Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate Is a More 'Adult' Dragon Quest, Has Player Choice, New Combat Style

I’m going to be disappointed if it’s no longer turn based. Dragon Quest being traditional is what makes it so loved.

Sweet! Definitely looking forward to it.

How many games can make that kind of an impact with a simple logo reveal? It’s very bold for one of - if not the most - conservative series in gaming. DQIII HD-2D was a wonderful surprise as well.

Hmm Interesting

@Akurusu Horii said “command battle” will still be available for fans. Every time they tried to alter the combat system there’s a riot, so it will definitely be optional.

They wanted to go real-time with IX but were stopped by the backlash from Japanese fans. I feel the only way they can get away with it now is if it's real-time but still plays out as if it's turn-based, like the ATB system. I don't think they can go as far away from the roots with DQ as they did with FF in XV and Remake since, to be fair, only FFI, II, III and X were truly turn-based. Also FF fans expect evolution and change whereas DQ is very rooted in tradition and small, conservative changes.

Cannot wait for this! Also really hoping we get the remake of DQ3 over here...

They should do what Pokemon seems to be doing - faithful remake with classic gameplay and exciting new direction for the new entries!

will this be the first time they made a change to the dragon quest series since...ever? yes, sounds like it. this is pretty exciting to see as i never thought they would change a single element with these games. they have been set in stone for 35 years afterall and risk adverse in every regard. hard to believe it has been nearly 4 years since xi released... wow. i can see this one coming out next year actually. ps4 and ps5 release seems likely.

Hopefully not some boring nobody as a protagonist, a real talking actual person please

I totally support taking the combat in a new direction. Dragon Quest XI was a fantastic game, but its attempts to update the turn-based system just didn't work.
Not much else to say right now, aside from the fact that its Dragon Quest which means I'm absolutely here for it.

I'm happy with it continuing to be turn based combat but perhaps speed it up and make it more dynamic like Persona does. I hope they keep with the Toriyama art style because I'm worried that they'll change it to appeal to western audiences...
: (

Please don’t get rid of turn based combat 😫

A more "adult" Dragon Quest? Yeah, I don't know, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Can't wait for this game 😃

I'm not a huge DQ fan so really I'm just hoping for the same, if not more, level of care and attention XI got. Turn based or not I'm pretty hyped either way

Oh yeah and don't pull that asinine "locking the definitive edition to certain platforms for some time" thing ever again pls

Tre interested!

I really hope they don't ditch turn based, Final Fantasy has been a hot mess since they ditched turn based going from one meh battle system to another. Dragon Quest 11 is amazing because it stays true to itself and feels like a series that has a soul, I hope they don't tarnish this.

As long as we don't start seeing tentacles and mini skirts.

@Akurusu I agree but the last one I played on PS4 was really long-winded. I completed it, but by the end I was tired of the "tried and true" turn base. It needs a fresh spin on the combat.

Very interesting. I wonder how this will be recieved by long time fans.

How about a dragon warrior remaster? It was my first taste with an RPG on my nintendo. Loved it.

@Elodin
To be fair, DQIII contains the entire DQ game (ish) as a mini-adventure; so I would imagine that a remake would contain it as well.

That being said, as stand-alone remake of DQ would require a complete remake/re-envisioning if it were to try and appeal to a modern fanbase. If you take out the difficulty curve and the grinding (like later remasters did) then the game is a very short adventure, more akin to a side-quest.

@Akurusu I mean, Yakuza left it's action base for turn base and it was a hit. I didn't like it as I don't really enjoy turn base games, but I get it. Sometimes a fresh change is good.

Dragon Quest instantly loses all maturity and 'adult-ness' as soon as a wild Slime appears 😂

"Adult."

"New combat."

DQ was one of the few really consistent hold outs from the tendency in this industry to try and turn everything into a Darker and Edgier action-oriented game.

Not that I mind seeing evolution from this series, but this sounds like it could be a betrayal of the series' identity.

Well, I'll wait for footage before casting judgment.

I'm guessing DQXI not doing great in the West probably motivated S-E to shift gears.

I'll optimistically wait and see as I really like DQ, but if there's one series where it sounds misguided to shoehorn in the usual, edgy buzzwords, that's DQ.

I really hope by "adult" they don't mean "actually what edgy teenagers think of adult, namely swears, violence and testosterone" like 90% of games out there.

The real reason why this game is for adults...

...

Puff Puff.

I really want to love Dragon Quest as much as I used to but I found 11 to be extremely boring. I could barely finish it. If they keep it the same the series might not be for me.

I like Akira Toriyama art style, but I must say that the 3D adaptation used in Dragon Quest XI looks weird to me.. What they did for Dragon Ball Z Kakarot on the other hand, that I can dig.

"New" combat style? Hmm...? Hopefully no longer turn-based. Then maybe I'd be interested.

They better not mess this up. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

At this point, there are so few decent turn-based games left it would be a shame to lose one of the greats.

Unpopular opinion based on this comment section, but I'm glad they'll try something different. DQ art style, world and story elements always attracted me, but turn-based feels tedious to me nowadays. I used to enjoy it as a kid, but now... Even Pokémon lost a lot of its charm to me.

@MidnightDragonDX I’m willing to try something new, but yeah - very good news.

@ApostateMage That’s exactly what they did with Final Fantasy. Now look at it. When you hear people talk about their favorite final fantasy it is usually not one of the main entries that released after the year 2000.

@NoxAeturnus Yeah, video games have been becoming less enjoyable to me because developers want to appeal to the “mature” audience who can’t seem to appreciate light-hearted simplicity and fun. I get that some series start out like that and take that route or have a more “mature” entry every once in a while and that’s totally fine. But if Dragon Quest takes this route for every game in the future and changes the way it’s played, it just might be lost on me.

@Ralizah Probably the reason. But I’m sure Dragon Quest would also do better in the West if they didn’t keep so many of the games Japan exclusive.

@Ralizah I can only surmise that "adult" is an industry metaphor for "teenagers."

@WCB don't worry, "adult" means nudity and sex scenes.

@Milktastrophe It's about time! DQ was far too prudish before.

We adult fans need more skin in our vidya games!

Finally a dragon quest for adults but turn based combat was not bad. It was just too slow. Maybe increase the speed and implement something like yakuza like a dragon that you do not see preparation/intro/ending videos and do all of them in real time.

First thing that came to mind regarding Dragon Quest becoming more "adult" was how FFXVI is pretty much guaranteed to be the first M rated Final Fantasy, you can tell that just from the initial trailer at the Sony event last year.

@thedevilsjester very true, a remake side quest would be still be great.

I imagine this means that it will have darker themes and a lot of puff puff.