Dragon Quest FM

This week, B.J. stops by before his surgery to talk about the Dragon Quest Day reveals. We mostly talk about the new Dragon Quest Monsters game, but also share more info on Infinity Strash: Adventures of Dai, plus what it all could mean for DQ 3 Remake and Dragon Quest 12. There's also some tidbits on a new DQ-inspired game we've been playing, Knight Trail, and what we expect for the future of the DQM spin-offs.

This week, we're making our yearly predictions for Dragon Quest Day. It's mostly a hopes and dreams deal at this point, but it's still fun to dream! DQ12, DQ3 Remake, Zenithia Trilogy remasters, a new mobile game, and updates on the Dai: Infinity Strash game are just a few of the topics we touch on.

This week, B.J. is talking about how he hacked his 3DS and has started playing fan translations of Slime Mori Mori 3, Monsters Joker 3, and other Monsters games. Plus, we talk a bit about Fire Emblem, Trinity Trigger, and other 3DS Dragon Quest games like DQ11 and Theatrhythm.

This week, we return to our "Versus" series and discuss Final Fantasy V and Dragon Quest V. Austin just beat FF5 Pixel Remaster, so it seemed like a great chance to talk about these two great games. We love both of them, so as usual, this is more about discussing how they're similar and different. There are spoilers galore, though, so be warned!

This week, it's a long-requested episode to discuss the best Dragon Quest games on Switch. We end up talking about most (all?) of them at some point, but we try to rank our favorite games in order and also talk about which Switch DQ titles can make the best starting place for newcomers.

Okay, look, we know it's 45 minutes and not a full hour but the Dragon Quest Catch-Up Hour is back for 2023! This week, we're catching up with the latest Dragon Quest news and chatting about a whole lotta games we're playing or looking forward to - like Slime Mori Mori 3, Final Fantasy XVI, DQ Treasures, Fire Emblem, Trails to Azure, Trails To Reverie, and a lot of other stuff too!

This week, Austin is out of town and B.J. is stuck in meetings, so we've compiled the Dragon Quest Treasures supercut - every episode on DQ Treasures back-to-back!

This week, we're chatting about Dragon Quest Wars. Since the eShop closed for the 3DS it seemed like a good time to chat about this DSiWare game. We also talk about other DSiWare games and about tactical RPGs, including Vandal Hearts, Battle Ogre, FF Tactics, Triangle Strategy, and more. Plus, some tidbits on Advance Wars and Infinity Strash releasing later this year.

This week, we're chatting all about the third Rocket Slime game. Slime Mori Mori 3 never made it into English officially, but there is a fan translation! Austin, though, has been checking it out in Japanese (for reasons discussed in this episode) and is here to tell y'all and Beej all about it.

This week, we're flipping the script and B.J. is giving us his run-through of mainline Dragon Quest titles, plus hot takes like #paradegate and hating fish. Austin does the Shameless Self Promotion song because everything is backwards.

This week, Austin catches everyone up on his DQ11 replay and talks about why the vanilla version is the best version. Plus, some stuff on Serena and Erik, Tockles, and high school reunions. 

This week, we're counting down our favorite slimes in Dragon Quest. Our lists are pretty different, but include slimes like Slival,  Healix, and Healie. Plus, reading aloud terrible Dragon Quest jokes fed to us by an AI program.

This week, Austin talks about his Dragon Quest XI replay. It's his fifth time playing the game (only second of the vanilla version though) and he's learning (or at least remembering) all sorts of things he missed back in 2018. Plus, some tidbits on Chained Echoes, Octopath Traveler 2, and Tony Hawk (yes again).

This week, Austin is sharing five fun facts he's learned about Dragon Quest 2 since doing some research for a project he's working on. From alternate endings to weird factoids about vinyl records, there's hopefully something here you didn't know yet! And if you know them all, hopefully you'll have fun listening to B.J.'s impression of a Cake song. Plus, did we just discover the ending to Dragon Quest 12?!?!? (No, probably not.)

This week is another Patreon request episode where we explore the idea of Dragon Quest going into other video game genres - like kart racing, fighting, and dancing. We also chat about Austin's Dragon Quest XI replay, PS2 memory cards, and the Beatles (trust us, it makes sense when you listen to the episode). 

This week, we're handling a special Patreon patron request by discussing games we think are classic and comfort food. We kick things off by discussing Dragon Quest - and especially DQ XI - then B.J. discusses his favorite classic JRPGs. Then, it's a long chat about how much we love Tony Hawk games. Plus, plenty of tidbits on games like Super Mario Bros. 3, Final Fantasy 9, Wave Runner, and other fun stuff!

This week, we wrap up our DQ Treasures episodes by talking about the final boss, postgame, and secret characters. Plus, we talk about sequel possibilities and what we'd like a DQ Treasures 2 to fix.

This week, it's our third episode on DQ Treasures. We kick off the episode by reading some of your answers and opinions on the game. Then, we discuss the finer aspects of catapults vs. slingshots, Austin's "Shrine of What Could've Been," and rival gangs making off with our treasure. Some very minor spoilers late in the episode, but there's a warning!

This week, we continue our chat about Dragon Quest Treasures with some (very) light spoilers. From B.J.'s first Iconic treasure to monster variety and combat, we touch on a little bit of everything. Plus, why Austin won't give up on Mech Tyson. Thanks to everyone who shared their answers with us on social media - we'll read more on next week's episode!

This week, we're kicking off our coverage of Dragon Quest Treasures by discussing the early parts of the game and mechanics we love (plus a few we didn't love at all). Austin is mean to birds, B.J. hates character intros, but we both love treasure! Oh, and this episode is mostly spoiler free, so if you haven't played it yet, it's safe to listen.

We're back! To kick off the New Year, we're discussing Dragon Quest in 2023. Plus, we share what YOU said you hoped to see from DQ this year. From the DQ 3 Remake to DQXII and spinoffs, we cover a lot of ground. Thanks to everyone who shared their answers with us!

This week, we're discussing our year in gaming and what 2022 brought for the Dragon Quest series. You can hear a whole lot of (spoiler free) talk on Dragon Quest Treasures, B.J. raves about Stray, Austin raves about Chained Echoes, plus Star Ocean 6, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Trails From Zero, Scarlet Nexus, Pokemon Legends: Arceus, and a lot more! Also, a weird rant against Amazon Prime Music and a strong defense of The Eternals movie (it's been a weird year).

This week, Austin and B.J. are both sick but please enjoy this classic episode from a couple years ago where Elinzia, the Crafting Rogue sat down with Austin to discuss making Dragon Quest stuff!

This week, we're chatting about the most underrated games in the Dragon Quest series. Can you guess our #1 answers? We each picked our Top 3, discussed them, and shared what people told us online too. Thanks to everyone who shared their answers with us!

This week, we're counting down the best Dragon Quest spin-offs (or spin-off series)! We tried to be objective and a special shoutout to everyone online who voted and weighed in on which spin-off was their favorite. What's your favorite DQ spin-off?

This week, we're talking about Rocket Slime - the Dragon Quest spin-off on the Nintendo DS that catapulted its way into our hearts. We also chat a bit about the first and third Slime Mori Mori games (which we sadly never got localized officially). Plus, we share YOUR favorite memories from Rocket Slime. Thanks to everyone who shared their answers with us!

This week, we're trying to answer the age-old question - "Why has Dragon Quest struggled in the West?" And we think we found an answer! This should've been a Questy Boys episode! Oh well, hindsight is 20-20 and all that. Anyway, we talk a lot about the history of Dragon Warrior in the NES days as well as DQ8's launch and why Dragon Quest XI came at JUST the right time.

This week, Austin is raving about Star Ocean: The Divine Force and telling B.J. (and YOU) why you should definitely check it out. But will Dragon Quest fans like the game? We think so! Despite some major differences, like combat, there's still plenty to appreciate here if you love DQ!

This week, it's our yearly Halloween episode and we're sharing YOUR favorite spooky moments -  yes, YOU! Plus, we talk about horror movies, horror novels, and why B.J. cooked so much in Breath of the Wild. Thanks to everyone who shared their favorite DQ frights with us!

This week, Austin is discussing the recent preview of Dragon Quest Treasures, plus the locations Square Enix has shared about Draconia's island. B.J. is on vacation, so this episode is a bit short, but we wanted to still get some content up for you guys! 

This week, we're going negative! (Kinda, but not really). We're chatting about which characters get under our skin the most - from the Prince of Cannock refusing to leave his hotel bed to how long it takes to like Maribel, we go through each mainline game in the series. 

This week, B.J. is sick so to ring in the spooky season, please enjoy our first Halloween episode from Season 1! We discuss some of our favorite scary moments in Dragon Quest, plus Slime Pumpking Carving!

This week, in honor of Dragon Quest V turning 30, we take a look back at the game, its characters, its story, and its monster-recruiting mechanic. We also return to our favorite DQ5-inspired game show - Dr. Agon or B.J.? - and chat about how much we wish a Switch port existed. 

This week, it's Tokyo Game Show and TGS means lots of JRPG goodness for us to enjoy. We talk a lot about Dragon Quest Treasures, plus other games we're excited for like Trails From Zero, Star Ocean 6, Valkyrie Elysium, and Final Fantasy 7: Crisis Core Reunion. 

This week, we talk quite a bit about the middle parts of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (with some Ch. 4&5 spoilers). We also talk about Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and...penguins in D&D??? It's a lot, but it's mostly on XBC 3.

This week, we take a short break from Dragon Quest to talk about our first impressions of Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Don't worry, we still about Dragon Quest too (as well as games like Final Fantasy 12 and Xenogears). This is a 99% spoiler-free episode over the first few chapters in XBC 3. 

This week, we talk a lot about Torneko: The Last Hope (which we played together recently) and then about Dragon Quest games we'll never be able to beat. Plus, we share your answers from Twitter about which DQ games you'd like to beat but just can't!

This week, please enjoy our super-est supercut of The History of Dragon Quest, which is all 8 episodes back-to-back-to-back-to-back (you see where we're going with this). It's over 4 hours of Dragon Quest talk!

This week, we're discussing good and evil in ALL the Dragon Quest games - from Corvus and Psaro to the Chosen One archetype and getting to be a hero. Plus, plenty of the weirdness you (hopefully) like.

This week, Austin started playing Live A Live so we decided to do an episode on time travel - from DQ 7 and DQ 11 to games like Chrono Trigger - and movies and books too! Plus, a whole lotta other stuff!

This week, we conclude the history of Dragon Quest (so far, at least) by talking about DQ 11, the many spin-offs we've gotten in the last decade, and what's next with DQ Treasures, DQ12, and the DQ 3 Remake!

This week, we're continuing out history of Dragon Quest and we've finally gotten up to DQ9 and DQ10. Plus, we discuss what Adam Sandler has to do with any of this, the legendary Masayuki Map, how DQ9 was like Pokémon GO, and a whole lot more!

This week, B.J. was out of town and Austin was sick. But since Dragon Quest Treasures got a release of December 9 (yay!), it seemed like an excellent time to rerun our episode on our favorite Dragon Quest spin-off games. 

This week, it's another patron-inspired episode about how to get someone you love into Dragon Quest. We talk about which DQ game is best to start with, but also which DQ game is best to start with depending on someone's favorite genre. Plus, a whole bunch of other stuff. 

This week, it's one of our Patreon patron request episodes! We're talking about Hendrik, Jasper, and symbolism in Dragon Quest XI. It's the first in a few episodes we've got planned on symbolism in DQ. Plus, we also talk about the Joker and Lady Gaga, but you gotta listen to find out why!

This week, we're discussing Dragon Quest 8, which means lots of stuff on Level-5 and Akihiro Hino. Plus, how the FF12 demo helped DQ 8 sell, stuff about Fantasy Life and Rogue Galaxy, and a whole lot more!

This week, we talk about the announcements of the 36th Anniversary, which includes DQ Treasures and Builders on mobile. Plus, a whole lotta other nonsense because you know how we are.

Surprise! This week's episode is up a little earlier than we planned! This week, we make our predictions for what announcements we hope to see for Dragon Quest's 36th Anniversary. Spoiler alert: We aren't super optimistic. But we still have a (mostly) good time anyway.

This week, B.J. is still gone for work, but we've got another classic episode for you - one all about our favorite Dragon Quest character, Sylvando. Plus, you can learn about  how Sylvando's voice actor, Shai Matheson, is helping raise money for Ukraine and the Red Cross. 

This week, DQFM is on a short hiatus because B.J. is out of town for work. So, since we've been covering the History of Dragon Quest, it seemed like the perfect time to repost our episode on Yuji Horii's life with Dan Howard from Game Apartment 1C. 

This week, we're mostly talking about Koichi Nakamura and Dragon Quest V, but we also discuss DQ 6, Chrono Trigger, and all the other stuff doing on with the DQ team in the early and mid '90s. Plus, way too much talk about animated films (we're sorry).

It's the third week of our look into the history of DQ, and this time we're discussing the cultural impact of Dragon Quest 3, Yuji Horii's plans for DQ4, and a whole lot more! Plus, some stuff on B.J.'s old radio show, Trails of Cold Steel IV, and other games!

This week, we're continuing our look into the history of the Dragon Quest series. This episode focuses mostly on Yuji Horii and the first DQ game, although there's some stuff about DQ2 and Dragon Warrior in the West as well. Plus, some stuff about Jurassic World and John Stamos that's only loosely related.

This week, we're starting a looooong discussion about the history of Dragon Quest. Before DQ, there was Ultima and Wizardry, and before that there was D&D. Before that, there was Lord of the Rings, and before EVEN THAT, there was myth. Special shoutout to Sunny for answering our manga question from last week, and HUGE shoutout to all our patrons!

This week, we finally have some new Dragon Quest stuff to love, thanks to the new release of the DQ Adventures of Dai manga! We also talk about some other manga series, the Dai anime and mobile game, and the movie Parasite for some reason. 

This week, we're talking about the Dragon Quest game that isn't Dragon Quest at all - Blue Dragon, the really fun JRPG from Final Fantasy's Hironobu Sakaguchi and Akira Toriyama. It's not just the art that looks the same, though, there are a lot of mechanics and monsters that feel super Dragon Quest-y too. Plus, a little bit about the Dai manga (which we'll get to next week) and Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. 

Remakes are everywhere now. DQ 3. FF7. Live A Live. So this week, we're talking about remakes, remasters, and everything in between. Plus, Austin almost starts talking in haikus and B.J. really, REALLY doesn't like splitting hairs over "retellings" versus "remakes." 

It's Valentine's Day week, so this time around, we're discussing romance in the Dragon Quest series. From marriage options in XI S to choosing a bride in DQ5 and romancing a horse in DQ8, we (try) to cover it all. Plus, puff-puff!

This week, we're talking about FF3 and DQ3, so there's obviously a lot of discussion about jobs. We also talk about the games' stories and characters, plus the impact each game had on their respective series. Plus, a really sad Pokémon story and a tangent about Final Fantasy XII.

This week, we're covering our memories of Dragon Quest 2 and FF2. From rooms with behemoths to hard-to-find treasure, we compare our experiences with these two games. DQFM - now with 50% more Malroth!

This week, we're returning to our FF vs. DQ series to explore the first entries in both the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series. We like both of these games, so this is more of a comparison and exploration of the development behind each game rather than a "this one is better" scenario. From the music, artists, and game design, we talk about how both FF 1 and DQ 1 set up the rest of the series that came later on. Plus, some chat about upcoming games and other good stuff!

This week, we wrap up the 2021 year and holiday season by discussing buff Dragon Quest Santa, what YOU want from DQ for the holidays, and our top games of this year. Hear us chat (spoiler-free) about LEGO, Dungeons & Dragons, Tales of Arise, FFXIV: Endwalker, and a whole lot more. Happy Holidays, everyone, and we'll see you in 2022!

This week, we conclude our episodes on the Dragon Quest protagonists by talking about the main heroes of DQ 7 -11. Find out why DQ10's protagonist is both the worst AND best, why B.J. loves DQ9's hero so much, and a whole lot more! 

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This week, we're starting a look at all of Dragon Quest's protagonists by kicking off with the Erdrick Trilogy (DQ 1-3)! Plus, we answer a listener question, go off on some tangents on Ni No Kuni 2, and more! 

This week, the Questy Boys return to solve more Dragon Quest mysteries and explore some DQ fan theories. Ever wondered if Chalky and Rab are the same person? How about the story behind the twins who guard Ramia in DQ3? Are Zenithians and Celestrians the same? Is Don Rodridgo really Hendrik's dad in DQ11? Whatever happened to the little blue dragon in DQ5 promo art?  The Questy Boys are on the case (kinda)!

This week, we take a look at Koichi Sugiyama's legacy and what it means for Dragon Quest music, and the future of the series. Plus, some stuff about bad pumpkins, There Will Be Blood, Tales of Arise, Persona 5, and Dragon Quest X Offline (and it's actually somehow ALL on topic, which is weird). 

This week, Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai: A Hero's Bonds is out on mobile! And while that title is really long, we tried to keep our first impressions as short and story spoiler-free as possible. We also discuss the upcoming Dai Infinity Strashg game, some DQ Treasures, and answer a few Tales of Arise questions from our last episode. Plus, a REAL NICE THANK YOU to our newest patron, Brian!

Let us know your thoughts on the new Dai mobile game, and we'll try to discuss it next week!

This week, Austin has been replaying the first Dragon Quest Heroes. He recounts some of his favorite moments so far, discusses Tolkien Elves and Dwarves, and how playing the game now is WAY different from when he played it in 2016. 

This week, Austin is taking a look at Chrono Trigger's impact and influence on Dragon Quest VI, why Yuji Horii says he'll never do another Chrono Trigger game, and all the scrapped plans from DQ5 that made it into DQ6 instead.

This week on DQFM, Austin is exploring the Dragon Quest 11 timeline and what the Altar of Ages, Tockles, and the Timewyrm all could really mean. So, put on your tinfoil hat, and let's start discussing alternate timelines and a multiverse!

This week, we compiled a list of questions newcomers may have about the Dragon Quest series. So, if you've got friends who are new to the series, share this episode with them! We took questions from folks online like on Twitter and Patreon and Austin tried his best to answer them. But don't worry, if you're a longtime fan, you can still enjoy this episode!

It's episode four of our deep dive into Dragon Quest VIII! This week, Austin's mic was being weird (so sorry about that), but we sat down to talk about the most memorable bosses and baddies in DQ8. Plus, at the end, we had a nice little pop quiz to see if B.J. remembers any of it.

This week on DQFM, we're continuing our discussion of characters and placed in Dragon Quest VIII. We talk about plot points like King Pavan in Ascantha, Prince Charmles and hunting for Argon Hearts, and breaking up a wedding like it's the end of a romantic comedy! Plus, we read some of YOUR thoughts on favorite DQ8 moments.

In week two of our deep dive into Dragon Quest VIII, Austin and B.J. are discussing memorable locations and settings in the game. You can listen to what our favorite locations and towns are (and why) plus we share a couple of YOUR thoughts from Twitter! This episode ran a little short because of stuff (you'll have to listen to find out! ooooooooooh! mystery!) but we'll be back next week to talk more about memorable towns, their stories, and the NPCs that make 'em so great!

This week, Austin and B.J. are discussing playing Kenshin Dragon Quest for the first time. It's in Japanese, it's a plug-and-play game from 2003, and it's hard. But we played it and still had fun (kinda)! So if you've ever wondered what the game is like, listen to us discuss today!

This is a classic DQFM episode (if we do say so ourselves) from 2019, in which Austin and Beej tried to play Dragon Quest Swords in a single weekend. As we've been playing Kenshin Dragon Quest (a 2003 precursor to Swords) this week, we wanted to give everyone a chance to listen again before we share our experiences in Kenshin Dragon Quest next week!

This week, something weird was going on with B.J.’s mic (so apologies for that), but we’re talking about E3, the lack of Dragon Quest, and what that means for future Dragon Quest announcements this year. Plus, some chat about Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin, Metroid Dread, and Breath of the Wild 2, as well as how we’re getting ready to play Kenshin Dragon Quest together next week! It’s a pretty jam-packed episode with discussions on a wide variety of games shown off at E3, so we hope you’ll enjoy it!

This week, Austin and B.J. have prepped their usual E3 episode (except for last year, because you know, it was cancelled). We're discussing what the DQ 35th Anniversary livestream might mean for Dragon Quest announcements this year, as well as whether or not we expect anything new to show up regarding Dragon Quest XII and that long-rumored Dragon Quest IX Remake.

This week on DQFM, Austin is telling B.J. and you guys all about his playthrough of Theatrhythm Dragon Quest, a Japanese-only rhythm game on the 3DS. So, if you've ever wanted to know what the game was like, listen to this episode! 

Following up on our predictions in last week's episode, this week we're discussing all the new games that got announced as part of the Dragon Quest 35th Anniversary livestream. Hear our candid takes on DQ12's logo reveal, the DQ3 Remake, Dragon Quest Treasures, DQ10 Offline, and that weird Dragon Quest Erase-Erase mobile game. Plus, we announce the winner of our predictions giveaway!

This week on DQFM, Austin and B.J. are making their predictions about what we’ll see at the Dragon Quest 35th Anniversary Livestream. We discuss some of our top picks, plus what we think of other fans’ guesses as well.

This week on Dragon Quest FM, Austin and B.J. discuss the news of the upcoming Dragon Quest 35th Anniversary livestream, speculate on DQ12, and then dive into discussing Austin's final thoughts on Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2 now that he's beaten the game. Plus, hear from other DQMJ2 fans to hear their thoughts on the game as well!

This week on Dragon Quest FM, Austin keeps on talking about his playthrough of Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2, getting to the Unshore, and finishing up the Rank B, A, and S fights for the Monster Scout Challenge. Plus, some hard bosses, some red dragons, and a small tangent about Community's D&D episode.

This week, Austin keeps on playing Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2, and keeps on telling B.J. (and you guys) all about it! This week, we're discussing Don Mole's Arena, the Doubtback, and why Iceolation and Cragravation aren't exactly the funnest areas in the game. Plus, a long chat about video game strategy guides!

This week, Austin and B.J. are talking about Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2 on the Nintendo DS. Austin is starting the game for the very first time and telling B.J. (and you guys!) all about his first impressions of it. From starting out on the Albatross airship, exploring Treepidation, avoiding giant worms, and getting lost on the way to the Doubtback - hear all about it right here!

This week on DQFM, Austin and Beej are talking about the state of Dragon Quest mobile games. From the new beta for Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai: A Hero's Bonds, to the recent announcements that Dragon Quest of the Stars and DQ Rivals are ending, we talk about it all. Plus, our predictions for when Dai fully releases, whether DQ Tact will suffer the same short lifespan as DQotS, and if our chances of getting DQ Walk in the West have officially been shattered.

This week, B.J.'s back to talk about our favorite Dragon Quest spin-offs. We discuss DQ Swords, DQ Heroes 1 & 2, the Builders games, Rocket Slime, and more! So if you've been hankering to hear B.J.'s "Shameless Self Promotion" song again or just general wackiness, then this episode's for you!

This week's episode is a little different. Joining Austin for some fun Dragon Quest trivia are plattym3, LordRoto, and sackchief. The game is a lot like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, but with Dragon Quest! So, we're calling it Who Wants To Be A Slime-illionaire! This is the first part of our trivia night, so if you fancy yourself some DQ trivia, feel free to join along and play with us! Can you get all the answers right without using lifelines?

This week on Dragon Quest FM, Austin is joined by Dan from Game Apartment 1C for a bit of a history lesson on Yuji Horii's life leading up to the creation of Dragon Quest in 1986. This episode is FULL of fun facts about Dragon Quest's creator, including Horii's past job as a street artist, how Koichi Sugiyama got involved with the game, and the motorcycle accident that helped Horii figure out computers.

This week, Sam Steel is joining Austin to chat about his work on the fan translation for Torneko's Mystery Dungeon 3 on the Game Boy Advance, which has a beta patch going live tomorrow, March 6th, 2021. Sam talks about the work that goes into translating, what inspired him to get back into the Dragon Quest series, and shares his advice for all the aspiring fan translators out there.

This week on Dragon Quest FM, Ryan Molina is helping Austin co-host the podcast. Ryan is here to tell Austin - and everyone else - about the Young Yangus spin-off game that's only available in Japanese. So, if you've ever been interested in hearing about what Yangus was up to in his younger days, as well as how the spin-off connects to Dragon Quest VIII, be sure to listen!

This week on Dragon Quest FM, Austin is sharing co-hosting duties with Elinzia, the Crafting Rogue! This episode is all about crafting DQ goodies, the fandom, and how making your DQ merch can be perfect for getting into Dragon Quest more. From Drackies and Blue Slimes to Erdrick's Sword and a Luminary with a Big Belly, we discuss all sorts of great Dragon Quest crafting items.

Dragon Quest Tact is out now, and Austin and Beej discuss all the crazy and cool characters that make up the colorful cast. From loving Majelly to just wanting Malini to win one - plus, what's up with Rotchester's shoes?

Then, we discuss how DQ Tact stacks up against the other Dragon Quest mobile games. And we answer one of the biggest questions people have sent our way - is Dragon Quest Tact better than DQ Wars? Spoiler: It is! But you'll have to listen to the full episode to find out why!

In our third (and final, for now) episode on Dragon Quest mysteries, Austin and B.J. explore some lingering fan theories and questions submitted by fans. Want to know why Final Fantasy is more popular than Dragon Quest in the U.S.? Or why some fans think the Luminary from Dragon Quest XI is actually Dragonlord? You can find that all in this episode!

Plus, one of Dragon Quest's biggest urban myths, and a Mandela Effect that seems to be confusing some folks. The Questy Boys are (once again) on the case!

It's the second episode of our Dragon Quest mysteries, and the Questy Boys are at it again! This time, we discuss some popular fan theories, Toriyama illustrations, and a little bit about the history of the series in the United States. 

This week on DQFM, we’re talking about some of the Dragon Quest mysteries that are out there. This is just the first episode covering those mysteries, because it turns out there’s a LOT of mysteries out there and we want to investigate them all! The Questy Boys are on the case!

From blonde-haired heroes to cut cutscenes, the first half of the show tackles some of the longest-running mysteries in the series. In the second half, we answer another DQ fan’s question about hero names, along with one of our own about Koichi Nakamura.

It’s Season Three of Dragon Quest FM, and B.J. is back! 

This week’s episode, we’re focusing on Dragon Quest in 2021. We tackle some of those big DQ rumors - like a possible Dragon Quest IX Remake - as well as Dragon Quest XII news. Plus, The Adventure of Dai: Infinity Strash, DQ Tact, and a whole lot more!

Happy New Year!

In the final episode of Season Two (and the last episode of our Deep Dive into Dragon Quest VII), Austin shares some of his final thoughts on the game. He also discusses some of the memorable monsters and bosses from DQ 7 that people submitted to us on Twitter. Then, it's off to talking about the final confrontation with Orgodemir!

After that, Austin recounts his favorite games that released in 2020, discussing RPGs like Genshin Impact, Trails of Cold Steel III, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and more! We made it through 2020, y'all! Now, it's off to a (hopefully better) 2021. 

It’s week four of our deep dive into Dragon Quest VII! This week, Austin is talking about all the fun human and monster vocations in the game, as well as celebrating the holidays by giving away a PSN/Xbox/or Nintendo eShop gift card to one of our Patrons - just as a way of saying thanks for your support this past year!

As usual, we also took to Twitter to ask people what they’re favorite vocations were in Dragon Quest VII - and you guys did not disappoint! There are some spoilers in this episode, so please consider yourself warned.

It’s Week Three of our Deep Dive into Dragon Quest VII! This week, we’re talking about the towns (and some of the townsfolk) who make the past and present of Dragon Quest VII so darn memorable. Once again, B.J. is out, so this’ll be another solo episode from Austin.

This week on Dragon Quest FM, Austin is taking a close look at Dragon Warrior VII and its legacy. The PS1 game shattered records in Japan but is heavily criticized for its graphics and pacing. Still, the game holds up fairly well in 2020, and Austin takes a look at the differences between the PS1 and 3DS versions of the game.

Like Veronica in DQ11, this week's episode is a little short. Austin is sick, so Beej recorded up a little something by himself. He talks about all the improvements Dragon Quest XI S has over the vanilla version - and why he thinks the game is still worth buying (again) on PS4 and Xbox One.

Next year is the 35th anniversary of the series, which means we will hopefully get lots of DQ goodies next year in the West! We know Square Enix and Armor Project have things in store, but we don’t really know what those are yet - and we definitely don’t know if they’re coming West (although some of them probably will, at least).

Since it’s Thanksgiving, we want to thank you all for being such wonderful listeners and supporters. We couldn't do this without you, and we want you to know that your being here is not taken for granted. So thank you. A lot.

Now, back to DQ! We’ve divided this up into three categories: games, toys, and other stuff!

Games

DQ 12 reveal, DQ IX Remake, 4,5, and 6 on Switch (maybe next-gen too), Dai Infinity Strash coming West, Add in the Monsters remakes on Switch, too. They exist, so why not in English? Rivals in English on Switch would be nice, too.

SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION!

This week, we’re talking about Yakuza 7 ...which is Like a Dragon (Quest). It’s a video game where players play as a Dragon Quest FAN, Ichiban Kasuga, which makes it fairly unique. It basically feels like Grand Theft Auto and classic arcade beat ‘em ups combined to make a weird gangster RPG baby. 

It's really good, and even though we haven't gotten terribly far ito the game, we wanted to kind of give you an overview of what to expect and whether or not this was worth picking up for DQ fans. (Spoiler alert: it probably is.)

We’re going to try to keep actual story spoilers to a minimum because the game is so new, so this episode is really just focusing on all the ways Yakuza 7 is like DQ, in terms of gameplay. In a way, it feels almost like DQ fan fiction, and we say that with as much love as we can.

The protagonist is Ichiban Kasuga, a huge DQ fan who wants to be a Hero. He thinks about getting into fights like DQ games, so we get turn-based combat. You get cool party members who use an umbrella like a white mage staff, that sort of thing. It's great. 

Over the course of the game, there are Puff-puff references, you can have monster arena-style fights, and there's even a Job System! You can be a Dancer, a Fortune Teller, Riot Police, or even an Idol. It's a lot like DQ 7's vocations, except instead of Alltrades Abbey, you go to the Employment Office. 

This week, we’re talking about translation and localization in Dragon Quest games. It’s a bit of a touchy subject with some fans. I compared it to putting my hand in a beartrap a while back. It’s like, you can’t please everyone, and no matter, you’re losing a few fingers. So let’s put our hands into that bear trap!

Welcome to our DQFM Halloween Spooktacular! Last year, we focused mostly on Dragon Quest’s spookiest moments. This year, though, we’re totally talking about the monsters. And not just any monsters, but the Halloween-themed ones (and the SPOOKY ones!).

If you scare easily...beware! (Or not, it’s just two dudes talking about video games).

This week on Dragon Quest FM, we're talking about a whole lotta DQ stuff!

First off, B.J. got the new Hero amiibo. He tells Austin (and you guys) all about it. This leads to arguably the weirdest segment we've ever done, in which B.J. starts licking all sorts of action figures to see which tastes best. After that, it's off to discussing Dragon Quest Tact, which is coming West! Woohoo! Hear our thoughts on the upcoming mobile game, and how Austin won a DQ Tact prize pack from Japan (but doesn't have it yet). Plus, a really long story about a lawn mower!

After the break, we're talking about the Adventures of Dai anime. We're discussing the good, the bad, and the beautiful (because this anime is really pretty, y'all). B.J. talks about how it stacks up against the manga, while Austin compares it to the first couple episodes of the original anime series from the '90s. 

This week on Dragon Quest FM, we're continuing our discussion on archetypes within the series. For our final episode on the subject, we're talking about the orphan hero! Hero orphan? Orphaned hero? Whatever. You get it. The hero whose parents are either dead or abandoned them. As usual, we walk you through every single mainline Dragon Quest game.

This week, we’re continuing our talks into archetypes in Dragon Quest games. So far, we’ve discussed the old man and best friend archetypes, and today we’re talking all about woman warriors - those tough ladies who can kick all our butts!

Dragon Quest has a pretty good history of strong female characters, and today we’re going to talk about them!

So the woman warrior is a super old archetype, but it’s been suppressed in most societies over the last few thousand years because, ya know, sexism. Basically, it’s a strong female soldier or knight or warrior who saves her people. Oftentimes, you see this archetype cutting their hair to be more boyish -- Joan of Arc, Mulan, etc.

DQ 1- doesn’t really have one

DQ 2 - Princess of Moonbrooke doesn’t necessarily fit the archetype perfectly, but honestly, she’s the reason you survive in that game. Even though she takes on more of a role of caretaker/nurse, she’s still pretty awesome.

DQ3 - Female Erdrick, of course!

DQ4 - Alena, obviously

DQ 5 - Bianca...Nera is more of a caretaker/nurse.

DQ 6 - Millie and Ashlynn are both fairly tough, but I wouldn’t say either one fits into the archetype. Millie is definitely more of the white mage-type, and Ashlynn is pretty strong with her spells.

DQ7 - Maribel, that girl be tough as nails. The NPC Mauve that you meet early on is also very much one of these archetypes.

DQ8 - Jessica, even though she’s super sexualized she’s super tough. Like, her personality doesn’t match her character design at all.

DQ9 - The player! If you choose to be a lady!

DQ 10 - AnLucia! In Version 2.0. 

DQ 11 - Jade fits the archetype more than Veronica, even though Veronica is super tough.

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This week, we’re talking all about the unsung NPCs in Dragon Quest games. From our favorites, to icons, to weird oddities we’ve stumbled upon in the games.

This week, we’re talking about the music in Dragon Quest!

It’s a special Patreon patron-request episode. Our newest patron, Abigail, belongs to the tier that lets you choose your own episode topic, and she chose music. Which is great. We haven’t really done a full episode on music before, so it’s the perfect time to do that!

The music of DQ has always been done by Koichi Sugiyama, who is kind of a turd.

Should’ve mentioned him in the Old Man episode, because he’s the oldest of them all. He’s officially the oldest video game composer ever. He's approaching 90.

He’s worked on a Godzilla film and at least one Gatchaman movie, which kinda ties him indirectly to another famous artist in the video game world beside Akira Toriyama: Amano, who started in the animation department working on Gatchaman anime in the 1970s.

According to legend, Koichi Sugiyama wrote the theme for DQ on his first try in less than five minutes. Although, Sugiyama says…”54"

He would get frustrated with Koichi Nakamura (Chunsoft dude) about the music in the earliest Famicom entries because he had high aspirations for the music that just technically couldn’t be done yet.

People LOVE “A Lonely Youth” from DQ 2. To me, it seems to be an unofficial favorite. I see so many people loving that song. And I think it’s a good one, but it’s not my favorite.

Austin's favorite DQ soundtrack is from 1.0 of DQ X. It’s by far the most eclectic mix of music in a DQ game, and I really love the Eleven stuff, especially in the capital city. The Weddie stuff ain’t bad neither.

Beej...doesn't know any particular tracks because he's just about music illiterate. But he loves the fanfare! It makes him feel like going on an adventure!

People criticize the music of DQ as being too similar, and while that’s fair, I don’t think Sugiyama really cares. I mean, he’s got the DQ Ballet that’s an ode to his music, and an entire video game dedicated to his songs. He’s the only composer in the WORLD who has a video game just for his songs. Even the Theatrhythm Final Fantasy games has music from different composers.

The game is cool, and you can download a demo for it onto your 3DS. It’s in Japanese, but it plays like Theatrhythm FF and Guitar Hero, so it’s not super hard to figure out. If you like rhythm games and have played a few, then I don’t think you’ll have a hard time understanding it.