Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition - Nintendo Switch

I haven't finished Dragon Quest 11 on Switch yet, but only because there is just so much to do! In order to reach the true ending, and complete all challenges - you are looking at approximately 120+ hours worth of content. Without a doubt, this is single handedly one of the best JRPGs I've had the pleasure to enjoy playing. I got hooked from Xbox game pass, and needed to be able to play this title on the go... not to mention, Switch definitive edition has exclusive content that is not available on Xbox or Playstation. Overall the story, character development, and gameplay are all captivating aspects of DQ11. However, I can guarantee you'll enjoy nearly every step of your journey. There is a unique variety of companions, who each have their own class/skill set, substory, outfits, and contributions as party members. Also, the world is incredibly expansive and feels genuinely fun to explore. The art design is cute, and may remind folks of Dragonball, because that person is responsible for creating both worlds. Finally, the original soundtrack is filled with epic symphonies, and a strong orchestra to support exciting discovery, impending doom, dramatic moments, or even just the simple town background -- you name it, this OST does not miss! There is plenty of nostalgia for fans of the series, yet it is also a great place to introduce yourself to the dragon quest world. Personally, I preferred playing in 3D mode to get the most out of my experience. I did not enjoy playing the game in 2D, but for "OG" fans of the DQ series, or people who appreciate retro/arcade style graphics, this feature is for you. That would be my only critique -- I did not particularly enjoy being restricted to 2D mode as you saved Tickington, where you had to travel to previous DQ worlds, and complete quests there. This really catered to the older audience/fanbase. And, you unfortunately do need to complete this content to reach the true ending. With that being said, I highly recommend this title for anyone who likes turn based combat, like Pokemon, or party systems, such as Final Fantasy. If nothing less, you will be completely enthralled with this immersive narrative, which is injected with humorous, wholesome moments, yet balanced with the gravity of your responsibility as the Hero. Totally kid friendly!

Graphics: 5/5. Akira Toriyama's character designs are gorgeous as always, with expressive faces for the human characters and monsters that alternate perfectly between scary and cute. From a technical aspect, it's about as good as you can expect on the Switch; the graphics are slightly blurry, but still look great and perform stably for the most part (I've had about 2 crashes in 90 hours of gameplay, that I recall). Sound: 5/5. The orchestral score is AMAZING. I feel sorry for the people who played the earlier versions and had to settle for the synthesized music. (I understand that this was due to legal issues with the composer. I'm very glad that got settled!) Story: 4.5/5. I've heard the story described as "restrained" and I think that's a good word. It doesn't try to do too much outside of what you'd expect; you're a silent protagonist, raised in a peasant village, but you find out you're the destined hero, chosen to save the world, etc. Within the constraints of the heroic fantasy/chosen one framework, though, the story is very well executed. A couple of warnings, though: if you don't like tearjerkers, you might want to avoid this one. I'm a grown man, and I cried at a couple of points in the story. Also, if you're offended by homosexuals, or extremely stereotypical depictions of homosexuals, you also might want to stay away. One of the characters is the most flamboyant gay stereotype I've ever seen. Some will find him hilarious, some will find him obnoxious, I think he manages to be both at once most of the time. (There aren't any sexually explicit parts in this game, hetero or homo, just a lot of what the ESRB calls "suggestive themes.") Gameplay: 4/5. In gameplay terms, this game makes a couple of superficial gestures towards innovation, but largely stays within the Dragon Quest classic turn-based RPG formula. The one improvement that I most appreciate is its adoption of non-random encounters; you actually see monsters walking around in the world, and you go into battle with them if you touch them. The crafting system is also quite addictive, although somewhat basic; you have to find crafting recipes in the world (check ALL of the bookshelves!) and then make items from those recipes with crafting materials dropped from monsters or found in regenerating harvesting locations. If you try to make an item and don't have all the needed materials, then the game will let you automatically purchase all the missing materials for whatever their gold cost is, even if the place that sells it is on the other side of the world in a place you haven't visited yet. (There are some rare materials that cannot be purchased.) I have mixed feelings about this, it does save time tromping around gathering ingredients, but it kind of feels like cheating, and makes the whole system seem pointless. Overall, Dragon Quest 11 S is a fantastic JRPG, even with a few nitpicks, it's worth 5 stars all the way.

At 35 years old, the Dragon Quest series has never looked so good! With Dragon Quest XII in the pipeline, there’s no better way to pass the time than to play through the story of the Luminary in Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition! Fans new and old alike will have plenty to enjoy and discover, and plenty to keep them busy! Being able to take the game on the go with Nintendo Switch is a tremendous bonus not found on other day platforms, as well. I cannot recommend this game enough. If you love JRPGs, this is the series and game for you.

Dragon Quest XI must be played by anyone who loves traditional turn-based JRPGs. And since it is traditional, it's also a good game for people who want to dive into the genre for the first time. Like Final Fantasy games, you don't need to know anything about the previous titles in the franchise because the stories are for the most part disconnected. If you're deciding between the Switch version and the PS4 version, the Switch is the way to go. The ability to speed up battles, call your horse anywhere on the field, and craft items anywhere besides just a save point saves you so much time playing the game. You also get the new 2D-mode if you prefer a retro-styled playthrough, orchestrated versions of in-game music, more story content, and more. This game will last you over 100 hours if you're also looking for a good beefy game to sink into. The visuals are well-preserved in this game as well. I definitely recommend this to anyone!

I picked this up on PS4 last year but held off playing it because of it coming to the switch. I have played a few of the games in the series but never finished any. This one will be the one that I play through to completion. If you are hesitant on whether or not you will like it, there is a demo that you can download for free. Your progress save transfers to the main game if you plan on purchasing after playing the demo. Highly recommended.

I purchased this on release for the PS4 as well. I played that version and while its a bit crisper I felt like the camera rotation was hard to get dialed in on the PS4 and it made me a bit dizzy to play it. On top of that I can't take my PS4 with me. Enter the Switch version. I decided to give this another try on the Switch since I love DQ games and I felt like my experience on the PS4 was not so much the game as it was the hardware. Sure enough I tuned the camera rotation on the switch to make it faster and it felt just right. Add to this the portability of the Switch and I have not made it through the whole game satisfactorily. This game has some extra feature too since it is the definitive edition. The big plus over the PS4 is the upgraded audio. Instead of crappy midi on PS4 you get full symphony tracks. HUGE UPGRADE. I was unable to play and enjoy this game on the PS4, but the Switch version fixed all of my issues and its a better version of the game at the same time. If you have the option for both, but this one. You won't regret it.

I have to admit, I have been sleeping on this game for a very long time. After playing it, it has easily become one of my top video games of all time. I’m glad I finally decided to give this game a chance.

Dragon Quest XI is a very traditional Dragon Quest game. Making fewer changes between entries than the average Final Fantasy, the series has certainly grown into modern consoles while respecting its NES roots. If you're new to Dragon Quest, it's one of the original Japanese RPGs with art by Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball Z). It plays exactly as you'd expect a classic JRPG to play. This is a port of the original PS4/3DS release, and it's kind of the best of both worlds. The graphics are downgraded (but hold up surprisingly well) on the Switch—light maps and textures are of a lower resolution, LoD settings have been tuned way down, and even world and character geometry has been simplified in comparison to the PS4 version. But this version has the additional 2D, "16-bit" mode, which is basically a whole new game with crossover points and the same story as the 3D mode. It's a solid port of an exceptional entry in one of the best and most important video game series ever. Probably worth getting.