Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World Has 500 Beasts to Collect, and They're All Super Weird | IGN Preview

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World features a whopping 500 collectible monsters, each unique and bizarre in design. The long-running Dragon Quest sub-series has captivated fans with its quirky critters since 1998. In this sequel, players take control of Bianca and Nera, two returning protagonists from Dragon Quest V, as they venture to the mysterious Witherwood realm to cure their ailing fathers. To do so, they must gather a massive party of monsters and restore balance to the realm.

Though the game shares similarities with Pokemon, the emphasis in Dragon Quest Monsters is on the unique bond between the player and their monster wranglers, Bianca and Nera. Unlike previous games, they are given prominent roles in the party, each with distinct perks and preferred monster types. For instance, Bianca favors dragon and beast types, while Nera has a more aggressive healing style.

This focus on the lead characters creates a deeper connection with the players and offers more opportunities for customization and strategy.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World boasts a diverse roster of monsters, including the ever-popular Slime creatures. Players can build their own teams by battling, scouting, and synthesizing new monsters through fusions. Battles take place in the familiar turn-based system, with the wrangler offering guidance and allowing the monsters to perform auto-battles. The game's emphasis on party composition and monster abilities ensures that players can create a party tailored to their preferred playstyle.

The game's visuals, inspired by Akira Toriyama's art style, enhance the quirky and colorful monsters. As players explore the desert zone and tropical island zones in the Witherwood realm, they will encounter powerful monsters and build their teams to save their fathers and restore balance to the realm.