Dragon Warrior 2 Review
It's just like me to get back into a certain series, and get hooked on it. Recently I started getting the urge to dig up the old Dragon Warrior/Quest games. So with my handy shovel in hand(AKA, Nesticle), I sought out to play some of the oldest and most respected RPGs ever created. Stop #1: Dragon Warrior 2.
This was the first sequel to the first actual RPG ever created for the NES, which also ACTUALLY gained alot of popularity over here in the states. It was fun, challenging.... and a lesson to all the newbie RPG players of these days who think RPGs are all about the adventure. Back then, you had to level up. Fight thousands of enemies. Save. Move on to new area and explore. Repeat process. If you even stepped a foot into an area you weren't ready for, you learned the hard way. And death meant you lost half your gold, not a "Game Over" screen. Nowadays, it's all about the adventure and exploration in the RPGs, not the old stuff guys like me are used to.
 Anyway, I'll quit rambling. Dragon Warrior 2(or Dragon Quest in Japan) continues on from the first DW's legacy, many years after the events of the first. The game has all the elements that would later be known as DQ necessities... like having to level up constantly, buy new equipment, and getting used to having your butt kicked on several occasions. Suprisingly, it blends together well and makes the game(s) very entertaining & challenging.
Graphics. When judging a game as old as DW2 that's on the NES to begin with, I have to be a bit impartial. I mean, come on... at the time this was the best thing happening. I'd have to say they were pretty decent, but actually seemed a bit lesser than Dragon Warrior 1's. Some of the characters look over-pixelated, more so than the ones in DW. Still, I love the old style of RPG Sprites. 7/10.
Gameplay. This depends on how you look at it. Me, I like a bit of both RPG worlds... sometimes I love sitting for hours leveling up, preparing to head to a new area, while other times I wish I could just get on with it. So... I'd have to say the whole gaining levels all the time is both good, and bad. Aside from that the game flows pretty smoothly. The new feature of having multiple party members was a gift from god back in the 80s. 9.5/10.
 Plot. Still following the original DQ story, it's pretty good. It's pretty neat to know you're playing as descendants of the guy you played as in DW1(don't worry, it's in the opening, so I'm not spoiling anything). Liked the fact that you actually start the game out with a decent weapon, which'd make more sense. 9/10.
Sound. Don't expect an orchastra. This isn't FF7. However, alot of the old NES tunes are great, and especially nostalgic. Heck, it's even the first RPG to feature overworld music changes as the plot goes on. Nifty. 7.5/10.
Replay Value. There's really no doubt about it... once you're through with it, you probably won't want to do it all over again. But hey, who knows. Boredom can make a man do very stupid things. 5/10.
Final Thought/Overall Rating
A great RPG to say the least. I highly recommend playing DW first, otherwise confusion is a possibility. Overall Rating: 8.5/10.
-Grand Master Dragon
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