The Dark Prince’ iOS Review – Much Better Than Switch, but Lacking in Two Ways – TouchArcade Leave a comment
Again in December, I reviewed Sq. Enix’s monster amassing RPG Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on Change. I cherished my time with it regardless of its many technical points. I anticipated it to hit PC like Dragon Quest Treasures, one other Nintendo Change unique, however I didn’t anticipate a cell launch. Sq. Enix’s latest launch of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on iOS, Android, and Steam brings all prior paid DLC into the sport at a decrease entry level, however removes one function. That is the web real-time multiplayer battles. Past that, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on Steam and cell is already a massively higher expertise simply on worth with its cheaper price level and the content material included, however is the sport value your time on this crowded launch interval and with its premium worth? That’s what I intention to reply with my Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince cell assessment additionally overlaying the sport on Steam Deck.
If you happen to aren’t acquainted with Dragon Quest Monsters itself, it’s a spin-off sequence of the primary Dragon Quest video games that includes turn-based fight, however as an alternative of the primary participant preventing, you seize, breed, and lift monsters to battle for you. Once I performed Dragon Quest Treasures, I loved it, however was advised that it’s a “Monsters-lite” sport so when Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince was introduced for Change, I used to be excited to play it. I ended up loving it as you may see from my assessment linked above, however I believe it’s a very robust monster amassing RPG with turn-based fight no matter if you happen to like Dragon Quest or not. What made Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince extra attention-grabbing, is in the way it looks like a aspect story and prequel to Dragon Quest IV. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince additionally had a seasonal function the place the monsters modified relying on the season and space you’re in.
Relating to the story, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince, the bits from IV already made it extra attention-grabbing than the same old spin-off, however I discovered myself focusing extra on getting my very own dream monster get together quite than worrying in regards to the narrative. I’m tremendous happy with how effectively thought out the mechanics are and the way the massive zones, tons of of monsters, and fight made me wish to maintain taking part in it extra even on Change once I first beat it not to mention now on iPhone, iPad, and Steam Deck. Past the conventional turn-based battles and recruiting new monsters, Synthesis in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince is like Shin Megami Tensei’s fusion, and there may be simply a lot you are able to do with expertise right here. The seasons right here don’t simply change monsters, but in addition areas you may discover with map modifications. This implies a water physique that you may’t cross might be frozen in a single season letting you entry a brand new secret.
Fight in video games like this may get monotonous so I’m glad to see the numerous high quality of life options right here just like the ways menu that performs out much like the unique Persona 3, direct instructions, and extra. You aren’t right here to only defeat enemies, but in addition scout them to carry to your get together and grow to be stronger. I didn’t find yourself testing the web multiplayer on Change a lot, so I can’t touch upon how massive a loss that’s right here, however it’s a sport mode being lower nonetheless. If you happen to did play it on Change, maintain that in thoughts as it’s the solely space the cell and Steam variations are missing in comparison with Change.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince already shipped with quite a lot of content material, however the DLC solely elevated the expertise. This DLC was offered within the Digital Deluxe Version or as standalone DLC for the bottom sport. Simply the DLC was over $25 on Change, so having the complete base sport with all DLC included for $24 on cell makes it a tremendous deal, however I’ll get to that in a bit. This DLC included The Mole Gap, Coach Joe’s Dungeon Fitness center, and Treasure Trunks. The Mole Gap was a dungeon that allows you to scout (recruit) monsters you’ve fought earlier than and it made min-maxing quite a bit simpler in the course of the sport. The DLC was additionally good to hurry issues up since you can additionally simply scout monsters who solely seem throughout a particular season or by means of synthesis.
The Coach Joe’s Dungeon Fitness center DLC has randomly generated maps and they’re meant to be postgame challenges quite than skilled whereas taking part in the sport. The ultimate DLC is only a chest that may be opened as soon as an hour with 10 objects in complete. This is sort of a cheat DLC if you happen to could. I didn’t assume it was good to have helpful sport modes or content material in paid DLC, however that isn’t an issue anymore with all of it included on iOS, Androidl, and Steam within the base asking worth.
Now let’s get to the cell port options. With Sq. Enix, you may by no means be certain what options will make it into the ultimate sport. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince doesn’t have controller assist. That is past disappointing for the reason that sport is actually a console title ported to cell. I attempted 6 completely different controllers with none luck to make certain. Apart from controller assist, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on iOS has cloud saves and some graphics choices. The cloud saves work effectively.
Relating to controls, I used to be shocked at how effectively Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince felt with contact controls. It makes use of a floating joystick on the left for motion and a soar button primarily whereas exploring. The one minor difficulty you may run into is a few contact targets being a bit small on the non Plus/Max telephones. These aren’t a difficulty on iPads in any respect although. The controls really feel good, however Sq. Enix ought to’ve left full controller assist in since this can be a console sport ported to cell in spite of everything.
Considered one of my solely actual points with Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on Change was on the technical aspect. The body charge was tough at launch with visuals not being nice both. The previous obtained addressed to a point in contrast to Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, however the latter by no means obtained fastened. On iPhone 15 Professional, iPhone 12, and even iPad Professional, I had no main points with the visuals or efficiency. There are some hiccups on iPhone 15 Professional when operating on the highest graphics high quality setting and shifting by means of some places, however it isn’t remotely as unhealthy as on Change. The sport feels massively higher to play on iOS. Try the comparability under for the high and low graphics choices on iPhone 15 Professional:
There aren’t particular visible or body charge settings on cell exterior of the decision possibility in show settings. This allows you to play at low, medium, or excessive graphical high quality choices. These presets additionally have an effect on different settings just like the body charge restrict and post-processing. This setting can solely be modified from the title display on cell when you can alter it on the fly on PC. I caught to the excessive setting on all my iPhones. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince sadly has some minor efficiency points even on iPhone 15 Professional as I discussed above. The low setting appears unusable with how blurry it will get. On my 2020 iPad Professional, the excessive preset has extra common body drops than iPhone, and it additionally appears to be operating with some tweaked settings. General, even the older iPad Professional runs it effectively, however not so good as iPhone 15 Professional as anticipated. Each system I examined on together with the iPhone 12 ran it quite a bit higher than Nintendo Change.
Visually, it appears to be like quite a bit cleaner than Change even on older iOS units when performed at excessive. Sq. Enix didn’t simply do a bare-bones port right here. It has fullscreen assist throughout gameplay on my iPhone 15 Professional, and even has a sample or paintings to fill the display throughout areas with pre-rendered or static 16:9 components. This sample or paintings is principally used on my iPad Professional because it doesn’t assist fullscreen there for gameplay. This additionally applies to Steam Deck to make up for that side ratio in elements. I’m glad to see Sq. Enix put within the work right here to verify it nonetheless appears to be like good no matter side ratio.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince Steam Deck impressions
On Steam Deck, no matter my settings, I couldn’t get Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince to run at a locked 90fps even on the low preset when performed at 800p. I made a decision to go for a 60fps goal, and that was quite a bit simpler to realize. One oddity is the sport not letting you alter decision when taking part in on Steam Deck usually. You are able to do this by forcing the decision from the sport’s properties earlier than launching it. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on PC allows you to alter graphical high quality (low, medium, excessive), anti-aliasing (off, low, medium, excessive), most body charge (30 to uncapped), toggle v-sync, and alter show mode (windowed, fullscreen, borderless). If you happen to play at 60fps, I like to recommend setting your Steam Deck OLED refresh charge to 60 to keep away from jitter as effectively.
Having now performed Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on iOS, iPadOS, Steam Deck, Change OLED, and Change Lite, there’s little question that the Change model is the worst of the lot regardless of the web mode being faraway from cell and Steam. The large improve in efficiency and higher visuals with all DLC included at a a lot decrease asking worth solely makes it higher. One factor to notice is that the sport is marked as Steam Deck Playable and never Verified as a result of Valve says some in-game textual content is small and could also be troublesome to learn. I didn’t have any points with this, and I really feel like Valve has marked video games with smaller textual content as Verified earlier than. Both manner, you may safely purchase this one to play on Steam Deck.
If you happen to skipped Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince on Change, the brand new cell and Steam ports are the best way to go. Whereas the cell model missing controller assist is disappointing, it’s nonetheless a sport I see myself taking part in frequently with its enhancements over swap and implausible core gameplay loop. Having all of the DLC included means you should have sufficient content material to final you even longer. If you happen to do worth controller assist in a sport like this, the Steam Deck is the best way to go. Hopefully we see Sq. Enix maintain bringing extra Dragon Quest video games to cell sooner or later. Proper now, the iOS model of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince is well among the best cell releases of the 12 months.
