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A new interactive event in Japan offers a “brief history of slime” in commemoration of the legendary role playing game’s 30th anniversary.

Japanese RPG fans show up in droves as an exciting new Dragon Quest event opens in Tokyo. It’s called “Dragon Quest Museum,”  and it offers a unique opportunity for players to celebrate the long-running series, which first debuted on the NES in 1986.

Ten installments (and numerous spin-offs) later, Dragon Quest remains a beloved pop cultural institution in Japan, with its addictive monster collecting elements and memorable character designs from Dragon Ball creator, Akira Toriyama. The exhibit is Square Enix’s latest “thank you” to devoted players for the past several decades of loyal fandom, along with several other recent offerings ranging from the delicious to the, frankly, kind of surreal-looking.

▼ The author’s cherished copy of Dragon Quest V

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The “Dragon Quest Museum” event opened to the public on July 24th and will run until September 11th, offering a variety of game-related experiences, exclusive merchandise, and creative displays for fans. Some of the sights in the exhibition space include dioramas recreating favorite scenes and locations from different entries in the series, interactive video installations, and Dragon Quest-themed food!

▼ Visitors can experience DQ VIII’s “tension system” in an interactive area

In North America, the series never caught on to the extent of the Final Fantasy series, though several have been released in the past (I, VII, and VIII to name several). The series was initially known in the States as “Dragon Warrior” (video below), and first arrived in 1989, albeit it in a heavily altered format.

In Japan, however, the franchise has become synonymous with the role playing genre, and remains a perennial favorite with gamers of a certain age. The most recent entry, Dragon Quest X, was the series first foray into the world of MMO gameplay, but a new game next year will see the series return to its roots.

In the meantime, nostalgic fans can go ahead and start lining up to enjoy the chance to revisit some of their favorite moments and Dragon Quest memories from over the years. And line up they shall! The exhibit has proven so popular, in fact, that its organizers have taken to Twitter to periodically broadcast the waiting conditions, and let people know the best times to visit.

▼　”[A]s of 6:30 p.m., you can now enter without waiting.” Now’s your chance!

For salarymen (and women) that grew up with the franchise, the organizers of the event have also thoughtfully extended hours until 9 p.m., to cater to visitors seeking a bit of escapist monster smashing on their commute home from the office.

For those of you lucky enough to be visiting Tokyo between now and September 11th, details about how to visit are below!

Museum Information
Dragon Quest Museum
Address: 2-21-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan 150-8510
150-8510 東京都渋谷区渋谷2-21-1
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Entry: 2,500 yen (US$24.70)
Website

Sources: PR Times, Dragon Quest Museum Official Website
Top image: Dragon Quest Museum Official Website
Image: ©RocketNews24