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Any fans of console-type Japanese role-playing games know the name Dragon Quest. The series is recognized as being the inventor of such a genre. As we all know, Dragon Quest games fly off the shelves pretty quickly in Japan, the most recent one, Dragon Quest VII, sold more than 4 million copies; the series is even more popular than Final Fantasy. Now enter the Dragon Warrior series, the first one released in North America needed a free giveaway in Nintendo Power to get fans interested. The rest is history, the three following instalments were released but that would be the last one for a long time. Dragon Quest V and VI were never released in North America and fans would tell you that they are among the best. Now, what is this about you ask?
Well the Dragon Quest V remake for PlayStation 2 has just been released in Japan and got pretty good marks (34/40 from Famitsu). What is really unfair is that Square Enix has currently no plans to release the game in North America. Wasn't one of the purpose of the merger to give more attention to Dragon Quest in North America? Not releasing the game here will certainly not help. Now, what creates a problem for me is that Front Mission 4, a good game indeed, which sold less than 300.000 copies in Japan, is set to be released June 1st here. Plus Square Enix is giving away free demos of the game. Again here Dragon Quest gets shunned. Furthermore, may I inform you that Square Enix has acquired the trademark to "Dragon Quest" in North America, by searching a little bit the American site of trademarks you can find it. Again Square Enix does nothing but state the obvious: ?We currently have no plans to release Dragon Quest V in North America?
Dragon Quest is one of the best selling series in history. With more than 30 millions units sold, it certainly is an important series and fans of Squaresoft that never got around to play the series would probably give this game a try as in terms of graphics it looks very good. And now with the real name slapped on it maybe RPGamers that were confused with Dragon Warrior will finally embrace the series. In other words, it is a real opportunity for Square Enix, with Dragon Quest VIII looking spectacular so far, to get fans interested but they are missing it for no good reasons.
Why Dragon Quest hasn't worked in North America? To that I would respond that it was never really advertised quite positively and that it was seen as pure dork stuff but that's all in the past now. Dragon Quest V looks fantastic and it could easily do well here. The same thing happened with Final Fantasy Origins last year and it sold reasonably well, with Wonderswan Color quality graphics, why should Dragon Quest V be passed up here? Square Enix reaction is quite bizzare and difficult to understand. Now, consider this Dragon Warrior VII sold, according to the-magicbox numbers, almost 200.000 copies and it was pretty much dated and released on the PSX at the beginning of the PS2 era (FFX was released a couple weeks later). And yes do yourself a favor look at Dragon Quest V's remake for the PS2, looks pretty good, huh?
Isn't Square Enix supposed to be a company that leads the pack in the RPG genre? Other companies have taken risks lately like Atlus with Disgaea and soon too La Pucelle will be released in America, but Square Enix does not deem important enough one of the best instalment in one of its most important series to be released here. That tells me one of two things, either Square Enix does not respect its fans or they they are simply making a mistake. Where is the company that put all its last efforts in Final Fantasy? Come on! SE! Dare a little and release here a game that should have been released in the first place.
Any fans send out your emails about Dragon Quest V at: support@square-enix-usa.com
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