Dragon Quest XI is one of the best JRPG’s released in the last decade. A true testament to what an amazing JRPG can be. The perfect entry for a new fan to the series or a long-time player. Dragon Quest XI is an amazing game and one that fits perfectly on the Nintendo Switch. With a wide world to explore it is even better to take it on the go. The Luminary is a hero to be and a former prince. This young man is off to save the world from evil even though he at first has no idea he’d be doing this. He thinks he is just a normal farm boy, and on his birthday is thrust into a wide world where monsters roam free and adventure is just a horse ride away.
Dragon Quest is a great series to play and offers hours of gameplay and adventure. This game is no different as there is at minimum forty hours in a playthrough. Players will take on wicked monsters, travel through dungeons, and learn powerful new skills. The battles are in step with the battles of old, but there is one big change. Players can run around the battlefield, which does affect how they are targeted. Player’s can switch to the old school style if this bothers them, but it is a neat feature. Battles are turn-based, and characters and monsters will take turns attacking each other. It’s good to use special attacks wisely to not waste MP. It’s simple strategic fare, but its part of the reason that the series is so accessible. Even new players will be good at it once they get used to it.
The characters can also use Pep Powers which are marvelous boons. Each Pep Power is only usable when certain characters are powered up. When a character glows blue they can unleash these powerful attacks. Some of them are powerful in their damage, others might heal or raise stats. Use them or lose the chance, as the Pep Power will dissipate before coming back in due time. This game has a skill tree that players will fill out as they level up. Player’s can guide how their characters fight and what weapons they will use in battle. It’s good to have a solid mix but obviously, players can pick and choose as they go. Players can also craft items with the forge, a special item that the player acquires early on. As they level up players will gain new forging attacks. These are important as they will player’s forge weapons and armor more easily. It takes a little skill to hammer things the right way, and players might have to try a few times to get it right. By doing a perfect job players will earn perfectionist pearls. These are important for players can use them to try again. Sometimes its best to simply try again and hope to pull out a better version of the item. The better one does, the better the stats of the item. Having the best weapons will bring the Hero closer to victory.
One of the coolest additions to this game is the fact that players will be able to see the solo adventures of the party members. After a certain part of the game, the characters will be split up. This time, however, players get to see what happened to the characters. They each end up in different places and have their little story arc to complete. Eventually, the Hero gathers them all up, but it’s great to see them out on their own. Each of these mini-arcs possesses a boss and some characters to interact with. It’s also a great time to buff up party members if one chooses to do so. The biggest thing that it does for me is to show off the heroic spirit of each of these characters. They are heroes, and even split up they will do their best to be as heroic as possible. Plus, it adds a good 5-10 hours of gameplay which is good by me.
This game can also be played in 16-bit mode. This mode brings the series back to its roots but also shows off the world in a new way. The world is exquisitely crafted to look like an old school game. The game is the same but quite different. The battles are just as they once were and it’s glorious to hear the music as it could have been if it was released back then. Player’s should take note that ideally, they should play through the whole game in one mode before switching to 2D. Switching during the main story might make them lose time. It’s not a one-one conversion when switching from 3D to 2D. The game simply drops the player in a sequence close to where they were and that might be hours apart. It’s best to play through the game one way and then the other unless the player doesn’t mind potentially losing progress.
The Tockles, a strange group of odd creatures also play an important role in the game. As the player explores the 3D world they will find these little blobby friends. Talking to them will give them past words to explore past worlds. This feature was originally only in the 3DS version of the game which never came westward. Players can explore the first 10 Dragon Quest games and take on awesome story-based quests. It’s great to hop back into these old worlds with new characters. Plus finding the Tockles takes a bit of work so it all comes together.
Dragon Quest XI Definitive Edition offers a few quality of life changes. These changes might not be huge but they do change things up. The ability to speed up battles can be a blessing. It’s also great to have the forge always accessible instead of only at campsites. One of the best things about this game is the costumes. All the characters in the party are granted costumes for completing different events or buying items. In this game, players can use these costumes whilst wearing their best gear. It helps to show off the characters while keeping them properly protected. Plus since they follow the player its nice to have them dressed as the player sees fit!
This game is an exquisitely voice acted like most of the games. I always enjoy hearing the character’s speech. It’s always interesting because they all speak in an English accent. Some might be other dialects, but they usually sound pretty good. Though some can be rather cringy it adds character to the game. Plus reading the words is interesting in its own right. There is also an autorun feature that can help as sometimes the expanses can be rather long and the Hero isn’t necessarily the fastest. The best chance in the game has to be the fact that the player’s party will run alongside them. This makes it easier to interact with them and to get their thoughts on what is going on. Though I also enjoy the newly added photo mode. This mode lets players take photos of their characters. The characters even have their actions which can liven up every photo. The Hocus Pocus option is great because it will make them do random things. Having them all dance might not be the easiest to get but the dances fit them to a tee.
Dragon Quest XI Definitive Edition is the best version of this game, and having it on the Switch is a godsend. Now, even if I’m fighting a boss, I can take the game with me and play at my leisure. With JRPGs time is of the essence so having a legendary JRPG at my side is a great way to keep the fun going. A hero requires another friend to aid him in saving the world, is the player up to the challenge?
Images taken from Nintendo.com