Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 5160400 219250017 2008-06-14T08:54:47Z 124.168.216.143 {{Infobox VG |title = DQM: DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS- Joker |image = [[Image:Dragon Quest Monsters - Joker Coverart.png]] |developer = [[TOSE]] |publisher = [[Square Enix]] |distributor = {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ubisoft]] |designer = |series = ''[[Dragon Quest Monsters]]'' |engine = |version = |released = {{vgrelease|JP=[[December 28]], [[2006]]}}{{vgrelease|NA=[[November 6]], [[2007]]}} {{vgrelease|AUS=[[March 13]] [[2008]]}}{{vgrelease|EU=[[March 14]], [[2008]]<ref>[http://www.squareinsider.com/news/article/1296/dragon-quest-monsters-coming-to-europe-in-march/ squareinsider.com] Retrieved January 12, 2008</ref>}} |genre = [[Console role-playing game]] |modes = [[Single player]], [[multiplayer]] |ratings = {{vgratings|OFLCA=PG}} |platforms = [[Nintendo DS]] |media = |requirements = |input = }} '''''Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker''''' (ドラゴンクエストモンスターズ ジョーカー) is a [[Nintendo DS]] [[role playing game]] published by [[Square Enix]], and is the latest installment of the ''[[Dragon Quest Monsters]]'' series. Square Enix released the game on [[December 28]], [[2006]] in [[Japan]], selling 593,994 units in the first four days after release,<ref>[http://www.consolewars.de/news/14823/software-verkaufszahlen_aus_japan/ Consolewars.com] Retrieved November 27, 2007</ref> and in the first 4 weeks it reached 1 million copies.{{Verify source|date=March 2008}} It was released in North America on [[November 6]][[2007]]. This is the first game in the series to have online play, via [[Nintendo Wi-Fi]]. Like the other games in the series, the character and monster designs are credited to long-time ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' series artist, [[Akira Toriyama]]. ==Gameplay== ''Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker'' is the first game in the ''Dragon Quest Monsters'' series to be in 3D, and the first game developed by [[TOSE]]. It uses the ''[[Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King]]'' game engine out of battle, uses [[cel-shaded animation]], and the battles are of the same type: commands are issued in a turn based style, then are executed in full 3D. The battle system itself is very similar to previous ''Dragon Quest Monsters'' games. The player controls up to three monsters that make up the party, and can issue them direct orders or set them to one of 5 AI settings. The main character does not directly participate in battles except for when the player uses items. ''Joker'' does not have random battles.<ref name="spot" /> The only way to encounter enemies is to run into one on the overworld. The monsters can be seen, avoided, and attacked from their back to get a free attack round. Later on, the player gets the Whistle ability. This can be used at any time, other than in the city and where monsters don't appear, and in a way does count as a random battle as the enemies are randomly chosen. The game takes place in the region known as ''Green Bays'', consisting of seven islands. A jet-ski is used to travel from one island to another, with specific paths defined for every couple of piers. However, the main character may notice uncharted islands beyond some of the main islands. The chances for this are completely random and are not located on the main map. ===Wi-Fi=== The game also has a [[Nintendo Wi-Fi]] element. The player connects to the server, and their monster team is ranked. The DS then downloads a set of opponents to battle. The battles are against the monster teams of higher and higher ranked other players. For each battle you win, you get a reward, either an item or a monster. These rewards change daily and can range from unexciting items to rare monsters such as liquid metal slimes. This feature is designed to be used once per day. The player can only fight one set of opponents, and get a reward once each day. ==Monsters== The player gets more monsters by scouting them. Unlike previous games in the series, this is a battle command, and not the result of using items in battle. You can make as many scouting attempts as you want during a battle, until the monster decides to join, or takes offense. Success depends on the relative strengths of the monsters making the attempt versus the relative defense of the monster that is being scouted. The monster families have been rearranged into a different categorization, so some monsters are in different families than they were on previous Dragon Quest Monsters games. * Slime (スライム, ''suraimu''). * Dragon (ドラゴン, ''doragon''). * Nature (しぜん, ''shizen''). * Beast (まじゅう, ''majuu''). * Material (ぶっしつ, ''busshitsu''). * Demon (あくま, ''akuma''). * Undead (ゾンビ, ''zonbi''). * Incarni (しんじゅう, ''Shinjuu''). Unlike previous games in the series, there is not a Boss family. The Boss monsters (end game, or powerful bosses from Dragon Quest games) have been merged with the other families. For example, [[Zoma]] is now in the Demon family. Monsters now all have a rank associated with them: F, E, D, C, B, A, S, and X. The ranks give an idea of how quickly the monster's stats will grow, and how hard they are to get/synthesize. There are 210 different monsters, though some are just color swaps of others, with different stats. There are three monsters, Trode <ref>From [[Dragon Quest VIII]], known as ''Trode'' outside Japan</ref> (トロデ, ''Torode''), Leopard <ref>The Demon Dog from DQ VIII, known as ''Leopold'' outside Japan.</ref> (レオパルド, ''Reoparudo''), and [[Ramia (Dragon Quest)|Letice]] <ref>Known as ''Empyrea'' from DQ VIII, and ''Ramia'' from [[Dragon Quest III]]</ref> (レティス, ''Retisu'') that can not be scouted or bred in the normal game. The only way to get these monsters is to visit a [[DS Download Station|DS Station]] in Japan [http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/ds_station/index.html]. There, one can use the games' Wireless mode to fight against these monsters and attempt to scout them. Leopard was available from February 1 to February 14 2007. Leopard and Letice are required in order to synthesize the main monster into its final forms. ===Skill system=== {{Gameguide|date=March 2008}} ''Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker'' features a skill system based on the one from ''[[Dragon Quest VIII]]''. Skill points are gained on certain character levels, and these can be assigned to one of the monster's (up to) three skill sets, learning techniques or gaining stats boosts. Some skill sets can be upgraded by maxing them. Others can be unlocked when parents have specific skill sets mastered. When synthesizing, the resulting monster can choose its skill sets from those its parents had, the ones that monster naturally knows, and any new ones unlocked. There are also skill seeds, which can be found during the night, and give 3 skill points to the selected monster. ==Development== Developed by behind the scenes game developer TOSE,<ref>{{cite web | author=GameSpy Staff | year=2007 | title=DQM: Joker at Square Haven | url=http://squarehaven.com/games/Nintendo-DS/Dragon-Quest-Monsters-Joker/ | work= | accessdate=Dec 5| accessyear=2007}}</ref>''Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker'' is the first ''Dragon Quest'' game to feature Wi-Fi capabilities. [[Yuji Hori]], famous for leading the development for all of the ''Dragon Quest'' games, added new gameplay elements to this installment, such as "scouting" for monsters.<ref>{{cite web | author=GameSpy Staff | year=2007 | title=Joker Ships | url=http://ds.gamespy.com/nintendo-ds/dragon-quest-monsters/832950p1.html | work= | accessdate=Dec 5| accessyear=2007}}</ref> [[Akira Toriyama]], creator of [[Dragon Ball (franchise)|Dragon Ball]], also returned for ''Joker'', creating the visuals for the game in his unique style.<ref name="spot" /> Completing the ''Dragon Quest'' team, [[Koichi Sugiyama]] composed the tracks for ''Joker''.<ref>{{cite web | author= | year=2007 | title=IGN: Joker Preview | url=http://ds.ign.com/articles/825/825434p1.html | work= | accessdate=Dec 5| accessyear=2007}}</ref> ==Reception== <div style="font-size: 90%;float:right;border-left:1em solid white"> {| class="wikitable" |+'''Review scores''' !Publication !Score !Review |- |<center>''[[1up.com]]'' |<center>B |<center>[http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3164210 →] |- |<center>''Weekly [[Famitsu]]'' |<center>36 of 40 |<center>print |- |<center>''GamePro.com'' |<center>6.5 of 10 |<center>[http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/ds/games/reviews/145828.shtml →] |- |<center>''[[GameSpot.com]]'' |<center>7.5 of 10 |<center>[http://www.gamespot.com/ds/rpg/dragonquestmonstersjoker/review.html?sid=6183007 →] |- |<center>''[[Hardcore Gamer Magazine]]'' |<center>9.5 of 10 |<center>print |- |<center>''[[IGN.com]]'' |<center>7.9 of 10 |<center>[http://ds.ign.com/articles/833/833153p1.html →] |- |<center>''[[Nintendo Power]]'' |<center>8 of 10 |<center>print |- |<center>''[[Play Magazine]]'' |<center>7 of 10 |<center>print |- |<center>[[Metacritic]]* |<center>76 of 100 |<center>[http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ds/dragonquestmonstersjoker?q=dragon%20quest%20monsters%20joker →] |- | colspan=7 style="font-size:85%" | '''Notes:''' <ol start=1>*Provides aggregate scores.</ol> |} </div> ''Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker'' received fairly decent scores overall, gaining an average of 76% on Metacritic.com.<ref>{{cite web | author= | year=2007 | title=DQMJ at Metacritic.com | url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ds/dragonquestmonstersjoker?q=dragon%20quest%20monsters%20joker | work= | accessdate=Nov 27| accessyear=2007}}</ref> [[Gamespot]]'s Austin Shau gave the game a 7.5/10, or "Good", with mostly positive comments, but advised users to approach the intense level-grinding with caution.<ref name="spot">{{cite web | author=Austin Shau | year=2007 | title=GameSpot review | url=http://www.gamespot.com/ds/rpg/dragonquestmonstersjoker/review.html?sid=6183007 | work= | accessdate=Nov 16| accessyear=2007}}</ref> [[IGN]] gave a similar score, 7.9, to ''Joker'', citing the game's excellent graphics and over all quality. IGN stated that the game "should definitely surprise some newcomers to the franchise in the sheer amount of depth and versatility it presents."<ref>{{cite web | author= | year=2007 | title=IGN review | url=http://ds.ign.com/articles/833/833153p1.html | work= | accessdate=Nov 6| accessyear=2007}}</ref> [[Nintendo Power]] gave the game a positive 8/10, and defended ''Joker'', saying it was not just a ''[[Pokémon]]'' pretender.<ref>{{cite book |editor=Nintendo Power staff |title=[[Nintendo Power]], Dec 2007 |year=2007 |publisher=Future US, Inc |isbn= |pages=86}}</ref> Similarly, [[GameSpy]] gave ''Joker'' an 8/10, and enforced the idea that the game is more than just a copy of ''Pokémon''.<ref>{{cite web | author=Elisa di Fiore | year=2007 | title=DQMJ review | url=http://ds.gamespy.com/nintendo-ds/dragon-quest-monsters/834351p1.html | work= | accessdate=Dec 4| accessyear=2007}}</ref> Gamezone also gave the game a positive review with a score of 8/10.<ref>[http://nds.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r32518.htm Gamezone review] Retrieved 11-5-07</ref> However, GamePro.com, who gave ''Joker'' a 3.25/5, felt the game was just "another monster catch-and-battle game" along the lines of ''Pokémon''. The review also cited the Scouting to be tricky and that the battle camera can be annoying.<ref>{{cite web | author=Emily Balistrieri | year=2007 | title=DQMJ review at GamePro.com | url=http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/ds/games/reviews/145828.shtml | work= | accessdate=Dec 4| accessyear=2007}}</ref> [[Game Informer]] gave the game a positive score of 8/10, with the game receiving the "Handheld Game of the Month" for the December Issue. Japanese gaming magazine [[Famitsu]] gave the game a positive review with a total score of 36 out of 40. ''Joker'' was wildly popular in Japan, spawning merchandise based on the game, such as carrying cases for the Nintendo DS.<ref>{{cite web | author= | year=2007 | title=DQMJ DS pouch at YesAsia.com | url=http://global.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/code-j/section-games/pid-1004540644/ | work= | accessdate=Dec 9| accessyear=2007}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== * [http://www.dqm-j.com/index.html Official ''Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker'' website] {{ja icon}} * [http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/ds_station/index.html DS Station] {{ja icon}} * [http://na.square-enix.com/dqmj/ Official North American site] * {{dmoz|Games/Video_Games/Roleplaying/D/Dragon_Warrior_Series/Dragon_Quest_Monsters_-_Joker|''{{pagename}}''}} {{Dragon Quest series}} [[Category:2006 video games]] [[Category:Dragon Quest games]] [[Category:Multiplayer online games]] [[Category:Nintendo DS games]] [[Category:Nintendo DS-only games]] [[Category:TOSE games]] [[fr:Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker]] [[ja:ドラゴンクエストモンスターズ ジョーカー]]