It’s hard to understate the RPG classic and cultural phenom that is Pokémon. After all, the franchise has seen tons of successful and enjoyable games, along with an entertaining TV show, toys, and more.
Yet, far lesser-known is Enix’s underrated spin-off on its Dragon Quest series, which melds that RPG classic with Pokémon-style monster hunting and catching.
Though these franchises went in two very different directions in terms of popularity, 2000’s Dragon Warrior Monsters flew under the radar as a cool Pokémon alternative. To some, Enix’s epic proved even more fun and interesting than Nintendo and Game Freak’s series in some respects.
Though undermining that classic isn’t the intention here - this list will highlight 10 ways in which DWM tends to excel over its more popular counterpart.
10 A Longer Campaign
The mainline Pokémon games are usually known for their sprawling campaigns and ample content. Yet, at least when it comes to the main game in Dragon Warrior Monsters, the average time spent clocks in at a whopping 35 hours - pretty impressive for a Game Boy Color title.
Comparatively, while Pokémon Red/Blue offers a lot of extra content for completionists, players can technically knock out the main quest in just 26 hours. Meanwhile, only the more recent entries of Pokémon really surpass this number.
9 Monsters In Party Are Shown When Travelling
Subtle as it may be, Enix adds a nice little touch to the DWM experience by displaying all three of the monsters that follow the party leader Terry.
This is a neat little feature in terms of presentation, though it’s also handy to know (or at least have an idea) of the monsters currently in the player’s party by simply looking at the action happening in-game.
Pokémon Yellow borrowed from this technique somewhat, but it still only shows Pikachu following around the player.
8 More Simplicity In Grinding
Pokémon and DWM both tend to stress grinding - but while the former can get a little tedious and convoluted at times, Enix keeps things a bit simpler and more streamlined. This is done in a number of ways, but it’s largely on account of the game’s limit of three monsters on the battlefield at once.
This mitigates some of the management on the player’s part and allows for more focus on specific monsters while making the experience less overwhelming. And it’s a good thing too, as the dungeons can get quite lengthy.
7 The Foreign Masters Element
One neat DWM-exclusive feature to break up the monotony that can occasionally crop up is the “Foreign Masters.” These are somewhat similar to the NPC Pokémon trainers that can be fought to mix up the battles.
Yet, there’s a twist that initiates when defeating them. If the player wins the fight, the master will aid them in a certain way depending on the type of Master they are.
For instance, a Priest will heal the HP and MP as well as revive one’s monsters. A Merchant will fill the inventory with random meats (used to coax monsters to fight for the player), while a Wizard will teleport them to the last floor in the dungeon. These serve to add some depth and intrigue to the gameplay.
6 Creative Lore And World-Building
Sure, the plot of questing to save your sister in DWM may not be the most interesting tale in the world. Yet, the overall narrative - and particularly the Dragon Quest lore surrounding it - tends to be at least a bit more dynamic than the usual plot to rise through the ranks as a Pokémon master.
The fantasy elements and (literally) colorful world-building also tend to shine a bit more as compared to the more typical settings that make up Pokémon - at least the Game Boy entries.
Fans of Dragon Quest will enjoy the similar themes of high fantasy and adventure that permeate this gem. There are even recurring bosses and boss stages from previous Dragon Quest titles.
5 Faster And Smoother Battle System
Both DWM and Pokémon come with fairly standard turn-based battle systems, which can be addictive - albeit a bit repetitive for some. However, Enix streamlines the process of combat somewhat with mechanics that are usually simpler and swifter. This makes for some generally enjoyable RPG combat.
Rather than manually command the actions of each move by every monster, players can simply select a general strategy, which monsters will automatically roll with.
These general plans include the offensive-heavy Charge, Mixed - which is a blend of attacks and skills - and the more defensive “Cautious” plan. This is not unlike the combat of many mainline Dragon Quest games.
4 Randomized Dungeon Layouts
Though it may not be for everyone, fans of Roguelikes and more randomized romps will be happy to learn DWM’s areas are largely randomly generated. Combined with the semi-open nature of the game, and the lack of linear progression, the game takes on a looser and more open-ended feel than early Pokémon.
Not only this, but it ensures a mostly-new experience each time when emerging through the portals - and that they’ll typically be on their toes throughout.
3 The Added Challenge
Pokémon certainly isn’t short on some fun and rewarding gameplay, wrought with plenty of adventure and excitement. Still, many have commented on the relative ease of gameplay as a whole - especially in the case of the most recent Sword & Shield.
Enix’s role-playing romp, on the other hand, can be an odyssey; and a tough one at that. Not only is there the element of random areas and a lack of saves, but there are also some pretty tough bosses that await players at the end of each world. At least until more potent monsters are made through breeding, DWM can be quite the grind. And speaking of which…
2 Monster Breeding
For many, the coup de grâce of DWM is the unique, rewarding system of monster breeding. While Pokémon would eventually adopt this system in some fashion, it never quite measured up to the depth and intrigue of this one.
So long as monsters are at level 10 and have a male and female pairing, most any monster can be bred with any other. This not only generates a more powerful beast with a wider array of skills, but it also typically births an entirely new monster.
What’s neat here is that players can exploit this system to craft some crazy good varieties. Many of these wouldn’t normally even be found on the field until later in the game.
Players can even breed some of the game’s most powerful creatures, such as the ominous DracoLord and even Darkdrium (Nokturnus) from DQVI. Plowing through enemies with an army of DQ villains makes for a satisfying feeling scarcely matched in RPGs.
1 The Crazy Selection Of Unique Monsters
While it’s tough to understate the iconic nature of staple Pokémon like Pikachu, DWM really impresses with a vast array of unique monsters. Pokémon Red & Blue came with 151, but this game offers a whopping 215 creatures, divided into 10 families.
Moreover, many of these guys are just plain cool - or at least amusingly distinct. Players can catch seemingly anything from metallic Slimes and Mimic chests to various dragons and sword-wielding skellies.
NEXT: 10 Games To Play If You Like Pokémon Sword & Shield
