>>12356169
It's good but too fucking long

>>12356169
>or is it "go to island that has 1-2 towns and dungeons and solve highly localized, self-contained problem, then leave"
Yes that's the whole game.

It's mostly what you describe but sometimes in the present world you will need to explore to find hidden map piece especially after you get a new transportation methode

>>12356226
so there's no "true" exploration? as in you have at best a couple options at a time on islands to visit, but once you're on the island it's just a little box of one town and one dungeon with a relatively (to other dragon quest games) feeling of exploration and discovering secrets?

>>12356169
It doesn't, if you loved DQ 1 to 3 become the free exploration prepare to be disappointed by the most linear game in existence

I like to think that the reason why this game is so long is because of scope creep. The dev team couldn't believe how much space Playstation discs had compared to a Nintendo cartridge, let alone a 64DD disc, that they unloaded an entire stream of consciousness until the 11th hour. The limited graphics also meant they could fit in as much bullshit as they could. I respect that.

>>12356169
>But some of my favorite parts are when you are just kinda left to follow clues and figure shit out
There isn’t much of that and most of it is 50-60 hours in

>>12356169
>I have finished some version of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 11
6 has good exploration

>>12356264
There is some of that, but 7 is designed to be highly episodic, so it's few and far between, and mostly toward the end.

>>12356169
>is it "go to island that has 1-2 towns and dungeons and solve highly localized, self-contained problem, then leave"
its literally this for about 100 hours. the only kino part of the game is the intro section before you get dropped into the neverending macguffin hunt.

>>12356169
you should really just play VI on super nintendo instead, you will like it much more

>>12356262
It's so good that we eat