Dragon Quest

Dragon Quest from 1986 stood at the birth of the entire Japanese RPG genre - it was that modest adventure of a single hero, a map, random battles, and a simple story about saving a kingdom, which inspired generations of later games and without which today's JRPGs would look completely different. On the Famicom, it was a game designed around the technical limitations of the time: short, straightforward, and remarkably accessible even to complete newcomers to the genre, with sparse graphics and simple text.

The 2013 mobile version brings this cornerstone of the JRPG genre to smartphones and reworks it graphically in the style of the later 16-bit remake - more colorful environments, more detailed character portraits, more readable menus, and above all controls adapted for a touchscreen instead of a directional pad. Moving the character, selecting battle commands, and navigating menus are all designed to work with one finger, and added conveniences like faster text, the ability to save anytime, or a clearer map make what was originally a spartan game a considerably more digestible experience for playing in shorter bursts, say on the bus or during a break. The menus and battle system remain a text-based selection of commands just like on the Famicom, only on the touchscreen they're operated by tapping instead of moving a cursor with arrow buttons, and the pace of random battles is somewhat brisker thanks to faster animations. Content-wise, it's still the same short, linear journey as in 1986, just in a noticeably more modern coat and without having to fight the old control scheme as well.

Why play it: This version suits players who want to get to know the historical foundation of the JRPG genre without hunting down an old Famicom and without the difficult directional pad controls - all it takes is a phone in your pocket and a few minutes of time anywhere. Anyone who instead wants to experience the game exactly as it looked and played in 1986, including the period 8-bit look and raw controls, will find the more authentic experience only on the original Famicom.