Dragon Quest IX

So, what I've been playing as of late is a little (it is on the DS after all) game called Dragon Quest IX. So far I can not say enough good things about this game. The art style is colorful and has a special charm unique to the Dragon Quest series. The fact that you can create your own hero and all the equipment visibly changes your character is a huge plus and makes it feel much more like an MMO than a typical RPG. The since of exploration as I go from place to place makes me want to explore every nook and cranny.

I have to confess that the only Dragon Quest game that I've spent any significant amount of time with is Dragon Quest VIII, which I never did get around to finishing but got about 25-30 hours into. I really liked that game as well but have noticed that the new title is significantly easier, at least so far.

My only complaints would be that, while still beautiful, the graphics on the DS seem a little dated. This is definitely one of the better looking games on the platform though. The game also took a few hours to get me sucked in. I've heard other people say they were hooked right away but I wasn't too sure when I first started if I was going to be able to stick with it. The challenge factor is a little low as well, but still tons of fun. So far I'm only about 10 hours in but I can not WAIT to explore the rest of this wonderful world.