Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King 2004

Is it still worth playing?

Level-5's 2004 role playing game for the PlayStation 2, designed by Yuji Horii. The jester Dhoulmagus steals a scepter and curses Trodain Castle, and the silent hero, King Trode and Princess Medea set out to break the curse. It was the first Dragon Quest with fully 3D environments and character models, and its world is seen with a 360 degree camera, on a map with no separate icons for towns or dungeons. Battles are turn based and random, with a Psyche Up command to build tension and a skill system behind them. Off the battlefield there is more to do. An Alchemy Pot combines items using recipes found in the world, and recruited monsters can fight in a monster arena. A whole 3D world to cross, with more to do than fight, still gives the adventure plenty of ways to play today.