Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

Don’t let the huge Roman numerals on the box daunt you. In spite of being the ninth title of the Dragon Quest franchise, it’s perhaps the most accessible of the bunch with no knowledge of earlier titles required. In fact, this is better played if you aren’t bogged down by the standards and conventions of the previous game. With a range of quests to undertake, powers to unlock and skills to gain, Dragon Quest IX will have you wrapped up for quite awhile.

Donning the role of an invisble, angel-like guardian known as a Celestrian you’re worshipped as a sort of a demi-god by the world. You ensure that people are protected and taken care of in order to receive their gratitude. However something goes awry and you find yourself visible to the common populace and on a mission to unearth this mystery. With an accessible battle system, fantastic character design and soul searing music to the mix and you have a heady combination of gaming crack.

If you’re looking for something to keep you busy till the wee hours of the morning without waking up the entire house to the sound of your TV or PC you’d do well to check out what is perhaps one of the finest role-playing games to grace a portable system.