《勇者鬥惡龍 英雄集結 闇龍與世界樹之城》（Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below）是由Omega Force開發、Square Enix發行的動作角色扮演遊戲（ARPG）。於2015年在PlayStation 3、PlayStation 4和PC平台推出，2017年移植到Switch。融合《勇者鬥惡龍》的經典元素與無雙類型的動作玩法，是系列的一次創新嘗試。

背景設定在充滿魔法與怪物的世界「艾爾薩澤」。本來，人類與怪物和平共存，但某一天，邪惡的魔法師「賽爾班提斯」施展黑暗魔法，使怪物陷入狂暴，開始攻擊人類。王國的兩名主角，年輕的將軍「奧魯涅斯」與「柯蕾特」，肩負起拯救世界的使命。他們攜手其他來自《勇者鬥惡龍》歷代的知名角色，一同對抗賽爾班提斯，尋找恢復世界和平的方法。玩家將跟隨主角們穿越各地，尋找盟友、解開世界樹的秘密，並最終與黑暗魔龍展開決戰。故事雖然相對傳統，但以《勇者鬥惡龍》風格呈現，充滿幽默、熱血以及感動人心的情節，尤其是來自不同作品的角色們互動，讓老玩家感到懷舊而親切。

採用即時動作戰鬥，類似無雙遊戲，可以操控多名角色，在大量敵人中大殺四方。不同角色擁有各自的武器與技能，像是奧魯涅斯擅長大劍攻擊，而柯蕾特則是使用雙劍進行快速連擊。戰鬥中可以隨時切換隊伍成員，根據戰況選擇最適合的角色進行攻擊。技能系統能夠學習與強化不同的技能，並且透過MP管理施展強力魔法或特殊技。此外，還引入「怪物召喚系統」，收集怪物召喚石，召喚被打敗的怪物來協助戰鬥，增加戰術變化。

主要分為故事模式與支線任務。故事模式中，將逐步探索不同的王國，每個地區都有獨特的敵人與挑戰，甚至還有守護世界樹的戰役。部分關卡帶有防守元素，需要保護據點不被敵人攻破，而不是單純清場。這樣的設計讓戰鬥不只是單調的砍殺，還需要戰略佈局與防守思維。支線任務則提供額外的挑戰與獎勵，可以完成NPC委託、獵殺強敵或蒐集素材來強化裝備。遊戲內還有鍛造與合成系統，能夠製作更強的武器與防具，提升角色戰力。

當年發售後獲得不錯的評價，特別是在《勇者鬥惡龍》粉絲群體中廣受好評。美術風格忠實還原鳥山明的設計，戰鬥爽快、角色眾多，並且配樂也由系列長期作曲家椙山浩一負責，讓人能夠享受熟悉的音樂氛圍。然而，部分玩家認為關卡設計較為重複，敵人AI偏簡單，導致挑戰性較低。此外，劇情雖然有趣，但相較於傳統的《勇者鬥惡龍》正傳，深度較淺，對RPG要素的比重也較輕。對於不熟悉該系列的玩家來說，整體的樂趣可能會略微減少。

總體而言，作為動作RPG，成功結合《勇者鬥惡龍》的魅力與無雙風格的戰鬥，讓新舊玩家都能享受其中的樂趣。這次的嘗試也獲得足夠的成功，促使Square Enix 在2016年推出續作《勇者鬥惡龍 英雄集結 II 雙子之王與預言的終焉》，進一步強化遊戲系統並加入更多角色與新內容。

Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below is an action role-playing game (ARPG) developed by Omega Force and published by Square Enix. It was released in 2015 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PC, and later ported to the Nintendo Switch in 2017. The game blends classic Dragon Quest elements with Dynasty Warriors-style hack-and-slash action, making it an innovative attempt for the series.

The story takes place in the magical world of Elsalze, where humans and monsters once coexisted peacefully. However, one day, an evil sorcerer named Velasco casts dark magic, driving the monsters into a frenzy and causing them to attack humans. The kingdom’s two young generals, Luceus and Aurora, take on the mission of saving the world. They join forces with legendary characters from past Dragon Quest games to battle Velasco and find a way to restore peace.

Players embark on an adventure across different lands, seeking allies, uncovering the secrets of the World Tree, and ultimately facing the Dark Dragon in a climactic battle. While the storyline follows a traditional fantasy structure, it is presented in the signature Dragon Quest style, filled with humor, excitement, and emotional moments. The interactions between characters from different Dragon Quest titles bring nostalgia and familiarity to longtime fans.

The game features real-time action combat, similar to Dynasty Warriors, allowing players to control multiple characters and fight through waves of enemies. Each character has unique weapons and abilities—Luceus excels in heavy greatsword attacks, while Aurora wields dual swords for swift combos. Players can freely switch between party members during battle, choosing the most suitable character based on the situation.

The skill system enables characters to learn and enhance various abilities, while MP management plays a crucial role in executing powerful spells and special moves. Additionally, the game introduces the Monster Summoning System, where players collect monster medals to summon defeated monsters as allies, adding more strategic depth to combat.

The game is divided into Story Mode and Side Quests. In Story Mode, players gradually explore different kingdoms, each featuring unique enemies and challenges, including major battles to defend the World Tree. Some stages incorporate defensive missions, requiring players to protect a stronghold from enemy invasions instead of simply clearing out foes. This design adds an element of tactical planning beyond simple hack-and-slash gameplay.

Side quests provide additional challenges and rewards, such as NPC requests, hunting powerful enemies, and gathering materials to upgrade equipment. The game also includes a forging and synthesis system, allowing players to craft stronger weapons and armor to enhance their characters.

Upon release, the game received generally positive reviews, particularly from Dragon Quest fans. The art style faithfully recreates Akira Toriyama’s designs, the combat is exhilarating with a large cast of playable characters, and the soundtrack, composed by series veteran Koichi Sugiyama, delivers a familiar and immersive musical experience. However, some players felt that the level design was repetitive, enemy AI was overly simplistic, and the game lacked significant challenge. Additionally, while the story was engaging, it lacked the depth of a mainline Dragon Quest RPG, with a lighter emphasis on traditional RPG mechanics. For newcomers unfamiliar with the series, the overall experience might feel somewhat less compelling.

Overall, as an action RPG, the game successfully combines the charm of Dragon Quest with Dynasty Warriors-style combat, making it enjoyable for both new and veteran players. This successful experiment led Square Enix to release a sequel, Dragon Quest Heroes II: Twin Kings and the Prophecy’s End, in 2016, which further refined the gameplay mechanics and introduced new characters and content.

《勇者鬥惡龍 英雄集結 II 雙子之王與預言的終焉》（Dragon Quest Heroes II: Twin Kings and the Prophecy's End）是Square Enix與Omega Force聯手開發的動作角色扮演遊戲，於2016年在PlayStation 3、PlayStation 4、PlayStation Vita平台推出，隨後登陸 PC（Steam）與 Nintendo Switch。作為系列的第二部作品，不僅延續前作的無雙風格戰鬥，更強化RPG元素，並新增開放世界探索與多人連線合作模式，讓遊戲體驗更加豐富。

千年前，異世界由雙子之王札拉姆與納吉姆統治，兩兄弟攜手維繫著世界的秩序。然而，札拉姆最終墮入黑暗，化身為魔王，試圖毀滅這個世界。為阻止哥哥的暴行，納吉姆竭盡全力，最終成功將札拉姆封印，並離開異世界，來到遊戲中的世界。

然而，札拉姆的破壞已經讓世界陷入混亂，一場毀滅性的戰爭爆發，導致世界最終分裂為七大國家。南方由奧倫加、傑瓦爾和庫雷帝亞三國組成，北方則是莫利亞斯、拉達爾與費爾諾克，而在世界中心，則矗立著宗主國瑟比翁。南方三國與宗主國瑟比翁是人類與怪物共存的國度，而北方三國則由怪物族所統治。戰爭結束後，瑟比翁王成為各國的盟主，透過協調與談判，使得這片大地得以暫時維持和平。

然而，這片土地上流傳著一則古老的預言。預言之中提到，當世界再度陷入戰亂與動盪之時，雙子之王將再次降臨，掌控天下，帶來新的秩序，改變這個世界的命運。隨著時間的推移，人們逐漸遺忘這段歷史，然而，命運的齒輪卻已經悄然開始轉動……

主角分為兩名年輕的戰士，分別是「拉傑爾」與「泰蕾西雅」，他們是兄妹，原本在不同的國家生活，卻因為戰爭的緣故重逢，並決定攜手尋找戰爭背後的真相。在旅途中，他們遇見來自《勇者鬥惡龍》歷代的知名角色，像是《DQIV》的特魯內克、《DQVI》的哈桑、《DQVII》的瑪麗貝爾、賈波等，這些英雄們與主角並肩作戰，共同對抗試圖掌控世界的神祕敵人「賽爾班提斯」，並揭開古老預言的真正含義。

相較於前作偏向單線劇情，本作的故事更加宏大，帶有更多政治鬥爭、國家間的衝突與陰謀，讓劇情變得更加有層次。此外，主角可以選擇不同的職業，使得玩家在故事中的成長體驗更加多樣化。

戰鬥系統延續前作的即時動作風格，但引入更多RPG要素，使遊戲不再只是單純的無雙式砍殺，而是更接近傳統的《勇者鬥惡龍》冒險模式。依舊可以組成四人小隊，在戰鬥中自由切換操控角色，每個角色都有各自獨特的武器與技能，透過連續攻擊與魔法組合，可以施展出強大的連擊。

本作最大的改變之一是「職業系統」，主角可以自由轉職，選擇戰士、僧侶、魔法師、武鬥家等經典職業，每種職業都有不同的戰鬥風格與技能，能夠依照自己的遊玩風格打造角色。此外，透過升級與裝備強化，進一步強化角色的能力，增添遊戲深度。另一個新要素是「怪物變身系統」，收集怪物的靈魂，並在戰鬥中變身成該怪物，使用其特殊技能來應對戰況。這使得戰鬥變得更加多變，特別是在面對強敵或大規模戰鬥時，怪物變身能提供戰術上的優勢。

捨棄前作較為線性的關卡設計，改為開放式地圖，自由探索不同的國度。七個國家各自擁有獨特的環境與怪物，從繁華都市、沙漠、森林到冰雪地帶，每個地區都設計得相當細緻，夠體驗更具冒險感的旅程。此外，加入NPC任務、隱藏寶箱、地下迷宮等探索要素，增強整體的耐玩度。關卡設計上也更加多元，不只是單純的擊敗敵人，部分關卡還需要進行防禦戰，保護特定據點免受怪物侵襲，或是解開機關來開啟通往下一個區域的道路。此外，新增「多人合作模式」，最多可四人連線協力挑戰特定關卡，使耐玩度大幅提升。

當年在發售後獲得普遍良好的評價，許多玩家認為比前作更加精緻，特別是在戰鬥系統與探索要素上的改進，使遊戲不再只是單純的無雙風格，而更接近傳統的《勇者鬥惡龍》冒險體驗。職業系統的加入讓角色培養更具深度，而開放式地圖與多人連線模式則大幅提高可玩性。然而，部分玩家仍然認為本作的劇情雖然有所提升，但相比於《勇者鬥惡龍》本傳，仍然稍嫌薄弱。此外，部分關卡的AI設計仍然較為單調，使得挑戰性稍顯不足，對於習慣高難度動作遊戲的玩家來說可能不夠具有挑戰性。

總體而言，《勇者鬥惡龍 英雄集結 II》成功改進前作的不足，提供更加豐富的遊戲體驗，對於喜歡《勇者鬥惡龍》系列或是動作 RPG 的玩家來說，該作無疑是值得嘗試的佳作。

Dragon Quest Heroes II: Twin Kings and the Prophecy's End is an action RPG developed by Square Enix and Omega Force. It was released in 2016 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita, followed by a later release on PC (via Steam) and Nintendo Switch. As the second installment in the series, the game builds upon the hack-and-slash combat of its predecessor while incorporating deeper RPG elements, open-world exploration, and online co-op multiplayer, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

A thousand years ago, an alternate world was ruled by twin kings, Zalam and Najim. The two brothers maintained order in their realm, but Zalam ultimately succumbed to darkness and became the Demon King, seeking to destroy everything. To stop his brother’s rampage, Najim fought with all his might, successfully sealing Zalam away before leaving the alternate world and arriving in the game's world.

However, Zalam’s destruction had already plunged the world into chaos, triggering a devastating war that led to its division into seven nations. The southern lands consisted of Orlenka, Gewar, and Creitia, while the northern lands were home to Morias, Ladar, and Felknok. At the center of the world stood the dominant kingdom of Serbion. The southern nations and Serbion were home to both humans and monsters, while the northern nations were ruled entirely by monsters. After the war, the King of Serbion took on the role of the world's leader, mediating conflicts and preserving a fragile peace.

Yet, an ancient prophecy foretold that when war once again engulfed the world, the twin kings would reappear, ruling over all and reshaping the world's destiny. As time passed, history was gradually forgotten, but the wheels of fate had already begun to turn…

The protagonists of this tale are two young warriors, Lazarel and Teresia, a brother and sister who had been living separately in different nations but were reunited due to the outbreak of war. Determined to uncover the truth behind the conflict, they embark on a journey that brings them into contact with legendary characters from past Dragon Quest titles. Familiar faces such as Torneko (DQIV), Hassan (DQVI), Maribel, and Ruff (DQVII) join forces with the protagonists, aiding them in their battle against the mysterious enemy Cervantes, who seeks to dominate the world. Along the way, they unravel the true meaning behind the ancient prophecy.

Unlike its predecessor, which followed a more linear storyline, Dragon Quest Heroes II presents a grander narrative with deeper themes of political strife, national conflicts, and intrigue. The protagonists can choose from multiple job classes, allowing for greater character development and strategic depth.

The combat system retains the real-time action style of the previous game but introduces additional RPG mechanics, making battles more than just mindless hack-and-slash encounters. Players can form a four-person party and freely switch between characters during combat, each wielding unique weapons and skills. By combining attacks and magic, players can unleash devastating combos.

One of the game’s most significant additions is the Job System, allowing protagonists to switch between various classic Dragon Quest professions such as Warrior, Priest, Mage, and Martial Artist. Each job features distinct combat styles and abilities, enabling players to tailor their characters to their preferred playstyle. Character progression is further enhanced through leveling up and equipment upgrades, adding more depth to the gameplay.

Another new mechanic is the Monster Transformation System, where players can collect monster souls and temporarily transform into those creatures during battle. This feature adds a strategic layer, as certain monster forms provide unique abilities useful for different combat scenarios.

Unlike the first game’s linear stage progression, Dragon Quest Heroes II adopts an open-world structure, allowing players to freely explore different nations. Each of the seven countries boasts distinct environments and enemy types, ranging from bustling cities and deserts to dense forests and icy wastelands. The game also includes NPC side quests, hidden treasure chests, and underground dungeons, enhancing the sense of adventure.

The level design offers more variety, introducing defensive missions, where players must protect key locations from waves of monsters, and puzzle-based challenges, requiring players to unlock paths by solving environmental obstacles. Additionally, the game features multiplayer co-op mode, allowing up to four players to team up and tackle special missions together, greatly increasing replayability.

Upon release, Dragon Quest Heroes II received generally positive reviews. Many players praised its improvements over the first game, particularly the refined combat mechanics and expanded exploration elements, making it feel closer to a traditional Dragon Quest experience rather than just a Dynasty Warriors-style hack-and-slash game. The introduction of the Job System was well received, offering greater depth to character progression, while the open-world design and co-op multiplayer added significant longevity.

However, some players felt that while the story was more engaging than its predecessor, it still fell short compared to the mainline Dragon Quest games. Additionally, certain AI behaviors were criticized for being too simplistic, making some battles feel less challenging for experienced action RPG players.

Overall, Dragon Quest Heroes II successfully refined its predecessor’s formula, delivering a richer and more engaging experience. For fans of the Dragon Quest series or action RPGs, this game is a worthy addition to their collection.