The world of Dragon Quest VIII is entirely 3D. From the sprawling towns and labyrinthine dungeons, to the hills and plains that divide them on the world map, all of the environments you pass through on your epic journey spread out before you seamlessly. You may lose yourself in the remotest corner of the globe, searching for hidden treasure, or suddenly stumble upon a whole new village or castle as you explore the depths of a shadowy forest – these are the kinds of experiences that will delight and amaze you on your adventure!
The visuals resemble those of a high-quality animated movie, making you feel as if you are actually walking around in one of Akira Toriyama's cartoons. For the North American and European releases, we have added voiceovers to the already impressive event scenes, imbuing the unfolding drama with greater emotional depth. Furthermore, the cutting-edge animations for both monster and player characters have been enhanced in the Western versions to make battles more dazzling and dynamic than ever before.
* Since times long forgotten, a forbidden scepter had lain sealed away in Trodain castle. Until one day, a mysterious jester called Dhoulmagus disturbed its rest and freed the scepter from its ancient bonds. Using the scepter's power, Dhoulmagus placed a spiteful curse upon the whole kingdom. In the space of a moment, the people were transformed into thorns and the land was frozen in time. To add insult to injury, the King and the Princess were turned into hideous beasts! * However, the curse left one person untouched...a young guardsman...You! Now you must embark on an epic journey to save your king and country and lift the shadow of the evil jester's curse!
