There must be something in the air, because for the last few months I\u2019ve been feeling extremely Dragon Quest-pilled, breaking out my 3DS to replay the ninth game, and eagerly waiting for the HD-2D remakes of the original two entries. So Square Enix\u2019s surprise announcement of Dragon Quest Smash\/Grow back in September only added to my excitement.<\/p>\n
I was lucky enough to take part in the first closed beta test for Dragon Quest Smash\/Grow, the vertical roguelite addition to the decades-old JRPG series library, and I can\u2019t put it down. As soon as I lose access, I know I\u2019ll be itching to dive back in, and that\u2019s the sign of a great mobile game. Historically, Dragon Quest mobile games have lived very short lives or never made it to the global stage, but I think that the use of the roguelike formula that works so well in games like Hades and Cult of the Lamb, makes it the perfect evolution of the series for portable play.<\/p>\n
The story is pretty standard Dragon Quest fair – you\u2019re an adventurer that an all-powerful being chooses to save the world, and you go on quests to reclaim your memories and vanquish evil. My favorite addition to the story is Roly, an ancient robot who acts as your companion. His dialogue is charming and I love seeing things like ancient mecha or arcane constructions in fantasy games. Unlike the classic JRPGs, you explore the map through levels, each with a mini-boss at the end. These levels take anywhere from one to ten minutes to complete, meaning you can easily slot one or two into your day while commuting or queueing at the supermarket.<\/p>\n