The Nintendo DS had a surprisingly good collection of role-playing games, or RPGs. Though not the console’s defining feature, it let fans like me experience the kind of adventures we’d been enjoying on home consoles and PCs for years. Games like Dragon Quest, Radiant Historia, Golden Sun, and Pokémon offered plenty to keep RPG enthusiasts engaged. Sadly, most of these popular titles haven’t received sequels or been updated for newer consoles.
Many fantastic Nintendo DS games are fading from memory, including classics from major RPG series. This needs to be addressed, because even now, these games still offer a great experience. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, in particular, is a standout title that deserves a return – whether through a complete remake or a simple remaster. It was incredibly innovative for its time and remains a uniquely brilliant JRPG that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.
Dragon Quest IX Was Way Ahead Of Its Time
Developed by Level-5 – the studio known for critically acclaimed titles like Yo-Kai Watch, Fantasy Life, and Professor Layton – Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies shares their signature depth and complexity. The game boldly reimagined the Dragon Quest formula, shifting away from a fixed group of characters to offer a more open-ended RPG experience with extensive customization options. Players could personalize not only their own character’s appearance, class, and gear, but also those of their entire party.
The game really stood out because you could customize almost everything, and it didn’t push you through the story. You were free to explore the huge world and tackle quests however you wanted, which was a big change from many popular Japanese role-playing games at the time. It felt more like a western RPG, and the addition of multiplayer made it even better. I especially remember playing with my sibling – we’d pretend to be pirates sailing the ocean or students at a spooky, snow-covered school called Swinedimples Academy. The game had tons of outfits to unlock, and it was easy to switch between different character classes, which really added to the fun.
Although some players might not have liked how different Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies was from older Dragon Quest games, I still think it was a fantastic RPG. Its slower pace and open world felt perfect for playing on the Nintendo DS. Even now, I remember spending hours playing it, getting lost in its well-written stories, and enjoying the feeling of completing the game and all its extra content, especially riding the Starflight Express afterwards.
With its diverse worlds, engaging quests, beautiful graphics for the Nintendo DS, and tons of ways to customize your character and gameplay, Dragon Quest IX is, in my opinion, one of the best RPGs of all time. That’s why, after 17 years, a remake feels completely deserved, especially since Square Enix has been remaking other Dragon Quest games. Still, despite how much I’d love to see it, there might be a good reason why Square Enix hasn’t announced one yet.
Dragon Quest IX Should Be The Next Remake
A remake of Dragon Quest IX would be a great idea. It’s currently only available on one system and hasn’t been updated or re-released like most other Dragon Quest games. Dragon Quest IX was also a huge success, especially in Japan, and did well in other countries too, proving there’s a strong fanbase. Many players would likely be excited to experience this unique take on the classic Dragon Quest formula again. Plus, both Square Enix and Level-5 have shown they’re open to remakes – Square Enix is actively working on them, and Level-5 recently remade one of their own 3DS games, Yo-Kai Watch.
There are a few hurdles that might be preventing a remake from happening. The original game was designed for dual screens, so the entire interface would need to be rebuilt for a modern release. While this has been successfully done with games like Xenoblade Chronicles X and The World Ends With You on the Switch, it still presents a challenge. Adding multiplayer, which wasn’t included in previous Dragon Quest remakes, would be another difficult and expensive undertaking.
Every main Dragon Quest game has traditionally appeared on home consoles, which allows for flexible art styles. While Dragon Quest IX looked great when it launched on the DS, its visuals haven’t held up well over time and would need a significant overhaul. Square Enix has already demonstrated a willingness to do this with their recent Dragon Quest remakes. Still, this is an important factor to consider if a remake or remaster were ever to be made.
Look, remaking a classic like Dragon Quest IX is risky, I get that. It’s such a fantastic DS RPG, and one of the best ever, so messing with it is scary. But honestly, I really want more people to experience it! It was a huge part of getting me into RPGs, and especially JRPGs. The way it balanced really sad moments with fun adventures reminded me of the amazing stories in games like Xenoblade Chronicles 2. I adore Dragon Quest IX, and no matter what happens with it, it’ll always be special to me. I just hope a new generation gets to see how brilliant it is, like I did back then.
Interested in a remake of Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-03-01 21:42