70
MONSTER
Journey into a fantastical world on a quest for revenge in DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince. Psaro is cursed and is unable to harm anything with monster blood. Now, he must become a Monster Wrangler to create an army for battle. The hunt for high-ranked monsters takes Psaro through the ever-changing seasons of Nadiria and its unique environments, with rivers of bubbling lava, mysterious ancient ruins, and soaring towers of cake. Along the way, Psaro meets the kind-hearted elf, Rose, who joins his adventure to seek out ever-stronger monsters. The key to Psaro's success lies with synthesis: the ability to combine two monsters and create a stronger offspring. Each new creation brings Psaro one step closer to his goal of becoming the Master of Monsterkind.
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
EXPAND ALL
Story and Narrative
Expand for full analysis
72
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince story receives mixed reviews. Critics praise its well-written narrative, dark themes, and exploration of familiar characters like Psaro, but others criticize its lack of emotional depth and impact. The game's connection to the mainline Dragon Quest series and anti-hero protagonist are strengths for some, while others feel the storytelling falls short. Overall, opinions vary, with individual preferences shaping views on narrative depth and character development.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
72
Positive (80-100)
23%
Mixed (50-79)
68%
Negative (0-49)
10%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince story receives mixed reviews. Critics praise its well-written narrative, dark themes, and exploration of familiar characters like Psaro, but others criticize its lack of emotional depth and impact. The game's connection to the mainline Dragon Quest series and anti-hero protagonist are strengths for some, while others feel the storytelling falls short. Overall, opinions vary, with individual preferences shaping views on narrative depth and character development.
Gameplay Mechanics
Expand for full analysis
84
Critics praise Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince for its engaging monster-collecting mechanics, fun strategy, and fusion system, offering over 500 monsters for customization. Some critics note concerns about shallow combat, excessive grinding, and lack of complexity, but overall, the game delivers an addictive and rewarding experience that appeals to fans of the genre.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
84
Positive (80-100)
73%
Mixed (50-79)
27%
Negative (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
Critics praise Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince for its engaging monster-collecting mechanics, fun strategy, and fusion system, offering over 500 monsters for customization. Some critics note concerns about shallow combat, excessive grinding, and lack of complexity, but overall, the game delivers an addictive and rewarding experience that appeals to fans of the genre.
Graphics and Visual Design
Expand for full analysis
62
Critics have mixed opinions on the graphics of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. Some praise its vibrant designs and creative monsters, while others criticize issues like poor performance and outdated visuals on the Nintendo Switch. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic charm but falls short in delivering a polished visual experience, leaving players divided on its graphics.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
62
Positive (80-100)
7%
Mixed (50-79)
77%
Negative (0-49)
17%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Critics have mixed opinions on the graphics of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. Some praise its vibrant designs and creative monsters, while others criticize issues like poor performance and outdated visuals on the Nintendo Switch. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic charm but falls short in delivering a polished visual experience, leaving players divided on its graphics.
Music and Sound Design
Expand for full analysis
71
Critics have mixed views on the Sound Design and Music of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. While some praise the enjoyable soundtrack and dynamic voice acting that enhances the game's experience, others criticize the repetitive music and subpar sound design. Overall, opinions vary on the audio aspects, with some appreciating the essence of the Dragon Quest series in the music and voice acting, while others highlight areas for improvement to elevate the overall presentation.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
71
Positive (80-100)
17%
Mixed (50-79)
75%
Negative (0-49)
8%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
Critics have mixed views on the Sound Design and Music of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. While some praise the enjoyable soundtrack and dynamic voice acting that enhances the game's experience, others criticize the repetitive music and subpar sound design. Overall, opinions vary on the audio aspects, with some appreciating the essence of the Dragon Quest series in the music and voice acting, while others highlight areas for improvement to elevate the overall presentation.
Voice Acting
Expand for full analysis
65
Critics are divided on the voice acting in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. Some praise the charm and dynamic performances, while others criticize the absence of voices for key characters and the disparity between voiced and silent protagonists. Overall, the voice acting adds depth and entertainment value for players, but there are areas that need improvement for a more cohesive audio experience.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
65
Positive (80-100)
18%
Mixed (50-79)
73%
Negative (0-49)
9%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Critics are divided on the voice acting in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. Some praise the charm and dynamic performances, while others criticize the absence of voices for key characters and the disparity between voiced and silent protagonists. Overall, the voice acting adds depth and entertainment value for players, but there are areas that need improvement for a more cohesive audio experience.
Technical Performance
Expand for full analysis
51
Critics slam Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince on Nintendo Switch for its technical flaws like frame rate drops, long loading times, and poor optimization. Despite some post-launch improvements, the game still suffers from issues that hinder gameplay immersion and overall enjoyment.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
51
Positive (80-100)
0%
Mixed (50-79)
48%
Negative (0-49)
52%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
Critics slam Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince on Nintendo Switch for its technical flaws like frame rate drops, long loading times, and poor optimization. Despite some post-launch improvements, the game still suffers from issues that hinder gameplay immersion and overall enjoyment.
Replay Value
Expand for full analysis
81
Critics rave about Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince's replay value, praising its vast monster selection, addictive gameplay, and engaging mechanics like monster capturing and synthesis. With over 500 monsters, multiplayer modes, and post-game content, the game offers ample opportunities for exploration. However, some critics worry about long-term appeal due to lack of evolution and innovation, while others note issues like limited multiplayer experiences. Overall, the game is lauded for its depth and addictiveness, making it a hit for fans of monster collecting and engaging gameplay.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
81
Positive (80-100)
61%
Mixed (50-79)
39%
Negative (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Critics rave about Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince's replay value, praising its vast monster selection, addictive gameplay, and engaging mechanics like monster capturing and synthesis. With over 500 monsters, multiplayer modes, and post-game content, the game offers ample opportunities for exploration. However, some critics worry about long-term appeal due to lack of evolution and innovation, while others note issues like limited multiplayer experiences. Overall, the game is lauded for its depth and addictiveness, making it a hit for fans of monster collecting and engaging gameplay.
Overall Verdict
70
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
70
Positive (80-100)
40%
Mixed (50-79)
60%
Negative (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
Critics praise Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince for its engaging gameplay and monster-raising mechanics, but highlight performance issues and lackluster presentation as drawbacks. Recommended mainly for hardcore Dragon Quest fans, the game may appeal to fans of monster-collecting games despite its flaws.
70
MONSTER
Reviews
54 reviews found90
Digitally Downloaded
Dec 8, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review describes Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince as an exceptional return for the series and suggests that it has the opportunity to break through, especially with Pokémon not meeting universal acclaim. The reviewer recommends buying the game.
Read full review
85
RPG Fan
Jan 3, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is an enjoyable monster-collecting spin-off that captures the charm and appeal of the Dragon Quest series. It is a welcome addition to the lineup for returning fans and potential newcomers.
Read full review
85
Nintenderos
Dec 4, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a comprehensive monster-capturing game with a nostalgic story set in the world of Dragon Quest IV. While lacking complexity, it will be highly enjoyable for fans of the series.
80
Hey Poor Player
Dec 14, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The game is described as a wonderfully whimsical and delightfully dark entry into the Dragon Quest Monsters franchise, with some shortcomings in graphics and lack of free-roaming experience.
Read full review
80
TheSixthAxis
Dec 10, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The reviewer overall enjoys the game and praises the monster-catching and synthesizing mechanics. They mention that it's not everything they wanted it to be, but still highly recommend it.
Read full review
80
RPGamer
Apr 24, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince offers a compelling return for the series with deep monster mechanics, engaging exploration, and innovative fusion system. While narrative execution and post-game content have some shortcomings, the core gameplay loop is undeniably fun and satisfying for fans of the genre.
Read full review
80
Noisy Pixel
Dec 8, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a worthy resurgence for the beloved spinoff series. Despite some flaws in the narrative pacing and technical performance, the addictive gameplay and player freedom make up for it. Fans of Dragon Quest IV will particularly enjoy this game, but newcomers can still find themselves invested and enthralled.
Read full review
80
Gaming Age
Jan 2, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a fun entry point into the series that doesn't require prior knowledge. It delivers solidly on the monster-training gameplay and has a colorful cast of characters. However, it may not stand out enough for some players and the art style may not appeal to everyone.
Read full review
80
Shacknews
Dec 14, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The game has an intriguing story and soundly structured gameplay, but suffers from poor technical performance and a disappointing story execution.
Read full review
75
Worth Playing
Dec 15, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a solid and enjoyable RPG that plays it safe. It may not appeal to those unfamiliar with Dragon Quest-style gameplay, but fans will overlook the technical issues.
Read full review