Dragon Quest VIII Journey of the Cursed King – WiiU

Characterization is further enhanced by full voice acting, some of which is new to this release, the constant presence of which adds more weight to the brilliant English-language localization. There’s a slapstick quality to much of the voice work, which highlights and embellishes the humour-heavy script in a manner that is in keeping with the ridiculousness of the central storyline.

This 80-hour plus offering is one that begins with the conceit that you need to travel the world to investigate how to break a spell that has transformed the king of the land of Trodain into a small green troll and the princess into a large white horse. It’s a setup that wouldn’t feel out of place in Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Monty Python, or Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure – albeit with (generally) more swords and dragons.

The central plot is not the primary reason to lose yourself in the narrative, that instead comes down to the fantastic dialogue and the entertaining character interactions. Really, this is a game about unlikely partnerships and relationships and how very different people are able to look beyond their differences and work towards a goal that would be unattainable for any individual. This is a story about characters more than it is about plot.