Introduction

Countdown to Destruction – Let’s Play Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter



Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter is an RPG-Roguelike released for the Playstation 2 in 2003 as the fifth installment of Capcom’s Breath of Fire RPG series.

In terms of chronology Dragon Quarter is like its predecessor, Breath of Fire IV, in that it floats in a strange void outside the established Breath of Fire continuity. Despite many fan theories about this game existing in the distant future of the franchise, the official word from Capcom is that Dragon Quarter is unrelated to the previous games except through its legacy characters, Ryu and Nina.

The game itself is generally regarded as the black sheep of the Breath of Fire series, being a radical departure from its predecessors in terms of genre, setting and tone. The classic RPG elements are given a pseudo-Roguelike spin, and the traditional dragon transformation ability has been reworked into something that is in every sense apocalyptic. Instead of a colourful medieval fantasy world, Dragon Quarter takes place in a grim and gritty post apocalyptic future where mankind has been forced underground. In lieu of the fantastic and vibrant environments of the rest of the series, the entirety of Dragon Quarter takes place in the dirty, cramped confines of a subterranean shelter.

These changes and others that I’ll get to later were sharply divisive, and Dragon Quarter has since been branded with the dreaded ‘love it or hate it’ label. Personally I respect the game for daring to be so different. It harkens back to a time when game companies weren’t afraid to experiment and try new things, and I applaud the Capcom of yesteryear for taking the risk even if it ruffled a few feathers.

Spoiler Rule
This game is ten years old and the story isn’t Shakespearean. That said, please use spoiler tags when discussing future plot points.

Initial Playthrough:

• Update 01 - Humble Origins
• Update 02 - Freight
• Update 03 - Odjn
• Update 04 - Nina
• Update 05 - Lin
• Update 06 - Waste Shaft
• Update 07 - Awakening
• Update 08 - D-Diving and You
• Update 09 - The Long Way Home
• Update 10 - The Regents
• Update 11 - BioCorp Labs
• Update 12 - Experimental Unit
• Update 13 - Frozen Road
• Update 14 - Confrontation
• Update 15 - Industrial Sector
• Update 16 - The Dark Rangers
• Update 17 - Old Trade Sector
• Update 18 - The Trinity Pit
• Update 19 - Lifeline
• Update 20 - Power One, Part I
• Update 21 - Power One, Part II
• Update 22 - Centre: Cupid
• Update 23 - Centre: Yezuit
• Update 24 - Centre: Hortensia
• Update 25 - Centre: Vexacion
• Update 26 - Cemetery
• Update 27 - The Geofront
• Update 28 - The Surface

New Game+ Playthrough

• Update 01 - A New Adventure
• Update 02 - Twisted Trinity
• Update 03 - The Dragon Blade
• Update 04 - Broken Wings
• Update 05 - Knocking on Sheldar's Doors
• Update 06 - Colonialism
• Update 07 - Ant Farming
• Update 08 - Toxic Personalities
• Update 09 - Silent Witness
• Update 10 - Wingless
• Update 11 - The Benefit of Experience
• Update 12 - Degradation
• Update 13 - Loco Parentis
• Update 14 - Misanthropy
• Update 15 - Nice Tail
• Update 16 - Holy Heart
• Update 17 - The Main Shaft
• Update 18 - A Friendly Wager
• Update 19 - Origin's End
• Update 20 - Kokon Horay
• Update 21 - The Final Challenge

Other Breath of Fire LPs:

Breath of Fire by Me
Breath of Fire II by Me
Breath of Fire III by Rabbi Raccoon
Breath of Fire IV by Daeren

Fanart and Other Stuff:

Nina Acquires Some More Modest Clothing, by blankd: