2024 was the Year of the Dragon.
That being said it had a deeper meaning to me than simply being a Chinese Zodiac year.
For people who play video games and watch anime, it had a significant impact with several occurring factors including the release of many dragon-themed video game titles, the Dragon Ball DAIMA anime, and the unfortunate death of Akira Toriyama.
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
On January 26th, 2024 we kicked-off the year with a massive JRPG title set in the fictional location of … Hawaii?
Yeah, that’s right.
Following up on the hit Yakuza 7 title Like A Dragon, Infinite Wealth continues the story of main protagonist Ichiban Kasuga; a personal favorite video game character of mine, and a story I’m most excited to experience for myself once I’ve finished the 6 mainline Kiryu Saga games.
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth kicks off our Year of the Dragon!
Akira Toriyama
On March 5, 2024, it was announced that manga creator Akira Toriyama passed away.
He was a man that needed no introduction as he created the world famous manga Dragon Ball, and had significant works in Dragon Quest games as a character designer.
His impact affected the entire world and his death shook several communities worldwide.
He will be greatly missed.
It is no sheer coincidence that in the year of the dragon we lost such an important figure…
The rest of 2024 would see significant works by Akira Toriyama showcasing the year with significant symbolism.
May his legacy continue forever.
Dragon’s Dogma II
On March 22, 2024 we saw the release of Dragon’s Dogma II.
I remember getting this game for my birthday, which was on March 20, and eagerly waiting to play.
https://youtu.be/7LeSS1kAViw?feature=shared
You can argue that this was the first game that really ‘kicked off’ the year of the dragon for me personally.
I pretty much no-lifed this game because I was waiting for it for so long. I spent hours playing it for several days. It helped that I had some days off work.
I really enjoyed playing the swordsman in that game, although I didn’t like the curved sword that you get later on, it ended up being the strongest one you can find at that level and I think I ended up beating the final boss with it if I’m not mistaken.
I like to play sword and shield characters in basically any game that I get the chance to and one of the most fun games to do so in is Dragon’s Dogma.
If you haven’t played these games yet they are so fun and offer a unique charm.
All in all, [it] was a fantastic game that I can’t recommend enough. And if you haven’t played the first one you really need to!
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
While not something I would typically go out of my way to play, Dragon Age: The Veilguard was another long awaited dragon-themed title in the year of 2024.
I know many of you reading this were excited about a new Dragon Age, and the reception from my friends were all positive.
I will say, the sword combat did look good from what I saw. It’s a fat maybe if I’ll ever pick it up.
It does look like a beautiful game though and a fun series, so perhaps I’ll check it out some day.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero dropped literally right after the day my internet restored after the hurricane.
I was fortunate enough to get to play it thanks to the Ultimate Edition.
Although I don’t play much anymore, I was glad to have spent about a month playing ranked and figuring out fun team compositions with sword characters like Trunks/Tapion and memeing people in ranked with the Ginyu Force.
After I had my fun with it, I decided to move on.
I’ll still play it with friends and family who want the smoke, though!
I used to spend hours as a kid with my cousin at sleepovers playing the Budokai games on PS2, and for the most part Sparking Zero scratched an itch that many people desired for 15 years or so.
Fantastic game in a year filled with many bangers, and I will always go back to it!
Dragon Ball: DAIMA
Dragon Ball: Daima launched in Japan on Oct. 11.
This would be Akira Toriyama’s final work project with Dragon Ball before passing away.
You can tell how excited he was to start this side project. A lot of charm and love was put into this adventure immediately.
It almost feels like you’re watching a JRPG game when it comes to Goku and his friends on another adventure; it’s a sense of wonder that other anime like One Piece deliver.
He passed away before the anime really started, so it’s up to the fans to watch, love, and continue his legacy from now on. This project is what he left us all.
It’s heartbreaking, knowing he’ll never draw for Dragon Ball or Dragon Quest ever again, but his assistant does a fantastic job.
Dragon Ball will continue and it will be brought justice.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
Last but certainly not least at all… we have the remake of the classic beloved JRPG title Dragon Quest III.
The game that stopped time, set laws by the government in Japan, and is celebrated like a damned holiday overseas, Dragon Quest III saw its third rendition — this time in the art style of Team Asano’s Octopath Traveler; the HD-2D graphic style.
Playing this game was such a huge deal for me. I did every single thing I could to celebrate its launch and it still didn’t feel like I did it justice enough.
I want more people to play and love Dragon Quest like I do.
I want more fans to experience the game with. I want higher sales success. I want Akira Toriyama’s iconic designs to live on forever. I want Yuji Horii to be happy. I want Dragon Quest to be popular and in everyone’s lives. Because Dragon Quest makes me very happy.
It’s such an old-school, simple, charming experience that anyone can pick up and play.
The music, the characters, the classes, the gameplay, everything is so charming and familiar. It has something that games like Final Fantasy just don’t have and I like it more. Much, much more.
Ending the year of the dragon off with Dragon Quest was the right thing to do; it solidified the symbolic nature of the year, it sent Akira Toriyama to rest peacefully, it was celebrated majorly.
There is nothing like Dragon Quest in the year of the Dragon.
2024 was the Year of the Dragon; it was a year filled with exciting joys and terrible loss.
May the Year of the Snake bring us Metal Gear Solid in 2025.
