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 this game, players can capture monsters that inhabit the battlefield. These beasts differ from the creatures you would typically encounter in battles, as they have special names and unique abilities. Once a monster is spotted, it is added to a growing arsenal of creatures that can then be assembled into teams of three to be used as support characters in combat. In addition to being used in battles, players can also deploy these monster teams in the "Monster Battle Road" tournament area of Dragon Quest VIII. Other new features in the series include complete day and night cycles for towns, first-person conversations, and the ability to look around in the 3D environments.