Unveiling an Enchanting Array of New and Beloved Monsters in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince

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Fans eagerly awaiting the 12th installment of the popular JRPG series Dragon Quest got an unexpected surprise from Square Enix. They have announced Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, a game within the monster catching genre. Unlike the traditional RPG format, players in the Monsters games capture and battle creatures instead of embarking on adventures with a typical party. It has been quite some time since the last game in this spin-off line, but the upcoming release on Nintendo Switch aims to rejuvenate this side of the franchise.

Unveiled in the June 2023 Nintendo Direct, The Dark Prince takes place in an expanded version of the world seen in Dragon Quest 4. Taking a unique approach, the game focuses on a younger version of the antagonist Psaro, who has been cursed and is no longer able to harm monsters. Players will guide Psaro as he becomes a Monster Wrangler, taming and synthesizing hundreds of creatures found throughout the world of Nadiria. Not only will familiar enemies from the mainline series make a return, but The Dark Prince will also introduce completely new monsters to the Dragon Quest universe.

The Dark Prince's Returning Monsters

The Slime Family is undeniably the most iconic element of the Dragon Quest series. Even those who have never played the RPG games can easily recognize these adorable creatures. Slimes are an essential part of every game in the series, and the Synthesis system of Monsters offers a wide range of variations to enhance their presence.

From the enhanced female version of the ubiquitous Slime enemy, known as the She-Slime, found in a desert-themed environment in the beginning of the trailer, to the rare returning Sugarstar Slime and Wing Slime, The Dark Prince offers numerous variations of Dragon Quest's iconic mascot.

She-slime

Sugarstar Slime

Shadow Slime

Fright Bulb

Wing Slime

Dark Slime

Snail Slime

Drake Slime

The Bird Family

In the series, the Dracky character has returned as the face of the Bird family of monsters, after being synthesized with a Slime. Alongside stronger variations like Drackyma, this family of monsters also includes classic avian creatures like Hawk Man. The synthesis of Firebird and Phoenix results in the creation of Prism Peacock, a powerful monster that is a mainstay in the monster-tamer spin-off series. Players have the option of scouting quirky monsters like Bantamweight, which is inspired by chickens, as well as more intimidating creatures like the dinosaur-like Pteranodon. In the reveal trailer, Psaro's mentors use the Pteranodon to fend off attacking demons.

Dracky

Drackyma

Firebird

Phoenix

Prism Peacock

Bantamweight

Hawk Man

Pteranodon

Cosmic Chimaera

Demon Family

The winged demons with scythe-axes appearing in the trailer are possibly Beleth, which are a version of Dragon Quest's "Grim Keeper" monsters. These demons are known for being formidable foes in the game. Psaro, a typical humanoid Demon monster, also has control over a formidable enemy named Swingre, which is a variation of Dragon Quest's Ogre found in previous mainline games.

Beleth

Swingre

Demon-at-Arms

Moosifer

Aquatic Creatures

The aquatic monsters in Dragon Quest offer a delightful range of adorable characters. From the charmingly cartoonish Briny Bronco to the intriguing animal hybrids like the Puffpoise, these creatures showcase a variety of unique designs. Notably, encountering the beloved Khalamari Kid could potentially lead to encountering its awe-inspiring fully grown counterpart, the giant Khalamari adult. The unconventional representations of sea life found in the Aquatic creatures of Monsters serve as a testament to Akira Toriyama's artistic creativity.

Khalamari Kid

Briny Bronco

Puffpoise

Beast Family

The protagonist encounters a pink Beast monster named Abracadabrador, controlled by their old mentor. This creature, resembling a spin on the Foo Dog design, is just one of many in its family shown in the trailer. Additionally, the trailer showcases other creatures such as Sham Hatwitch, a boar-piglet with a giant witch hat, and the beloved Great Sabrecub in its juvenile form, both peacefully sleeping in the overworld. Furthermore, the trailer reveals more fantastical examples of these creatures, including the deceptively fierce Bunicorn, seen being utilized by Psaro in combat.

Sham Hatwitch

Great Sabrecub

Platypunk

Bunicorn

Vampire Cat

Feralball

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The Dragon Family

Originally introduced in Dragon Quest 4, Rashaverak, a massive purple dragon monster, could possibly serve as a hint towards The Dark Prince's connection to the mainline series' lore. In the original game, Rashaverak appears as one of the underlings of the wicked Psaro. It is highly probable that The Dark Prince chronicles the titular Prince's journey to dominance, achieved through his numerous conquests and rule over monsters.

Other influential representatives of the Dragon family, such as the Dragonlord, also possess the unique status of serving as a final boss in the mainline Dragon Quest series and subsequently becoming recruitable in spin-off games. Additionally, there are several less formidable dragon examples, including the Damselfly, which can be synthesized, and the Raptile from Dragon Quest 6, which can be encountered in battle.

Dragonlord

Damselfly

Raptile

Elemental Family

In another fusion sequence, the Dancing Flame fire elemental monster is combined with the much-loved Dark Slime. The Dancing Flame, a distinctive creature from the series, is used in synthesis with the popular Dark Slime. While the Elemental family includes typical elements like fire, it also incorporates mysterious creatures like the Shadows that wander the world of Nadiria.

Shadow

Humanoid Family

The anthropomorphic monsters in Dragon Quest showcase a stranger side of the creatures, resembling the peculiar humanoid Pokemon. Among them is the Drooling Ghoul, a smiling creature with a massive tongue, which was employed by Psaro's former mentor. In a fiery section of the overworld, a more vibrant version of this monster, called the Frolicker, can be found.

Frolicker

Machine Family

The Killing Machine has been a prominent feature in the franchise since Dragon Quest 2. As one of the few mechanical monsters in the series, it belongs to the edgier Machine family. Fans can expect to encounter more of these menacing creatures in The Dark Prince.

The Iron Maiden is a fresh addition to the roster of monsters in Dragon Quest 11. It is a unique boss fight that belongs to the Material family, showcasing the concept of an inanimate object coming to life. Additionally, players may encounter a green variant of the Restless Armour creature known as the Roseguardin during battles.

Iron Maiden

Roseguardin

The Nature family, also referred to as the Plant family, comprises of monsters inspired by various lifeforms commonly found in forest environments. While there are unconventional beings like the unsettling pair of bell peppers named Capsichum, who are inexplicably fused together on a skewer, and the spear-wielding summer squash known as Cruelcumber, they are still classified as Nature monsters. Additionally, this category includes charming creatures like Tufty Tot (formerly known as Dandelion Fluff) from Dragon Quest 10, as well as the seemingly human-sized Toady monsters.

Capsichum

Tufty Tot

Leafy Larrikin

Stump Chump

Cruelcumber

Toady

Undead Family

Although The Dark Prince's trailer only showcases a few Undead monsters, they are considered to be some of the most recognizable adversaries in Dragon Quest. The appearance of Psaro's Skeleton Soldier could possibly foreshadow the reappearance of beloved foes such as the Mummies and Walking Corpse variants.

Skeleton Soldier

Float-o-Copier

??? Family

The ??? family is set to make a comeback, as shown by the inclusion of Zoma. In previous Dragon Quest games, Zoma has been a prominent character and the ultimate adversary, making his return as a playable character in The Dark Prince follows the same pattern seen in the Monsters series.

Zoma

The Dark Prince's New Monsters

Fizzy

Fizzy is a newly introduced Nature monster in the story of The Dark Prince. This adorable creature bears some resemblance to the original Fluffy from the Monsters series. Although its exact characteristics are not yet confirmed, it is highly probable that Fizzy will be categorized as a Nature monster, just like its predecessor.

In the Dark Prince's announcement trailer, a new version of the Foo Dog enemy archetype from the Dragon Quest series can be observed in a mountainous region. This iteration of the Shisa-inspired monster boasts a lighter color and menacing red eyes, suggesting it to be the most formidable form of the creature thus far. With known foes reigning supreme in Nadiria, the possibility of encountering different iterations of various other monsters shouldn't be overlooked. Vegandragora.

Introducing Vegandragora, the first innovative monster to make an appearance in The Dark Prince. Created by combining Fright Bulb and Damselfly, this unique plant dragon bears a striking resemblance to Pokemon's Venusaur, exuding an adorable and playful charm. As a preview of the captivating creatures we can expect in The Dark Prince, Vegandragora has already garnered a growing fan following, despite its brief appearance in the trailer.

Expect the release of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince on December 1, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.