Better known to Americans as Dragon Warrior 8, Dragon Quest VIII brings the long-running RPG series to the PlayStation 2 for the first time. In it, players are able to capture monsters that inhabit the battlefield. These beasts differ from the creatures you'd normally encounter in battles, as they have special names and abilities unique to them. Once a monster has been scouted, it's added to a growing arsenal of creatures that can then be assembled into teams of three for use as support characters in battle. Outside of using these monster teams in combat, players can also use them in Dragon Quest VIII's "Monster Battle Road" tournament grounds. Other new additions to the series include full day and night cycles for towns, first-person conversations, and the ability to look around the 3D environments.