Hundreds of slimes bursting apart under an oversized blade, straight out of a Toriyama sketch.

On gut feeling alone, Dragon Quest Heroes sits ahead of only 22% of games. Low. And yet the per-criterion profile is far more measured. Controller feel puts it ahead of 78% of titles, by far its best line. Desert island, fun, rediscovery and sound all hover around the middle, slightly below. Only attachment and art style drop clearly, the latter ahead of 19% of games, which is surprising for a Toriyama design. There is the tension: the game is a pleasure to handle, but when the question is a pure gut pick, it fades. On still-limited votes, so treat this as a first signal.

Which fits exactly what it is: a musou dressed as Dragon Quest. The mechanical joy of enemy waves, action you can read at a glance, but without the depth of a proper series RPG or the bite of a real action-RPG.

So, who is it for? For you if you love cutting through crowds, combos that come out easily, and the colorful world of the license. Much less so if you expect the full Dragon Quest adventure, or a game that leaves a lasting mark.