Warm cel-shading, a road that opens up, and suddenly forty hours have gone by without you noticing.

The profile of Dragon Quest VIII breathes consistency. Fun lands ahead of nine games in ten, the soundtrack too, and the urge to take it to a desert island lifts it past the vast majority of titles. Art direction follows just behind, ahead of nearly eight games in ten. Only attachment and rediscovery stay around the middle, without falling short. It's a rare profile, balanced and high almost everywhere. Still, each line rests on three or four votes, so these trends remain to be confirmed, but they already sketch a game that charms over the long haul as much as at first glance.

Against the big Japanese RPGs, many bet everything on attachment to the characters. DQ VIII wins first through the pleasure of play and the beauty of the journey, without any dramatic fireworks.

So, for who? For you if you love bright adventures you savor slowly, an OST that sticks, a world you want to linger in. Much less if you're after intense drama that tightens your throat.