Ask almost anyone who grew up in Japan during the late 80s or early 90s, and they will likely tell you that one of the utmost important debates on the grade school playground was:
“Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest?”
Regardless of anyone’s childhood allegiances, most gamers would agree that when Square Enix’s Dragon Quest Heroes descended upon gamingdom last February (and, for PC players, last December), the Dragon Quest franchise fit right at home with a Dynasty Warriors/Musou-style game. Its quirky cast of characters and simple, playful visual aesthetic – penned by Dragonball series creator Akira Toriyama – lent itself perfectly to a fun hack-and-slash romp through the Dragon Quest series with fan favorite characters.
So when Square Enix announced Dragon Quest Heroes II: Twin Kings and the Prophecy’s End last July, fans of the series were understandably delighted to hear the news. Today, Square Enix released new screenshots and information on the game’s setting, plot, and new characters via Japanese gaming website 4Gamer, as well as visual proof that Toriyama can draw hair that isn’t spiky.
The 4Gamer article begins its synopsis of DQH2’s story as such:
On the day the dragon eats the sun, twins will be born, and the chaos of war will make its way back to the land.
Set in a different storyline than the previous Dragon Quest Heroes, the sequel will follow two young heroes, Razel and his cousin Theresia, who are thrust into the midst of a war brewing between their world’s seven kingdoms. Now, hordes of monsters loom on the horizon as the nations prepare to do battle. Will our young heroes be able to restore peace to the land?
At any point during the game’s story mode, the player will be able to switch between the perspectives of Razel and Theresia. Here’s a summary of each character and their newfound companions:
Razel is a proud young novice knight who hails from the kingdom of Jaiwall. He was studying abroad in a nation called Orenka before he was dragged into the kingdoms’ turmoil. He wields dual swords in combat.
Theresia is Razel’s cousin, and is the class president of a fighting academy back in Jaiwall. Compared to her headstrong cousin, Theresia is a reasonable young lady who often puts Razel in his place. She’s also quite handy with a sword and shield.
Cesar is the prince of Jaiwall. He’s also Razel’s childhood friend, in addition to being the commander-in-chief of Jaiwall’s army. As such, he has quite the burden on his shoulders, and can be quick to temper. He’s a charming young lad otherwise. Oh, and he wields a massive broadsword.
Ornezé is a powerful female warrior who serves the King of Zevion. Her skill on the battlefield has earned her the moniker of the “Red Female Warrior.” Outside of combat, Ornezé acts as a big sister for the team and is always ready to cheer up her companions. But one should be sure not to incur her wrath, lest they intend to meet her gigantic battle axe.
Befitting any Fantasy RPG, Dragon Quest Heroes II’s world boasts a variety of colorful locales and climates. In the center kingdom shown above lies Zevion, the more-or-less capital of the region. Zevion is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city ruled by the amiable King Zevion. It’s also the hometown of Ornezé.
The nation of Orenka lies to the southwest and features both a bustling port town and a stunning stained glass cathedral. Razel was studying here as a military cadet until he was unwillingly pulled into the war between the kingdoms.
To the southeast is the desert nation of Jaiwall. Jaiwall is the home town of Razel, Theresia, and Cesar. The city also maintains strong trade relationships with Orenka.
Cretia occupies the eastern end of the continent. Cretia is rule by a family of mages. It’s also a popular destination spot for practicing mages, as it has a long history steeped in the study of the arcane.
The other three nations north of Zevion – Morias, Fernork, and Daral – are collectively known as Monstarea. These nations are ruled by monster kings. Of particular note is the snowy expanse to the west, which is home to the tallest mountain in the world: “Sacred Mountain Rehgen.”
Square Enix also announced that DQH2 will be receiving its first trailer on February 24th.
Dragon Quest Heroes II: Twin Kings and the Prophecy’s End is set to launch in Japan on May 27, 2016 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita. No news has yet been given on an overseas release of the game, or of a PC port of the game, but Dragon Quest aficionados would do best to keep an eye and an ear out for updates on the matter.
Credits go to Siliconera and Gematsu for translating 4Gamer’s original article.