For most of us, we can wait a little longer until Dragon Quest IX is released, but not 73-year-old Japanese actress Keiko Awaji.

For her, it's a matter of life or death.

Japanese film actress Keiko Awaji wants to play new Dragon Quest and pronto. Awaji, who has appeared in over 160 movies since 1949 including Akira Kurosawa's police noir Stray Dog, said this about DQ.

"I won't live forever. I'd like to play two more more games... I really want them to put out a new game once every two years."

Don't we all Awaji-san, don't we all.

Awaji is a big fan of role-playing games, including Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and Mother (known in the West as Earthbound).
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These are the new and upcoming Square Enix North American releases. Included are:
- Star Ocean: The Last Hope
- Dragon Quest V
- Valkyrie Profile
- Dissidia Final Fantasy
- Echoes of Time
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Heads at Square Enix Europe must be shaking as mere weeks after Chrono Trigger DS struggled to perform on its first European release Dragon Quest V has also failed to interest European audiences, failing to chart in the DS top 40 on its week of release according to Chart Track, UK chart experts.
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"So now you know what´s coming. The question is: are you ready to face the non-stop gamestravaganza formerly known as February!? We hope you are, 'cause March looks like it´s going to be CRAZY! See you then!"

Square Enix reveal the new and upcoming titles hitting European gamers this February and March 2009.
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Details on the major new and upcoming Square Enix developed games for January, February and the start of March.

Included:

Star Ocean: Second Evolution (PlayStation Portable)
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (Nintendo DS)
Star Ocean: The Last Hope (Microsoft Xbox 360)
Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume
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Square Enix has announced Dragon Quest: The Hand of the Heavenly Bride will be released across PAL territories on 20th February 2009, exclusively on the Nintendo DS.
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Square-Enix blog: "Ready for another adventure? The DRAGON QUEST V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride website is now online for your viewing pleasure. For now, you can familiarize yourself with the game's story and a few of the characters. The title launches on the Nintendo DS February 17, less than two months away!

Keep an eye on the site for more updates."
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2 Square Enix games are already available and 3 more set for release in North America during early 2009.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope (Xbox 360) is available 3rd March 2009.

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (Nintendo DS) is available 17th February 2009.

Star Ocean: Second Evolution (PlayStation Portable) is available 20th January 2009.

The World Ends With You (Nintendo DS) is available now.

Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories (PlayStation 2) is available now.
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What a boring headline, I do apologize.

Anyway, here are ten new screens for Square Enix's latest portable Dragon Quest revival, Dragon Quest V. DQIV was a solid DS remake, although I do still need to get around to finishing it, and I fully expect DQV to be just as good.

Europeans should note that the game is confirmed for Europe, where it will be making its PAL region debut. No release date is yet confirmed, although hopefully it will be close to the North American release of February 17, 2009.

Hit the jump for the full European announcement. See? I may have left the country, but I'm still looking out for you limey bastards.

London (2nd December 2008) – Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces that DRAGON QUEST®: The Hand of the Heavenly Bride will be released across PAL territories in Spring 2009, exclusively on the Nintendo DS handheld system.

Following the fun and colourful path set by DRAGON QUEST: The Chapters of the Chosen, the second instalment in the Zenithia Trilogy, DRAGON QUEST: The Hand of the Heavenly Bride now journeys onto the Nintendo DS as a high quality remake of the classic DRAGON QUEST V, packed with exciting new features and a truly genre defining story.

Considered to be one of the best games in the entire DRAGON QUEST series; DRAGON QUEST: The Hand of the Heavenly Bride will finally make its much awaited debut in Europe. Look out for the next adventure in the trilogy – DRAGON QUEST: Realms of Reverie – coming to Nintendo DS soon.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, "With this new entry in the DRAGON QUEST series, we hope game players of all ages will enjoy the DRAGON QUEST experience, following our hero through a lifetime of limitless adventures and great surprises."
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SquareEnix have today announces that Dragon Quest: The Hand of the Heavenly Bride will be released across PAL territories in Spring 2009, exclusively on the NintendoDS handheld system...
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Gamesutra:

"Square Enix released its financial results for the first half of its fiscal year ending March 31st, 2009, reporting a 13.9 percent rise in profit to ¥6 billion ($61.8 million) on slightly decreased revenue, compared to ¥5.2 billion ($53.2 million) during the same period in 2007.

According to the company's data, its Dragon Quest V DS remake, moved 1.15 million units in Japan alone since the game debuted in July 2008."
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There was an eight month interval between the release of Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen and Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride in Japan. North America might not have to wait as long for the next game in the Zenithia trilogy since Dragon Quest V: Hand in the Heavenly Bride was just rated by the USK, Germany's ESRB equivalent. Since Dragon Quest V has a rating it must be well in developmen
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Back in late July, Square Enix announced it had shipped a million copies of title Dragon Quest V in Japan. Now Square Enix is back with another DQV announcement: The company has sold a million copies of the DS remake, which went on sale July 17th in Japan. Let this be a lesson to everyone! Shipped and sold are not the same.
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Square Enix announced today that Dragon Quest V has, as of the 30th (Japan time), crossed the million shipment mark. The title was released in Japan on July 17.

Platinum sales for this latest Dragon Quest remake shouldn't come as a surprise. Last week, Media Create reported first week sales of over 600,000 units for the game. DQV's predecessor, a remake of DQIV, topped the million mark as well following its November 2007 Japanese release.
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Ameblo via VGChartz is reporting that the first day sales estimates in Japan on July 17th, 2008 as follow:

First Day Sales : The numbers in () shows the shipments info.

* DQ V (DS): about 420k (about 700k)
* Gundam Battle Universe (PSP): about 98k (about 160~170k)
* Tears to Tiara (PS3): about 20k
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Dengeki Online writes: "DQV Protect Case DS Lite", from July 17, Square Enix released by the RPG for the DS Dragon Quest V, the bride's original design, protected for the Nintendo DS Lite case. The game is fitted with a state operation and exchange software and volume control, power manipulation, each terminal are not possible. Polycarbonate material to a high degree of transparency adopted by the superior strength.

Translated by Google.
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According to widgamer.com, the European release of those titles has been confirmed by Square Enix, with Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen to come out in September 2008 for both North America and Europe.
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Square-Enix has confirmed that Dragon Quest IV, V and VI will be on their way to USA for DS. The first US screens of IV are here.Known as the Zenithia Trilogy, the games were originally released for the NES and SNES back in the early nineties. The new titles will have 3D graphics, newly animated monsters and dual screen presentation.Dragon Quest IV (its full name being Dragon Quest: Chapters of the Chosen) will ... » Read More

After discovering that the original Japanese release of Dragon Quest IV DS had a partially translated English script in it, then picking up clues in regards to a possible stateside release thanks to the ESRB and USPTO, RPG house Square Enix has finally confirmed that all three DQ DS remakes are heading to North America.
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VG247's reporting that Square Enix has dated Dragon Quest V for a July 17 release in Japan.
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