Description:

Dragon Quest is a series that is more popular than Final Fantasy in Japan, but has always been more of a cult, niche role-playing experience in the West. With Level-5's expertise and the accessibility of the Nintendo DS handheld, this latest iteration in the cartoon adventure is sure to break away from that status soon.

Or at least, it should do, because this aims to be the most in-depth adventure experiences in the series to date. Sentinels of the Starry Skies involves an epic storyline that begins when the player ? the guardian of a city ? is called out to retrieve the fruits of a sacred tree. This tree has the power to grant wishes, however, and as you would expect all sorts of shenanigans takes place as a result.

Your hero is completely customisable ? from the look of the face, hair and clothing and even how you experience the game during your adventure. As you become stronger over time, you gain more powers and can arrange companions in your party. Over 1,000 pieces of clothing, armour, weapons and other items add to the possibilities in your character's look. You can even change your class over the course of the game, allowing you to take advantage of various gameplay benefits as a result.

Up to four players can get together using a local wireless connection, in order to plough through dungeons and battle monsters together. If you want to seek other potential players, you can even select the special ?Canvassing Mode? and place your Nintendo DS to sleep in a rucksack while you experience your own real-life adventure.

Information:

• Number of players: 1-4
• Development Company: Level-5
• Software House: Square Enix
• Video Dimensions: 3D
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Point Of View: Third-person, floating camera