One of Dragon Quest Heroes II’s best new features is the multiplayer mode. People can either ask for aid ahead of a story quest, pinging people who have already passed that particular battle so they can chime in, or open up a multiplayer room to go through cooperative dungeon maps. In each situation, we’re getting opportunities to improve ourselves and while helping someone else become a better person.
First, the campaign quests are the best and easiest way to find someone to play with in Dragon Quest Heroes II. We’re at a point where there’s a healthy mix of newcomers, advanced players who’ve beaten the game, and new game plus folks enjoying a second go around. I’ve always been able to find at least one other person to work with and never had long waits to contend with. Not that waiting is really an issue. Getting a group together is a rather efficient process, especially if you’re using a custom four-digit code to ensure your friends join your room. As for people who are offering to help, they can choose from specific blocks of missions or say they’ll come along on any quest they’ve already completed.
Should you be looking to complete a story mission with strangers, it is just as easy. If someone is sending out the Call to Arms, they’ll see a queue that allows you to approve up to three other people to join their group. If you choose fewer people, AI party members will make up the difference. Should you be searching for a Call to Arms, you can roam around town or the free areas waiting for someone to pick you. When you get picked, a pop up message will let you know your time has come. You then start going through the mission, earning double experience for aiding the other person, and head back to your normal activities once the goal is accomplished. Meanwhile, the person who asked for your assistance gets competent cohorts to help them get the job done.
While this is a handy way to play, the cooperative dungeons online can be even more helpful. Especially if you want to level up the classes for Lazarel and Teresa so you can get the extra classes. You start out with a level three map, which scales in difficulty depending on the number of players and their level, then earn more as you progress through the story, have your character surpass certain levels, and complete the maps that have already been unlocked. (For example, the second one you’ll get requires a character that is past level 20 and has gotten through a number of major story battles.) Going through these dungeons, which can have random events within and different groups of monsters that grow in difficulty, can give you a chance to practice using different characters and expand your repertoire.
But really, you should be using the co-op rooms to level up Lazarel and Teresa’s jobs. In order to unlock the Gladiator and Sage jobs, as well as the thief key that unlocks locked chests, you need to have your main character reach level 20 in certain classes. The quest for the thief’s key comes after getting the Thief class to level 20. The Gladiator side quest becomes available after getting the Warrior and Martial classes to level 20, while the Sage comes after the Mage and Priest classes reach level 20 and a side quest is completed. Since your avatar has to reach these plateaus for his or her cousin to also get these jobs, it’s to your benefit to use these supplemental dungeons to quickly earn these new vocations.
The real fun in Dragon Quest Heroes II comes when you’re able to work with others. The story missions become more rewarding and enjoyable. The cooperative maps let you test out new strategies and characters. Most importantly, it helps you get closer to unlocking advanced vocations for Teresa and Lazarel. It’s to your benefit to spend as much time helping and adventuring with others as possible.
Dragon Quest Heroes II is available for the PlayStation 4 and PC.
Published: May 9, 2017 12:00 pm