izigame.me

I started getting into Dragon Quest a few months ago (maybe 5 or 6) with the first four games and Monsters: The Dark Prince. I got curious after I saw Infinity Strash in my Steam Queue and bought it at the beginning of 2024 when it was on sale. I really liked the story that I got into the manga and watched both animes (1991 and 2020). I already had some experience with some similar games, so I just needed to get used to the game's mechanics. Now about the game:

Part One: What I liked

1: About Characters
-Dai's Zap paralyzing bosses at unexpected times (like one second before Crocodine's Coup de Grâce is launched).
-Using Popp (good spells, awesome Coup de Grâce).
-Maam (Martial Artist) becoming a damage sponge with the use of some Bond Memories.
-Hyunckel (Dark Armour Spear) is better than the Dark Armour Blade version (my opinion).
-The DLC outfits for Maam (Warrior Priest) and Hyunckel (Dark Armour Spear) look good on them.
2: Main Game (Story and System)
-Certain Coup de Grâce aren't only dealing damages, they can also buff the user.
-Some gimmicks during boss fights.
-Being able to control the cutscenes (even if it is weird).
-Having a challenge mode.
-Bond Memories can compensate for being under level. (Note: I was around twenty levels under the recommendation for the final challenge when I did it.)
-My favorite battles are the chapters 2, 5 and 7's final challenges.
-The final battle in challenge mode.
3: Temple of Recollection
-The prophecies
-Sections having unique gimmicks (except for the first two sections (layer 1 to 6)).
-Being able to add some challenge after completing it once .


Part Two: What I didn't like

1: About Characters
-Some characters have skills/spells with a rather long cooldown and some others taking a little long before being sent (many enemies and bosses have time to move away or attack).
-Perfect dodge and taking damage at same time (funny, weird and almost got me killed in my solo run of the Temple of Recollection).
-The ally AI's tendency to attack and come back to me instead of killing their target.
-The AI trying to kill a Rockbomb about to explode.
2: Main Game (Story and System)
-There are not many side quest/battles.
-I don't like how the story ends, a lack of follow-up after the final battle.
-Not being able to easily know the playable characters and foes' elemental resistances.
-It looks like Dai and Maam receive more unique bonuses from Bond Memories than the others.
-Getting interruped in the middle of a boss fight because of a cutscene.
-Grinding for challenge mode becomes difficult.
- Mystvearn Challenge.
3: Temple of Recollection
-It is not possible to use both Maam (Warrior Priest and Martial Artist) or Hyunckel (Dark Armour Blade and Spear) in the party.
-It is not possible to choose the second door after opening one.
-The Bond Memories are limited to the section that correspond the chapters where they are found.
-Shrooms are (almost) homing missiles.
-The bonus mission timer for boss battles against two or more bosses.
-I feel like Mystvearn doesn't appear often while Hadlar appears a lot.
-Same thing with Flazzard's other forms (even if he appeared more often).
- The final boss in the temple's depth often using his bullet hell attack. (I'm not bad at touhou but it is hard to attack when there's no gap large enough to fit in.)


Part Three: What could be changed or added

1: About Characters
-Adding Crocodine as a playable character (Not just because he's my most favorite character, he has a great potential and his size doesn't matter after having played as the Great Fairies, who are giants, in both Hyrule Warriors).
-Adding Leona as a playable character (She also has some potential).
-Some skills/spells Charge Time could be reduced by a little amount ( Donk, Warrior Master's Fury and Bloody Scryde are among those that could be modified).
-Maam (Martial Artist) and Hyunckel are kinda limited in term of attacks (one Coup de Grâce, three skills for Maam and Hyunckel has four).
-Maybe improve the dodge frames.
2: Main Game (Story and System)
-More side quests (maybe even more if Crocodine and Leona were playable).
-A character gallery/bestiary that describes every character, both playable and enemy, their battle abilities and shows their elemental resistances.
3: Temple of Recollection
-Giving the possibility to choose another door after opening one.
-Maybe show the amount of enemies in a room. (Beating a boss then a second one appears and then a third one can be annoying.)

Conclusion

I recommend this game to those who like the series. I would have liked to play as Crocodine, but at least I can see him in action as a boss. Even after having unlocking all the achievements, I try to max out every Bond Memories and skills/spells for a true 100% completion. Even if the Temple of Recollection becomes
the main challenge after completing the game, it is still fun despite getting repetitive.