Dragon Quest V: Tenkuu no Hanayome (SNES)

Dragon Quest V: Tenkuu no Hanayome review

Game: Dragon Quest V: Tenkuu no Hanayome
Platform: SNES
Genre: Turn-Based RPG (Fantasy)
Developer: Chun Soft

Reader review by espiga

July 12, 2007

There comes a time in everyone's life when they reflect back on their accomplishments and question if what they've worked so hard for has truly been worthwhile. For the hero of this tale, the silent, violet-clad, nameless (until you give him one anyway) protagonist has had quite a lot to reflect upon. His mother disappeared early in his life, and he was raised by his father, who traveled with him all over kingdom come. So much, in fact, that our young hero, a mere five years of age, can't even remember from which land he hails. With his father, the able-bodied and powerful warrior Papas, our young hero steps off a ship and into a massive world filled with people whom he's never seen before, but all of which recognize both him and his father.

"Oh! You've grown so big!", one person will tell him.

"Oh, it's been so long since I've seen you!", chimes in another.

And then he sees her.

Bianca is her name. She's a cute little blonde girl, a handful of years older than himself. The two quickly become friends as they go upstairs, leaving Bianca's parents to their "grownup talk" with Papas. As they meet each other again later, they befriend a kitten and even set free the spirits of the old, spooky castle north of Bianca's hometown. The child whose shoes you fill is but a mere five years of age and he doesn't even say so much as an entire word through the whole game, but Enix makes it such an obvious point that this child is happy with his life. So obvious, that it permeates the story's introduction with bright graphics, colourful music, and happy NPCs.

But just as quickly as it's all set up, it's taken away.

Look upon in horror as you see Papas' corpse before this child. Seeing his father murdered right in front him, he's absolutely powerless to fight against those who would do this. He's kidnapped, and sold into slavery.

And it's a slave's life that he lives for much of his existence, as he's forced to build a tower to the heavens.

But then he escapes.

This is where Dragon Quest V really takes off. After his escape, you're thrust with him back into a world you saw nothing of while he was a slave. People and places have changed for the worst. Towns that were once beautiful, happy reminders of this young man's childhood are nothing more than scorched holes in the earth in this dark new world he finds himself in. Gaining the ability to befriend a myriad of monsters to aid him in battle, he searches far and wide for his true home, and a place where he belongs.

This is where he meets her.

It had been so long since he had seen Bianca, but she grew into a beautiful young woman. He was overjoyed to see this girl, whom he hadn't spoken to in years. She traveled with him, and eventually came the time. He had to choose between two women: Bianca, or some blue-haired rich girl he's never seen before.

The choice is obvious, but the player can choose either one.

He marries your choice, and sets off again, with the wife in tow. It's then, after traversing through a dangerous mountain range that he finally finds it.

He's returned home, and receives the greatest news he could hear. She's pregnant with twins, and due any day now. But he sets out yet again. His mission isn't yet complete. The image from his youth burned into his mind, he will not stop until he defeats those that murdered his father.

Years pass, but Bianca and their two children come with him. One of them even holds the key to everything that is needed to culminate in the final battle which has its very roots engraved in the past of our hero's life.

It's not until this amazing story reaches its conclusion that you come to realize: the entire time, he was searching for his home. He never gave up looking, and when he found it he left again. Perhaps it's because when all is said and done, all he had to do is look to his side and find the cute blonde girl smiling back at him, and his two children behind her. He didn't need a roof over his head to prove it.

He was home.

Rating: 9/10

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