Info about DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince:

Official game description:
Overview
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DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince comes to Steam®!  
Compose your very own team of monsters from across the DRAGON QUEST series and engage in thrilling battles against your foes. Recruit monsters from the wild world around you and combine them to synthesize new creatures as you see fit. With over 500 monsters to choose from and a revamped synthesis system to explore, you can mix and match to you heart's content to create your favorite cute critters and dastardly supervillains, as well as brand-new additions to the monstrous roll call.  
Your quest to become the greatest monster wrangler of all time starts here!
Story
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Psaro is cursed and is unable to harm anything with monster blood. Now, he must become a Monster Wrangler to create an army for battle.  
The hunt for high-ranked monsters takes Psaro through the ever-changing seasons of Nadiria and its unique environments, with rivers of bubbling lava, mysterious ancient ruins, and soaring towers of cake. Along the way, Psaro meets the kind-hearted elf, Rose, who joins his adventure to seek out ever-stronger monsters.  
The key to Psaro's success lies with synthesis: the ability to combine two monsters and create a stronger offspring. Each new creation brings Psaro one step closer to his goal of becoming the Master of Monsterkind.  
(The network mode Online Battles from the console version, where players battle one another in real time, is not included.)
Game Features
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\- A Wondrous World Awaits  
As time passes in Nadiria, so too do the seasons change, with different weather conditions tempting new monsters out of hiding and revealing paths to undiscovered areas. The Circles of Nadiria are sure to provide a fresh experience every time you visit.  
\- Over 500 Unique Monsters  
With such varied environments to explore, you can expect them to be inhabited by a plethora of monsters. While many can be recruited in battle, occasionally a defeated monster will ask to join your team of its own accord. Befriend as many monsters as you can, then combine them to synthesize new creatures and build a unique party to your exact liking.  
\- Enjoy All the DLC from the Console Version  
The Steam® version includes the DLC packs from the console version: the Mole Hole, Coach Joe's Dungeon Gym and Treasure Trunks. Make the most of their unique features to enhance your adventure.  
\- Test Your Might in Quickfire Contests  
Register your team for the network mode Quickfire Contests to participate in automated battles against the party data of 30 other players. Once a day you can earn stat-boosting items as a prize, and the monsters from any team you defeat will be added to your roster (up to rank B monsters only).

Release date: 11 Sep, 2024

Categories: Monster Collecting, Monster Fusion System, Turn-based Combat, Single-player Story, Character Progression, Exploration, Environmental Simulation, Team Management


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Deep, rewarding monster synthesis (weight 0.94): The monster synthesis/breeding system is a major highlight, offering depth, customization, and rewarding experimentation. The removal of gender restrictions and other streamlining features make the system more accessible and enjoyable. Players appreciate the ability to create powerful and unique monsters through strategic combinations.
- Fun, charming core gameplay (weight 0.83): The game is praised for its enjoyable core gameplay loop, charming art style, and overall fun factor. Many reviewers highlight the engaging monster collecting and battling mechanics, as well as the game's smooth performance and quality-of-life improvements. The game's visuals, monster designs, and music are also frequently mentioned as positive aspects.
- Nostalgic Dragon Quest experience (weight 0.68): The game successfully captures the essence of the Dragon Quest series, evoking nostalgia for older titles and appealing to long-time fans. Reviewers appreciate the classic Dragon Quest art style, music, and monster designs, as well as the game's faithfulness to the series' core mechanics. The game is also compared favorably to the Dragon Quest Monsters Joker series.
- Superior PC port performance (weight 0.4): The PC version of the game offers significant improvements over the Switch version, including better performance, higher resolution graphics, and faster loading times. The inclusion of all DLC from the Switch version at a reasonable price is also a major selling point. The game also runs well on Steam Deck.
- Engaging story, memorable characters (weight 0.2): The game features a great and engaging story with plot twists, memorable characters, and rich world-building. Psaro's quest for vengeance and his interactions with companions add personal and emotional depth to the narrative. The story is a retelling of the origins of Psaro from Dragon Quest IV.
- Includes all DLC content (weight 0.11): The PC version includes all DLC content, which was previously sold separately on the Switch. The Mole Hole DLC is a particularly worthwhile addition, simplifying monster hunting and streamlining the synthesis system. The inclusion of all DLC at a good price is a positive.
- Convenient quality-of-life features (weight 0.11): The game includes quality-of-life features such as auto-battle, speed-up functions, and skippable cutscenes. These features make grinding easier and respect the player's time. The game also offers frame rate options, including 144fps and unlimited.
- Complete monster collection possible (weight 0.1): The game allows for complete monster collection, as there are no distribution-limited monsters. Completing the Monsterpedia and all achievements provides a sense of accomplishment. Shiny monsters are a positive addition.
- High-quality voice acting (weight 0.07): The game features almost full voice acting in the main part, with excellent voice actors. The arena announcer is a particularly good character. The voice acting is a positive addition and is of high quality.

Common complaints:
- Weak, uninspired, and rushed story (weight 0.96): The story is widely criticized for being weak, generic, rushed, and uninspired. Characters lack depth, and choices feel meaningless, leading to a disjointed and unsatisfying narrative. Some reviewers noted that the story's connection to Dragon Quest IV feels forced and requires prior knowledge, while others found the plot nonsensical and the characters unlikeable.
- Missing online PvP battles (weight 0.46): The Steam/PC version notably lacks online PvP battles, a feature present in other versions and previous titles. This absence diminishes endgame content and the motivation to train strong monsters. The available online battles are simple stat comparisons with little strategy involved.
- Less content, outdated graphics (weight 0.27): Compared to previous Dragon Quest Monster titles, this game has less content, simplified skills, and a reduced number of monsters. The graphics are considered cheap and outdated, with assets and music reminiscent of older games in the series. Some reviewers also noted that the game feels restrictive compared to previous entries.
- Tedious and repetitive dungeons (weight 0.26): Dungeons are criticized for being tedious, repetitive, and uninspired, often featuring time-consuming gimmicks and puzzles. Backtracking is frequent, and some puzzles are more irritating than challenging, requiring guides to navigate. The reviewer also noted that the player movement speed remains constant throughout the game, making backtracking in later dungeons tedious and tiring.
- Crashes and save data issues (weight 0.24): The game suffers from crashes, save file corruption, and cloud save syncing issues between different devices. These technical problems can lead to lost progress and prevent players from continuing the game. Some reviewers also noted that the game can become stuck on the loading screen.
- Excessive and repetitive grinding (weight 0.23): The game is described as incredibly grindy, with a slow start and artificial difficulty spikes that necessitate extensive leveling. Reviewers found the grinding to be a major detractor, especially in the endgame, making the game feel like a time sink. Some reviewers also noted that the gameplay can become repetitive due to similar objectives across different maps.
- Illusion of choice, limited agency (weight 0.18): The game presents an illusion of choice, with decisions having little to no impact on the story. This lack of agency, combined with a repetitive structure and pre-set skill sets, limits player engagement and customization. Some reviewers also noted that the game forces players down the wrong path, even if they initially make the correct choice.
- Controller and keyboard input issues (weight 0.17): The game has issues with controller support, including incompatibility with certain controllers and frequent switching between keyboard and controller input. Some reviewers also reported keyboard bugs that make the game unplayable, such as unintended key inputs and keys constantly being registered as input.
- Linear level design, poor exploration (weight 0.1): The game's level design is linear and restrictive, with frequent teleportation between small, segmented zones. This structure discourages exploration and makes the world feel unnatural. Some reviewers also noted the presence of invisible walls and inconvenient map traversal mechanics.
- Lack of monster diversity (weight 0.08): The game has a lack of diversity in higher-tier monsters and too many color variations of the same monsters. Some reviewers also noted that synthesized high-level monsters have limited use after completing the main story. The reviewer also noted that three-slot monsters no longer exist, which is disappointing.

Gameplay feedback:
- Turn-based combat with auto-battle (weight 0.13): The game features a familiar turn-based combat system with options for auto-battle and adjustable speed, catering to both casual and strategic players. While the combat may not be exceptionally deep, it is generally considered reliably fun and benefits from quality-of-life features.
- Story revisits Dragon Quest 4 (weight 0.11): The game's story is a reimagining of Dragon Quest 4, featuring the character Psaro and exploring his backstory. It incorporates familiar elements and characters from previous Dragon Quest installments, appealing to nostalgia.
- Season system affects exploration (weight 0.09): The game features a weather and season system that affects exploration and monster availability. Different monsters appear depending on the season, which changes every 20 minutes. However, some reviewers found the seasonal mechanics underexploited or more annoying than engaging.
- Monster traits and skill customization (weight 0.09): Monsters possess unique traits, skills, and elemental affinities that influence combat strategy. Players can customize monsters through skill lines and breeding, adding depth to team building and combat tactics. Acquiring specific skills often requires breeding with specific monsters.
- Grinding is prevalent, can be rewarding (weight 0.08): The game involves grinding, particularly for experience levels and materials. While some find the grinding rewarding and a way to trivialize difficulty, others may find it tedious. Efficient methods like Metal Slime hunting can accelerate character progression.
- Simplified monster sizes, equipment (weight 0.07): The game has made changes to monster sizes and equipment. Monsters now come in only two sizes (S and L), and equipment is limited to accessories. Monster rank does not directly correlate to strength, requiring players to understand individual monster stats and abilities.
- Depth increases with synthesis (weight 0.04): The game's depth becomes more apparent as players progress and unlock the synthesis system. The difficulty increases towards the end, which some players find enjoyable. However, some find the synthesis system feels completely random.
- Similar to other monster RPGs (weight 0.04): The game shares similarities with other monster-raising RPGs like Persona, Digimon Cyber Sleuth, and Shin Megami Tensei. It offers a monster-focused experience where the protagonist doesn't directly participate in battles.
- Dungeon difficulty and puzzles (weight 0.03): Dungeons start simple but become progressively more challenging, requiring careful planning to traverse. There are puzzle elements in the maps, but they can be skipped if they are too difficult as they are not essential for progression. Some reviewers found dungeons and internal maps have repetitive and confusing mechanics.

Performance notes:
- Improved performance on PC/Steam Deck (weight 0.38): The PC version offers significant performance and visual improvements over the Switch version, including higher frame rates, resolutions, and faster loading times. While some users with lower-end PCs reported performance issues, most found the game to be well-optimized and smooth, especially on Steam Deck. The Switch's blurriness disappeared, achieving 4K resolution and over 60 FPS.
- Graphics similar to Dragon Quest XI (weight 0.05): The game's graphics are comparable to Dragon Quest XI, with options for widescreen and frame rate adjustments. However, some reviewers noted that the graphics resemble those of early PS3 titles, suggesting they may appear somewhat dated. The music is nostalgic, nodding to classic titles.
- Uncapped FPS, refresh rate impact (weight 0.05): The game opens with uncapped FPS, but raising the refresh rate doesn't make much of a difference. On Steam Deck OLED, locking the frame rate to 60fps on High settings provides a stable experience.
- Fast loading times (weight 0.05): Many reviewers noted that the game features fast loading times. This contributes to a smoother and more enjoyable gameplay experience, especially during battles.
- Loading screen/slime loading bugs (weight 0.04): Some players encountered specific bugs, such as an infinite slime loading issue or freezing during loading screens. The slime loading issue was resolved by granting the game permission in the antivirus software.
- Ultrawide and unlimited FPS support (weight 0.04): The game supports ultrawide monitors and allows players to select unlimited FPS. This provides a more immersive and customizable experience for PC gamers.
- Controller recognition issues reported (weight 0.04): Some players experienced issues with controller recognition, particularly with Logitech controllers, requiring a PC restart to resolve. However, the game recognizes and works with the current Xbox wireless controller without any configuration issues.
- Low NPC/monster frame rate (weight 0.03): Some reviewers reported that NPCs and monsters exhibit low frame rates (2FPS) at a distance, even on Ultra settings. This issue is more pronounced than on the Switch version, and can detract from the overall visual experience.
- Limited graphics customization (weight 0.02): The game offers limited graphics customization options, with only low/medium/high settings available. The game also has limited menus.
- Steam Deck battery life: 3-4 hours (weight 0.01): The game provides around 3-4 hours of battery life on Steam Deck. This is useful information for players planning to play the game on the go.
- 'Zoom' fast travel lags slightly (weight 0.01): The 'Zoom' fast travel feature experiences a brief lag when showing the player's position on the map. This is a minor inconvenience.
- Minor graphical glitch reported (weight 0.01): One reviewer reported a minor graphical glitch where a Mandrake Major was partially stuck in a wall. This appears to be an isolated incident.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for genre fans (weight 0.9): Many reviewers recommend the game, especially to fans of the Dragon Quest and monster-collecting genres. Some suggest waiting for a sale, while others endorse it wholeheartedly, highlighting its value and enjoyment despite minor flaws. Some reviewers recommend the game as a good entry point for newcomers.
- Lacks significant challenge (weight 0.73): Some reviewers find the game relatively easy, lacking significant challenge outside of post-game content. Despite this, the game is still considered entertaining and player-friendly, especially for newcomers to the series.
- Deep, engaging synthesis system (weight 0.7): The game is praised for its deep monster synthesis system and team optimization, offering many hours of engaging gameplay. Reviewers recommend getting invested in the synthesis system to enhance the fun.
- Hope for future installments (weight 0.63): Some reviewers express hope for future installments and PC ports of other games in the series, particularly Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 3 Professional. Some consider this game the definitive Dragon Quest Monsters experience.
- Relies heavily on nostalgia (weight 0.07): Some reviewers feel the game relies too heavily on nostalgia without offering enough innovation, making it feel stuck in the past. Others consider it a good budget title despite this.
- Compared to Monster Joker series (weight 0.05): Some reviewers compare the game to the Monster Joker series, with some feeling it doesn't quite measure up. Despite this, they still recommend the game and hope for a sequel that surpasses Monster Joker 3.
- Technical issues need addressing (weight 0.04): Some reviewers encountered technical issues such as saving problems and keyboard input bugs. They suggest waiting for patches to address these issues before purchasing the game.
- PC version preferred by some (weight 0.04): Some reviewers prefer the PC version over the Switch version due to better performance, visuals, and smoother gameplay. Others recommend the Switch version for online battles.

Other player notes:
- Story is serviceable Dragon Quest. (weight 0.1): The story is serviceable and typical for Dragon Quest, primarily serving as a backdrop for gameplay and introducing new areas. It's a 'what if' scenario based on Dragon Quest 4, with references to it, and understanding Dragon Quest IV enhances the experience.
- Classic Akira Toriyama art style. (weight 0.06): The game features the classic art style of Akira Toriyama, including character and monster designs. This was one of the last projects Toriyama worked on, making it a bittersweet experience for fans.
- Includes DLC, available on Steam. (weight 0.06): The PC version includes all DLC from the Switch version, such as a den for battling and scouting monsters. The game is available on Steam and has been offered at discounted prices during sales.
- Soundtrack complements the atmosphere. (weight 0.03): The soundtrack, composed by Koichi Sugiyama, complements the game’s atmosphere with familiar melodies and new compositions. However, some reviewers found the music to be inoffensive but uninspired.
- Disable auto-save for save-scumming. (weight 0.02): The reviewer recommends turning off auto-save in the options to speed up the game and allow for save-scumming in battles.
- Missing PVP mode from Switch. (weight 0.02): The PC version is missing the PVP mode from the Switch version, which may disappoint players who enjoyed that feature.
- Lacks monster riding mechanics. (weight 0.02): The reviewer questions the absence of monster riding, flying, and swimming mechanics, possibly due to the game's weather system.
- Meta stage names break immersion. (weight 0.02): The game uses terms like 'beginner', 'intermediate', and 'advanced' for stage names, and phrases like 'easier to befriend', which feels meta and breaks immersion.
- Missing promotional monsters. (weight 0.01): The game is missing the McDonald's promotional monsters that were available in Japan through promo codes.

Emotions:
No emotions}