Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors: Difference between revisions

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{{vginfobox
{{Infobox VG
|title = Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
|title=Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
|image =[[Image:dqs.jpg|Front cover of the North American version, Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors]]
|image=[[Image:Dragon Quest Swords.jpg|260px]]
|publisher = [[Square Enix]] (Japan)<br>[[Square Enix, Inc.]] (NA)<br>[[Square Enix Ltd.]] (EU)
|caption=North American box art
|developer = [[Genius Sonority]]
|developer=[[Genius Sonority]], [[8ing/Raizing|8ing]]
|designer = [[Yūji Horii]]
|publisher=[[Square Enix]]
|artist = [[Akira Toriyama]]
|designer=[[Yuuji Horii]]
|composer = [[Koichi Sugiyama]]  
|artist=[[Akira Toriyama]]
|released = July 12, 2007 (Japan)[1]<br>February 19, 2008 (NA)<br>May 9, 2008 (EU)[2]
|composer=[[Manami Matsumae]]
|genre = console role-playing game
|series=''[[Dragon Quest]]''
|modes = single-player<br>plus multi-player minigames
|engine=
|platforms = [[Wii]]
|version=
|series = ''[[Dragon Quest]]''
|released={{vgrelease|JP=July 12, 2007<ref name="gamefront">{{cite web|date=April 10, 2007|title=Dragon Quest Swords JAP|publisher=GameFront|url=http://www.gamefront.de/|accessdate=2007-04-10}}</ref>|NA=February 19, 2008|AUS=May 8, 2008{{Fact|date=May 2008}}}}{{vgrelease|EU=May 9, 2008<ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000FN9OEU Amazon.co.uk: Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (Wii): PC & Video Games<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>}}
|ratings = CERO: A<br>ESRB: T<br>PEGI: 12+
|genre=[[Console role-playing game|Role-playing game]]
|media = Wii Optical Disk
|modes=[[Single player]]<br />Multi-player mini-games
|input = Wii Remote
|ratings={{vgratings|CERO=A (All ages)|ESRB=T (Teen)|PEGI=12+|USK=6|OFLCA=PG}}
|platforms=[[Wii]]
|media=[[Nintendo optical discs|Wii Optical Disc]]
|requirements=
|input=[[Wii Remote]]
}}
}}
'''''Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors''''' (ドラゴンクエストソード 仮面の女王と鏡の塔 ''Doragon Kuesto Soudo: Kamen no Joou to Kagami no Tou'') is a Dragon Quest game for the [[Nintendo Wii]].


'''''Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors''''' (ドラゴンクエストソード 仮面の女王と鏡の塔 ''Doragon Kuesto Sōdo: Kamen no Joō to Kagami no Tō'') is a first-person adventure game by [[Square Enix]]  exclusive to Nintendo's [[Wii]] game console.[3] The game is a spin-off from the ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' series.
==Gameplay==
 
[[Image:Dqswordsgameplay.jpg|200px|thumb|A typical battle in ''Dragon Quest Swords''. Fleurette is about to cast Squelch on the Hero to cure his Poison status.]]
Unlike most games in the series, which are turn-based RPGs, ''Dragon Quest Swords'' is first-person action game in which the player uses the Wii remote to fight with a sword and shield. On all levels except for the first or those in which he might elect to fight alone, he is accompanied by three NPC characters who appear from time to time to aid him with spells.
 
The most important part of gameplay is sword combat. Using the Wii' remote's internal motion sensor, the player makes gestures intended to emulate the strikes of a real-world sword, which the game then interprets as one of a few preset possible moves and executes on-screen. Sword strokes can be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal, and all of them can be done in any direction (regardless of the laterality chosen at the beginning of the game.) Better swords deal more damage. Since attacks are not one-to-one with the Wii remote, which would leave massive blank spots in attack arcs, the player may freely move a cursor and click any point on the screen using the A button, which sets a focal point for the attacks that follow. The focal point expires after a few seconds of no attacks inputted, automatically returning to the centre of the television screen.
 
As the player kills enemies, a gauge will in the bottom-left corner of the screen will begin to fill; once it reaches 100% he is able to execute any of the powerful [[Master Stroke]]s he has so far unlocked.
 
The player also has access to a shield, which is activated by pressing the B button and manipulated like a cursor. Melee attacks are the player's responsibility, but distance attacks are telegraphed by onscreen prompts indicating the best place to position the shield; however, certain attacks are better repelled back towards enemies using the sword. The shield has its own Hit Points that gradually decrease as it blocks attacks, and eventually pieces of it will begin to break off (in accordance to which parts of it are blocking attacks); however, [[Replenishield Powder]] can be used to instantly fully restore it. Some spells also affect the size of the shield. Better shields are both larger and more durable.


==Gameplay==
Whichever character is currently with the Hero will cast spells from time to time of their own volition (for example, attacking when the duo is confronted with many enemies at once, or healing when either character's HP becomes low), and can also be directly commanded to use them from the pause menu.
===Battle system===
''Dragon Quest Swords'' utilizes an on rails first person Battle System. However, instead of using a handgun, ''Dragon Quest Swords'' uses the functions of the Wii Remote as a sword and a shield. The direction of a sword slash is dependent on the direction the player sways the Wii Remote. In order to defend from incoming attacks, the player has to use the Wii Remote to block enemy attacks.


A special attack, called a master stroke, can be used once the special attack gauge is filled. The gauge percentage increases by hitting enemies, hitting their projectiles back at them, or by blocking attacks. There are many master strokes, the distinct groups are: ice, fire, lightning, shadow, and general. Each group has a distinct colour. However, general strokes and buddy strokes look the same. A buddy stroke is a master stroke that can only be performed once that ally has gotten to a certain level, along with being with the hero. Master strokes are learned by tempering swords and getting new swords, while buddy strokes are obtained from the player's current partner.
Outside of combat, the player walks with the B button or Control Pad, gradually progressing through the level he is currently playing. As he walks, he encounters scripted points where groups of enemies attack; they must all be defeated in order to move on. He may also find rocks, shrubbery and other objects that can be investigated for possible minor rewards such as [[gold coin]]s and [[Mini Medal]]s.


Only the [[Hero (Dragon Quest Swords)|hero]]'s allies ([[Anlace]], [[Fleurette]] or [[Claymore]]) can cast magic and only one of them can accompany the hero at a time. The player can set how frequently they use magic or they can use magic manually by bringing up the menu.
After each level, the player returns to town, where he may buy items and equipment, exchange Mini Medals for prizes and speak with the local population.


Instead of random battles, monsters will always appear in the same order, in the same place.
==Setting==


This game has 8 medicinal items, along with 8 tempering materials, although there are also two special items. The tempering materials are required to upgrade the hero's swords.
''Dragon Quest Swords'' takes place in its own world, unrelated to those of any previous ''Dragon Quest'' games. Due to the more straightforward nature of this game's progression, its world, a single country called [[Avalonia]], is significantly lesser in scope than most.


===Minigames===
==Characters==
''Dragon Quest Swords'' includes several minigames.  They can be played alone, or with up to three friends. These are broken into two types of games that can be played at Stiletto's shop in town.
One is a set of 3 dart games, in which the player uses the shield to catch darts, with different areas of the shield being worth different amounts of points. The second type is slime crisis, where the object of the game is to slay all the slimes as fast as possible.
Both games award different prizes, based on points. The prize categories are for B, A, S, and X rank, with X being the highest.


==Story==
*'''[[Hero]]''' - A young man who has just reached his 16th birthday. His father, Claymore, has passed down his skills with a sword and the Hero has proven to be a bit of a prodigy.
Five years ago, there was a great war between man and an evil demon known as [[Xiphos]], the Death Bringer.  Through many hardships, man was able to defeat Xiphos.  Five years later, the Hero and son of Claymore, who was one of the warriors who fought Xiphos, turned sixteen and had to go through a trial to become a warrior.  He succeeds in the tasks and the next day, Prince Anlace asks the Hero to accompany him through the [[Galantyne Glades]], where he saw his mother, the [[Queen Curtana|Queen]], head off to. There, the Hero defeats [[Briquet]], and proceeds towards a hut, where the Queen is seen wearing a strange mask.  She walks away without saying a word.  they also meet Fleurette, whose brother, [[Aruval]], fought in the war against Xiphos.  She mentions she saw the mask the Queen was wearing as a child.  She heads to town and the next day, accompanies you to [[Arondight Heights]] to show you something.  After defeating the [[Envoy of Xiphos]], she shows you a carving on a mountainside of a battle against Xiphos, who was wearing the same mask the Queen was wearing.  Fleurette explains that the war against Xiphos five years ago was not the first war against him.  She deduces that the mask has Xiphos's spirit and is possessing the Queen.  They head back to town and the next day, Claymore mentions that there was reports of a monster in the [[Secace Seacove]].  After beating the monster, Fleurette arrives to defend the monster from the Hero's finishing blow.  She says that the monster is really her brother.  The creature escapes into the water.  the group leaves and learns that the Queen was seen at the [[Tower of Mirrors]].  When they reach the top of the tower, they battle and defeat [[Großmesser]].  They get to the Queen who has activated a portal in a mirror.  The Hero slashes the mask in half, hoping to save the Queen.  However, it is revealed, that the mask does not contain Xiphos's soul, but it actually weakened the demon.  Xiphos appears in the portal, revealing that although, his body was destroyed five years ago, only the mask could truly destroy him forever.  He mocks the Hero saying he destroyed the only means to defeat him.  They take the Queen home when a mountain near Mount Arondight collapsed in a sea of lava and a castle rose up in its place.  They know that without the mask, Xiphos can't be defeated.  [[Swordmaster Dao|Dao]], an old swordmaster, explains that the mask was made in the Mirror World and if the mask is to be repaired, they must enter the dimension by heading for the Tower of Mirrors.  They make their way through the dimension and battle [[Draug]].  After beating him, he reveals he's a good guy and not only repairs the mask, but he also gives the Hero the [[Rednusadner]], a powerful Blade that can hurt Xiphos and help them get to his castle.  The Hero goes to Swordmaster Dao who teaches him the [[Figure of Fate]], a legendary technique of the Rednusadner that created splits the sea of lava that surrounds the castle.  After crossing the path, they encounter [[Golok|Golok the Gatekeeper]], who the team defeats.


[[Image:DQSXiphos.jpg|right|The hero and Fleurette battle the final story mode boss, Xiphos, in his final form.]]
*'''[[Prince Anlace]]''' - Though royalty, he fights alongside these commoners for reasons that aren't fully clear at first.
After entering the castle and fighting many tough enemies, they make their way to Xiphos's throne room.  They also find Fleurette's brother in the middle of the room.  Xiphos enters her brother's body and gets his body back.  He then engages the Hero in combat.  After defeating Xiphos, the demon admits he underestimated the group.  He turns into his true form, which looked nothing like the carving.  Though it is a tough fight, the Hero subdues the demon long enough for the mask to place itself on Xiphos.  The mask petrifies the demon and the Hero shatters the statue, destroying Xiphos for good.  Fleurette's brother appears out of the rubble, now completely human.  With Xiphos dead for all time, his castle starts to crumble down.  Everyone tries to get out of the throne room when the Hero fall down the pit.  Fleurette grabs him and the others pull him up.  Back at the town's castle, a great party is held in the Hero's honor.  He makes his way to a balcony and raises the Rednusadner to the sky, causing all the citizens to cheer.


===Setting===
*'''[[Fleurette]]''' - Though she once intended to become a nun, she quit the order when a horrible fate befell her brother causing him to run away. She now travels around with the party in hopes of finding and saving him.
There are ten specific areas in this game. The eight story mode areas, the second half of the eighth area, and the [[Olde Reflectory]], which is a room unlocked after finishing story mode. It contains many bosses that were not in the story mode, along with stronger versions of some story mode bosses.


===Characters===
*'''[[Claymore]]''' - A long time ago, he was known far and wide as a powerful swordsman, but he lost his sword-arm in battle. However, he is still able to help with his strong magical capabilities.
With the exception of the hero, whom the player is allowed to name, the game's major characters are all named after kinds of swords. Fleurette will call the hero a pet name. She will ask if "Blade" is OK. Clicking "Yes" will cause her to refer to the hero as "Blade" from then on. However, clicking "No" will allow the player to choose from other names. Also, with the exception of the Hero, all of the characters can only use magic during battles.


*'''Hero''' (主人公 ''Shujinkō'') - A young man who lives in the Kingdom of Avalonia with his father - once a swordsman of great renown - who has passed on his knowledge, as well as his natural flair for swordplay, to his son. The hero's adventure begins on his sixteenth birthday, when he sets out to undertake his society's traditional coming-of-age ritual.
==Story==


*'''Prince Anlace''' (ディーン ''Dīn''; voiced by Ryōsei Konishi (Japanese) and William Ellis (English)) - The proud-faced, exquisitely-dressed Prince of Avalonia. What reason could a member of the royal family have for wanting to fight alongside our humble hero?
As the game opens, the [[Hero (Dragon Quest Swords)|Hero]] is on the verge of completing his training with the sword, proving it to local alumnus [[Swordmaster Dao]]. However, he is tasked with one more challenge before definitely gaining the respect of his teachers and contemporaries: He must travel to the [[Caliburn Caves]] and defeat its guardian, [[Sir Dirk Worthington]].


*'''Fleurette''' (セティア ''Setia''; voiced by Ayumi Kinoshita (Japanese) and Jo Wyatt (English)) - A fair maiden whose flamboyant dress sense belies the air of sadness that surrounds her. She was at one time a trainee nun at the Chapel of the Merciful Goddess in Avalonia. Now she provides solid support to the hero wherever his adventures may take him.
[[Image:Heroanalacemeetfleurette.jpg|200px|thumb|The Hero and Anlace meet Fleurette.]]
After doing so, he manages to get the attention of [[Prince Anlace]], who is worried about the recent strange behaviour of his mother, [[Queen Curtana]]. After paying a visit to the [[Hero]]'s home to try and enlist the help of his father, [[Claymore]], he instead appeals to the Hero, who, on Claymore's ironic advice, readily agrees. The two head into the [[Galantyne Glades]], where the Queen has a retreat. They arrive and, after battling a [[Golem]], catch a glimpse of the Queen as she leaves her cabin, and notice her wearing a strange mask. Shortly after they meet [[Fleurette]], a former nun who believes she may have some idea of what's going on with her.


*'''Claymore''' (バウド ''Baudo''; voiced by Kenji Matsuda[4] (Japanese) and Wayne Forrester (English)) - The hero's father. Once a swordsman whose name was known all over the kingdom, Claymore lost his sword arm in battle, but is still a valuable ally thanks to his powerful magic. When not adventuring, he can be found indulging his weakness for drink and womanizing.
Fleurette leads the Hero to [[Arondight Heights]], where, after scaling the hills and defeating the [[Emissary of Xiphos]], they view a huge tableau carved into the side of a mountain, which can only be correctly viewed from that lookout. It depicts four heroes conquering [[Xiphos]] a short time in the past, using the mask they saw the Queen wearing.


==Development==
After returning to town, the party hears rumours of a horrible monster ravaging the Secace Seacove (the same monster seen in the opening FMV). Claymore accompanies the Hero as he delves into the caves and confronts the monster, only to see Fleurette have him stay the killing blow, suddenly revealing that he is her brother. Troubled by this news, the party agrees the time has come to climb the [[Tower of Mirrors]] to learn the truth for themselves.
Originally planned to be a launch game for the Wii,[5] ''Dragon Quest Swords'' was released on July 12, 2007 in Japan. The game was released in North America on February 19, 2008. Under the spotlight of E3 2006 and in an unprecedented show of software support for a Nintendo console, Square Enix revealed that ''Dragon Quest Swords'' and ''Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers'' would be exclusive Wii titles.[6] In a company press release, executive producer Yuu Miyake stated:[3]


"Since 1986 the ''Dragon Quest'' series has gained acceptance around the world, and has been a staple of the videogame industry. We believe its appeal lies in simplicity that anyone can enjoy, and the excitement of becoming a hero in an epic adventure. With the Nintendo (Wii), we believe that these aspects of the ''Dragon Quest'' experience can be taken to a whole new level of fun and interaction."
After ascending the Tower and defeating the minion Xiphos sends to kill them, and the Hero slices the strange mask clean off Curtana's face. Suddenly, an effigy of Xiphos appears from the [[Mirror World]]. The party learns that the demon king is alive and well in spite of his prior defeat - in fact, he used the [[Rorrim Mask]], which was implemented in his original downfall, as the very tool of his survival. When Curtana tried to use it when she sensed his power amassing anew, he took over. With the mask destroyed, he stands poised to attack once again.


The ''Dragon Quest Swords'' development team includes many of the original designers of Enix's flagship series. Creator [[Yūji Horii]] was one of the first game designers Nintendo president Satoru Iwata approached with the prototype Revolution controller. Horii contributed a video interview to Nintendo's Tokyo Game Show 2005 Revolution press conference. In it, he talked about making games accessible to a greater market, and cutting to the essence of "fun."[7] When asked about Nintendo's Wii Remote, Horii stated "I agree that many interesting games can be created using this controller, but I still think that Nintendo would probably make the best games."[8] Horii is joined by famed ''Dragon Ball'' creator [[Akira Toriyama]] and "the father of video game music" composer [[Kōichi Sugiyama]].[6]
[[Misericord]], Curtana's chief retainer, suggests that they return to the top of the Tower to enter the [[Mirror World]], where Xiphos had erstwhile been hiding. After flying down a long, surreal tunnel of energy, the party emerges at the feet of a blacksmith god, [[Draug]], who, after testing their worthiness to use them, first repairs the Rorrim Mask and then gives them [[Rubenschader]], possibly the only sword in the world capable of harming Xiphos.


According to video game website IGN, Square Enix representatives have branded ''Dragon Quest Swords'' a sequel to ''[[Kenshin Dragon Quest]]'', a motion-activated plug-and-play TV game.[9] In a detailed preview of ''Dragon Quest Swords'',  IGN speculated that the game mechanics will be similar to those featured in ''Kenshin''.[9] A short teaser video of a first-person perspective battle sequence appeared to confirm IGN's speculation as the onscreen protagonist mimicked the swordfighting antics of the Revolution Remote wielder.[10] Furthermore, Square Enix stated in a press release that the game "is being developed with every aspect of the unique Wii hardware in mind."[3] It has also recently been announced that the North American version will have extra features such as a playback mode and four hidden bosses.[11] The localization follows the style of other recent releases in the ''Dragon Quest'' series from Square Enix. Notably, the same team responsible for the English translation of ''Dragon Quest VIII'', Plus Alpha Translations, is listed among the translators in the ending staff role.
[[Image:Dqswords_party_storms_deathbringers_castle.jpg|200px|left|thumb|The heroes of ''Dragon Quest Swords'' cross the Red Sea on their way to the Deathbringer's Castle.]]
Thus equipped for action, the party travels to Galantyne Glades once more, by which they traverse the [[Red Sea]], which parts thanks to the powers of Rubenschader, and finally manage to reach the Deathbringer's Castle, which has suddenly appeared thanks to his magic. After climbing to the top of his grotesque fortress, the Hero and his chosen companion square off with Xiphos, first going sword-to-sword with him, then taking on his monstrous transformed state, which is capable of using Master Strokes of his own. Even this dragon-like form falls to the Hero's might and his friends' support, however, and the Hero strikes the killing blow, shattering Xiphos's body and bringing an end to his reign of terror once and for all. The castle begins to collapse with its master's defeat, and the group barely makes it out; the Hero nearly falls into a lake of lava but is saved as Fleurette manages to catch onto and somehow haul him to safety.


==Audio==
Overjoyed, the Queen and everyone else throw a celebration party for the Hero. The game ends as the Hero (and the player) thrusts his sword into the air, inspiring all who witness his prowess and dedication.
A soundtrack was released on August 22, 2007, with music composed by Manami Matsumae. Kōichi Sugiyama contributes four reprises from earlier ''Dragon Quest'' titles, but no original tracks.


==Reception==
==Gallery==
The game sold 305,000 units in Japan in its first week according to Media Create.[12] It has sold 490,000 units in Japan and 110,000 units in North America as of August 8, 2008.[13]
<gallery>
File:Dqs01 1024.jpg
</gallery>


The game currently has a Metacritic score of 65 out of 100 based on 43 reviews and a Game Rankings score of 66% based on 41 reviews.[14][15]
==Trivia==


==References==
*One of the tanks in ''[[Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime]]'' is called DQSwordz!, and the info caption for it reads "The Revolution is coming!" This is a reference to Dragon Quest Swords, which hadn't yet come out when ''Rocket Slime'' was released, and to the Wii, originally code-named the "Revolution."
*1. [http://www.gamefront.de/ "Dragon Quest Swords JAP"]. GameFront. April 10, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-10. 
*2. [http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000FN9OEU Amazon.co.uk: Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (Wii): PC & Video Games]
*3. [http://www.square-enix.com/na/company/press/2006/0508_2/ "SQUARE ENIX REVEALS NEXT DRAGON QUEST TITLE ON THE NINTENDO WII"]. Square Enix. 2006-05-08. Retrieved 2006-09-17. 
*4. [http://www.square-enix.co.jp/dragonquest/sword/ "Dragon Quest Swords Official Site (JP)"]. Retrieved 2007-05-14. 
*5. Daemon Hatfield (2006-06-22). [http://wii.ign.com/articles/714/714008p1.html "Six Wii Launch Titles Confirmed"]. IGN. Retrieved 2006-09-17. 
*6. [http://wii.ign.com/articles/705/705715p1.html "E3 2006: IGN Breaks Down the Square Enix Conference"]. IGN. May 8, 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-17. 
*7. Tim Rogers (August 18, 2006). [http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3655&Itemid=2 "Dragon Quest IX Confirmed?"]. Next Generation. Retrieved 2006-09-30. 
*8. Alex Fraioli and Sam Kennedy (2005-12-02). [http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=1&cId=3146024 "Dragon Quest Vs. America"]. 1UP.com. Retrieved 2006-09-30. 
*9. Anthony Willsey (2006-05-22). [http://wii.ign.com/articles/709/709625p1.html "Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors: Detailed Speculative Preview"]. IGN. Retrieved 2006-09-17. 
*10. Brad Shoemaker (2006-05-08). [http://www.gamespot.com/wii/rpg/dragonquest/news.html?sid=6149474&mode=previews "E3 06: Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors First Look"]. Gamespot. Retrieved 2006-09-19. 
*11. http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=14965
*12. [http://www.cubed3.com/news/8119 C3 News :: Japanese Sales | Nintendo's Wii Shoots Past 3 Million Mark, Dragon Quest on Top]
*13. [http://www.square-enix.com/eng/pdf/ar/20080808_01.pdf#page=11. Retrieved 2008-12-20 "Annual Report 2008"]. Square-Enix.com. August 8, 2008. 
*14. [http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/dragonquestswordsthemaskqueen?q=dragon%20quest%20swords. Retrieved 2008-12-29 "Dragon Quest Swords: The Mask Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (wii: 2008): Reviews"]. Metacritic.com. 
*15. [http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/932979.asp. Retrieved 2008-12-29 "Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors Reviews"]. GameRankings.com.


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.square-enix.co.jp/dragonquest/sword Japanese official site]
 
*[http://na.square-enix.com/dqswords North American official site]
[http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/wii/game/932979.html GameFAQs page]
*[http://www.dragonquestswords.eu.com European official site]
 
*[http://www.gamebrink.com/nintendo-wii/2311-Dragon_Quest_Swords_The_Masked_Queen_and_the_Tower_of_Mirrors-video-2.html Jump Festa Trailer]
{{DQS}}
{{Dragon Quest series}}
[[Category:Spinoff games]]

Revision as of 14:30, 1 February 2010

Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (ドラゴンクエストソード 仮面の女王と鏡の塔 Doragon Kuesto Soudo: Kamen no Joou to Kagami no Tou) is a Dragon Quest game for the Nintendo Wii.

Gameplay

A typical battle in Dragon Quest Swords. Fleurette is about to cast Squelch on the Hero to cure his Poison status.

Unlike most games in the series, which are turn-based RPGs, Dragon Quest Swords is first-person action game in which the player uses the Wii remote to fight with a sword and shield. On all levels except for the first or those in which he might elect to fight alone, he is accompanied by three NPC characters who appear from time to time to aid him with spells.

The most important part of gameplay is sword combat. Using the Wii' remote's internal motion sensor, the player makes gestures intended to emulate the strikes of a real-world sword, which the game then interprets as one of a few preset possible moves and executes on-screen. Sword strokes can be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal, and all of them can be done in any direction (regardless of the laterality chosen at the beginning of the game.) Better swords deal more damage. Since attacks are not one-to-one with the Wii remote, which would leave massive blank spots in attack arcs, the player may freely move a cursor and click any point on the screen using the A button, which sets a focal point for the attacks that follow. The focal point expires after a few seconds of no attacks inputted, automatically returning to the centre of the television screen.

As the player kills enemies, a gauge will in the bottom-left corner of the screen will begin to fill; once it reaches 100% he is able to execute any of the powerful Master Strokes he has so far unlocked.

The player also has access to a shield, which is activated by pressing the B button and manipulated like a cursor. Melee attacks are the player's responsibility, but distance attacks are telegraphed by onscreen prompts indicating the best place to position the shield; however, certain attacks are better repelled back towards enemies using the sword. The shield has its own Hit Points that gradually decrease as it blocks attacks, and eventually pieces of it will begin to break off (in accordance to which parts of it are blocking attacks); however, Replenishield Powder can be used to instantly fully restore it. Some spells also affect the size of the shield. Better shields are both larger and more durable.

Whichever character is currently with the Hero will cast spells from time to time of their own volition (for example, attacking when the duo is confronted with many enemies at once, or healing when either character's HP becomes low), and can also be directly commanded to use them from the pause menu.

Outside of combat, the player walks with the B button or Control Pad, gradually progressing through the level he is currently playing. As he walks, he encounters scripted points where groups of enemies attack; they must all be defeated in order to move on. He may also find rocks, shrubbery and other objects that can be investigated for possible minor rewards such as gold coins and Mini Medals.

After each level, the player returns to town, where he may buy items and equipment, exchange Mini Medals for prizes and speak with the local population.

Setting

Dragon Quest Swords takes place in its own world, unrelated to those of any previous Dragon Quest games. Due to the more straightforward nature of this game's progression, its world, a single country called Avalonia, is significantly lesser in scope than most.

Characters

  • Hero - A young man who has just reached his 16th birthday. His father, Claymore, has passed down his skills with a sword and the Hero has proven to be a bit of a prodigy.
  • Prince Anlace - Though royalty, he fights alongside these commoners for reasons that aren't fully clear at first.
  • Fleurette - Though she once intended to become a nun, she quit the order when a horrible fate befell her brother causing him to run away. She now travels around with the party in hopes of finding and saving him.
  • Claymore - A long time ago, he was known far and wide as a powerful swordsman, but he lost his sword-arm in battle. However, he is still able to help with his strong magical capabilities.

Story

As the game opens, the Hero is on the verge of completing his training with the sword, proving it to local alumnus Swordmaster Dao. However, he is tasked with one more challenge before definitely gaining the respect of his teachers and contemporaries: He must travel to the Caliburn Caves and defeat its guardian, Sir Dirk Worthington.

The Hero and Anlace meet Fleurette.

After doing so, he manages to get the attention of Prince Anlace, who is worried about the recent strange behaviour of his mother, Queen Curtana. After paying a visit to the Hero's home to try and enlist the help of his father, Claymore, he instead appeals to the Hero, who, on Claymore's ironic advice, readily agrees. The two head into the Galantyne Glades, where the Queen has a retreat. They arrive and, after battling a Golem, catch a glimpse of the Queen as she leaves her cabin, and notice her wearing a strange mask. Shortly after they meet Fleurette, a former nun who believes she may have some idea of what's going on with her.

Fleurette leads the Hero to Arondight Heights, where, after scaling the hills and defeating the Emissary of Xiphos, they view a huge tableau carved into the side of a mountain, which can only be correctly viewed from that lookout. It depicts four heroes conquering Xiphos a short time in the past, using the mask they saw the Queen wearing.

After returning to town, the party hears rumours of a horrible monster ravaging the Secace Seacove (the same monster seen in the opening FMV). Claymore accompanies the Hero as he delves into the caves and confronts the monster, only to see Fleurette have him stay the killing blow, suddenly revealing that he is her brother. Troubled by this news, the party agrees the time has come to climb the Tower of Mirrors to learn the truth for themselves.

After ascending the Tower and defeating the minion Xiphos sends to kill them, and the Hero slices the strange mask clean off Curtana's face. Suddenly, an effigy of Xiphos appears from the Mirror World. The party learns that the demon king is alive and well in spite of his prior defeat - in fact, he used the Rorrim Mask, which was implemented in his original downfall, as the very tool of his survival. When Curtana tried to use it when she sensed his power amassing anew, he took over. With the mask destroyed, he stands poised to attack once again.

Misericord, Curtana's chief retainer, suggests that they return to the top of the Tower to enter the Mirror World, where Xiphos had erstwhile been hiding. After flying down a long, surreal tunnel of energy, the party emerges at the feet of a blacksmith god, Draug, who, after testing their worthiness to use them, first repairs the Rorrim Mask and then gives them Rubenschader, possibly the only sword in the world capable of harming Xiphos.

The heroes of Dragon Quest Swords cross the Red Sea on their way to the Deathbringer's Castle.

Thus equipped for action, the party travels to Galantyne Glades once more, by which they traverse the Red Sea, which parts thanks to the powers of Rubenschader, and finally manage to reach the Deathbringer's Castle, which has suddenly appeared thanks to his magic. After climbing to the top of his grotesque fortress, the Hero and his chosen companion square off with Xiphos, first going sword-to-sword with him, then taking on his monstrous transformed state, which is capable of using Master Strokes of his own. Even this dragon-like form falls to the Hero's might and his friends' support, however, and the Hero strikes the killing blow, shattering Xiphos's body and bringing an end to his reign of terror once and for all. The castle begins to collapse with its master's defeat, and the group barely makes it out; the Hero nearly falls into a lake of lava but is saved as Fleurette manages to catch onto and somehow haul him to safety.

Overjoyed, the Queen and everyone else throw a celebration party for the Hero. The game ends as the Hero (and the player) thrusts his sword into the air, inspiring all who witness his prowess and dedication.

Gallery

Trivia

  • One of the tanks in Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime is called DQSwordz!, and the info caption for it reads "The Revolution is coming!" This is a reference to Dragon Quest Swords, which hadn't yet come out when Rocket Slime was released, and to the Wii, originally code-named the "Revolution."

External links

GameFAQs page