Two RPG classics finally branch together to complete the stories within.
GAMEPLAY ~
DW 1 - 9 / 10
The game that sailed a thousand ships and still holds strong today. Everything is here with only a few updates to speak of. You get the same battles (one on one) but gone is the "stairs" option as well as the "door" option has been voided. These can now be accessed with one push of the "B" button. Everything else is used with "A" button. DW1-Remix can now allow you to hold more items and even other equipables, not featured in the original. But this game still holds some challenge too it. Badly lit dungeons will always confuse, but even with this the game isn’t very hard. But what can you really ask of the originator?
DW2 - 7 / 10
DW2, though not stepping to far out of the light of the first one DW2 does add in some extra depth with 3 playable characters (over the original "one")and monster hordes have increased in size as well. But just like above nothing has changed in this game since it's release, and DW2 still stands (for me) as the most boring DW game to be released. It did pioneer all the greatness that DW3 and DW4 have adopted, but everything needs to start somewhere.
Lets really mention one thing "random name generator" who knows who thought of this, but this sucked. Half the time you name your hero something cool, an your partners are now Gary and Beth... what basic names... none of the characters seem to have any personality and if you placed all three of the "hero's" from this game into one character, you have the hero from DW1, so there isn’t anything new here. Thought without this game we wouldn't have some of the awesome features in the other games, but both these games don't stand the test of time.
STORY ~
DW1 - 10 / 10
You are a descendant of Loto (the "new" name of the Hero featured in DW3) It is upto you to banish the evil plaguing the land of... whatever the world is called. That is it... an that is all it needed!
DW2 - 7 / 10
You are the descendants of the descendants of Loto, Moonbrook castle is attacked by the evil Hargon and a lone solider goes to kingdom... something.. and reports of the wrongness. It's upto Prince (you choose) to thwart this evil and gather his relatives from other countries to help eradicate this evil.
GRAPHICS ~
DW1 - 8 / 10
This game hasn't changed much since it's debut in the mid to late 80's, an we like it like that, but the smaller changes noticed really bring out the games charm. The world map is nicely decorated with an abundance of trees and mountains and the water in the oceans is constantly moving. This game has a nice hand-drawn opener featuring the works of Akira Toriyama (who is most noticed for his work on Dragon Ball) Battles scenes are a real bummer with constant one on one battles, but at least the battles have background graphics to them. Towns are nice and filled with new building details which give alot back towards the imagination of the youth...
DW2 - 5 / 10
This game has the worst character designs Akira Toriyama has ever done! Thought some are used later on in future titles, most never see the light of day again in the DW / DQ universe. From obese rats (lame) to gremlin like monsters (later to become Mini-Devils) each one seems like bad ideas from the start. This game also started two things used in the next DW GBC installment, magic / attack actions during battle and the always bad idea of a white battle background.
Battle magic / attack animations make the battles drag out longer than they have to and the white backgrounds make playing this game on a GBC or SGB an impossibility due to "TV Bruising".
Besides that little rant everything else was updated from character sprites to town construction, this was also the first DW to feature enemy sprites, so I give it a bit of slack there, but overall, you'd be better playing DW1 over and over again, or at least searching out DW3.
I knocked down an additional point for each for not adding a map feature. I hate running around like an idiot trying to find my way to the next town or dungeon. Very frustrating. This was later corrected for DW3 Remix, which is why it's superior to both of these games in graphical achievements.
BOX-ART ~
The Boxart is terrible an clearly does not represent the game as an Akira Toriyama masterpeice. Each character (only the DW2 cast are shown) are in "chibi" form and are completely deformed whilst surrounded by monsters... this is very boring and dosen't represent what the games are about.
SOUND ~
DW1 - 9 / 10
This title didn't hold many tunes during play, nor was there anything worth remembering. Each track was arranged (and slightly remixed) by the legendary "Father of VG music" Koichi Sugiyama. So I gotta give him props for pioneering future DW soundtracks. Everyone has to start somewhere.
DW2 - 7 / 10
Koichi Sugiyama is still testing his waters after his first video game experience and we get the full arrangements features in DW2. Not saying they are bad, but they aren't as fun to listen to as other games in the series. But again, Koichi Sugiyama is a legend, so I won't bash his work much, but lets move onto SFX.
SFX - 3 / 10
These suck, nothing is interesting about these SFX. From watery battle noises to magic's impeccable shrill of casting, nothing is worth remembering and it's best to advise you to keep the music to a minimal. An can we say "cha-cha-cha ploe!" Yes, we can, and that critical hit will stick around 'till DW / DQ no longer exists.
REPLAYABILITY ~
DW 1 & 2 - 7 / 10
Both games have nothing interesting to do when completed, especially DW1. Once it's over, it's over. said and done. Same can be said about DW2. There is absolutely nothing else to be done except maybe play some slots. But having both games together does lets you experience how each game branches together, so that is cool. DW1 took about 6 hours to beat whilst DW2 took about 15. An what took me so long? Leveling! Leveling always take forever but DW1 does have a leveling cap on it, so that game can only go so far!
Lets mention the most replayable factor to each of these titles, Field Logs, or "Quick Saves". These "Quick Save" lets you suspend your game anywhere in the world an lets you restart from that position, thought the previous field log will be erased. So it's not a perfect save, but good on the go.
This cartridge is very sensitive so try not to drop it or you'll hear the fated line of "Your files has been tragically erased" not very fun to hear when near the end of the second one!
OVERVIEW ~
These two games do not impress me much, nor have they changed in the last 20+ years they've been around! What I would have done with DW1 was turn it into an action / adventure game like LoZ and release it for the PS2 or the GC! That would have been an awesome addition to the DW / DQ series and would have boosted sales of future said series. An what to do with DW2? Place it in a vault and lose the key, it isn't worth remembering...
DW1 - 8.3
DW2 - 6.4
Together they form a solid 8!
If you need a portable DW fix, search out DW3, I loved it and i'm sure you will too!