Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 / JAP

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 is the direct sequel to the popular spin-off from the Dragon Quest universe and was released in 2010 (Japan) and 2011 (Europe) for the Nintendo DS. Developed by Square Enix, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 builds on the success of the first installment - with new monsters, improved game systems and significantly more depth.

The story of Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 begins with a young adventurer who secretly jumps aboard an airship that is supposed to take participants to a monster scout tournament. But a storm causes the ship to crash - and you find yourself on a mysterious island where you must not only survive, but also rescue your fellow travelers and find out what is behind the mysterious place.

As in its predecessor, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 is all about scouting, training and combining monsters. Over 300 different creatures are waiting to be discovered and captured - from classic Slimes to powerful boss monsters and new hybrids. The proven fusion system allows you to breed your monsters and create stronger variants - with their own stats, abilities and even rare special forms.

A major improvement in Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 compared to the first installment is the revised battle system: You now control a team of up to three monsters at the same time, and battles are much more strategic. Monsters have different sizes (S, M, L), which has a direct influence on team composition and battle dynamics - large monsters take up two places in the team, for example, but are often very powerful.

The 3D graphics have been slightly improved in Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2, and the game world looks livelier and more varied than in its predecessor. Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 also makes very good technical use of the Nintendo DS, with smooth graphics and good sound design. The epic soundtrack of Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 is once again by Koichi Sugiyama, the long-time composer of the main series.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 also features a multiplayer mode, online battles (local or via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection) and special events and tournaments where you can compete with other players or unlock rare monsters.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 offers everything fans could wish for: more monsters, deeper tactics, an exciting story and endless possibilities for experimentation. The sophisticated battle system and extensive breeding mechanics make Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 one of the best monster RPGs on the Nintendo DS. For fans of games like Pokémon, but also for connoisseurs of the Dragon Quest world, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 is a real insider tip.