With the launch of the fourth part in Japan, a norm that lasts until today is initiated.
This same day 30 years ago, on February 11, 1990, the fourth installment of the saga that had become a true mass phenomenon was launched in Japan: Dragon Quest. The third installment, released a couple of years before, had been crazy. The team had managed to exponentially expand the boundaries of the first two, creating a world that felt more expansive than ever thanks to the introduction of innovations such as a day / night cycle, a system of classes and multiclasses or a more open game structure. The expectation for the game, launched on Wednesday, February 10, 88, was such that it completely exceeded all forecasts, selling 1 million units in a single day and generating a public order problem with about 300 arrests of students who They had skipped classes to get the coveted title.
The urban legend tells that, in view of the launch of the fourth part and seen what happened, the Japanese government itself imposed a restriction by which a new Dragon Quest could only be put up for sale during the weekend – which, indeed, It has been that way since then, on February 11, 1990, the launch of the fourth part was Sunday. This would be known as "the Dragon Quest law" and it is possible that more than one has heard it on occasion, since it is a popular urban legend (but after all urban legend).
Back Cover DQ IV
Urban legends
The Japanese government has nothing to do with this unwritten law, it was Yuji Horii himself, the historical director of the saga, who imposed this condition, affected by news in the press about the riots that had caused his game. Enix asked Nintendo to make an exception with them and put Dragon Quest on sale over the weekend, and so it happened given the size they had reached. Dragon Quest XI itself, the last major installment, came out on July 29 in Japan, on a Saturday, thus respecting something that has become an iconic RPG tradition.
The fourth installment in question, which is the one that turns 30 today, did not seem to weigh the change. Like the third part, it easily sold a million units during the first day and was placed as the fourth best-selling game in Famicom's history – yes, below Dragon Quest III. Years later it was taken in the form of a remake to the original Playstation, and later to Nintendo DS and mobiles, becoming another beloved delivery of a name that does not lose its brightness with age.
