Again in December, I reviewed Sq. Enix’s monster accumulating RPG Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on Change. I liked my time with it regardless of its many technical points. I anticipated it to hit PC like Dragon Quest Treasures, one other Nintendo Change unique, however I didn’t anticipate a cell launch. Sq. Enix’s latest launch of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on iOS, Android, and Steam brings all prior paid DLC into the sport at a decrease entry level, however removes one function. That is the net real-time multiplayer battles. Past that, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on Steam and cell is already a massively higher expertise simply on worth with its lower cost level and the content material included, however is the sport value your time on this crowded launch interval and with its premium value? That’s what I intention to reply with my Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince cell evaluate additionally overlaying the sport on Steam Deck.
When you aren’t accustomed to Dragon Quest Monsters itself, it’s a spin-off sequence of the principle Dragon Quest video games that includes turn-based fight, however as a substitute of the principle participant preventing, you seize, breed, and lift monsters to combat for you. After I performed Dragon Quest Treasures, I loved it, however was advised that it’s a “Monsters-lite” recreation so when Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince was introduced for Change, I used to be excited to play it. I ended up loving it as you’ll be able to see from my evaluate linked above, however I feel it’s a very sturdy monster accumulating RPG with turn-based fight no matter in the event you like Dragon Quest or not. What made Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince extra fascinating, is in the way it seems like a facet story and prequel to Dragon Quest IV. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince additionally had a seasonal function the place the monsters modified relying on the season and space you’re in.
In terms of the story, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince, the bits from IV already made it extra fascinating than the same old spin-off, however I discovered myself focusing extra on getting my very own dream monster social gathering slightly than worrying in regards to the narrative. I’m tremendous happy with how nicely thought out the mechanics are and the way the massive zones, lots of of monsters, and fight made me need to preserve taking part in it extra even on Change after I first beat it not to mention now on iPhone, iPad, and Steam Deck. Past the conventional turn-based battles and recruiting new monsters, Synthesis in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince is like Shin Megami Tensei’s fusion, and there may be simply a lot you are able to do with expertise right here. The seasons right here don’t simply change monsters, but in addition areas you’ll be able to discover with map modifications. This implies a water physique which you can’t cross will likely be frozen in a single season letting you entry a brand new secret.
Fight in video games like this will get monotonous so I’m glad to see the numerous high quality of life options right here just like the ways menu that performs out just like the unique Persona 3, direct instructions, and extra. You aren’t right here to simply defeat enemies, but in addition scout them to deliver to your social gathering and turn out to be stronger. I didn’t find yourself testing the net multiplayer on Change a lot, so I can’t touch upon how huge a loss that’s right here, however it’s a recreation mode being lower nonetheless. When you did play it on Change, preserve that in thoughts as it’s the solely space the cell and Steam variations are missing in comparison with Change.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince already shipped with numerous content material, however the DLC solely elevated the expertise. This DLC was offered within the Digital Deluxe Version or as standalone DLC for the bottom recreation. Simply the DLC was over $25 on Change, so having the total base recreation with all DLC included for $24 on cell makes it a tremendous deal, however I’ll get to that in a bit. This DLC included The Mole Gap, Coach Joe’s Dungeon Fitness center, and Treasure Trunks. The Mole Gap was a dungeon that allows you to scout (recruit) monsters you’ve fought earlier than and it made min-maxing lots simpler throughout the recreation. The DLC was additionally good to hurry issues up since you can additionally simply scout monsters who solely seem throughout a selected season or by means of synthesis.
The Coach Joe’s Dungeon Fitness center DLC has randomly generated maps and they’re meant to be postgame challenges slightly than skilled whereas taking part in the sport. The ultimate DLC is only a chest that may be opened as soon as an hour with 10 gadgets in whole. This is sort of a cheat DLC in the event you might. I didn’t assume it was good to have helpful recreation modes or content material in paid DLC, however that isn’t an issue anymore with all of it included on iOS, Androidl, and Steam within the base asking value.
Now let’s get to the cell port options. With Sq. Enix, you’ll be able to by no means make sure what options will make it into the ultimate recreation. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince doesn’t have controller assist. That is past disappointing because the recreation is actually a console title ported to cell. I attempted 6 totally different controllers with none luck to make certain. Other than controller assist, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on iOS has cloud saves and some graphics choices. The cloud saves work nicely.
In terms of controls, I used to be shocked at how nicely Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince felt with contact controls. It makes use of a floating joystick on the left for motion and a bounce button primarily whereas exploring. The one minor difficulty you may run into is a few contact targets being a bit small on the non Plus/Max telephones. These aren’t a difficulty on iPads in any respect although. The controls really feel good, however Sq. Enix ought to’ve left full controller assist in since it is a console recreation ported to cell in spite of everything.
Considered one of my solely actual points with Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on Change was on the technical facet. The body charge was tough at launch with visuals not being nice both. The previous obtained addressed to some extent not like Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, however the latter by no means obtained fastened. On iPhone 15 Professional, iPhone 12, and even iPad Professional, I had no main points with the visuals or efficiency. There are some hiccups on iPhone 15 Professional when working on the highest graphics high quality setting and shifting by means of some places, but it surely isn’t remotely as unhealthy as on Change. The sport feels massively higher to play on iOS. Try the comparability under for the high and low graphics choices on iPhone 15 Professional:
There aren’t particular visible or body charge settings on cell exterior of the decision possibility in show settings. This allows you to play at low, medium, or excessive graphical high quality choices. These presets additionally have an effect on different settings just like the body charge restrict and post-processing. This setting can solely be modified from the title display screen on cell when you can modify it on the fly on PC. I caught to the excessive setting on all my iPhones. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince sadly has some minor efficiency points even on iPhone 15 Professional as I discussed above. The low setting appears unusable with how blurry it will get. On my 2020 iPad Professional, the excessive preset has extra common body drops than iPhone, and it additionally appears to be working with some tweaked settings. General, even the older iPad Professional runs it nicely, however not so good as iPhone 15 Professional as anticipated. Each system I examined on together with the iPhone 12 ran it lots higher than Nintendo Change.
Visually, it seems lots cleaner than Change even on older iOS gadgets when performed at excessive. Sq. Enix didn’t simply do a bare-bones port right here. It has fullscreen assist throughout gameplay on my iPhone 15 Professional, and even has a sample or paintings to fill the display screen throughout areas with pre-rendered or static 16:9 components. This sample or paintings is principally used on my iPad Professional because it doesn’t assist fullscreen there for gameplay. This additionally applies to Steam Deck to make up for that side ratio in components. I’m glad to see Sq. Enix put within the work right here to ensure it nonetheless seems good no matter side ratio.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince Steam Deck impressions
On Steam Deck, no matter my settings, I couldn’t get Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince to run at a locked 90fps even on the low preset when performed at 800p. I made a decision to go for a 60fps goal, and that was lots simpler to attain. One oddity is the sport not letting you modify decision when taking part in on Steam Deck usually. You are able to do this by forcing the decision from the sport’s properties earlier than launching it. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on PC enables you to modify graphical high quality (low, medium, excessive), anti-aliasing (off, low, medium, excessive), most body charge (30 to uncapped), toggle v-sync, and modify show mode (windowed, fullscreen, borderless). When you play at 60fps, I like to recommend setting your Steam Deck OLED refresh charge to 60 to keep away from jitter as nicely.
Having now performed Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on iOS, iPadOS, Steam Deck, Change OLED, and Change Lite, there’s little question that the Change model is the worst of the lot regardless of the net mode being faraway from cell and Steam. The large enhance in efficiency and higher visuals with all DLC included at a a lot decrease asking value solely makes it higher. One factor to notice is that the sport is marked as Steam Deck Playable and never Verified as a result of Valve says some in-game textual content is small and could also be troublesome to learn. I didn’t have any points with this, and I really feel like Valve has marked video games with smaller textual content as Verified earlier than. Both method, you’ll be able to safely purchase this one to play on Steam Deck.
When you skipped Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on Change, the brand new cell and Steam ports are the way in which to go. Whereas the cell model missing controller assist is disappointing, it’s nonetheless a recreation I see myself taking part in repeatedly with its enhancements over change and implausible core gameplay loop. Having all of the DLC included means you should have sufficient content material to final you even longer. When you do worth controller assist in a recreation like this, the Steam Deck is the way in which to go. Hopefully we see Sq. Enix preserve bringing extra Dragon Quest video games to cell sooner or later. Proper now, the iOS model of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince is definitely top-of-the-line cell releases of the yr.
