Dragon quest builders 2 xbox series#

That brings us to the less than impressive combat. They can water crops, cook food and help defend the land when swarms of enemies come to invade. They’ll also help out around camp using the facilities you’ve provided.

But when you’re back in the main community you’ll have a whole cast of characters to interact with. Even when playing alone, you’ll always have a handy sidekick to follow you around the world, fighting monsters and keeping you company. I was not expecting to find a beach-full of dead bodies in my first few minutes playing a jolly Dragon Quest spin-off.īuilders 2 is also a decidedly less lonely game.

More than just the jokes, there are some direct references to dark subject matter in the dystopia these characters live in that always took me off guard. For a game that dresses itself with just a playful presentation I was surprised by the amount of adult innuendos in the writing.

Dragon quest builders 2 xbox series#

It soon escalates to the nonsensically over-the-top anime jibberish the series is known for. Overcoming the evil Hargon starts off like any RPG endeavour does: background noise while you slaughter slimes. Many parts of Dragon Quest lore are also present in Builder’s simple and fun story, which is set in an alternate reality version of Dragon Quest II. Iconic jingles, sound effects and scores are all lovingly implemented here, adding a wondrous feeling of nostalgia at every corner. The Dragon Quest references don’t stop at just the monsters though. Plus, the real-time combat and exploration mean that these monsters are allowed to interact with you in ways the main series would never allow for. Seeing classic Dragon Quest monsters towering above you never gets old. And when Builders 2 does let you off the leash it’s spectacular. For others that are fans of Mincraft’s crafting and customisation but don’t know what to do with all its options, you will find the scripted nature a welcome change of pace. But most times there is enough flexibility here for players to display creativity while following already laid out blueprints.įor some players, this linearity will come across as monotonous. This sometimes stifles creativity when everything you need is in the next room, with no crafting required and no input over where any items go. It’ll then be up to you to find what you need. The game’s main building quests will give you blueprints telling you what to build, and it’ll show you exactly how. Dragon Quest Builders 2 offers a more curated experience. Minecraft’s formula is built on finding your own fun, but this can be too much of a broad goal for some. While this linear progression is a major annoyance when you just want to enjoy a sandbox experience, it does also have its own merits.

What starts of with you making small toilets for a villager, fast turns into creating large, sprawling spaces for the different NPCs in your community. The whole goal in each of these regions is to complete a series of blueprints, special requests and missions to build and level up a central community.

But the player isn’t let off the leash straight away. Overall though, Dragon Quest Builders 2 competently matches two distinct genres together to *ahem* craft something utterly unique.įirstly, how does this amalgamation work? After a lengthy tutorial, Dragon Quest Builders 2’s campaign has the player dropped off onto a number of different biomes to play around in. While Builders presents a charming and unique take on familiar gameplay loops, it also falls short when it comes to its combat systems, controls and generally hand-holding the player far too much. Builders’ additions to the formula create a more scripted, narrative experience and one that places more emphasis on community building and management than Minecraft ever would.