Square Enix has revealed details on how multiplayer will work in upcoming RPG creature-battler, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince.
The Dark Prince will feature three online options: Online Battles, Quickfire Contests, and the Online Shop.
Online Battles is a return from previous games in the series. Players can compete in Ranked Matches, Friend Matches, and Multiplayer Tournaments.
Multiplayer Tournaments feature up to eight players competing for the top spot, while Ranked Matches reward rare items by reaching certain tiers and rankings.
Quickfire Contests are a new mode that requires players to register their party into the online database. Quickfire uses party data from 30 players to simulate instant results, rewarding items for any defeated teams. Players can only participate in a Quickfire Contest once per day.
After the contest, players can review the results and data, and even use their opponent’s parties to practice with Sparring Matches.
The Online Shop is a place where Psaro (the titular Dark Prince) can spend his gold to buy useful items, such as Talen scrolls and item accessories. The Online Shop only updates its stock once per day, but items change as the player progresses through the story.
Quickfire Contests and The Online Shop are clearly inspired by mobile RPGs with their ties to real-world time, and a clever way to keep players checking in at least once a day.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince will launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch on December 1. Players who pre-order will receive the Head Start Set, which includes several in-game items. A free demo is available on the Nintendo eShop. It’s rated E10+.
