Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age follows the perilous journey of a hunted hero who must uncover the mystery of his fate with the aid of a charismatic cast of supporting characters. They embark on a quest taking them across continents and over vast oceans as they learn of an ominous threat facing the world.
Dragon Quest 11 brings a massive, gorgeous world to life in a style that blends stylistic cel-shading with photorealistic detail.
Engage in a turn-based battle system that eases players into combat with an accessible experience, featuring mechanics simple enough for novices but with enough depth to satisfy long-time fans.
Dragon Quest 11 features tons of side-quests and mini-games that provide enough content to keep you playing for well over 100 hours.
Editions
Edition of Lost Time. PS4 version only, $150 USD. Square Enix store exclusive.
Edition of Light. PS4 physical / PS4 digital / Steam, $60 USD / £49.99 /
Quick turn-based combat
For the first time in the series, Dragon Quest 11 features truly turn-based combat. In the past, battles proceeded in a round-based fashion, with all of your characters acting, and then enemies acting, etc. This time, each participant's turn can come up at any moment. The game features two different camera modes, as well -- one allows you to move your characters around the battlefield and control the camera freely, and the other features quick camera cuts that focus on the action.
Get pepped up
Occasionally in battle, your characters will be imbued with a blue aura and become able to use special abilities. If other members of your party are also pepped up, you may also be able to engage in team techniques.
The casino... I spent like, 40 hours in there, innit?
Despite its absence in Dragon Quest 9, the casino is back with a vengeance. Slot machines, roulette, it's all here.
Camping under the stars
As you explore the world, you'll come across goddess statues that your party can set up camp at. You'll have an opportunity to chat with your gang, purchase items, and even forge items.
The fun-size forge
In your travels, you may come across recipes for equipment and items. Using the fun-size forge at campsites, you can create these items using materials you've collected on the field or won from enemies.
Power up
Using the character builder, you can choose how to power up your characters. You'll earn SP after each battle, which can be spent to learn skills on the character builder. Make your own path and get pumped up!
Side quests
If you played Dragon Quest 9, you may be groaning right about now. Hold on, though; Dragon Quest 11's side quests are different. This time around, almost every quest has its own small storyline, and none of them ask you to kill a metal slime with a mage, I promise.
And more...
The western version of Dragon Quest 11 has even more stuff compared to the Japanese release.
- Voice acting for all story scenes
- Overhauled user interface
- Photo mode
- Dash feature
- New restrictions added to Draconian Mode, detailed below
Draconian Mode is a set of restrictions you can pick and choose to enable when starting a new game. They range from silly options like "shypox," to some of the more useful new options for the western release, such as reduced experience from easy fights. Here's the full listing:
- No fleeing from battle
- No shopping
- No armor
- Reduced experience from easy fights (experience from enemies lower level than you will be halved)
- All enemies are super strong (the stats of enemies are increased)
- Shypox (you occasionally find yourself too shy to speak with NPCs)
OpenCritic: 89
Metacritic: 88
What's with the music? Why does it sound so bad?
Unfortunately, the game's composer, Koichi Sugiyama, would not allow the game to have orchestrated music, because he would prefer people be enticed to purchase concert tickets and CDs. As a result, the in-game music suffers. It's regrettable, but as someone who has played through the game three times, I can say that it is something you do get used to.
I heard Koichi Sugiyama is anti-LGBT, and racist. Is that true?
Yes. He is also a Japanese war crime denier, and it's terrible. Please read this thread for more information.
If you're really bothered by this, and you choose to pass on the game because of it, that's you're prerogative. Discussion about this particular aspect would probably be better relegated to the above thread where it can be more useful, however. You might also consider donating to a charity to offset your purchase, such as The Trevor Project or Human Rights Campaign, or another of your choice.
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