History YMMV / DragonQuestMonsters

* DisappointingLastLevel - In DQM2, as the main worlds grew increasingly larger and more elaborate, with a thorough story each and a wide variety of inhabitant monsters, the final main world Limbo is a very anti-climatic end. Limbo consists entirely of a small island about six screens large, with just a few random encounters and nothing but the entrance to the final boss' castle. Then inside that castle, you just fight your rival one final time, then progress through the castle, which just consists of a room about eight screens large with no obstacles but the same few random encounters you fought outside in Limbo, and then the final boss' throne room, where you just fight the final boss. If you came into Limbo sufficiently strong enough to beat the final boss, you could clear Limbo in just five-ten minutes (the only thing that keeps you from clearing Limbo instantly is the likely ForcedLevelGrinding you'll have to do to beat the final boss). The vast post-game content keeps the game from ending on such a disappointing note though.

* MarthDebutedInSmashBros: Neither ''VideoGame/DragonQuestV'' nor ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVI'' had been localized by the time ''Terry's Wonderland'' was first released in the west, so a handful of monsters, bosses, and even characters had their western debut in this game; this is especially poignant, considering that ''Terry's Wonderland'' is actually a {{Prequel}} to ''DQVI''.

* NoExportForYou - ''Caravan Heart'', though thankfully a FanTranslation has been completed.
** ''Dragon Quest Monster Battle Road Victory'', given how long it's been out in Japan and no word on any sort of localization occurring.
*** Battle Road Victory was recently [[http://www.woodus.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17927 added to Gamestop's database]], which is usually the first hint anyone gets of a release
** ''Joker 2'' was announced at E3 2011 for a US release, but '''not''' the ''Joker 2 Professional'' version released in March, which added over '''500''' new monsters, rebalanced the game, and added post game content. In addition, the online multiplayer aspect of the game will be completely disabled due to the servers running the 2 Professional software, which is not compatible with Joker 2. The original version was still a fantastic game, however.
*** Localization was actually completed around the time Pro was released. It's theorized that release was delayed because it could never compete with VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite..

* PolygonCeiling - Combined with TheyChangedItNowItSucks. The move to 3D came with a number of changes that alienated some of the player base, including the removal of randomly-generated dungeons, a very slow movement rate for the main character (necessitated by a combination of the new over-the-shoulder viewpoint, and the DS's small screen), a removal of random battles, and a complete overhauling of the skill and capture systems. In short, Joker 1 and 2 feel VERY different from the aggressively retro Monsters 1 and 2.

* UrbanLegendOfZelda - Many theories have popped up on methods to legitimately obtaining the three secret monsters ingame in [=DQM2=]. As per typical for the trope, the proposed methods have ridiculous requirements, such as breeding an Orligon and Divinegon together who are both level 99, +99, and with maxed stats, while only having a 1/3 of working to get a Dimensaur, or some variation of the most popular "feed multiples of every possible item to a Dream Egg and then get only a miniscule chance of getting one of the three monsters when you finally hatch the egg". All of these theories have been debunked nor shown any proof of; in particular the popular Dream Egg myth was debunked when it has been figured out that the egg would get "full" (and thus would not accept any more items) before you could give it just 2 of every possible item.
* WastedSong - In DQM2, the aforementioned Limbo has its own unique overworld music, but unless you spend a lot of time grinding with Limbo's random encounters before fighting the final boss, you'll get to barely hear it, as the world is extremely short as covered above, and once you beat the world, its overworld music reverts to the generic overworld theme that plays in the rest of the main worlds, which then makes the Limbo overworld theme LostForever on that file. The theme that plays inside the final boss' castle, a remix of the Limbo overworld theme, also qualifies, as unless you grind against the random encounters there, you'll also only hear it for like five minutes before fighting the final boss, and once you beat him, his castle disappears permanently, making it inaccessible for the rest of that file (you can still enter the entrance area before the castle after beating him and hear the castle's theme, but the bridge to the castle is gone and there's absolutely nothing to do there).
** The Ice World also has its own unique overworld theme that plays nowhere else in the game, and like Limbo, it turns to the generic overworld theme after clearing the world, making it permanently gone on that file upon clearing the world. However, unlike Limbo, the Ice world is very large and elaborate with a lot to explore, so you'll spend some time there with its unique overworld theme before clearing it.

* UnfortunateImplications: [[spoiler:Milayou is the champion of the folks who KIDNAPPED her]]

*** Joker 2 Professional added 100 extra monsters to the 300 or so, making about 420.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome - Your first time catching a MetalSlime. Your first time creating your favorite boss from the original games. Winning your first online tournament match. Capturing your first Size 3 monster in ''Joker 2'' (monsters so big they count as a party in and of themselves).
** Holy crap, the opening to [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKhVIej4hnE Dragon Quest Monsters: Battle Road Victory]]. Every DQ big bad, from 1 to 9. Every Dragon Quest hero, ''fighting the '''wrong''' big bad''. The ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'' hero giving a silent nod to the two kids, who rush up to fight the ''DragonQuest'' version of Satan (Nockturnus) and Beelzebub (Estark), ''alone''. Humanoid!Psaro [[YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle jumping out of nowhere]] to take the kids on himself. The whole thing is absolutely nuts and ''seriously'' needs a localization.

* PolygonCeiling - Combined with TheyChangedItSoItSucks. The move to 3D came with a number of changes that alienated some of the player base, including the removal of randomly-generated dungeons, a very slow movement rate for the main character (necessitated by a combination of the new over-the-shoulder viewpoint, and the DS's small screen), a removal of random battles, and a complete overhauling of the skill and capture systems. In short, Joker 1 and 2 feel VERY different from the aggressively retro Monsters 1 and 2.

* {{Unfortunate Implications}}: [[spoiler:Milayou is the champion of the folks who KIDNAPPED her]]

*** ''The entire game'' is this. In order to make the battles more interesting (being that it's an arcade game), instead of staring at a typical DQ battle screen, the battles are more dynamic, similar to VideoGame/PokemonStadium, and just about every attack is [[RuleOfCool made very flashy]]. This is ''especially'' true when using the [[LimitBreak Coup de Graces]], which generally involve summoning heroes from the series to kick ass in [[UpToEleven almost over-the-top ways]].

* {{Unfortunate Implications}} [[spoiler:Milayou is the champion of the folks who KIDNAPPED her]]

* CompleteMonster: [[spoiler: Dr. Snap, to the point that he actually ''becomes'' one.]]

* EarlyBirdBoss: The Hood Squid, the third boss of [=DQM2=] and the first boss of the Pirate world, is the first boss to pose a real threat to the player. While it doesn't have that threatening of skills and its stats aren't outrageous, it's much stronger and durable than anything the player has fought thus far, while the player doesn't have that strong of monsters nor have monsters with access to much skills (as well as likely lacking any healing skills).

* WarmupBoss: In [=DQM2=], the first boss Beavern fulfills this role, being a simplistic boss with no threatening skills. He's only slightly stronger than the normal enemies you been fighting, and is there to give players experience against an enemy that could pose a threat to them if they're playing poorly.

* EarlyBirdBoss: The Hood Squid, the third boss in the game and the first boss of the Pirate world, is the first boss to pose a real threat to the player. While it doesn't have that threatening of skills and its stats aren't outrageous, it's much stronger and durable than anything the player has fought thus far, while the player doesn't have that strong of monsters nor have monsters with access to much skills (as well as likely lacking any healing skills).

* FanNickname - The ??? Family is often labeled the "Demon Lord" or "Boss" Family, due to the fact that they're all villains from the previous DragonQuest games.

*** ''The entire game'' is this. In order to make the battles more interesting (being that it's an arcade game), instead of staring at a typical DQ battle screen, the battles are more dynamic, similar to PokemonStadium, and just about every attack is [[RuleOfCool made very flashy]]. This is ''especially'' true when using the [[LimitBreak Coup de Graces]], which generally involve summoning heroes from the series to kick ass in [[UpToEleven almost over-the-top ways]].

** Then they went all the way with Joker, vastly lowering the monster count, adding VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII style skilltrees, and removing all the randomization all in an attempt to make the game work in 3D. Joker 2 undid some of these changes -- the traits and skilltree system remain, but there is much more randomization (although the maps are still static, the monsters in them are incredibly varied) and the reintroduction of palette swaps and the addition of monster size plateaus [[AndTheFandomRejoiced pleased the fans.]]

** Holy crap, the opening to [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKhVIej4hnE Dragon Quest Monsters: Battle Road Victory]]. Every DQ big bad, from 1 to 9. Every Dragon Quest hero, ''fighting the '''wrong''' big bad''. The ''DragonQuestIII'' hero giving a silent nod to the two kids, who rush up to fight the ''DragonQuest'' version of Satan (Nockturnus) and Beelzebub (Estark), ''alone''. Humanoid!Psaro [[YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle jumping out of nowhere]] to take the kids on himself. The whole thing is absolutely nuts and ''seriously'' needs a localization.

* PlayerPunch - Most strongly seen in Caravan Heart. Only really apt if you played DragonQuestI and/or DragonQuestII, especially if you did so as a kid. Nothing comes close to calling the player '''OLD''' than seeing the kingdoms you once played through now in ruins.

** Then they went all the way with Joker, vastly lowering the monster count, adding DragonQuestVIII style skilltrees, and removing all the randomization all in an attempt to make the game work in 3D. Joker 2 undid some of these changes -- the traits and skilltree system remain, but there is much more randomization (although the maps are still static, the monsters in them are incredibly varied) and the reintroduction of palette swaps and the addition of monster size plateaus [[AndTheFandomRejoiced pleased the fans.]]

* ExcusePlot

** Holy crap, the opening to [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKhVIej4hnE Dragon Quest Monsters: Battle Road Victory]]. Every DQ big bad, from 1 to 9. Every Dragon Quest hero, ''fighting the '''wrong''' big bad''. The ''DragonQuestIII'' hero giving a silent nod to the two kids, who rush up to fight the ''DragonQuest'' version of Satan (Nockturnus) and Beelzebub (Estark), ''alone''. Humanoid!Psaro [[NotSoFastBucko jumping out of nowhere]] to take the kids on himself. The whole thing is absolutely nuts and ''seriously'' needs a localization.

** The NotSoFastBucko ending of CaravanHearts. [[spoiler: You see the ghosts that keep Loto's memory alive walking in place at the corners of the screen, when suddenly three eyes appear in the middle of the screen.]] There's '''absolutely no explanation for this''' until you go back to the old dungeons and research just what in the world is happening, and even then you'll need to spend a few hundred hours grinding your way to a solution.

* MissedMomentOfAwesome: In ''Joker'', just when you're about to face off against Solitaire in the championship final, [[spoiler: your monster presses her BerserkButton and Solitaire attacks your monster ''herself'', disqualifying her and making you the champion by default.]] When you ''do'' get to fight her [[spoiler: after she becomes the new commissioner]] you learn exactly why the game designers didn't let you fight her before. Barring [[spoiler:the BonusBoss Estark]], she's the toughest opponent in the game, and if you had fought her in the championship final, she would have ''kicked your ass''.

** Then they went all the way with Joker, vastly lowering the monster count, adding DragonQuestVIII style skilltrees, and removing all the randomization all in an attempt to make the game work in 3D. Joker 2 undid some of these changes -- the traits and skilltree system remain, but there is much more randomization (although the maps are still static, the monsters in them are incredibly varied) and the reintroduction of pallette swaps and the addition of monster size plateaus [[AndTheFandomRejoiced pleased the fans.]]