Dragon Quest V makes it a point to tell you over and over again that you are not the hero. Your dad has to save your butt repeatedly when you're first setting out on your journey. You can't equip the heralded Zenithian armor because that's supposed to go to the legendary hero. Heck, eventually your own son takes up the very task you were never meant for and brings down the greatest evil in the land. In doing so, DQV spins the typical video game narrative on its head in a way that we certainly hadn't seen in 1992, and we don't even get it these days outside of a couple "dad games" like The Last of Us or The Witcher 3. DQV stands out in an already lauded franchise with not only great gameplay but also a story that manages to make you feel like something far more important than a video game hero; you're a son, a husband and a father.

To call Dragon Quest V merely a video game is an insult to the story. Mirroring a Greek epic, Dragon Quest V delivers a story unlike any that's been seen before or since. As we witness the protagonist grow into a fine hero, we as players also experience a growth, coming out at the end with a better understanding of what it truly means to be a hero. It may come as a surprise to you, dear reader, but I truly love this game. If you desire to experience a once in a life time story, I couldn't recommend Dragon Quest V more.

Dragon Quest V feels ahead of its time. Befriending monsters and recruiting them to your team, before Pokémon. Choosing a wife, starting a family and saving the world together, before Fire Emblem IV. A story about growing up and fatherhood, before the Daddening of the 2000s and 2010s. Dragon Quest V doesn't innovate on a gameplay front, lacking a class or skill system found in other Dragon Quest games, but its moving story and fascinating concepts make it one of the most satisfying games in the series. I love Dragon Quest V and I'll probably play it again in another few years; its brisk runtime and lovely Dragon Quest design have aged well indeed.