Blue Dragon Plus (2008). Play online

Summary

Blue Dragon Plus is the direct sequel that picks up a year after the original title’s story. On the DS it trades turn‑based menus for a real‑time strategy feel, letting me drag characters across the map with the stylus and watch them auto‑attack once they bump into foes. The controls are fully touch‑based, so moving the party and initiating combat feels almost like a tabletop mini‑game.

When an enemy’s shadow appears, the battle shifts into a “Shadow Battle,” where I summon a character’s personal shadow to unleash magical attacks, adding a layer of strategy beyond plain melee. These shadow summons give each hero a distinct skill set, making party composition feel important even in a fast‑paced setting.

Critical reception was mixed‑to‑positive, landing a 69 on Metacritic. Reviewers praised its inventive use of the DS stylus and the blend of RTS elements, though some noted the steep learning curve. Scores ranged from 6‑8 out of 10 across major outlets, and the game earned “average” status overall. In Japan it debuted at #3, moving roughly 22 000 units its first week and ending 2008 with about 58 800 copies sold.

Storyline

One year after the events of the original Blue Dragon, the world has fully embraced the mysterious cube worlds that sprang from the planet’s opened core. King Jibral and the sorceress Zola stumble upon a dark, three‑headed dragon shadow—Balaur—emerging from one of these cubes. Zola’s uneasy feeling prompts her to warn Shu and the rest of the party about the looming danger. Together, they set out on a new quest to investigate the sinister presence and protect the realms linked by the cubes. The adventure unfolds as they uncover the true nature of Balaur’s threat and strive to keep the world from falling into shadow.