What was your favorite part of Dragon Quest (Dragon Warrior)? What do you find most nostalgic about it now? Please consider supporting me at www.patreon.com/xygorgaming OR through UA-cam membership by clicking the JOIN button above!
Exploring the world, figuring out torches, getting into town after defeating the guard outside, farming metal slimes. Game was kino. No internet, no guides, just playing the game to figure things out.
This free game and all it brought saved my life as a kid. I had a difficult childhood and thought I was useless garbage. This let me believe I could be of help to someone. It warms my heart that you made this video and you had at least a somewhat similar experience to my own.
I got this game for free as well, and, while it is a decent story, to be honest, Final Fantasy was honestly the best JRPG on the NES, bar none. Also, by the time that Dragon Quest VII and VIII came out, those games honestly made the other ones look obsolete.
@@paxhumana2015 I want to spend hours arguing about how wrong you are. I love FF but NES DQ is objectively better. Instead, I'll simply say I'm glad you enjoyed both. Cheers
I first played the game about five years ago, when I stumbled upon an NES cart of it at a flea market for $7. Since then, I've gone on to obtain and play every numbered sequel (except 10) and am now literally obsessed with this series.
Nice you specified numbered sequels lol. I don’t know a lot about the side games, but I know there’s quite a few. I’ve played most of the numbered games including I believe 10, but not 2&3. I watched play throughs of most of those games recently though and while fun to watch, they had things that would have put me off playing.
Dragon Warrior iv was my first RPG. I started attempting to play it when i was 4 years old. I didn't understand most of the text, but 14 years later I'd finally beat it. It's still the most formative genre I've ever played.
My mom found this at a yard sale, and brought it home because she knew I needed more games. It was my first RPG, and I beat it without any help from magazines. I still vividly remember killing the final boss and running to tell my mom. She must have took notice, because over the next few years she kept finding RPGs for me to play and when the SNES came out it got even better!
First RPG for me too, absolutely transformative moment. I'm so grateful for the marketing team at Nintendo for broadcasting it so wide. Also, you probably know this but you don't have to rescue the princess at all, and I love that it is optional. :)
Same here. My first RPG and thanks to Nintendo Power as well. It didn't hook me into the genre (that was FF6), but you still don't forget your first new experience!
Also my first RPG as well. Thing is, when I was looking to buy it, my family, mostly my parents, thought I would be better off buying Legend of Zelda. But I stuck to my decision, and I later tried some of the Zelda games, couldn’t get into any of those, more of a RPG player.
@@entertainmentgaming8738 Have you tried Master Mode in BotW? My first playthrough was MM, and it was decently difficult at times. More so than any other LoZ in the past.
I remember playing this as a kid, and when saving-the-princess was NOT the end of the game, I thought it was mindblowing and revolutionary. It felt like a movie-sized universe once I crossed over into Rimuldar and had an entirely new goal to meet. The games that followed felt absolutely insanely huge as well, to me.
Played this all the way through grade school till 8th grade on a hand me down nes even after I got a snes. Once I finally completed the game I had spent 10 years on it felt like I completed a quest of my own. One of those games I will remember forever.
0:51 What are you talking about? Role-playing video games originated in the West. "Dragon Quest" was directly inspired by the hugely popular "Wizardry" and "Ultima" series, both of which preceded DQ by five years.
Definitely one of the most important RPG's ever. One of the earlier JRPG's and one of the games that was responsible for so many awesome JRPG's being made.
How is DW a jrpg? Even Final Fantasy is considered a WRPG. It’s non linear, somewhat customizable, you could commit “evil” acts as well as good: not save the princess or join the Dragonlord. I feel a lot of people mistake this games origins based off what it has become
@@nesmandan1037 before ppl started the hybridization of the term "rpg". That's what DW/Q was, as well as FF... then the industry had to introduce "J"RPG due to all the confusion. Its only gotten worse with time. It'd be nice if the RPG world could find new terms like metroidvania etc. Rather than the dozens of definitions of an RPG.
@@TheJosephoenix I honestly think even terms like Metroidvania are too reductive. We live in the age of the internet. I will learn more from a gameplay trailer than someone telling me it's a souls-like, action JRPG Metroidvania with bullet hell and shmup segments.
I got this game when I was barely 3 years old in the mail from nintendo power in 89. I still remember the day it came and the envelope it came in. I attribute this game to accelerating my math and reading skills. I won't forget the first time I ever made it to the end boss and when he offered for me to join his side I was like SWEET. Then got game over XD
They actually used that bad ending in Dragon Quest Builders 1. It's a timeline branch where the hero did that and the Dragonlord gave him a castle and called it "half the world" so he kept his promise.
I played the recent-ish release on the Switch, and the game still plays really well! Especially with the menu improvements, and because it's so short and sweet. AFAIK, rescuing the princess is completely optional as well, you can beat the game without defeating the dragon that guards her. It's definitely not the greatest RPG ever (not even the greatest Dragon Quest), but perhaps the most important one?
I like this fanchise. The first DQ game I played was DQ8 when it first came out. They had a website for the game and they advertised a free demo that could be mailed to you (which I still have) and from then I was hooked on the story and played other DQ games.
I got DQVIII on a whim.. It arrived Christmas Eve 2006 along with FFX.. But I decided on DQ first.. This is why the main theme will always remind me of Christmas!
I started with 1, but I have fond memories of 8. My brother and I went to a friends house and we took turns playing it nonstop for a weekend. We had (I still have and it’s actually sitting out in the open in my room atm) a whole magazine game guide for that game.
"But thou must" As someone who didn't play this until the 1+2 "remakes" on the gbc, I thoroughly enjoyed this. But for me, probably the most memorable/most impactful thing I remembered about this game was the overworld theme. Even more than the overture, it always gave me a "this is what Dragon Quest sounds like" vibe.
Great video! Very nostalgic. My favorite part of playing this as a kid was how real the world felt. There were tons of different locations, terrains, dungeons and castles to explore. It really felt like a grand adventure!
I remember this game just because of the cover. I usually watched my brother play it. I never got far into it because I was so young I didn't learn how to read yet. That's kind of important in an RPG.
My first Dragonquest was Dragonquest IX Sentinels of the Starry Skies on my DSI XL. I asked my parents for one a long time and had never heard of the series before. I immediately fell in love with it. It was my first favourite game and I'm sure the first game ai put 1000 hours into. I first played this when I was 12 (born in 2002 btw). It's crazy I only recently started playing Dragonquest games again with Dragonquest 11 Echoes of an Elusive Age and now I'm playing Dragonquest 1 and watching your video. It reminded me of how my dad and I would play Dragonwarrior on his NES he's kept all these years. Now we're both getting back into the series. It's insane how many lives this game has touched. It truly has a Legacy and will continue to live on I'm sure. I hope you're still playing to this day too! Amazing video! I made sure to skip the part where you talk about the Dragonlord and Endings. I can't wait to finish the game!
I was 2 or early 3 and this is the first game I remember playing that was not Pole Position on the Atari, or Mario Brothers, and let me tell you did it delight my little brain. I could not read, asked mom to let me try, and never looked back. Not only that, but I beat so many Slimes to death with my bare fists that it would have been a crime otherwise, and it was fun, I loved the death music, and how the screen blinked or turned red because I was "Mad" and had to go home. (Thanks for that, mom, for explaining why I went back to the king) I doubt I ever made it past Kol back then, but my favorite monster that I saw at the time was the "Draky", but all in all it would be the first game I beat not long after I learned to read. Because I first enjoyed that game during very early childhood, to this day, I think is why it's my favorite Nintendo game... And if we are sticking to the Dragon Warrior games for NES, I know damn well that part 3 was, and will always be superior, I still like the first the most. (Always wished Dragon Warrior/Quest II would have continued the story by making the game about the Hero (You) siding with the Dragon Lord at the end of the first game) Side note, I still hum the over world theme to this day, like I'm not an adult who has adult stuff to do, or something.
My best friend borrowed this from a neighbor and at the time I just didn't "get it". It was so alien to me after being really into games like Zelda where you just selected attacks from a menu. Once I got a little older, Final Fantasy IV lured me into RPGs and I went back to play the Dragon Warrior games on the NES and that's when they clicked and I fell in love with the series.
I also got this game for free through Nintendo Power but I just couldn't get into it after trying a number of times. Final Fantasy was the complete opposite, I was hooked the moment the game's real "intro" played after the King builds the bridge that allows you to start the game proper.
I played Dragon Quest/Dragon Warrior, the NES, and I have the remastered, Dragon Quest 1&2 on the SNES. I played both games, stuck in Dragon Quest 2, played Dragon Quest 1 and beat the game in a week. RPGS are one of the genre of video games, I like to play,
The ninth issue of Nintendo Power happened to be the first I ever read and rereading the special pull-out guide to Dragon Warrior until I broke the staples and had to repair it with tape got me hyped for the game well before I ever got a chance to try it. When I did, it delivered everything promised and more. One of my fondest memories was the first time I ever managed to get the Cursed Necklace in the Rock Mountain Cave after being teased by it in the guide, but never being able to find it before, so I felt on top of the world. I had no idea until much later that it was a randomized treasure chest substitution and it drove me crazy when I couldn't find it on future playthroughs.
The assertion some people make that a guide is necessary for Dragon Quest is utter nonsense. The fact is, if you simply talk to every NPC and pay attention, you'll get clear hints pointing toward every single hidden item in the game. It's one of the things I love about it.
To my recollection, Dragon Warrior was not part of the free game promotion here in Canada with Nintendo Power (it wasn't for me), so this wound up being a birthday gift for me in 1989. I did have good memories but for whatever reason, I was hellbent on maxing out my experience at 65,535 and level 30 before I completed this. The grind to get that, was NOT fun 🤣, but I wouldn't change a thing. It's incredible how well this simplistic RPG still holds up today.
I'll never forget the battle theme music of the old NES game fighting those blue blobs, just a cozy memory. I did download the remake on the iphone and played it thru, really enjoyed the nostalgia.
I got the free NES cartridge when I subscribed to Nintendo Power. I loved it and still have it. I remember my mom walking in on me and saying "The enemies don't even move? Well I guess if it's free you can't expect it to be good."
This was my first RPG, but FF was the first RPG I ever beat. As the years go by, I've revisited FF about a hundred times, but I'll always have a soft spot for DW. The sound design and music carries it so much.
I too received this game with my subscription to Nintendo Power and it was one of my favorite games growing up. I have a weird coincidence where 3 years in a row I beat the game on Thanksgiving with my family there to root me on. Just happened that I would start playing a new quest same time each year and the conclusion of completing the game fell on that day each year. Fond memories that I will never forget.
Someone once told me this was an 'obscure title' how tf did I, a child in the midwest upon this game's release, know about it then. that's like calling Final Fantasy obscure lol
I played this before I even knew what an RPG was. Still have fond memories of it and RPG’s continue to be my favorite game genre. Must play for nostalgia.
I played it on GBC. It felt in love with the pixel graphic, simple gameplay and the world presented. That was one of the most important games I've ever played.
In the 80s I couldn't afford an nes. I begged my mom for months to rent me one for the weekend, from the local gas station. She finally did and it came down to renting this, or mario 3. I chose this and thus began a lifelong love for rpgs.
Having played video games since 1990, I just played DQ1 for the first time a few months ago. It is a delightful game! I immediately played 2 and 3 after. Definitely missed out on those gems for a really long time.
I learned to read playing this game. Born in '88 in CA with Japanese immigrant contacts, this was a pivotal moment in my gaming/life development. Best aspect of this game is the well thought out progression of leveling and ability to kill mobs. Moving across a bridge to find a new table of mob spawns was so cool, not to mention going into dungeons to find whole new tables of baddies. OG gaming right here
I’d played a lot of Zelda, but at a sleepover for my friend’s birthday, I got to play Dragon Warrior. I was amazed. I loved it. The sound, the style, everything about it felt interesting. My friends and I stayed up way too late playing it. I never saw it again. Over the years it became a hazy memory. I wasn’t 100% sure of the title any more and nobody seemed familiar with it. Until 1998! Another friend had the manual at his place in a box! I couldn’t believe it! I traded it off him and managed to find a copy on eBay. It was so exciting! I’d been buying and selling transformers and Japanese mega man figures for a while there at that point, but I’d never been so excited for my mail! I finally got the game in the mail and spent the next week on it! It was totally worth the wait! Also, I’ve always preferred the dame Dragon Warrior, I wish they’d have stuck with that here.
Man… I played Dragon Warrior so much when I was 11 years old I used to dream bout it. I’m 44 now and when I heard that title music, it brought me back to my childhood
This was my first RPG since then turn based RPG games are my favorite games. The thing I love most back then was level up the main Character getting more spells.
First RPG I ever played. I have played through it over a dozen times and I don't know why I love it so much. Most memorable moments were definitely the Golem, Haukness and searching for the Fighter's Ring. I'm not going to lie, I enjoy navigating the menu to open chests and use stairs.
Do you remember in the clue book, the part where the little graphic of the hero thinks to himself "I know only what I am told."? That has stuck with me for decades.
Dragon Warrior/ Quest happens to be my very first RPG that I ever played. I never thought that playing an RPG like this one would eventually turn me onto the genre itself and I still play RPGs to this day thanks to it.
perfect timing! i just started up Dragon Quest Viii again (after my 3ds memory card crapped the bed mid-playthrough). Compared to other games that released at the time, it’s amazing how well the first game has held up even today.
Miss when games came with inserts that were maps & item-buying guides. We got them up until the Xbox One & PS4 era. Many 360 games came with reference material.
My first RPG as a kid and I still find myself going back and playing through this on emulation as well as Dragon Warrior 2. 2 added so many more features and was so fun to play, but sadly it released 2 months after Final Fantasy and never got the love and recognition it deserved. Thanks for the nostalgia. You gained a subscriber :)
I loved this game as a kid. Around the same time the Dragon Warrior anime aired on television. It inspired me to name my character Abel (although years later I learned the anime was based on Dragon Quest 3). Regardless you explained it perfectly here.
@@dooshmasta I believe they only dubbed 13 episodes in the US but you can find those on UA-cam pretty easily. Subs you'll have to look elsewhere I think. Good luck!
@@Kryfton I just looked it up. Wow I remember this anime. Never watched it but it used to get a lot of marketing back then. It looks like they used the same studio that did Dai no Daiboken because the background art has that water color style to it. Thanks for the flashback!
My first experience with this game (or really any rpg) was the GBC version. I loved it and none of my friends had it/knew about it- but I was endlessly addicted.
I had joined the reserve, during my advanced individual training I met up with a group of guys that were into DnD. They tried to get me into it but a lot of it flew over my head. I truly loved the fantasy setting and setting off on adventures is what stuck with me the most my time there. Later on I got my NES. The first game I bought Dragon Warrior. I was working a fast food job and doing the reserve once a month for a weekend but that game I enjoyed. I had to use a guide to be it, still loved every minute of it.
I actually played this game on my game boy color and I must have been about 9 or 10 when I played it. It was new at the time for me and I remember putting it down a lot because it’s extremely hard but I enjoyed it a good amount that I kept giving it a try until I learned all the little things that help you on your journey. This games does not hold your hand at all and it actually helps to talk to everyone you see
I bought this game originally for .29 cents in a Funcoland. Still have the cart. No box or book obviously but it was difficult and somehow still fun. Great times were had.
When I got my Nintendo, I asked my parents for a Nintendo power sub. That month was the release of Dragon Warrior and I received not one, but 2 free copies along with 2 Nintendo powers magazine. It had a a bonus map and leveling guide. Down the RPG rabbit hole I went.... still digging to this day. Hilarious, as you start your video with that same story. We were living parallel lives for a while I guess :)
Ahh the game that made me fall in love RPGS, me and my two brothers pretty much played all the JRPGs for the NES Sega Master system SNES Sega Genesis and so on but for some reason the Dragon Quest (Warrior) series just had this charm about it. Even though I played superior games in the genre Dragon Quest was always the one that got me most excited when a new one got released. Also the part where the main character never speaks gives you the impression you are the hero. My favs of all time are part 3 and part 6. Thanks for this.
When I was a kid my mom and I use to play and beat DW all the time. It was so fun but I was just like 4 or 5 years old. It was what made me like RPGs later on in life. We also played FF1 a lot too. Good times. She does not play video games at all anymore but I will never forget about DW and FF on our old 8 bit NES.
@@Xygor Ill never forget the music. Yeah the games where bad but I liked them. We also played DW2 but my mom and I never beat it :( and later in life(I was about 13) I played DW3 that game was so good I loved DW3 a lot.
My first experience with Dragon Quest was the GBC versions of I&II. I knew of the series and was so excited to try it, once I got my hands on it I feel in love and ive been hooked ever since. Played all the mainline games (except X) multiple times each, some across various platforms and Ive played tons of spinoffs, more that I can recall at this point! I think I might be a bit of a fan... :D
The music to dragon warrior is more addictive than any drug to me lol. God I love that game. Trying to sneak ahead to the next town before you’re ready. Grinding gold golems. The music and SFX. Yes it has flaws, but it’s still one of my favorite games to this day. I can’t remember if I played FF1 before this or not, but I know I never liked FF1. FFVI is probably my #1 favorite game, but back in the day it was all about dragon warrior.
It took my mom 15 years to finish this game, I'm 39 now I remember she had the game when it came out there was one part that she couldn't find something when the original system was out, years later we bought it again cuz our original one got lost, for that time there was ways for downloading walkthroughs online when that was a thing back in the day so she did it and the only thing she did was find that item and she did the rest herself. Great memories great game even the cartoons were awesome
This game and the first Final Fantasy game on NES will forever be etched into the core of my being. These were amazing RPGs period. Great introductions to the JRPG and RPG world in general.
I have a regard for this game especially because it was very important in my learning to read. My parents would read the text and I just memorized the words because I was fascinated with this type of games.
I think the fact that what you name your character actually determines what your level ups look like was such a crazy but cool aspect of the game and allowed for replay value. It was also fun to challenge yourself to accomplish things at the lowest level you could. Like for example, defeating the Axe Knight that guards Erdrick's Armor at level 13. Gotta get lucky with Sleep spells and well timed Herbs to take that sucker down at that level! One of my top 10 of the NES library for sure!
Got this too from nintendo power. First turned based rpg i ever played followed by final fantasy. Such a great game. Dq8 is probably my favorite of the series though
So, you got it from the subscription too huh? I still play the series (1-4) on NES emulators to this day...in fact, I'm just about to start another game of 4. Such a great series. I even got 7 & 8 for the PS systems.
I used the search command ON EVERY SINGLE TILE in Tantegel Castle before I figured out it was a "walk out of what you should be the town border to send you back to the overworld". Ugh. Life before the internet.
This was the very first rpg I ever played. Got it free with Nintendo Power. And I became addicted. This is the game that got me into rpgs. You would never see Nintendo promo a game that hard today, but I'm glad they did back then. If not fir this I may have never given RPG games a chance. I totally skipped over Final Fantasy before playing this. Great vid!
It was my first RPG too. A friend of mine who lived down the road had it and loaned it to me. Together we figured it out and I ended up beating the Dragon Lord with something like 5 hit points left and no magic so it was one last shot or death. We didn't understand the concept of grinding and had problems with several rpgs never realizing why we were getting our butts kicked. I had this awesome full guide for Final Fantasy but always got stuck at the Marsh Cave never realizing the key was to simply level up before continuing forward with the story. In hindsight, at least Final Fantasy has something to offer if you want to play it now but Dragon Warrior 1, ohh this is a rough one to try and play now. So basic, so slow, so much grinding! But that sound track, it will always be in my head and bring happy memories.
I still remember getting this game free as a kid and it felt like something super special. At the time I was already well into final fantasy legends series too so it felt great to have something in color. The extras you got with it were great too. At the time you basically needed it to know what to do. Not sure I’ve played any since but I definitely played the hell out of this and FFL 1&2.
I just finished this game on the Gameboy Color a few hours ago. It's honestly refreshing. No complicated game mechanics and no sidequest padding. The inventory limitation is a minor inconvenience. It really needs a simple overworld map though like in the Pokemon games. Can't wait to play Dragon Warrior II next on my day off.
Hello fellow 80s child. lol This was my first RPG too and I'm so glad it was because what a starting point to lead us on this journey to what we have today, right? I'm finishing up Xenoblade 3 and just seeing this video is giving me the best nostalgia feeling ever. Going from that to games like XBC or even Dragon Quest XI, which that true ending actually brought a tear to my eye, is something I will always appreciate til the day I die, which will hopefully be with a controller in my hand. lol
I used to play it a lot on NES, even got the Gameboy Color Dragon Warrior (Quest) 1 & 2 combo. To my surprise, after all these years, the Gameboy still works.
These younger generation of kid's could never appreciate something like this...they care more about graffics and how good the game's look more than story....Great battle system and loveable characters.
While DQIII and above still held out pretty well today, as a slightly younger one, it took me time to really appreciate what Dragon Quest is doing. It hasn't really aged, even the updated versions. My first RPG was FFIV which was already miles ahead. I'm a RPG fans, and I really came to appreciate what it could bring to the table (well the updated version you can find on the Switch... It took me 20 years to get to it...).
When I got the nintendo for christmas, we also got dragon warrior which I was excited for because of seeing the comercials for it on TV. Unfortunately was never able to save, learning much later it was probably a bad battery connection.
I was given this game at 9 years old and waffled through it, but I was disappointed it wasn't an action game. I did eventually beat it, but didn't enjoy myself. However, the creepy atmosphere of the dungeons and the music stuck with me. I didn't get another RPG as a gift until 1993. Final Fantasy Legend III, Chrono Trigger, and Final Fantasy VI all helped me return to this game with a newfound appreciation.
So i used to be very distant from Dragon Quest until DQ8. DQ8 drew me into the series and got me interested but I wouldn't be able to play another game until Roms and Emulators and i got to try a few of the old school JRPGs. However DQ11 came out and I definitely fell in love with that game. Then after I got a switch I found out they ported the cell phone ports of DQ1-3 on the switch and got those for cheap and played through all of them. I had a pretty great time with this series so far. I can see why it's considered the foundation of JRPGs and RPG main stream mechanics. I also recommend playing them not only for old school enjoyment but to expirience the history of the genre as well to see how far we've come in game development.
What was your favorite part of Dragon Quest (Dragon Warrior)? What do you find most nostalgic about it now?
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Music
The castle theme probably wraps up the nostalgia for me
Final battle against the dragon.
@@RpgmaniacNo1 you only fought a dragon to save the princess it wasn't the end boss
Exploring the world, figuring out torches, getting into town after defeating the guard outside, farming metal slimes. Game was kino. No internet, no guides, just playing the game to figure things out.
This free game and all it brought saved my life as a kid. I had a difficult childhood and thought I was useless garbage. This let me believe I could be of help to someone.
It warms my heart that you made this video and you had at least a somewhat similar experience to my own.
I got this game for free as well, and, while it is a decent story, to be honest, Final Fantasy was honestly the best JRPG on the NES, bar none. Also, by the time that Dragon Quest VII and VIII came out, those games honestly made the other ones look obsolete.
@@paxhumana2015 I want to spend hours arguing about how wrong you are. I love FF but NES DQ is objectively better. Instead, I'll simply say I'm glad you enjoyed both. Cheers
@@paxhumana2015 Dragon Quest 3 and 4 easily clears it.
Even Mother 1 is better imo, but that's kinda controversial.
That is awesome to hear this game did you such good.
I first played the game about five years ago, when I stumbled upon an NES cart of it at a flea market for $7. Since then, I've gone on to obtain and play every numbered sequel (except 10) and am now literally obsessed with this series.
Nice you specified numbered sequels lol. I don’t know a lot about the side games, but I know there’s quite a few. I’ve played most of the numbered games including I believe 10, but not 2&3. I watched play throughs of most of those games recently though and while fun to watch, they had things that would have put me off playing.
Dragon Warrior 4 is underrated...
I played this game for the first time 35 year ago and I still want to play it.
I haven't beat DW3 or higher (damn adult life) but I will one day.
@@robertrocheville7769 I haven’t played a couple, but the ones I recommend are Dragon Quest V, VIII, and XI
@@yozarian86 I definitely do, ha!
I was born in 1980 and also got it with Nintendo Power. Fell in love right away and went on to DW2, FF, DW3, DW4, Crystalis, and so on. So glad.
Sounds like we are in a similar boat!
Dragon Warrior iv was my first RPG. I started attempting to play it when i was 4 years old. I didn't understand most of the text, but 14 years later I'd finally beat it. It's still the most formative genre I've ever played.
My mom found this at a yard sale, and brought it home because she knew I needed more games.
It was my first RPG, and I beat it without any help from magazines.
I still vividly remember killing the final boss and running to tell my mom. She must have took notice, because over the next few years she kept finding RPGs for me to play and when the SNES came out it got even better!
First RPG for me too, absolutely transformative moment. I'm so grateful for the marketing team at Nintendo for broadcasting it so wide. Also, you probably know this but you don't have to rescue the princess at all, and I love that it is optional. :)
Same here. My first RPG and thanks to Nintendo Power as well. It didn't hook me into the genre (that was FF6), but you still don't forget your first new experience!
Also my first RPG as well. Thing is, when I was looking to buy it, my family, mostly my parents, thought I would be better off buying Legend of Zelda. But I stuck to my decision, and I later tried some of the Zelda games, couldn’t get into any of those, more of a RPG player.
@@entertainmentgaming8738 Have you tried Master Mode in BotW? My first playthrough was MM, and it was decently difficult at times. More so than any other LoZ in the past.
I remember playing this as a kid, and when saving-the-princess was NOT the end of the game, I thought it was mindblowing and revolutionary. It felt like a movie-sized universe once I crossed over into Rimuldar and had an entirely new goal to meet. The games that followed felt absolutely insanely huge as well, to me.
Played this all the way through grade school till 8th grade on a hand me down nes even after I got a snes. Once I finally completed the game I had spent 10 years on it felt like I completed a quest of my own. One of those games I will remember forever.
0:51 What are you talking about? Role-playing video games originated in the West. "Dragon Quest" was directly inspired by the hugely popular "Wizardry" and "Ultima" series, both of which preceded DQ by five years.
The music will always be near and dear to my heart.
Memories of farming Wyverns and Goldmen south of Rimuldar for hours. So good.
Yes, Goldmen for days!
I'm playing this on the GBC right now. I love it. It's one of the best.
Got both the GBC and Switch version of the game. I’m avoiding the rescue of the princess in the Switch version.
Definitely one of the most important RPG's ever. One of the earlier JRPG's and one of the games that was responsible for so many awesome JRPG's being made.
Definitely true!
How is DW a jrpg? Even Final Fantasy is considered a WRPG. It’s non linear, somewhat customizable, you could commit “evil” acts as well as good: not save the princess or join the Dragonlord. I feel a lot of people mistake this games origins based off what it has become
@@nesmandan1037 before ppl started the hybridization of the term "rpg". That's what DW/Q was, as well as FF... then the industry had to introduce "J"RPG due to all the confusion. Its only gotten worse with time.
It'd be nice if the RPG world could find new terms like metroidvania etc. Rather than the dozens of definitions of an RPG.
@@nesmandan1037 it was made in Japan. Any other definition is too subjective, and leads to questions like yours.
@@TheJosephoenix I honestly think even terms like Metroidvania are too reductive. We live in the age of the internet.
I will learn more from a gameplay trailer than someone telling me it's a souls-like, action JRPG Metroidvania with bullet hell and shmup segments.
I got this game when I was barely 3 years old in the mail from nintendo power in 89. I still remember the day it came and the envelope it came in. I attribute this game to accelerating my math and reading skills. I won't forget the first time I ever made it to the end boss and when he offered for me to join his side I was like SWEET. Then got game over XD
They actually used that bad ending in Dragon Quest Builders 1. It's a timeline branch where the hero did that and the Dragonlord gave him a castle and called it "half the world" so he kept his promise.
This waw my first RPG. Many a weekend nights with pizza, soda, and my NES. I was in elementary school, no bills, no worries, it was a great time.
Sounds familiar!
The music is so nostalgic.
I played the recent-ish release on the Switch, and the game still plays really well! Especially with the menu improvements, and because it's so short and sweet. AFAIK, rescuing the princess is completely optional as well, you can beat the game without defeating the dragon that guards her. It's definitely not the greatest RPG ever (not even the greatest Dragon Quest), but perhaps the most important one?
Got both the Gameboy Color re-release and the Switch version both. Haven’t rescued the princess in the Switch version.
I had Gameboy originally never beat it playing it on the switch grinding makes it so much easier than when I ran every encounter as a kid.
I like this fanchise. The first DQ game I played was DQ8 when it first came out. They had a website for the game and they advertised a free demo that could be mailed to you (which I still have) and from then I was hooked on the story and played other DQ games.
I got DQVIII on a whim.. It arrived Christmas Eve 2006 along with FFX.. But I decided on DQ first.. This is why the main theme will always remind me of Christmas!
8 is amazing. I was disappointed playing the 3ds version because of the midi music and elimination of random battles.
I started with 1, but I have fond memories of 8. My brother and I went to a friends house and we took turns playing it nonstop for a weekend. We had (I still have and it’s actually sitting out in the open in my room atm) a whole magazine game guide for that game.
You could argue that the Dragon Quest series is the best JRPG series of all time.
Why argue when you know you're correct...
Monster girl quest paradox is better getting ready for part 3
Yes. Because FF is BEST. And FF7 as legendary as DQ1.
@@PAINNN666 Final Fantasy hasn't had a good game in 22 years
@@TempoLOOKING wtf xD
"But thou must"
As someone who didn't play this until the 1+2 "remakes" on the gbc, I thoroughly enjoyed this. But for me, probably the most memorable/most impactful thing I remembered about this game was the overworld theme. Even more than the overture, it always gave me a "this is what Dragon Quest sounds like" vibe.
Thanks for your memories with it! Love it!
Great video! Very nostalgic. My favorite part of playing this as a kid was how real the world felt. There were tons of different locations, terrains, dungeons and castles to explore. It really felt like a grand adventure!
I remember this game just because of the cover. I usually watched my brother play it. I never got far into it because I was so young I didn't learn how to read yet. That's kind of important in an RPG.
My first Dragonquest was Dragonquest IX Sentinels of the Starry Skies on my DSI XL. I asked my parents for one a long time and had never heard of the series before. I immediately fell in love with it. It was my first favourite game and I'm sure the first game ai put 1000 hours into. I first played this when I was 12 (born in 2002 btw). It's crazy I only recently started playing Dragonquest games again with Dragonquest 11 Echoes of an Elusive Age and now I'm playing Dragonquest 1 and watching your video. It reminded me of how my dad and I would play Dragonwarrior on his NES he's kept all these years. Now we're both getting back into the series. It's insane how many lives this game has touched. It truly has a Legacy and will continue to live on I'm sure. I hope you're still playing to this day too! Amazing video! I made sure to skip the part where you talk about the Dragonlord and Endings. I can't wait to finish the game!
Even crazier. Just found out Dragonquest 1 and 2 are getting a HD 2D Remake! Coming 2025!
I was 2 or early 3 and this is the first game I remember playing that was not Pole Position on the Atari, or Mario Brothers, and let me tell you did it delight my little brain. I could not read, asked mom to let me try, and never looked back. Not only that, but I beat so many Slimes to death with my bare fists that it would have been a crime otherwise, and it was fun, I loved the death music, and how the screen blinked or turned red because I was "Mad" and had to go home. (Thanks for that, mom, for explaining why I went back to the king)
I doubt I ever made it past Kol back then, but my favorite monster that I saw at the time was the "Draky", but all in all it would be the first game I beat not long after I learned to read.
Because I first enjoyed that game during very early childhood, to this day, I think is why it's my favorite Nintendo game... And if we are sticking to the Dragon Warrior games for NES, I know damn well that part 3 was, and will always be superior, I still like the first the most.
(Always wished Dragon Warrior/Quest II would have continued the story by making the game about the Hero (You) siding with the Dragon Lord at the end of the first game)
Side note, I still hum the over world theme to this day, like I'm not an adult who has adult stuff to do, or something.
Probably the first RPG I actually got into growing up, good stuff
Same here, the first game that I had my family buy for me, before that, the games that we had were what came with the NES.
My best friend borrowed this from a neighbor and at the time I just didn't "get it". It was so alien to me after being really into games like Zelda where you just selected attacks from a menu. Once I got a little older, Final Fantasy IV lured me into RPGs and I went back to play the Dragon Warrior games on the NES and that's when they clicked and I fell in love with the series.
A
I also got this game for free through Nintendo Power but I just couldn't get into it after trying a number of times. Final Fantasy was the complete opposite, I was hooked the moment the game's real "intro" played after the King builds the bridge that allows you to start the game proper.
I played Dragon Quest/Dragon Warrior, the NES, and I have the remastered, Dragon Quest 1&2 on the SNES. I played both games, stuck in Dragon Quest 2, played Dragon Quest 1 and beat the game in a week. RPGS are one of the genre of video games, I like to play,
The ninth issue of Nintendo Power happened to be the first I ever read and rereading the special pull-out guide to Dragon Warrior until I broke the staples and had to repair it with tape got me hyped for the game well before I ever got a chance to try it. When I did, it delivered everything promised and more. One of my fondest memories was the first time I ever managed to get the Cursed Necklace in the Rock Mountain Cave after being teased by it in the guide, but never being able to find it before, so I felt on top of the world. I had no idea until much later that it was a randomized treasure chest substitution and it drove me crazy when I couldn't find it on future playthroughs.
The assertion some people make that a guide is necessary for Dragon Quest is utter nonsense. The fact is, if you simply talk to every NPC and pay attention, you'll get clear hints pointing toward every single hidden item in the game. It's one of the things I love about it.
You are right. Not having a guide makes these 100% more enjoyable.
To my recollection, Dragon Warrior was not part of the free game promotion here in Canada with Nintendo Power (it wasn't for me), so this wound up being a birthday gift for me in 1989. I did have good memories but for whatever reason, I was hellbent on maxing out my experience at 65,535 and level 30 before I completed this. The grind to get that, was NOT fun 🤣, but I wouldn't change a thing. It's incredible how well this simplistic RPG still holds up today.
The level up sound is my text tone
I'll never forget the battle theme music of the old NES game fighting those blue blobs, just a cozy memory. I did download the remake on the iphone and played it thru, really enjoyed the nostalgia.
There's just so much of it in this game!
I LOVES this game. It sucked that so few other ppl ever talked or knew about it. The exploration was my favorite aspect, but the music was just BOMB.
I played this game as a kid and had no idea wtf I was doing. I eventually got earthbound and was hooked on rpgs afterwards
I got the free NES cartridge when I subscribed to Nintendo Power. I loved it and still have it.
I remember my mom walking in on me and saying "The enemies don't even move? Well I guess if it's free you can't expect it to be good."
This was my first RPG, but FF was the first RPG I ever beat. As the years go by, I've revisited FF about a hundred times, but I'll always have a soft spot for DW. The sound design and music carries it so much.
As many here this was the game that got me hooked into RPG . Still remember the day got my copy with my Nintendo power . 🍺
I have never played this franchise, but you can be sure that I will.
I too received this game with my subscription to Nintendo Power and it was one of my favorite games growing up. I have a weird coincidence where 3 years in a row I beat the game on Thanksgiving with my family there to root me on. Just happened that I would start playing a new quest same time each year and the conclusion of completing the game fell on that day each year. Fond memories that I will never forget.
Someone once told me this was an 'obscure title'
how tf did I, a child in the midwest upon this game's release, know about it then. that's like calling Final Fantasy obscure lol
I played this before I even knew what an RPG was. Still have fond memories of it and RPG’s continue to be my favorite game genre. Must play for nostalgia.
I played it on GBC. It felt in love with the pixel graphic, simple gameplay and the world presented. That was one of the most important games I've ever played.
Yeah, definitely a groundbreaking game!
In the 80s I couldn't afford an nes. I begged my mom for months to rent me one for the weekend, from the local gas station. She finally did and it came down to renting this, or mario 3. I chose this and thus began a lifelong love for rpgs.
Having played video games since 1990, I just played DQ1 for the first time a few months ago. It is a delightful game! I immediately played 2 and 3 after. Definitely missed out on those gems for a really long time.
I learned to read playing this game. Born in '88 in CA with Japanese immigrant contacts, this was a pivotal moment in my gaming/life development. Best aspect of this game is the well thought out progression of leveling and ability to kill mobs. Moving across a bridge to find a new table of mob spawns was so cool, not to mention going into dungeons to find whole new tables of baddies. OG gaming right here
I’d played a lot of Zelda, but at a sleepover for my friend’s birthday, I got to play Dragon Warrior. I was amazed.
I loved it. The sound, the style, everything about it felt interesting. My friends and I stayed up way too late playing it. I never saw it again.
Over the years it became a hazy memory. I wasn’t 100% sure of the title any more and nobody seemed familiar with it.
Until 1998! Another friend had the manual at his place in a box! I couldn’t believe it! I traded it off him and managed to find a copy on eBay. It was so exciting! I’d been buying and selling transformers and Japanese mega man figures for a while there at that point, but I’d never been so excited for my mail!
I finally got the game in the mail and spent the next week on it! It was totally worth the wait!
Also, I’ve always preferred the dame Dragon Warrior, I wish they’d have stuck with that here.
Man… I played Dragon Warrior so much when I was 11 years old I used to dream bout it. I’m 44 now and when I heard that title music, it brought me back to my childhood
This was my first RPG since then turn based RPG games are my favorite games. The thing I love most back then was level up the main Character getting more spells.
I got the game the exact same way. I had never played anything like it before. My lifelong love of RPGs began right there.
I just paid $200 for DQV DS complete in box.
Never sell your favorite games. You end up spending a fortune getting them back
First RPG I ever played. I have played through it over a dozen times and I don't know why I love it so much. Most memorable moments were definitely the Golem, Haukness and searching for the Fighter's Ring. I'm not going to lie, I enjoy navigating the menu to open chests and use stairs.
So many great memories over here too! Thanks for sharing yours.
Do you remember in the clue book, the part where the little graphic of the hero thinks to himself "I know only what I am told."? That has stuck with me for decades.
I don't remember this, but wish I did!
Dragon Warrior/ Quest happens to be my very first RPG that I ever played. I never thought that playing an RPG like this one would eventually turn me onto the genre itself and I still play RPGs to this day thanks to it.
perfect timing! i just started up Dragon Quest Viii again (after my 3ds memory card crapped the bed mid-playthrough). Compared to other games that released at the time, it’s amazing how well the first game has held up even today.
Miss when games came with inserts that were maps & item-buying guides. We got them up until the Xbox One & PS4 era. Many 360 games came with reference material.
Right, those were the days!
My first RPG as a kid and I still find myself going back and playing through this on emulation as well as Dragon Warrior 2. 2 added so many more features and was so fun to play, but sadly it released 2 months after Final Fantasy and never got the love and recognition it deserved. Thanks for the nostalgia. You gained a subscriber :)
I loved this game as a kid. Around the same time the Dragon Warrior anime aired on television. It inspired me to name my character Abel (although years later I learned the anime was based on Dragon Quest 3). Regardless you explained it perfectly here.
Are you talking about Dai no Daiboken?
@@dooshmasta No. This was from the 80s. In the US it was known as Dragon Warrior or alternatively Dragon Quest: The Legend of Abel.
@@Kryfton I need to see this cartoon.
@@dooshmasta I believe they only dubbed 13 episodes in the US but you can find those on UA-cam pretty easily. Subs you'll have to look elsewhere I think. Good luck!
@@Kryfton I just looked it up. Wow I remember this anime. Never watched it but it used to get a lot of marketing back then. It looks like they used the same studio that did Dai no Daiboken because the background art has that water color style to it. Thanks for the flashback!
This was my first RPG. This game is the very catalyst that began my love for RPGs. I still play it at least a few times a year.
Sounds about right!
My first experience with this game (or really any rpg) was the GBC version. I loved it and none of my friends had it/knew about it- but I was endlessly addicted.
This is what got me into gaming. My favorite game growing up. I have no clue how I found this game, but thank God I did.
I had joined the reserve, during my advanced individual training I met up with a group of guys that were into DnD. They tried to get me into it but a lot of it flew over my head. I truly loved the fantasy setting and setting off on adventures is what stuck with me the most my time there.
Later on I got my NES. The first game I bought Dragon Warrior. I was working a fast food job and doing the reserve once a month for a weekend but that game I enjoyed. I had to use a guide to be it, still loved every minute of it.
I actually played this game on my game boy color and I must have been about 9 or 10 when I played it. It was new at the time for me and I remember putting it down a lot because it’s extremely hard but I enjoyed it a good amount that I kept giving it a try until I learned all the little things that help you on your journey. This games does not hold your hand at all and it actually helps to talk to everyone you see
I bought this game originally for .29 cents in a Funcoland. Still have the cart. No box or book obviously but it was difficult and somehow still fun. Great times were had.
When I got my Nintendo, I asked my parents for a Nintendo power sub. That month was the release of Dragon Warrior and I received not one, but 2 free copies along with 2 Nintendo powers magazine. It had a a bonus map and leveling guide.
Down the RPG rabbit hole I went.... still digging to this day.
Hilarious, as you start your video with that same story. We were living parallel lives for a while I guess :)
Ahh the game that made me fall in love RPGS, me and my two brothers pretty much played all the JRPGs for the NES Sega Master system SNES Sega Genesis and so on but for some reason the Dragon Quest (Warrior) series just had this charm about it. Even though I played superior games in the genre Dragon Quest was always the one that got me most excited when a new one got released. Also the part where the main character never speaks gives you the impression you are the hero. My favs of all time are part 3 and part 6. Thanks for this.
Thanks for these memories, 3 and 6 are also my two favorite!
Still have my original complete copy I bought from the store as a kid, great game!
When I was a kid my mom and I use to play and beat DW all the time. It was so fun but I was just like 4 or 5 years old. It was what made me like RPGs later on in life. We also played FF1 a lot too. Good times.
She does not play video games at all anymore but I will never forget about DW and FF on our old 8 bit NES.
Thanks for these memories, I love to see this kind of stuff remembered so many years later!
@@Xygor Ill never forget the music. Yeah the games where bad but I liked them. We also played DW2 but my mom and I never beat it :( and later in life(I was about 13) I played DW3 that game was so good I loved DW3 a lot.
My first experience with Dragon Quest was the GBC versions of I&II. I knew of the series and was so excited to try it, once I got my hands on it I feel in love and ive been hooked ever since. Played all the mainline games (except X) multiple times each, some across various platforms and Ive played tons of spinoffs, more that I can recall at this point!
I think I might be a bit of a fan... :D
The music to dragon warrior is more addictive than any drug to me lol. God I love that game. Trying to sneak ahead to the next town before you’re ready. Grinding gold golems. The music and SFX. Yes it has flaws, but it’s still one of my favorite games to this day. I can’t remember if I played FF1 before this or not, but I know I never liked FF1. FFVI is probably my #1 favorite game, but back in the day it was all about dragon warrior.
Got it the same way.
You and I came into RPGs the same way. This Nintendo Power promotion. After that, I played the other three entries on NES.
I got this game free in the mail in 1989. It was my first RPG too. I was 12. I'm 45 now and still game. Dragons Quest XI was fun.
It took my mom 15 years to finish this game, I'm 39 now I remember she had the game when it came out there was one part that she couldn't find something when the original system was out, years later we bought it again cuz our original one got lost, for that time there was ways for downloading walkthroughs online when that was a thing back in the day so she did it and the only thing she did was find that item and she did the rest herself.
Great memories great game even the cartoons were awesome
This game and the first Final Fantasy game on NES will forever be etched into the core of my being. These were amazing RPGs period. Great introductions to the JRPG and RPG world in general.
I have a regard for this game especially because it was very important in my learning to read. My parents would read the text and I just memorized the words because I was fascinated with this type of games.
This is the earliest game I can remember playing. I must’ve been 4 or so. Had no clue what I was doing but I loved it.
I think the fact that what you name your character actually determines what your level ups look like was such a crazy but cool aspect of the game and allowed for replay value. It was also fun to challenge yourself to accomplish things at the lowest level you could. Like for example, defeating the Axe Knight that guards Erdrick's Armor at level 13. Gotta get lucky with Sleep spells and well timed Herbs to take that sucker down at that level! One of my top 10 of the NES library for sure!
My first RPG. So grateful. Great video!!
Mine too!
Got this too from nintendo power. First turned based rpg i ever played followed by final fantasy. Such a great game. Dq8 is probably my favorite of the series though
That was EXACTLY how I got the game - the Nintendo Power give away. As a Final Fantasy fan, I had to get it. So glad I did.
So, you got it from the subscription too huh? I still play the series (1-4) on NES emulators to this day...in fact, I'm just about to start another game of 4. Such a great series. I even got 7 & 8 for the PS systems.
I remember playing this game back in the day, it was my first jrpg. I had no idea what the hell I was doing or where to go. Eventually had to give up.
I just learned now that Koichi died, it struck me. Rest in peace sensei
I used the search command ON EVERY SINGLE TILE in Tantegel Castle before I figured out it was a "walk out of what you should be the town border to send you back to the overworld". Ugh. Life before the internet.
This was the very first rpg I ever played. Got it free with Nintendo Power. And I became addicted. This is the game that got me into rpgs. You would never see Nintendo promo a game that hard today, but I'm glad they did back then. If not fir this I may have never given RPG games a chance. I totally skipped over Final Fantasy before playing this. Great vid!
Thanks man, sounds like you and I are in the same boat!
Yeah I definitely felt like you were describing my own personal experience with Dragon Warrior in this vid.
It was my first RPG too. A friend of mine who lived down the road had it and loaned it to me. Together we figured it out and I ended up beating the Dragon Lord with something like 5 hit points left and no magic so it was one last shot or death. We didn't understand the concept of grinding and had problems with several rpgs never realizing why we were getting our butts kicked. I had this awesome full guide for Final Fantasy but always got stuck at the Marsh Cave never realizing the key was to simply level up before continuing forward with the story.
In hindsight, at least Final Fantasy has something to offer if you want to play it now but Dragon Warrior 1, ohh this is a rough one to try and play now. So basic, so slow, so much grinding! But that sound track, it will always be in my head and bring happy memories.
I still remember getting this game free as a kid and it felt like something super special. At the time I was already well into final fantasy legends series too so it felt great to have something in color. The extras you got with it were great too. At the time you basically needed it to know what to do.
Not sure I’ve played any since but I definitely played the hell out of this and FFL 1&2.
I just finished this game on the Gameboy Color a few hours ago. It's honestly refreshing. No complicated game mechanics and no sidequest padding. The inventory limitation is a minor inconvenience. It really needs a simple overworld map though like in the Pokemon games. Can't wait to play Dragon Warrior II next on my day off.
Hello fellow 80s child. lol This was my first RPG too and I'm so glad it was because what a starting point to lead us on this journey to what we have today, right? I'm finishing up Xenoblade 3 and just seeing this video is giving me the best nostalgia feeling ever. Going from that to games like XBC or even Dragon Quest XI, which that true ending actually brought a tear to my eye, is something I will always appreciate til the day I die, which will hopefully be with a controller in my hand. lol
I used to play it a lot on NES, even got the Gameboy Color Dragon Warrior (Quest) 1 & 2 combo. To my surprise, after all these years, the Gameboy still works.
These younger generation of kid's could never appreciate something like this...they care more about graffics and how good the game's look more than story....Great battle system and loveable characters.
While DQIII and above still held out pretty well today, as a slightly younger one, it took me time to really appreciate what Dragon Quest is doing.
It hasn't really aged, even the updated versions. My first RPG was FFIV which was already miles ahead.
I'm a RPG fans, and I really came to appreciate what it could bring to the table (well the updated version you can find on the Switch... It took me 20 years to get to it...).
This was the first RPG I ever played after asking for it for Christmas '89 followed by the first Final Fantasy for my birthday the following summer.
The beginning of the greatest video game franchise of all time. The last 33 years have been great.
I got this game free with the Nintendo Power subscription and still own it to this day and still my all time fave JRPG
I love this game. I still play it from time to time.
When I got the nintendo for christmas, we also got dragon warrior which I was excited for because of seeing the comercials for it on TV. Unfortunately was never able to save, learning much later it was probably a bad battery connection.
Thanks for these memories....I love comments like this! I have a lot of similar stories. Those battery backups...
I was given this game at 9 years old and waffled through it, but I was disappointed it wasn't an action game. I did eventually beat it, but didn't enjoy myself. However, the creepy atmosphere of the dungeons and the music stuck with me. I didn't get another RPG as a gift until 1993. Final Fantasy Legend III, Chrono Trigger, and Final Fantasy VI all helped me return to this game with a newfound appreciation.
So i used to be very distant from Dragon Quest until DQ8. DQ8 drew me into the series and got me interested but I wouldn't be able to play another game until Roms and Emulators and i got to try a few of the old school JRPGs. However DQ11 came out and I definitely fell in love with that game. Then after I got a switch I found out they ported the cell phone ports of DQ1-3 on the switch and got those for cheap and played through all of them. I had a pretty great time with this series so far. I can see why it's considered the foundation of JRPGs and RPG main stream mechanics. I also recommend playing them not only for old school enjoyment but to expirience the history of the genre as well to see how far we've come in game development.