This new adventure follows Psaro—a name that Dragon Quest fans may remember from Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen (although since this game is completely standalone, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t).
Poor Psaro is cursed by his own father, the ruler of the monster realm of Nadiria, and rendered incapable of harming any creature of monster blood.
In defiance, Psaro becomes a monster wrangler and soon commands his very own army of loyal monster minions. On his quest for revenge against his father, he meets Rose, a young elvish woman, and a mysterious man who goes by the name of Toilen Trubble. Together they head off to face the perils awaiting them in Nadiria.
Psaro’s ultimate goal is vengeance, but he’ll need to befriend many monsters and tread many dark paths before he’s capable of fulfilling that ambition.
■ The Characters
As you’d expect from a game bearing the DRAGON QUEST name, this monster-wrangling adventure is filled with colorful characters. Let’s introduce some of the main players:
Psaro (voiced by Gwilym Lee in English)
Psaro is the main protagonist of the story. He’s a young demihuman, whose silver hair and red eyes make him instantly recognisable.
He sets out to become a monster wrangler in order to defeat his father, the Master of Monsterkind.
Rose (voiced by Emma Ballantine in English)
Rose is an invaluable ally to Psaro, who joins him on his forays into Nadiria and uses her mystical elven powers to reveal the path through this foreboding land.
Rose is a gentle, kind-hearted soul, but unafraid to stand up for what she believes in.
Toilen Trubble (voiced by Hyoie O’Grady in English)
A young researcher of magic with a self-confessed propensity for five-finger discounts, Toilen joins Psaro to scour Nadiria for magical ingredients not found in the human world.
He’s known to get more than a little excitable at the prospect of finding rare items.
Fizzy (voiced by Harriet Carmichael in English)
This cheeky creature has made it her life’s mission to seek out the best and brightest monster wranglers of the world. Fizzy becomes something of a mentor to Psaro, and teaches him the basics of monster wrangling.
■ The Varied Vistas of Nadiria
Much of the story in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince takes place in Nadiria—an underworld domain where monsters reign supreme.
Nadiria is divided into a number of realms, called ‘Circles’, with each one comprised of three separate areas: a lower, middle and upper echelon.
Here’s the Circle of Temper:
The Circle of Indulgence:
A World that Changes With the Seasons
Even in Nadiria, time marches on, and the seasons cycle in familiar fashion. As the seasons change, so too does the landscape – and the monsters that inhabit it. A new time of year brings with it fresh discoveries and more monsters to befriend.
■ Meet the Monsters
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is the newest game in the Dragon Quest Monsters series. As tradition dictates, the main character is adept at forming powerful bonds with the monsters they meet. These monster allies will join the hero on their adventure, fighting in their stead against the enemies they encounter.
In that sense, this game is no different. But unlike his predecessors, Psaro is under the influence of a curse, placed upon him by his father, the ruler of Nadiria. As a result, he’s unable to harm any creature of monster blood himself.
Psaro resolves to become a monster wrangler, training up his team of monsters or creating new ones through the power of synthesis.
With over 500 different types of monster, and a revamped synthesis system, there are brand-new monster combinations to discover and many familiar friends—and arch enemies—from other titles in the Dragon Quest series to create. And with the game’s online capabilities, you can now do battle with monster wranglers the world over.
But let’s introduce a few of the monsters who will make their first appearance in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince.
Goomulonimbus
These sneaky slimes summon thunderstorms and gales from the comfort of their cloud.
Vegandragora
This dragon maintains a symbiotic relationship with the flower that sprouts from its head.
Ronin Raccoon
This monster peers deep into the psyche of its foes to determine how best to strike them down.
■ Day One Downloadable Content
Three sets of downloadable content will go on sale to coincide with the release of the main game: “The Mole Hole,” “Coach Joe’s Dungeon Gym,” and “Treasure Trunks! Progress” through this additional content to earn rewards that will help you on your quest, as well as new outfits for Psaro to wear. Content will be available to purchase from Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch.
The Mole Hole
Delve underground for a reunion with monster types you’ve befriended once before. You’ll also have the opportunity to scout monsters that are otherwise very tricky to synthesize. This downloadable content includes the “gothic vestment” outfit.
Coach Joe’s Dungeon Gym
Explore these randomly generated dungeons and battle legions of powerful monsters. Each dungeon comes with unique requirements that require players to carefully assess and construct their party. Dispatch the boss that awaits in the final room to earn rare items that will aid you in raising ever-stronger allies. This downloadable content includes the “cake-maker’s clobber” outfit.
Treasure Trunks
Every time you open these mysterious treasure chests, you’ll obtain an exciting reward. However, you’ll have to wait a little while before you can open the chest up again and obtain the next exciting reward on the list! Keep opening them and you’re guaranteed to get your hands on some very enticing items indeed! This downloadable content includes the “monstrous mail” outfit.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is due out for Switch on December 1.
