Dragon Quest Treasures needs no introduction. The title has already been released on Nintendo Switch. And if the title suffered from the handheld console. On the PC, we can immediately see big improvements, without going for a complete facelift. So this review is basically the same as the Switch review, with an extra PC section for notable changes.
Where are the treasures?
While Dragon Quest is a hit in Asia, the series has had a hard time convincing fans, even though it hasn’t had to be introduced since the eighth opus. But it was above all Dragon Quest XI that brought the series to the fore. Then there’s Builders, which has made a name for itself among Minecraft fans.
The adventure finds a brother and sister taken in by Vikings/pirates, who one day decide to run away in search of treasure. It’s then that they meet two magical animals who will be the start of their great adventures. Your goal? To find the 7 greatest treasures in the world: the 7 dragon stones. Original, you may say, given that the design is by Akira Toryama…
The beginning of the adventure is fairly classic, with the discovery of monsters, the hunt and your powers. Then, once you’ve reached your central hub. The whole title expands, with a ton of side quests and, above all, a free-flowing main storyline.
Between treasure hunting and monster recruitment, you’ll have many hours before you see the end of it.
As for combat, it’s classic: your monsters fight on their own, and you have your own palette of moves. But given the Switch’s limitations, hand-to-hand combat is pretty messy, and you get lost in all the information on the screen. Too bad, because it could have been much more engaging.
Sound-wise, there’s nothing to say we’re on a timeless Dragon Quest soundtrack. On the graphics front, however, the console suffers from outdated hardware, so this isn’t the prettiest of Dragon Quest titles.
And on PC?
Well, let’s face it, this adaptation is primarily for the Steam Deck. Which we didn’t test. On the PC, on the other hand, the texture is much sharper, without being a slap in the face. The framerate has also been given a boost, with the possibility of playing in 4K at over 144 FPS, so you can really enjoy the adventure, and forget about the Switch and its 30 FPS when everything’s going well!
DQ Treasures is super addictive and comfortable on PC, making the Switch version look ridiculous. What’s more, if you have the game on a modern SSD. Say goodbye to the console version’s long loading times. We’re finally on a title where changing zones doesn’t put the player to sleep.
And best of all, the PC version includes all the bonuses and content of the Switch version!
In the end, it was a pleasure to explore the world of Dragon Quest Treasures, especially in the PC version. And we’re almost begging for more, as the universe is so vast and rich to explore in every direction. Not to mention the endless quests that sometimes require you to find specific monsters or a specific spell. A good ARPG to consume without moderation.
