Dragon Quest V: Hand Of The Heavenly Bride (Nintendo DS/DS Lite/Nintendo Dsi)

After playing Dragon Quest IV: Chapters Of The Chosen on the Nintendo DS, I was so impressed and taken in with the gameplay and storyline that I wished that particular game were longer and wondered what the other one in the series would be like.

And I didn’t have to wait long, for Dragon Quest V: Hand Of The Heavenly Bride, one of the video games that was not previously released in the US, was already here for play on the Nintendo DS/DS Lite and now the Nintendo Dsi.

There is no voice acting, but when the game opens, you see Pankraz, who is most of this game’s hero’s father pacing the floor. A short while later, you hear the sound of a baby crying as Pankraz’ wife gives birth to the hero, name him what you will, I named mine Edgar.

Just like most RPGs, you beat bosses, do little side quests, level up, find items and so on. But unlike some of those RPGs, this particular one involves a strong family element.
You and your hero enter a world in which you are travelling with Pankraz, (or your father) visiting towns in which people just seem to have lots of respect for Pankraz.

Also, you explore dungeons and caves and a little later in the game, you get to have monsters join you. This is a unique feature that must have been a slight introduction to the Pokemon series.

Since the wagon you also acquire (later on as the game progresses) can only hold eight monsters at a time, there are monster monitor points in certain towns where you can drop off or pick up such monsters.

Furthermore, as you level up these monsters, you are able to equip them with weapons, armour and such. And yes, they do come in handy when you are faced with some of those battles.

The game’s storyline contains so many dramatic twists that once you have invested a couple hours of playing time into it, you will want to continue, more so if you love RPGs.

So come on and watch your hero grow from child to a young man, gets married. And I thought I might add here, that if you allow the second generation hero, Pankraz’ son to marry the wrong girl, it could have an impact on how the rest of the game plays out.

Of course, I let him marry the right girl, but maybe on my second play through of the game, I will let him marry one of the other girls,( there are three from which to choose) just for fun.

Oh and if you let your second generation hero marry the right girl, you will have your third generation hero, his son and also a daughter. For your hero had twins.

Dragon Quest V: Hand Of The Heavenly Bride for the Nintendo DS/DS Lite/Nintendo Dsi contains a few violent based thought provoking scenes, ( a slave scene, a flogging scene, Pankraz death scene) but it still remains as one of the best RPGs that I have had the pleasure and time to play. You will too, if you haven’t done so already.

My personal rating:

Graphics: 10 out of 10
Sound Effects: 9.5 out of 10
Story: 10 out of 10
Gameplay: 9.5 out of 10

And below is Nintendo’s rating:

Rated E 10 + for:

Alcohol Reference
Mild Fantasy Violence
Mild Language
Mild Suggestive Themes
Simulated Gambling