Topic: NFRIT 1st Round: Dragon Quest IX (3) v Wario Land: Shake It (6)

[Shaymin]

The nominations have been made, and now it's time for you to decide the most underrated game in the 15 year history of Nintendo World Report! Votes will be open for 3 days, so cast your vote and make your voice heard in the comments.

In the Parts Unknown region, it's #3 seed Dragon Quest IX v #6 seed Wario Land: Shake It.

Dragon Quest IX: The meltdowns were immense when Dragon Quest IX was announced – a MAIN Dragon Quest on a HANDHELD? This is madness! - led to one of the DS's most replayable games and a fine return to Nintendo platforms for the classic RPG franchise. Even after clearing the main game, there were still dozens upon dozens of quests waiting within the expansive world.

vs

Wario Land: Shake It: Wario's first console adventure in six years, Shake It's exploration/platforming action made it a critical darling upon release. And befitting a Wario game, it combined a beautiful art style with the cathartic joy of shaking the Wii Remote to punch someone's lights out.

[ejamer]

Abstained from voting. Two of my favorite games in recent years, really enjoyed both and can't choose a favorite.
Wario Land is one of Wii's most under-appreciated gems!

[Stratos]

Some of the best animation in a game is in Wario Land Shake. I would love to see Nintendo ditch the NSMB art style for the 'Shake' treatment.

[Fatty The Hutt]

Very tough match-up and I would never say anything bad about the greatness that is Wario Land Shake It.


I will, however, advocate for DQ IX. It is a fantastic RPG that is so refined, it does away with pretty much everything that can sometimes make RPGs tedious, yet it is still a long and engaging game. The story is great, the visuals are fantastic, the music is lovely, the game world is huge and the environments varied and interesting. The combat is straight-up turn based but there are lots of jobs, items, weapons, abilities and spells to explore and utilize so the combat is rarely boring. Plus, there are no random encounters. You can avoid as many battles as you wish. A first for the DQ series.
Add the fact that this game featured Street Pass before there was Street Pass (this is a DS game) and some excellent local multi-player mechanics, and you have a truly great game.

[Phil]

Man, I really need to play Dragon Quest IX.


Wario Land: Shake It! is awesome, though. Great platforming, clever level design (especially when you have to race to the exit), and awesome music. The visuals are fantastic too.

[Khushrenada]

Dragon Quest 9 is an epic experience and I think another game that lead Nintendo towards the Streetpass feature in the 3DS with the ability to trade maps with other plays while in sleep mode. What? You didn't think I could drop some facts while voting. Not every comment has to be a generic statement.

[Khushrenada]

This DQ ship is just taking off! Make mine a Strawberry Cheesequake blizzard. Again, what? That makes no sense.