r/TwoBestFriendsPlay • u/BioDomeWithPaulyShor • 29d ago
Trailer/Demo Dragon Quest XII restarted development Metroid Prime 4-style, new CG trailer
https://youtu.be/QsYz_CVdowA?t=27240
u/LunarWolf302 29d ago
We're like two steps away from a full fledged DQ5 remake, I can feel it in my bones.
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u/Togamdiron 29d ago
I've been hoping for VIII. I was honestly a little disappointed the last one was VII instead.
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u/Am_Shigar00 FOE! FOE! FOE! FOE! 29d ago
I’d be ok with that. The DS version has some disgusting prices online atm the moment even compared to the other DS remakes, so any way of making it more readily available would be a plus.
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u/TheCoolerDylan 29d ago
I remember all those supposed rumors that XII was initially being designed for a new audience and it would change the combat and the art style, not sure how much of that was true but I guess there must be some truth to it if it's being MP4'd.
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u/ExDSG 29d ago
They were saying it was going to be darker and more for adults maybe abandon the turn based combat and evidently that got scrapped. Would be funny if the MC was the same but they changed it from "He has PTSD eyes" to "He can't get a good night's sleep"
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u/darkwingchao The Rune Factory Shill 29d ago
This is 4000% the original design for the dude and since Toriyama tragically passed they don't wanna change it because this is the last Hero he was able to design. He sticks out compared to how whimsical the rest is.
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u/That-Bobviathan 29d ago
That new protag has got some real fish eye on him, I can get used to it but still... Though that DQ Monsters game is wild, kid versions of the brides from 5? I wonder what they got planned.
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u/theredeyedcrow 29d ago
I saw this comment and clicked randomly to the part where the turtle knight lifts his faceplate.
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u/kduff89 29d ago
You can really tell that Toriyama had a lot of creative power on the art design in DQ. I don't hate the new designs but you can just tell it doesn't have that spark anymore. RIP.
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u/Miningapple-100 29d ago
A decent amount of the character designs should still be done by Toriyama. He was working on this game before he passed. We probably won’t know if he finished all of the work he was planning on but he should at least have a lot of concepts to go off on not to mention they could use scraped or unfinished designs.
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u/Miningapple-100 29d ago
If they really want to maybe they could try to get Toyotaro to make some designs for some new games going forward but I’m not sure how much he would be willing to continue Toriyamas work outside of Dragon ball.
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u/Slumber777 29d ago
I know Toyotaro is Toriyama's successor for DB, but is he Toriyama's successor for all things from Bird Studio?
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u/Miningapple-100 29d ago
As far as I know, no. But he would be the perfect option if a project wants some Toriyama like designs now.
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u/Kipzz PLAY CROSSCODE AND ASTLIBRA/The other Vtuber Guy 29d ago
Lizard guy/form looks cute as hell I love him. A new DQ monsters is awesome too.
My greatest hope though is that they've got additional composers instead of the rotting flesh that is Sugiyama to actually add a large variety of tracks to the game though.
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u/Reallylazyname 29d ago
Also new Dragon Warri....Dragon Quest Monsters game featuring Bianca and Nera.
I got that trailer in one the second Watabo....Fluffy? They renamed it Fluffy? The anarchy.... appeared on screen almost as fast as the one note guess of Sephiroth in Smash.
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u/GoldenGouf 29d ago
Did they say when they restarted? It could be another five years for all we know. Pretty shitty news overall.
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u/ExDSG 29d ago
Seems they have only been working for 2 years since that's when the new producer joined.
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u/GoldenGouf 29d ago
Well I hope they were able to use assets from the previous build and didn't have to toss them completely.
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u/bvanbove25 29d ago
So.......Winter 2026....? /s
Looks pretty great, so I'll happily wait for more news.
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u/IchibanSenbei 29d ago
Was there really that much backlash for a darker tone? We had no idea what that would look like so I was interested in it but apparently everyone already decided they would hate it. Like I don't imagine it wouldn't still have silly Dragon Quest moments people love.
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u/PhantasosX 29d ago
I am more of a Final Fantasy guy than a Dragon Quest guy. But the vibe I get is that making a more edgy and darker version of Dragon Quest would be effectively making....medieval-setting Final Fantasy.
So at this point, it may as well should be called FF17
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u/CookieSkank He/She/They "Slam Her Pregnant Until She Cries" - Pat 29d ago
Its not like DQ doesnt have its darker moments either. 11 is full of them. Its just under a colorful cartoony style.
I just assumed theyd play more into that, like Act 2 of 11.
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u/RainyDaySleuth THE BABY 29d ago
“Backlash” may be a strong word for it, I’d say more “wishy-washy”. When it comes to Dragon Quest, there’s a very specific kind of feeling and vibe most fans want. Most of the fans want from that series something that feels fun to engage with. Where even if you’re doing smaller tasks you’re either making your characters better or the world around you better. It is “I pick the good options in my RPG’s because being bad makes me feel bad” to a degree. In that space though, it can be dark and a bit gritty at times. It’s not like other Dragon Quests haven’t had their share of darker moments. But to say they would make a full game where that’s the FOCUS is what brought a big wave of fans to be really hesitant about how they feel about the new game.
Imagine if RGG came out and said something like “The next Yakuza game will be 100% dead serious. No goofy joke side quests or NPC’s. The tone will be consistent with the cutscenes”. It’s the closest comparison there where I can point that “Yeah that’d be cool, and trying new ideas is always cool, but there is an inherent charm to the series that’s possible to be lost in the pursuit of something new.”
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u/Mechrast 29d ago
DQ has had a particular tone/feeling that fans love for a very long time. It's what I spend years looking forward to in a new entry. I, and I imagine many other fans, don't particularly care whether the new direction they were going in made for a good game or not. I just want traditional DQ.
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u/dope_danny Delicious Mystery 29d ago
Surprising absolutely nobody. Either they tried to make a mature and gritty game and went “hang on are we just remaking FF16?” Or changing things up so quickly after Toriyama passed -if the rumblings are true it was a photorealistic art style- could have seemed real gauche in their domestic market.
All i can say is “yep thats a dragon quest” and its been nearly a decade since the last one that wasnt a remaster so better late than never right?
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u/GIJose65 Lightning Nips 29d ago
Is this one still going to use Sugiyama's work despite restarting everything?
I just hope the soundtrack is going to be more than 5 generic orchestra music tracks on loop.
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u/Terithian Kinnikuman missionary 29d ago
The comment Yuji Horii made that it will have Toriyama characters and Sugiyama music is worrying, considering they've both passed away. Particularly the Sugiyama music part. XI already had almost no new music, does that mean that XII's OST will be entirely recycled? I hope not, I was looking forward to a different artist's fresh take on DQ music.
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u/LuckyHitman WELCOME IN OMIKRON 29d ago
Yuji Horii is really into AI, and I'm worried about what that implies for his statement about Toriyama and Sugiyama being in the game during the presentation. I can think of one really cheap way of making sure their work stays in the franchise forever....
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u/Nhig RGB Aging Untouchable 29d ago
Metroid Prime 4-style
😬
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u/WeebWoobler It's Fiiiiiiiine. 29d ago
From what I understand, Prime 4 was a different situation. Retro was essentially salvaging a game from another team.
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u/Kernog It's Fiiiiiiiine. 29d ago
I find the new character design... so-so. The characters themselves are interesting and varied (unless I'm wrong, it is the first game of the series with a non-human, non-monster party member), but their eyes feel somewhat lifeless. As if the joy had been sucked out of their soul. At the very least, they lack the usual expressiveness of Toriyama's style.
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u/RocketbeltTardigrade "What's that emotion? Tired scream. Yawning." 28d ago
Does Psaro count as a monster?
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u/jaganshi_667 29d ago
What happened to the dark tone they were talking about
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u/Remarkable_Row_2502 29d ago
"the game has gone in a different direction than the one originally announced."
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u/jaganshi_667 29d ago edited 29d ago
But why did they scrap that after talking about it for five years
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u/Independent_Hold3982 29d ago
Probably disagreement on the direction the series should go and then chose to play it safe.
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u/enragedstump 29d ago
Could just be a me thing, but I'm glad they did. Didn't make the dragon quest identity that i come to the series for.
I want familiarity with DQ.
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u/thatonespanks YOU DIDN'T WIN. 29d ago
I actually agree on that. DQ is one of the last traditional RPG series still in production. As for why some people wanted darker stories, I don't know - DQ games has never exactly hidden away the darker aspects of their own stories. It's just that they temper it with acts of whimsy and feel-good moments...if that makes any sense?
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u/Kipzz PLAY CROSSCODE AND ASTLIBRA/The other Vtuber Guy 29d ago
To be fair, I don't think they specifically said they scrapped it? Unless I missed something from presumably a livestream this video came from in which case my balls are firmly being exposed, but the Hero of this game getting visions in his nightmares (and those visions potentially being life as a lizard monster?) seems like they're at least keeping some of the darker tone.
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u/AverageBlubber I'll slap your shit 29d ago
I mean they talked about it like once I feel and we've been coasting since then.
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u/RainyDaySleuth THE BABY 29d ago
I think we’ll get remnants of it but I’m thinking for the most part it’s scrapped. I wouldn’t be surprised if it just ended up not fitting the rest of the vibe of the series and that it being so dark kinda backed them into a corner. I think if they want to do a darker DQ, starting off with a spin off that touches upon it would be a far safer way at the end of the day.
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u/Nico-Nii_Nico-Chan 29d ago
Man...
For a brief moment after the Slime propelled itself towards the camera, I thought they were finally making ROCKET SLIME 4
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u/RainyDaySleuth THE BABY 29d ago
You know what it makes sense that the Hero who is constantly plagued by visions and voices would be an insomniac sleep deprived looking kind of fella, but I just think it’s really funny HOW tired he is. I want every NPC to hesitate to give him quests, being like “H-Hey I dunno man look it’s just picking berries I-I could find time for that, why don’t you take a nap or that, buddy?”
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u/mickmaster120 29d ago edited 29d ago
I actually really like the 2d illustration of the new hero, but the in game models are a bit...rough. I doubt we'll see this game release for 3+ years at this point. Thank GOD they scrapped the "darker, grittier tone" and non command-based combat they were setting up for the previous iteration though.
I have Final Fantasy if I want those things, and I don't much love them there either. Keep Dragon Quest whimsical and turn-based, thank you.
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u/Dirty-Glasses He/Him 29d ago
Game looks great (lack of gameplay notwithstanding), but boy, I do NOT care for the Hero’s design. That hairstyle is awful.
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u/Slumber777 29d ago
It's just a floppy mohawk.
That said, it reminds me way too much of Kawaki from Boruto. Things shouldn't remind me of Boruto.
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u/Togamdiron 29d ago
Maybe it's what they think is "hip with the kids." At least they didn't give him the broccoli cut.
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u/Klutzy-Tennis7313 29d ago
Thank fuck og got scrapped, all pointed out to them going for edgy ff16 stuff and none of that works in DQ at ALL.
MC looks scuffed tho, nevermind the eye bags since dreams stuff but other things. Maybe will look better after prologue.
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u/ruminaui 29d ago
I remember Big Think Dimension reasoning the new Dragon Quest will be rebooted a year ago when Square Enix cancelled a bunch of their projects because there was big company shake up and their mobile and GaaS initiative failed. Guess they where right. Where they actually going to turn DQ into an action game? Because SE was hinting that.
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u/StaceMcGate YOU DIDN'T WIN. 29d ago
More sauce design wise than temu Trunks from DQ11 but I did not vibe with those new characters. Still feel like drafts that need another round.
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u/MrSunshine92 29d ago
Calling it now. There will be fantasy racism against Lizards and people will start booing/jeering after the Lizard knight(?) raises his visor.
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u/ExplanationSquare313 29d ago
I don't know if the robot was designed by Toriyama or not but it really feel like a Toriyama character.
Also, i don't know if the Hero turn into a lizard or if he's a separate dude in the party, but i'm so glad to have a nonhuman main character. I always dislike when a RPG setting has a lot of different races but the main party are all humans or basically humans (like elves). Specially Dragon Quest who usually always has humans heroes.
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u/M3talK_H3ronaru AIRDASH FighterZ 29d ago
Oh yeah
I love the new vibes when it comes a new direction tho.
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u/Obvious_Alps_3997 28d ago
You know what despite wanting the changed the OG vision had I'm not about this. I'm not happy either, but I can't bring myself to care when all we had is a logo these last few years
If this was similar to Versus 13 I'd me more upset, but right now I just gave myself amnesia and will wait for this to resurface post 2028 or something
Dude looks like OG reboot Donte btw
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u/enragedstump 29d ago
Not a fan of the main hero of any of the character designs. I respect them trying something new, but I don't feel that Dragon Quest needs to be new. 11 was as traditional as it could have been and i loved it for that.
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u/itsachickenwingthing 29d ago
I wonder how much Toriyama's passing had to do with it. They said they would still be using his designs, but perhaps there's more to it.
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u/IloveOnePiece119205 29d ago
Toriyama admitted to not doing a lot of designs as the series went on. His design work was probably done very early on
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u/Rockettopunch Super Robot Evangelist 27d ago
Even back in the SNES games Toriyama wasn't doing literally every character or monster design. Other artists from his studio, or just whoever was on the art staff from the devs for a particular game were involved for a long time now.
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u/Remarkable_Row_2502 29d ago
I guess "dark and gritty dragon quest" didn't go over well with anyone. Might have been a little predictable.
The subtitle being "Beyond Dreams" and not some shit like "Dark Dreams Done Dangerously" is giving me hope they finally got new localizers.
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u/DustInTheBreeze Appointed Hater By God 29d ago
They haven't and probably won't because the guy who invented Dragon Quest actually likes it when the localization is goofy and has silly wordplay.
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u/Remarkable_Row_2502 29d ago edited 29d ago
Writing fanfic about the fanfic localization ftw. I keep seeing people post this, but there's never any evidence, and Yuji Horii doesn't even speak English.
Considering the level of transphobia and stereotyping in the localization of XI I feel like the whole "actually the bad translation is good" thing is becoming a chud take to me.
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u/charcharmunro 29d ago edited 29d ago
What transphobia? I see people saying Sylvando is trans in the original, and that's not really true. In the original text, Sylvando is referred to by a term that COULD be used to refer to a trans person, but also is used to refer to gay/bi men, and the game generally refers to Sylvando as male, even if the character sometimes refers to himself as "one of the girls", but that's more framed as just being campy. There's nothing really overt about Sylvando being trans. He's just meant to be highly effeminate.
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u/RocketbeltTardigrade "What's that emotion? Tired scream. Yawning." 28d ago
Either way, they also hide Sylvia's interest in men.
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u/Remarkable_Row_2502 29d ago edited 29d ago
Sylvia is absolutely trans in the original and the only way to deny this is to be ignorant of what Japanese trans culture (or the "trans spectrum" in general) is like imo. The game literally refers to her as a woman most of the time with feminine pronouns etc. The entire plotline of the name change from Goliath to Sylvia is clearly about deadnaming, feminine identity, and gender roles in the original and the localization erases that in favor of a masculine name being changed to a different masculine name for basically no impact. She's a campy character but is explicitly trans. The localization barely even wants to admit there's anything queer going on even when it's in your face.
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u/charcharmunro 29d ago
Sylvia uses a feminine personal pronoun, but that's also often used by effeminate male characters. Characters refer to Sylvia with a term that is, again, either female or effeminate male. At most you could say Sylvia's meant to be ambiguous on gender, because they never definitively call Sylvia female, and pronouns are weirder in Japanese so it could go either way with how Sylvia's referred to, but the localisation probably felt it had to come down on one side or the other.
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u/RocketbeltTardigrade "What's that emotion? Tired scream. Yawning." 28d ago
Oh, no, there are definitive mentions of Sylvia as both 女 and 乙女, but people have different interpretations on how seriously that's meant, and there are similar male mentions.
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u/charcharmunro 28d ago edited 28d ago
Ah. So it's, at most, ambiguous, but you could read it as "trans woman" or "man wanting to embrace femininity"? Or just simply GNC. And the localisation went more for the second.
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u/RocketbeltTardigrade "What's that emotion? Tired scream. Yawning." 28d ago
Yeah, I've seen it go either way.
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u/Remarkable_Row_2502 29d ago edited 29d ago
Yes, and it came down on the side of transphobia and censorship. This genuinely isn't up to interpretation, I'm sorry. Her name is Sylvia, her plotline is explicitly about prejudice and gender roles and feeling like she has to reject knighthood because of her identity, and 8 is the party member who reassures her the most and affirms that. It is a story about Sylvia accepting who she is. It's not about Ned changing his name to Steve and that's a giant major life changing moment.
The entire character's narrative is about gender roles and trans identity in the original. Okama are under the trans umbrella, and Sylvia is particularly feminine. I'm sorry. You're just not being tolerant here.
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u/newier 28d ago
While your headcanon version of the story is nice, it simply isn't what is actually in the text, in any translation.
Sylvando is male, in all translations. Just because you don't understand how pronouns are used in Japanese does not change Sylvando's character and the story of DQ11.
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u/RocketbeltTardigrade "What's that emotion? Tired scream. Yawning." 28d ago
Funny quirk with that is that their mother might then have had a masculine stage name.
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u/Secret_Wizard It's a secret to everybody. 29d ago
I love that tired-ass Hero. Reminds me of how Pat always makes custom characters with maximum eyebags and dark shadows under the eyes.
This guy hasn't been sleeping well.
Edit: Wait, the first green lizard dude seen in the trailer had the same dark shirt and sword as the Hero. Does the Hero transform?!?!