Which is better? Final Fantasy Mystic Quest or DQ II

This one was rather difficult. Final Fantasy Mystic Quest and Dragon Quest II are, for the most part, very different games. They do have a few things in common. In terms of difficulty, they couldn’t be further apart.

As I’ve gone through these games, things are getting a little harder. With Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, it is getting rather difficult because it is a starter RPG. It is supposed to be an easy introduction to the genre. Dragon Quest II isn’t like that, and neither are other RPGs on the home console.

This should be a fun comparison. Each game has some good things, and I like the core gameplay for each game. They both have issues, but not necessarily the same ones.  

Game Descriptions/Overviews

This is where some of the similarities between these two games are. Both games are turn-based RPGs, they have protagonists who are “the chosen ones,” and they’re high fantasy settings. Their stories are quite different as well.

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest is a high fantasy RPG where you play as a solo protagonist. There is a rotating cast of party members, but you never have more than two in your party. Your goal is to restore the light to four crystals and defeat an evil wizard. There is a prophecy in this game, which was created by the game’s big bad guy.

Dragon Quest II is a high fantasy RPG where you take control of three protagonists. Each of them is the descendant of the hero from the previous game. You go on a quest to find your party members, then you need to gather key items and weapons so you can defeat an evil wizard.

This is a basic overview of each game. They both have similar settings and gameplay. There are some pretty big differences between them. Let’s get into those differences.  

Main Differences 

Despite these games being high fantasy RPGs, there are quite a few differences. The difficulty, tone, gameplay, and quests are all different. I’ll be focusing on these four things, and if I think of anything else, I’ll add it in.

These games are radically different in terms of difficulty. Final Fantasy Mystic Quest is an easy RPG, which is how the game was made. You don’t have to grind for levels or buy weapons and armor, and it is a very linear game. Dragon Quest II has the player grind for levels and money for hours so you can face the challenges ahead. The player is free to explore the game’s world, and the battles are much harder.

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest has more action, platformer, and puzzle-solving sections. Each weapon you get has a secondary function outside of combat, which is a nice touch. You also only have to control one party member. Dragon Quest II is a more straightforward RPG where combat roles are spread out in the party, and the battles are more complex.

There are more quests in Dragon Quest II, and they play a greater part in the game’s story and lore. With Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, there are only a few secondary quests, one per section, and the game is very linear. You can’t take these quests on in any order you want, and the player is locked in a set path.

There is more grinding in Dragon Quest II, which is something that you can’t do in Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. While you can defeat all the enemies in a dungeon, it isn’t necessary. You can also see all the enemies in Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, where Dragon Quest II has random encounters.

Those are the major differences. There are a bunch of minor things, but I want to keep this as brief. Let’s get into what each game does better than the other.

What Does Dragon Quest II do Better?

There are quite a few things in Dragon Quest II that are better than Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. It has a more complex story, the character development is better, and you have more freedom to explore the game’s world. This is the more complete RPG out of the two of them.

While both games have simple stories, Dragon Quest II has more going on. You have to go on a quest to find your party members, and there are more side quests. Each of them is tied into the plot of the game and drives you towards a fight with the game’s big bad guy.

You learn more about the main characters in this game. It is fairly close, but you learn more about the three main characters in Dragon Quest II, and they have a little backstory to go along with it. This game does a better job of working with the characters that it has, and you spend more time with them since they don’t randomly exit the story.

The player isn’t locked into a set path in this game. There is a large world map, and you can explore it at your leisure. This also lets the player explore and take on quests out of order if they so choose. You can also visit most of the towns whenever you want, and grind for levels in different areas.

These are the big things that are significantly better than what is offered in Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. Dragon Quest II is a game that I always want to like more than I do. It can be a fun game, but it feels more like a job at times when I’m playing it. Let’s look at what Final Fantasy Mystic Quest does better than this game.

What Does Final Fantasy Mystic Quest do Better?

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest does have a few things that are better than Dragon Quest II. I won’t be bringing up graphics that much because I don’t think it is a fair comparison. This game does a better job of having variety in its gameplay, the battle screens look better, and I like the simplicity of it.

Each weapon you pick up has a secondary function outside of combat. This adds some other gameplay as you need specific weapons to get past obstacles. It is something that normally appears in Action RPGs, and the developers did a good job of working it in here.

The battle screens are more interesting to look at. You can also see how you’re doing in battle because the enemy sprites change as they take damage. They both have a more cartoonish look to their enemies, which is something I like.

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest is a very simple RPG. You know what your goal is, and there is nothing that slows you down. There are a few spots where you can fight ten battles to gain a prize, but these are optional for the most part. These are the things that I like more in Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. It is a fun little RPG and a nice distraction from the other games on the SNES. If you’ve beaten all the really good RPGs on the system, then this one is a decent option. It is better than some of the second-tier RPGs.  

Which is Better Overall and Why? 

Dragon Quest II is the better RPG when I look at these two games. It is the more complete game and has more complicated gameplay. I like the story, the quest you have to go on for your party members, and how the characters feel more developed.

This story picks up after the events of the first game, which gives this more of a backstory. Things are explained a little better than in Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. You also have the freedom to explore this game’s world and tackle quests in your own way instead of following a set path.

I like that Dragon Quest II sends you on a quest to find your party members. While Final Fantasy Mystic Quest has some of this, it is done better in Dragon Quest II. It is also more rewarding when you complete a quest for one of your party members because you know they’re going to be with you for the entire game.

The main characters in Dragon Quest II are more developed. They have a better backstory, and they have a little more to say about what is going on. Things in this game feel more developed, and because the game’s world feels like a place that these characters live in, instead of something that isn’t all that serious.

If I just look at these games as RPGs, then I have to give this one to Dragon Quest II. It is the more complete RPG, and it has more going on. This game is more difficult because it isn’t trying to act as an introduction to the genre.

Which Would I Rather Play?

At this point, Final Fantasy Mystic Quest is the game I want to go back and revisit. Much of this has to do with my not enjoying Dragon Quest II. I also had more fun with Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. It is a simple game, but it does a few things very well.

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest is a short and easy RPG. It felt very stress free as I was going through it. You can pick this up and easily know what you have to do and how to do it. Everything is set up for the player to succeed.

The story isn’t anything special, but it is told well. If you’ve played the first game in the series, then you’ll have a good idea of how this game will end. Everything moves in a straight line, and it is done well enough to keep me engaged.

I like the graphics in this game, specifically on the combat screen. Enemy sprites change as they take more damage. This is a nice touch, and it helps the player know how far into the battle they are. I wish more games did something like this.

This was more fun than I remembered it being. Final Fantasy Mystic Quest isn’t some amazing game that deserves a second look. It is a solid RPG that has good gameplay and a fun story. I’ve only beaten the game once, and that is the big reason why it is the game I would consider revisiting.

Conclusion 

These are odd games to compare. They aren’t trying to do the same thing and are targeting different markets. Dragon Quest II was going after the traditional RPG fans on the home console, and Final Fantasy Mystic Quest was trying to be an entry point to the genre.

They do have some similar things, but are very different when it comes to gameplay. Dragon Quest II has always felt tedious to me when I play it. It’s like I’m working a job and not playing a game. Final Fantasy Mystic Quest was more fun, but didn’t have the complexity and strategy that I like in an RPG.

Comparing Final Fantasy Mystic Quest with some of the weirder RPGs on the SNES will be fun. I also have the Pokémon games to get to at some point. It will be fun to compare starter RPGs with each other.

I should point out that the term “starter RPG” isn’t a bad thing. Having a game like this for people to get into the genre is a good thing. While it isn’t all that challenging for people who play RPGs, they do have some things that are fun and can draw people in.

If you liked this post, check out some of the other posts in this series. Such as Final Fantasy Mystic Quest vs Phantasy Star or Final Fantasy Mystic Quest vs Dragon Quest.