The first Dragon Quest Builders is an incredibly unique and enjoyable RPG/creative-sandbox game that really felt like the start of something great. This adoration for the first game meant I simply couldn’t pass on the opportunity to play its sequel, Dragon Quest Builders 2, at E3 this year. I’m glad I didn’t, because Builders 2 seems to be an improvement on the original in every single conceivable way, which is an incredibly good sign for the full game.
It also helps that the story’s premise is just as captivating as the first game’s, as Builders 2 takes place in an alternate version of Dragon Quest II’s world, where the villain, Hargon, was victorious- leaving his “children” as this game’s antagonists. These Elseworld-esque takes on the world of Dragon Quest are endlessly fascinating to me, as it lets you see the classic Dragon Quests in a new and grimmer light. That said, if a third Builders game is made, I dread the day I have to come to terms with Erdrick losing.
Now I have to get this out of the way: being able to swim in Builders 2 is a surprisingly major plus for the game. Being able to explore underwater, or even fall in without fear, opens up an entirely new side of the world for the Builders series, and I can’t wait to see what kind of weird and rare stuff I’ll be able to find beneath the waves in the full game.
Building is as fun and rewarding as you can imagine in Builders 2, which one would expect from a game called Builders. You can break blocks and objects like in the first game, or pick them up with special gloves to comically carry them above your head. You no longer have to switch between your hammer and weapons either, as they’re mapped to separate buttons, making the transition between building and combat more fluid than ever. The grid-based lock-on system returns from the original Builders but feels far more accurate and easy to use. The sheer amount of minor quality-of-life upgrades in Builders 2 is staggering.
“Akira Toriyama’s artstyle continues to give all sorts of creative life to the world of Dragon Quest, while the music continues to be some of the best and most uplifting in the medium.“
Then there are the new features, like the aforementioned ability to swim/walk on the ocean floor, and farming/harvesting various crops and materials. By plopping a scarecrow down, the surrounding land is designated as fertile land to farm on. Once the soil is tilled, you can sow the seeds of all sorts of veggies and plants, all of which have uses as either building/crafting materials or food for your character’s ever-increasing appetite. You do have to wait for them to grow though, which you can do by sleeping or just continuing to explore and build. You aren’t alone during any of this though, as the amnesiac ne’er-do-well Malroth is beside you, itching for a scrap, every step of the way.
It probably goes without saying, but Builders 2 looks and sounds as wonderful as one would hope. Akira Toriyama’s artstyle continues to give all sorts of creative life to the world of Dragon Quest, while the music continues to be some of the best and most uplifting in the medium. And the writing? Chock-full of silly jokes and puns, as you would expect from a Dragon Quest game. Normally I use my own name in Dragon Quest games, but the demo’s default name “Bildrick” may prove to be too punny for me to pass up.
You’ll have to excuse the pun (it’s the Dragon Quest effect), but Builders 2 does indeed seem to build upon the already sturdy foundations of its predecessor in every way. July 12th feels as though it’s eons away, because I want to jump back into the incredibly charming and creative world of Dragon Quest Builders 2 as soon as physically possible.
