Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an ElusiveAge S (Definitive Edition) Demo is currently free to play on PS4, Xbox 1 and PC, the demo allows for 10 hours of gameplay. Having just started the Dragonquest Anime (note the new game and anime have nothing to do with each other), we thought we would give it go. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is an RPG developed by Square Equinox, the original game was released worldwide in 2018 with a definite edition released on Nintendo Switch in 2019 and is due to be released on PS, Xbox and PC in December 2020. The definitive edition offers English dialogue to increase international awareness, supports 4K resolution and has an extended plot as well as an option to listen an orchestral version of the score.
As with all our game reviews we’ll be looking at Graphics, Game Play and Story, after our final thoughts we rate the game on a 5 star rating system.
Graphics
The graphics are good if not a little uninspired, you can tell that Akira Toriyama had a hand in the character design as they are very Dragonball-ish, not that there is any thing wrong with that. Although simple the world is very well developed with fantastic scenery and town designs, the use of bright colours helps to make these features stand out, the game feels like you’re actually playing a live cartoon rather than real world feel.
Game Play
The attack system is turn based, you do have an option to ramp up the speed of the battles, the game offers a semi-open world as in you have to follow a linear story, with occasional side quests available in the towns and cities. However you are able to explore and fight monsters to gain exp whilst going from point A to B. Over all the game play is fun and you can find yourself getting lost in the game, being able to speed up the battles is awesome if you don’t normally like turn based games. There is nothing complicated about this game it is very easy to play which is good as this type of game would suit a younger audience.
Story
You play as a young boy who was found floating in a river as a baby, you are raised in a small village by the daughter of the man who found you. Years later, after a coming of age ceremony you are told of your past and who you truly are. You set off on a quest to find out more about your real family and the strange mark on your hand, but not everything is as it seems and you can’t trust everyone you meet.
The story from what we have gathered from our time playing is very interesting, it leaves you wanting to know more and this helps the game immensely as you can truly get lost. You would expect no less from the team involved in this game it could easily be adapted in to an Anime, in fact it has, well not this game in particular, but the franchise did inspire an Anime available on Crunchyroll.
Final Thoughts
This is the first game in franchise we have played so we cannot compare it to the other games in the franchise but from what we have played of this new game it does not seem like you have to have played the previous titles. We personally do not like playing turn based attack games preferring free attack games so the ability to speed up action was life saver for us. It took a while for us to get into game but little by little the game starts draw you in with strong story with the simple game play you will get lost in game. Overall the game is good however we personally would not spend the £50.00 new games tend cost however if was on sale we might pick it up under £20.00. We would recommend keeping to the original Japanese with English subtitles as the English dub seems to be aimed more at children, which does fit the game’s feel of being for a younger audience. However it is a fun game with plenty to do and would probably be a fun game to play with the family.
3 Out Of 5 Stars
The Great British Otaku
Andrew More
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