Dragon Quest Builders 2

Dragon Quest Builders 2[lower-alpha 2] is an action role-playing sandbox game developed by Square Enix and Omega Force, with Square Enix publishing it. It is the sequel to Dragon Quest Builders, and was released for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in Japan in December 2018 and worldwide in July 2019, and for Microsoft Windows in December 2019. The game shipped over a million copies by August 2019, and received generally favorable reviews from critics.

Dragon Quest Builders 2
Nintendo Switch box art
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Square Enix[lower-alpha 1]
Director(s)
  • Kazuya Niinou
  • Takuto Edagawa
Producer(s)
  • Noriyoshi Fujimoto
  • Takuma Shiraishi
  • Tomohiko Sho
Designer(s)Mari Takahashi
Programmer(s)Yoshinao Yamagishi
Artist(s)
Writer(s)Koya Tsukada
Composer(s)Koichi Sugiyama
SeriesDragon Quest
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
ReleaseSwitch, PlayStation 4
  • JP: December 20, 2018
  • WW: July 12, 2019
  • Microsoft Windows
  • December 10, 2019
Genre(s)Action role-playing, sandbox
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is an action role-playing sandbox game as opposed to the Dragon Quest series' typical turn-based style.[1] The game features the ability for players to find materials and use them to construct buildings and other equipment. New features not found in the previous game include a fast-travel function based on a retro-style map.[2]

Screenshot showing a party of four in the overworld

Unlike the first Dragon Quest Builders, the game allows for up to four players to play together cooperatively via online play, as well as wireless play on the Switch version.[1] Other new features include an optional first-person perspective, underwater exploration, and gliding.[3] Players are also able to transfer their game data between compatible game consoles and will gain a special bonus for doing so.[4] The games hack-and-slash combat system features two moves; A standard attack, and a "Spinning Slice".[5] Players can visit with other players worlds even on other gaming platforms, though they cannot alter them.[6] They can share game photos and building plans by posting on a cross-platform bulletin board.[6][7]

Plot

Dragon Quest Builders 2 takes place some time after the events of Dragon Quest II, and centers around a group called the Children of Hargon, who seek revenge for the defeat of Hargon and Malroth by the descendants of Erdrick, by ensuring that all builders are eliminated and that no one be allowed to create anything. Players control either a male or female builder, known as the Hero, who is captured by this group along with all other builders in the world on a ship. The player character escapes, washing up on the Isle of Awakening, where they meet a person named Malroth, who has no memory of his past. Malroth aids the player-character in improving their building powers.[5]

Development

Due to the sales success of Dragon Quest Builders and players requests for features that were too big to add to the game, Square Enix decided to make a sequel.[4] For a time, developers were not sure of the direction to take the sequel, or how much to change, but Yuji Horii reminded them that sequel buyers liked the original game and would be disappointed if it was completely different.[8] Another development challenge was training the games characters to perceive what players were doing and respond accordingly.[8]

Of the many requests, four player multiplayer, the ability to build higher, the circulation of water from higher locations were all requested.[4] One result was that developers tripled the height of buildings for Dragon Quest Builders 2.[4] Developers also discussed expanded multiplayer where players don’t just play with each other, but create a kind of playground.[4]

Release

Dragon Quest Builders 2 was developed by Koei Tecmo's studio Omega Force and Square Enix for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, and first released in Japan on December 20, 2018, and in North America and Europe on July 12, 2019.[9][10][5][3] A playable English demo for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 was released on June 27, 2019.[11] A Microsoft Windows version was released on December 10, 2019, and includes all previous downloadable content for free.[12]

Reception

Dragon Quest Builders 2 received "generally favorable reviews" according to review aggregator Metacritic.[13][14] By August 2019, the game had shipped 1.1 million copies worldwide.[26]

Awards
YearAwardCategoryResultRef
2019 Japan Game Awards Award for Excellence Won [27]
2019 Golden Joystick Awards Nintendo Game of the Year Nominated [28]
2020 23rd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Family Game of the Year Nominated [29]

Notes
  1. Nintendo published the Switch version outside of Japan
  2. Known in Japan as Dragon Quest Builders 2: God of Destruction Shidō and the Empty Island (Japanese: ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ2 破壊神シドーとからっぽの島, Hepburn: Doragon Kuesuto Birudāzu 2 Hakai-shin Shidō to Karappo no Shima)

References
  1. McKeand, Kirk (February 14, 2019). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 comes to Nintendo Switch and PS4 on July 12". VG247. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  2. Oxford, Nadia (March 31, 2019). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 Fixes My Biggest Problem With the First Game". US Gamer. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  3. Espineli, Matt (February 15, 2019). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 Finally Gets Switch, PS4 Release Date In The West". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  4. Romano, Sal (February 27, 2018). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 developers discuss multiplayer, production status". Gematsu. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  5. McWhertor, Michael (February 13, 2019). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 comes to Switch, PS4 this summer". Polygon. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  6. Ramsey, Robert (November 27, 2018). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 Has Cross-Play Support on PS4 and Switch, Kind Of". Push Square. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  7. Craddock, Ryan (November 27, 2018). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 Will Feature Minor Cross-Platform Support". Nintendo Life. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  8. Sato (November 27, 2018). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 Has Partial Cross-Platform Support For PS4 And Switch". Siliconera. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  9. Doolan, Liam. "Koei Tecmo Worked On The Action Segments In Dragon Quest Builders 2". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  10. Barder, Ollie. "'Dragon Quest Builders 2' Gets Its Japanese Release This December". Forbes. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  11. Fischer, Tyler. "Dragon Quest Builders 2 Demo Now Available on PS4 and Nintendo Switch". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  12. Chalk, Andy. "Dragon Quest Builders 2 is coming to Steam". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 24 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  13. "Dragon Quest Builders 2 for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  14. "Dragon Quest Builders 2 for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  15. Andriessen, CJ (July 11, 2019). "Review: Dragon Quest Builders 2". Destructoid. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  16. Romano, Sal (December 18, 2018). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1568". Gematsu. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  17. Cork, Jeff (July 12, 2019). "Dragon Quest Builders 2". Game Informer. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  18. Faulkner, Jason (July 11, 2019). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 Review | Building on a firm foundation". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  19. Weber, Rachel (July 11, 2019). "Dragon Quest Builders 2: "A beautiful mashup of iconic games with a quirky sense of humour"". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  20. Hafer, T.J. (July 12, 2019). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  21. Vogel, Mitch (July 11, 2019). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 Review". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  22. Rudek, Jordan (July 11, 2019). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 (Switch)". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  23. Bald, Cameron (July 11, 2019). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 review - "An inventive and engrossing sequel"". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  24. Hawkins, Josh (July 11, 2019). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 review: Build me a kingdom". Shacknews. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  25. Oxford, Nadia (July 11, 2019). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 Review". USgamer. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  26. Romano, Sal (August 8, 2019). "Dragon Quest Builders 2 final update launches August 20 in Japan, shipments top 1.1 million". Gematsu. Archived from the original on August 8, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  27. Craddock, Ryan (September 13, 2019). "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Dominates The Japan Game Awards 2019". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on September 16, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  28. "Golden Joystick Awards 2019". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
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