A difficult game to rate having played and enjoyed the sequel first. While the interfacing and quality of life is worse (slower movement, obtrusive fusion menus, etc.),the structure of the mystery dungeon style progression to tourney is not necessarily inferior to the more standard adventuring in 2.

It's a great spinoff that delivers the nonlinear progression I know the series for, albeit clunkier and less rewarding than its eventual successors.

I do give this game credit however for starring an existing character in the Dragon Quest series, an element I am happy will be returning in the latest installment.