. [Square Enix]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Gaming Age

Highly recommended, and something that every RPG enthusiast should definitely check out.

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GameShark

With great pacing, clever character development, and phenomenal presentation, this relatively forgiving RPG is likely to convert fence-sitters into fully-fledged RPG fanatics. Even though it might be considered “by-the-book” by today’s standards, Dragon Quest IV should be considered required playing for any role-playing fan out there.

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Cubed3

Third time is definitely the charm…

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Games Radar (in-house)

If you like your RPGs old school, yet approachable in their difficulty, you can’t do much better than this.

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PTGamers

The DS adaption is nothing short of extraordinary, so this expedition is more than worth the time.

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3DJuegos

ArtePiazza brings us an impressive remake of Dragon Quest IV that has a traditional RPG gameplay feeling and a superb symbiosis between past and present. If you're a role playing hardcore gamer then you must play this piece of jewellery.

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RPG Fan

But I can say with confidence that Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen is a must-own for nearly all JRPG fans.

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GamingXP

The game was able to fascinate gamers 20 years ago and still, it has the power to do so. Epic role-playing with a brilliant story and a very well done character design!

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

Dragon Quest: The Chapters of the Chosen takes a little while to get on the boil, but once it does you’ll find yourself absorbed in a lengthy, enjoyable, balanced and accessible JRPG that is as welcoming to genre veterans as it is to complete newcomers. There’s more than enough modern polish and sheen to justify bringing this former NES classic back for yet another outing.

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Worth Playing

All in all, Dragon Quest IV is an excellent addition (or duplicate) to any RPG fan's collection. I recommend checking it out if you missed it the first couple of times as it'll keep you busy until the brand new Dragon Quest IX releases later next year.

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DailyGame

If you have played it and are wondering whether it's as good as you remember, it is. It may even be better than you remember.

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1UP

A more than worthy remake of a gaming great, and RPG fans should consider it a mandatory play. Remakes aren't a science -- they're an art...and Dragon Quest IV has been re-created with deft strokes.

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GameZone

Even gamers that never played a Dragon Quest game should be able to find the charm underneath the old-school gameplay.

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Pelit (Finland)

A quality remake of the classic, charming adventure. [Feb 2009]

NGamer UK

It's as a never-before-played adventure that Dragon Quest most impresses. Forgive it its age and appreciate its forward-thinking. We be tellin' yers so.

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Gamervision

While Dragon Quest IV doesn’t offer anything overwhelmingly new or unique, it’s a solid RPG experience that any fan of the genre will have fun playing.

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Pocket Gamer UK

A solid traditional RPG married to a refreshingly modern narrative, shot through with a lovely sense of humour.

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Eurogamer

A heavyweight update of a marvellous game. Indeed, it emerges as the strongest RPG for the system, an extraordinary feat considering its long journey to get here. Blue moustache and all.

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GameSpy

Dragon Quest IV offers a classic RPG experience that you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

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GameSpot

Chapters of the Chosen is a charming, absorbing, and addictively fun role-playing game that offers the best chance Westerners have ever had to experience Dragon Quest IV.

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VideoGamer

If you can cope with the archaic gameplay elements you'll find a JRPG that shames many of its more modern cousins with its entrancing plot and bewitching charm.

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Edge Magazine

While the mechanics are well worn by subsequent Quest dabbling, the narrative structure remains an interesting premise to this day. [Oct 2008, p.100]

GamePro

But if you're looking for a good, simple RPG that you can pick up and play without chaining yourself down, you should definitely choose Dragon Quest IV this fall. [Oct 2008, p.91]

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Destructoid

My biggest takeaway from Chapters of the Chosen is that despite it's sexy new makeover, it still feels like an old school adventure.

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Cheat Code Central

Chapters of the Chosen serves as a strong reminder of just how good some of the old times really were. It's a lengthy and deep RPG that offers a solid challenge without crushing the spirits of the non-hardcore RPG enthusiast.

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NintendoWorldReport

Ultimately, Dragon Quest IV is so steeped in retro gaming culture that it's bound to be polarizing.

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D+PAD Magazine

The Chapters of the Chosen is a deep, well conceived, measured and expertly delivered title that is as rewarding to play as it is aesthetically pleasing. A title that is both a fascinating glimpse into the past and a wonderful vindication of the importance and durability of solid game design.

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LEVEL (Czech Republic)

Reserve the next 40 hours of your life for this ultimate remake. Back in 90’s DQ IV was a huge hit on NES and you can bet this NDS version will catch you the same. [Nov 2008]

Thunderbolt

For players who don’t mind the overzealous translation, this game is a gem; for longtime fans of the series, it could be a bitter disappointment. What you get out of this game depends on what your expectations are going in.

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IGN

Dragon Quest fans may still want to plop down the cash, as it's a great nostalgic package for those that haven't spent time with the Japanese remake on the original PSX, and for those itching to get into the series, it won't get much better than Chapters of the Chosen.

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Play.tm

A fairly decent JRPG experience in Dragon Quest IV. The engine is ported from the original PSX version of Dragon Quest VII, with 2D sprites animating themselves in a 3D world.

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Zentendo

Dragon Quest IV is a classic RPG in every sense of the word, from its charming medieval atmosphere to its plucky cast of characters. Behind the cheerful exterior lies a tough and challenging game that requires lots of patience and time. The game will easily give the player their money's worth, and is a great starting point in the franchise that will have you waiting in anticipation for the next game.

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Games Master UK

This adventure isn't perfect, but stick with it and you'll discover another worthy addition to the DS's growing library of RPGs. [Oct 2008, p.72]

Official Nintendo Magazine UK

A decent adventure, but it'll require persistence to get the most from it. [Oct 2008, p.94]

Gamer 2.0

Whether it sells or not, this is a great remake of a game that totally deserved one from the ground up—but at that, this isn’t for everyone.

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GameFocus

With a great story and some fun classic game play as well as the new wonderful graphic updates to this classic RPG, make it a worthy single player title. The multiplayer side of things has a ton of potential if you have a few friends with the game you will have a blast for a very long time. For RPG fans this is a great title.

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Kombo

Despite feeling as aged as it is, Dragon Quest IV is still one of the most engaging and endearing RPG titles in gaming history.

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Nintendo Power

Although this DS remake offers an attractive polygonal world and plenty of usability improvements, it still feels very much like a product of its time. [Oct 2008, p.86]

Game Informer

For a gussied-up remake of an NES game, Dragon Quest IV features some nice touches.

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AceGamez

I feel as though I should be warning you that it's not just retro but positively a step backwards, and as we all know backwards steps are not good ones.

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Wired

It's tough to make the distinction between where Square Enix was deliberately preserving the game's nostalgic appeal, and where it was just cutting costs.

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Gamer.nl

The game does a lot of things right, just like the early versions on the NES and the PlayStation. The game is easy to pick up without having a short lifespan. Nevertheless even the graphics seem to be copied from his early ancestors and the whole game concept feels a little recycled. Only die-hard RPG fans will find some pleasure in the game.

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games(TM)

It ingeniously updates all the problems with the original without destroying the core concept. [Dec 2008, p.109]

Modojo

If you have fond memories of it or you are an RPG fanatic, definitely check out this game.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 16 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Ultio E. gave it a10:
Many reviews of this game convey certain connotative caveats: “This game is good ‘if’ you are a fan of old school (RPGs, NES RPGs, JRPGs, Turn-Based RPGs,) etc..., and considering that it is a fantastic remake of that genre, I give it an 8 out of 10!” As a connoisseur of great RPGs, I must say that I am generally disappointed with the many lazy reviews of this game, those which present it as ok, but nothing special. I am not here to compare DQIV to GTA4. If a gamer is young, and into today’s rich-content gaming, then “Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of The Chosen” is probably not the game for them. That would be like comparing the board game “Risk” to the film “Die Hard”. Obviously "Die Hard" is flashier, and commands more attention, however DQIV commands a certain audience of its own, and it accomplishes this by being a quality example within its genre and intended scope. When comparing DQIV to the original DWIV for the NES, it quickly becomes obvious, that this remake is more than just a repurposing of old video game code, it is a worthy entity all of its own. Clearly there is no comparison between “Dragon Quest IV, Chapters of The Chosen” on Nintendo DS, and Halo 3 on X-Box 360. Sadly, I believe that most reviewers miss this point. The reason that Square-Enix continues to re-release titles like this or “Final Fantasy IV”, is not because they don’t have great new ideas coming down the pipeline (see “The World Ends With You”, which is probably the title of the year for the Nintendo DS platform), but rather it is because they cater to a specific segment of game players that appreciate the narrative/strategic game-play approach to personal entertainment. Dragon Quest IV is one of a very few games ever released for the original NES (as “Dragon Warrior IV”) that actually had a tale to tell. “Dragon Warrior IV’s” story line was like watching a ‘talkie’ back in the age of silent films. It was truly unique and way cooler just from this standpoint. Now, this game returns for the Nintendo DS, and the story (while remaining the same) is even more enjoyable. Regional dialects add credibility and a touch of humor to a global story. Better storytelling delves deeper into the plot via a more thorough exploration of the mentality and drive of the main characters. There are many enhancements to the plot as well, which I should not discuss, as they would be spoilers. Needless to say, what is a great story is now told better, with more personal impact, and is now more enjoyable via technological and constructional betterment. Koichi Sugiyama’s symphonic suite is now sweeter from harnessing the DS’s sound capabilities. Important game-play enhancements, such as diagonal movement (this does prove a most enjoyable enhancement over the original NES’s grid system), 360 degree camera movement (need I say more), the ability to quick-save anywhere anytime, and a massively improved turn-based battle system that allows the player to now control all of the main characters during the final chapter (as opposed to the NES version’s decent but less fun AI based tactics battle system). Another interesting feature is the difficulty of battle in this remake, which has been turned-up by about 50%. This is due to massive changes in the way magic works: Spells like ‘Crackle’ can miss just as a physical attack may miss. Most weapons and armor have been made weaker than they were in the previous version, so monsters definitely get to fight with a handicap. Also though, the decisions that monsters make in battle are now shrewder. The battle system will be welcomed by anyone who is seeking more of a challenge than the original version could muster (praise the Goddess for improvements to Nintendo technology)! Overall, the DS platform, paired with some good programming on Square-Enix’s end, make this remake far superior to the original, while maintaining many of its original charms. DQIV takes advantage of what the Nintendo DS platform has to offer, without trying to take it overboard on the rich-multimedia content. In my opinion, “Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of The Chosen” has set the platinum standard in RPG remakes: An emerging genre, whose fruit you can expect gamers to pluck from retailers shelves, for many years to come.

Alexander O. gave it a4:
The graphics ruined everything for me.

Ke S. gave it a9:
Great port. The nre translation is awesome, and the game is beautiful!

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Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen

Game Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

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