In 2010, a legendary game released that took the western market by storm.
That game was Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, which released to near universal acclaim and sales in excess of 1 million units. After such a blockbuster smash hit, and with the eyes of the world on them, Square Enix retreated from the mainline DQ franchise for a while. An experimental MMO, Dragon Quest X, released in Japan; here in the west, we received nothing.
That all changed eight years later, when Square Enix deigned to localize and publish Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, the newest mainline entry in this illustrious series, and one of the most stratospheric entries we have yet seen.
While many players praised the well-executed narrative, or the spectacular battle system, or the lovable characters, I don't think enough attention and praise was lavished on the most important party member of them all - your horse!
You see, your horse in Dragon Quest XI is your means to exploring and soaking in a vast, vibrant world, one filled with bold, beautiful colors and sumptuous, stylized detail. I would like to show some screenshots of those lovely locales, and discuss this wonderful, wonderful game as a whole, too.
Pictured: Me riding my horse though the Emerald Coast, a lush land of pretty plains and mellow meadows.
You receive your horse very early in the game, and I think this speaks to his importance in the overarching narrative - he is, after all, your first party member!
This early area, the Emerald Coast, despite being a mere prelude of pleasures to come, provides a wonderful jumping off point, bathing the landscape in a warm, wistful glow as you traverse the land in pursuit of fearsome foes. I particularly enjoy the powerful primary colors used, especially the bold greens; they really bring the atmosphere to life and make the game feel like an epic adventure through a land of fantasy and myth. These attractive, stunning colors are put to good use in the game, which - in my humble opinion - is the best looking JRPG I've ever played, as a holistic assessment of its art direction, colorization, and animation, and not just its raw graphical power.
Pictured: me riding my horse through golden grains and heaps of hay.
One of my favorite areas to explore is Zwaardrust, where fields of wheats extend far into the distance, covering the land in a decidedly comforting gold even as you explore the ruined remains of a kingly castle. This juxtaposition of moods is, in fact, one of Dragon Quest XI's particular strengths, as it effortlessly contrasts moments of stunning beauty or light-hearted levity with more serious fare, creating a game which covers the entire spectrum of emotions, from joy and wonder to disgust and sadness.
Pictured: me riding my horse through radiant rocks and crystal coral in a tiny tunnel.
What this picture best captures is the sheer attention - no, obsession - with detail in Dragon Quest XI, where even areas off-the-beaten-path, such as this one, reveal unique spectacles that you could easily miss if you're not careful. It is a game where a tender, loving care for the world itself, and a meticulous modus operandi of awesome art direction fully realized by consummate craftsmanship, is absolutely apparent. While polish and detail aren't the be-all, end-all of determining a game's quality, it is an indication of Dragon Quest XI's broader excellence in virtually every area. Nothing was skimped on, no corners were cut; it is a sheer, unadulterated celebration of the JRPG, and of that spirit of high-adventure that has always been the cornerstone of the genre, and that Dragon Quest III itself captured so perfectly those many years ago. And the care taken towards even smaller areas, such as this, is indicative of that desire to present a high-quality game at every moment, from beginning to end.
Pictured: me riding my horse through the shining snow and wintry wastes of the far north.
And finally, another picture to show the variety in environments, and to show how much utility your precious horse has! You can take him almost everywhere in the overworld, and it's a joy to explore, and to have him gallop right through enemies as you make your way along the countryside.
As someone who has played many Dragon Quest games over the years, I completed Dragon Quest XI with a feeling of complete and utter admiration and wonder. For a series that has been active for more than 30 years, and which was arguably the centerpiece of the JRPG genre as a whole, it is incredible to me that this latest entry can maintain the same excellence that I associate with the series in its heyday - in fact, in many ways, this game even exceeds those lofty heights! It is a love letter to the JRPG and, really, to the concept of adventure as a whole; it is a stunning, fully-realized console JRPG, made in the traditional style, in a world where that type of game is no longer a certainty; and, most importantly, it is an experience I will cherish for years, hopefully even decades. Notwithstanding the wonders of Resident Evil 7 VR, this is my game of the generation, and I would like to discuss it with anyone who will listen.
That being said, what did you think of our excellent equestrian friend in Dragon Quest XI, what did you think of the game as a whole, and do you have any of your own screenshots to share?
