Dragon Quest: Your Story was released in Japanese theaters on August 2nd, 2019 to huge fanfare. The core of the movie’s plot is directly lifted from Dragon Quest V, which is commonly considered to be one of the most popular entries in the long-running series. The unique aspect of this story is in how it follows the main character from birth, emphasizing how specific events have affected this hero and how he relates to the grand narrative at hand. It is a phenomenally personal story amidst a semi-standard “save-the-world” plotline, especially with its focus on the importance of family.

A listing for Dragon Quest: Your Story was put up on Netflix a few months back to much confusion. The distribution rights in Japan itself were on pause due to a potential lawsuit involving a decades-old novelization of the game’s story and names that were used within. Not only that, but the idea that a Dragon Quest film – a franchise that hasn’t exactly been the most popular in the west – would be localized and distributed through a streaming network? It seemed far-fetched; yet, on February 13^th, 2020, many fans’ wishes came true as Dragon Quest: Your Story was released with an English dub.

But is it any good? Does it give lie to the idea that most gaming movie adaptations are garbage? Or is it able to stand apart from what has become the norm and be special in its own right? Continue reading “Dragon Quest: Your Story (Movie Review)”