Editing Dragon Quest (series) (section)

==Common Themes==
Every ''Dragon Quest'' game is told primarily through the eyes of a [[Hero]] named by the player, usually a prophesied "Chosen One" or a similar concept that requires him to rise against a new evil. Often, this evil is a [[Dragonlord]] or some kind of demon, but one that invariably wishes to take over the world and enslave or destroy humanity. Unlike other games in the genre, which have since the turn of the century begun to take on more of a science fiction bent, ''Dragon Quest'' tends to lean more towards traditional fantasy, with medieval technology and trappings. With certain exceptions, most games take place in a world distinct from every other; there is next to no direct continuity between installments, with each game taking place in a world envisioned from the ground up ''ad hoc''.

[[Image:DQIV_Fleeing.png|right|thumb|255px|Fleeing from enemies in {{Dragon Quest IV}}]]
However, ''Dragon Quest I-III and IV-VI'' can be considered related through their storytelling. {{II}} is a direct sequel to the original game, while {{III}} is a prequel that effectively makes a [[Erdrick trilogy|trilogy]]; {{IV}}, {{V}} and {{VI}} each feature the [[Zenithia]] castle as an important plot element, and so fans have come to call them the "[[Zenithia trilogy]]." However, [[Yuji Horii]] has stated that this second group was never intended to be related.

Magic is frequently an important element, as both an in-battle ability of player-controlled characters and the cause of various world-shaking events.

As a pioneer in the RPG realm, ''Dragon Quest'' games have a reputation for being "bread and butter" representatives of the genre. The player advances through the game by carrying out pre-determined actions directly related to the progression of the plot, such as collecting a key item or defeating a particular antagonist. Usually, one of his first orders of business is to gather a party of like-minded warriors to join him on his quest. As the party traverses the landscape and various dungeons, they will be forced to fight (or, if they choose, flee from) enemies based on a "random encounter" system. Later in the game, the party often acquires improved transportation that may allow them to avoid such skirmishes. Battles are turn-based; the player delivers combat instructions each turn from an in-battle menu system. Some games feature AI that sees all party members but the Hero character responding to situations based on various factors at hand, sometimes including general orders such as "Attack ferociously" or "Go all-out with magic."

Defeating enemy characters yields "[[Experience Points]]" (EXP). When a certain number of EXP has been accumulated, the character levels up and becomes stronger, improving in a number of areas represented by statistical values that affect their performance on the battlefield.  This system means that if a player finds any part of a ''Dragon Quest'' game too difficult, he can simply fight against weaker enemies until he becomes strong enough to have an easier time of it.