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Dragon Quest XI Review Thread

Deleted member 249

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Oct 25, 2017
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OPENCRITIC: 89
METACRITIC: 88

Destructoid: 8/10
Enix, and by proxy Square, have found myriad ways to repackage the journey of Dragon Quest and Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age proves that they haven't run out of ideas yet. It's one of the easier modern Dragon Quests to get into precisely because it gets back to basics. If you've been pining for an older-school character-focused RPG instead of the player-created party focus of IX and the MMO aspect of X, the wait has ended.
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Twinfinite: 5/5
Dragon Quest XI is a high new benchmark for the series, and shows how a traditional JRPG can still be appealing for the modern age.
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Wccftech: 8.9/10
Dragon Quest XI is an incredible example of how to take a classic series and modernize it with updated graphics and voice acting while still keeping what made the original so charming. If the story stayed strong all the way through, it would be my favorite in the series hands-down. Nevertheless, it's still in the top three Dragon Quests that I've ever played.
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RPG Site: 10/10
I cannot recommend Dragon Quest XI enough. It has the best story for the series in ages, giving new players and veterans a reason to engage with the game world and connect with the characters that live in it. The RPG manages to walk the fine line between old-school style and modern upgrades, creating gameplay that is both familiar and refreshing. Dragon Quest XI is not only the best game of the long-running series, it's one of the best JRPGs in recent years that I've played. Whether this is your first Dragon Quest game or you're a series veteran, you owe yourself to play this game.
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Gamespot: 9/10
Innovation in games is talked about a lot, but it's also great to see traditional gameplay formulas that have been around for decades presented exceptionally well. Dragon Quest XI is one of the best modern examples of this; its beautiful presentation, both visual- and story-wise, combines with a tried-and-true gameplay formula for a journey that's full of heart and soul. Once you find yourself sucked into the world of Dragon Quest XI, it's going to be hard to put down until you reach the grand finale.
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GamingBolt: 9/10
Dragon Quest XI is a stellar game that displays a great command of the ins and outs of its genre the way few other games can and do. What it lacks in originality, it more than makes up for with its confident execution of ideas, showing that a game doesn't need to be revolutionary or the freshest thing on the block to be an incredible experience. With a memorable cast of characters, a well-told, briskly paced story, stunning and vibrant visuals, and a beautiful and extremely varied world as its setting, Dragon Quest XI serves as yet another excellent instalment in this amazingly consistent franchise.
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Hardcore Gamer: 4/5
It may have been a long wait, but it was well worth it.
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USGamer: 5/5
If you're a fan of Dragon Quest VIII, you'll find a lot to love about Dragon Quest XI. Its character-driven plot and skill system recall the series' breakout PlayStation 2 installment, though Dragon Quest XI's lively world and expressive monsters lend it a unique feeling and flavor. Some fans might feel let-down about Dragon Quest XI's lack of job system or other options that let you fine-tune every aspect of your party (what I wouldn't give to see Dragon Quest V's monster-friending system make a return), but if you're in the market for a turn-based RPG that feels nostalgic but doesn't force you to deal with old genre mechanics, you won't find a better quest.
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PlayStation Lifestyle: 9/10
I have my issues with Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age. It's a bit clunky when it tries to pretend it's cool like other video games. I wish I had vocations instead of skill points to play with, and it would be nice if I could get from point A to B a bit faster, or have more to do along the way. But at the same time, I found myself engrossed in the usual grind I've come to love over the years, the silly and fantastical creatures from my favorite artist, and the storytelling that met and even rattled my expectations. There's even a neat little crafting system I didn't have room to mention, secrets to find, and of course hours and hours of post-game content. If you want to go on an adventure, and I mean a real adventure that tugs on your heartstrings, makes you smile, and yells puns at you constantly, do not sleep on Dragon Quest XI.
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Game Informer: 8.25/10
This isn't a shake up for the series and can sometimes feel dated, but the long, hard-fought adventure comes together in an engaging way.
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Kotaku: Unscored
In conclusion, everything I have said about Dragon Quest XI being one of the best games of all time is definitely correct, because I played the game in Japanese for 300 hours. I wouldn't have done that if it weren't a masterpiece.
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Polygon: Unscored
A lot of my complaints are about the core conceits. The graphics and scope, while updated, are grafted onto a frail and aging skeleton. The huge map that amounts to hallways, the NPCs with endlessly frivolous dialogue, and the incessant load screens all point to an update — in hardware and software — rather than an evolution. Dragon Quest 11 is a beautiful example of what a JRPG can be after 30 years of lovingly guided evolution. Its success is irrevocably tethered to those decades of development, though, and that means you probably already know if this is a game for you. If you're not already one of the faithful, Dragon Quest 11 is unlikely to make you a convert.
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WayPoint: No Rating
I'm not meaning to be a downer about this game, I'm really not, but I felt that people like me, who have enjoyed lots of RPGs over the years but are not dedicated Dragon Quest superfans, are not present in the Dragon Quest XI equation. I felt like the game was actively trying to rob me of enjoyment, both in in the story and in the combat strategy, at every moment. It is a well-crafted, perfectly playable video game that certain has all the pieces of a Dragon Quest game. But in uniting the plodding story predictability of the film blockbuster and the complete adherence to intellectual property of the video game blockbuster, it has filed off any of the edges that might make it interesting as something beyond its existence as a new Dragon Quest game.
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Eurogamer: No Rating
A sumptuous, generous and absolutely gorgeous RPG that isn't quite the measure of Dragon Quest's illustrious past.
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More Reviews:
 
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Tyaren

Tyaren

Character Artist
Verified
Oct 25, 2017
25,004
Let's go! :D

Kotaku review:


"One of the best video games I have ever played"
 
TheIdiot

TheIdiot

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
2,729
I know it's been said to death on this forum, but I'm sold on everything but the music. I'l wait until some user impressions methinks.
 
Raw64life

Raw64life

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,983
Seems to be reviewing well so far. I think it'll end around 85 or so. Happy to see if review well although I don't think it's gonna effect sales much as it's not gonna change the horrid release date of this game.
 
Brat-Sampson

Brat-Sampson

Member
Nov 16, 2017
3,508
Basically what I expected, after reading a couple. If you want a sumptuous, beautiful, well-realised but utterly traditional JRPG, it's great. If you want anything more complex or novel, look elsewhere.

Considering I'm still playing Octopath, I'll be holding off on this for a while. I'm glad to see it's great though.
Eurogamer (Unscored)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/...traditional-return-for-the-stately-rpg-series

This is a pointed return to a different age of RPGs, a throwback to a golden era that shines brightly in its splendour. You'll be hard pushed to find a more lavish production this year, or one that's so generous, though you can't help but wonder whether it's too much of a backwards step.
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Maffis

Maffis

Member
Oct 29, 2017
1,315
Seems to be getting quite high scores. Common complaint is that it doesn't really innovate itself but DQ has been the same since it begun so for most people that love the series it shouldn't be a problem at all. At least for me it isn't. I havent played a proper console DQ in 13 years.
 
ghostcrew

ghostcrew

The Shrouded Ghost
Administrator
Oct 27, 2017
30,441
Waypoint (unscored)

https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/art...me-that-doesnt-deliver?utm_source=wptwitterus

So many of my feelings about Dragon Quest XI come down to wondering why. Thematically, it feels like a retread of the past. Mechanically, it is a retread of the past. If you want to play a video game that is only slightly different than a video game you have played before, then this is the game for you. It is well-executed repetition. Inside of it, you will do repetitive tasks while fighting the same monsters and using the same basic strategies to defeat bosses that are visually interesting but mechanically dull.
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I played a lot of Dragon Quest XI. I made it to the "post-game" content in about 40 hours, give or take, and there was not a single moment in that time that I was surprised, thrown for a loop, or really given anything that wasn't a standard JRPG or anime trope. There's some irony in the fact that I don't want to spoil anything about the game in this review paired with the fact that I'm not sure there's anything to spoil. I'm pretty sure we could play a game of "JRPG Bingo" and basically hit every plot point.
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To be clear: this isn't fun. It isn't engaging. I listened to a lot of podcasts while playing this game.

It's like if you were watching a Transformers film and Mark Wahlberg figured out where the bad guy was, ran up to him, and then the bad guy turned around and said "no, actually, you need to manually kill eighty monsters so that we know that you're powerful enough." The game's plot builds and tells you that there are big, important things that need to happen right now, that these big boss creatures are existential threats in this moment, but the game's tight focus on classic RPG leveling and progression means that there is never any sense of urgency in the game. It's a lot of hurry-up-and-wait.
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I am 100% buying the game. But I hope this review is an anomaly!
 
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Maxime

Maxime

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,004
Waypoint: 'Dragon Quest XI' Is A Blockbuster Game That Doesn't Deliver

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Osahi

Osahi

Member
Oct 27, 2017
5,955
It's an absolute gem imo. It's a very classical RPG that doesn't try anything new, but succeeds in coating the familiar in a beautiful current-gen package. It's fun and addictive like only the best JRPG's are, has a simple but efficient battle system, great pacing where you're never forced to stick around a dungeon or area for longer than you want, has a fun cast of characters (bar one I really didn't like) and tells a myriad of fun, little stories in every town you visit. If you're not into RPG's you won't like this at all, but if you ache for a classical turn based JRPG like thet don't make them anymore, DQXI can't be missed imo.
 
Valcrist

Valcrist

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Oct 25, 2017
9,758
Do reviewers not count sound in their scores? That's kinda bullshit.
 
ghostcrew

ghostcrew

The Shrouded Ghost
Administrator
Oct 27, 2017
30,441
Polygon (unscored)

https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/28/17763578/dragon-quest-11-review-ps4-pc

A lot of my complaints are about the core conceits. The graphics and scope, while updated, are grafted onto a frail and aging skeleton. The huge map that amounts to hallways, the NPCs with endlessly frivolous dialogue, and the incessant load screens all point to an update — in hardware and software — rather than an evolution. Dragon Quest 11 is a beautiful example of what a JRPG can be after 30 years of lovingly guided evolution. Its success is irrevocably tethered to those decades of development, though, and that means you probably already know if this is a game for you. If you're not already one of the faithful, Dragon Quest 11 is unlikely to make you a convert.
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Deleted member 4609

User requested account closure
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Oct 25, 2017
767
Maxime said:
Waypoint: 'Dragon Quest XI' Is A Blockbuster Game That Doesn't Deliver
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I spent more than a couple hours of my playthrough of the game getting to a boss, realizing that I couldn't defeat it yet, and then going back to fight random monsters for half an hour to get the levels that evened things out and allowed me to jump the next hurdle. There was not thought, no strategy, and certainly no real active consideration on my part of how I needed to upgrade my characters or what specific choices I needed to make in the fight. Levels solved the problem every time, so I just got a couple levels.
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Oh boy. Aeana trigger warning, haha.

Can't believe there's only a week left. Almost there!
 
Aeana

Aeana

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,959
Bear said:
Yikes that's a worrisome Waypoint headline: 'Dragon Quest XI' Is A Blockbuster Game That Doesn't Deliver
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I think this will be a valuable review for people who are looking for specific things in RPGs, like a suspenseful critical path, which Dragon Quest games don't have. The reviewer criticizes the lack of twists and turns and doesn't like the story structure. I think that there's definitely a group of people who will agree with this, so it's cool to have this perspective.
I will, however, take issue with this quote:

I spent more than a couple hours of my playthrough of the game getting to a boss, realizing that I couldn't defeat it yet, and then going back to fight random monsters for half an hour to get the levels that evened things out and allowed me to jump the next hurdle. There was not thought, no strategy, and certainly no real active consideration on my part of how I needed to upgrade my characters or what specific choices I needed to make in the fight. Levels solved the problem every time, so I just got a couple levels.
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I made it a point to never grind for any reason while playing the game, so I can say for certain that it's completely possible. There are loads of options you can employ to get through difficult encounters. This comes off as the standard "requires grinding" complaint that a lot of people levy at RPGs. "I've tried nothing and I'm all out of ideas."
 
ghostcrew

ghostcrew

The Shrouded Ghost
Administrator
Oct 27, 2017
30,441
Aeana said:
Reviewers didn't have PC codes, unfortunately.
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Probably not the thread for it but any idea how the base PS4 version performs? Trying to decide whether I grab PS4 or PC. Would ideally prefer PS4 but would grab it on PC if the base PS4 version was funky.
 
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