Info about DRAGON QUEST® XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age™ - Definitive Edition: Official game description: DOWNLOAD THE DEMO! ================== Enjoy the beginning of the game in 3D for up to 10 hours of content! Join a young hero as he takes his first steps towards becoming the Luminary, a legendary hero destined to save Erdrea—and then carry over your progress into the full game. BONUS: Complete the demo and be rewarded with x3 “Seed of Skill”. \*NOTE: Due to the way Steam works, you will be unable to continue to play the demo after purchasing the full game. Please be aware that if you purchase the full game before completing the demo, you will no longer be able to receive the completion bonus from the demo. DEFINITIVE EDITION CONTENT ========================== Includes the critically acclaimed DRAGON QUEST XI, as well as an array of new content, features and quality of life improvements. * Enjoy the massive content of the base game as well as new character-specific scenarios, which offer the possibility to learn more about some of your favourite companions. * Play as you want - switch between 3D HD or 2D 16-bit modes, original soundtrack or orchestral version of the music, and English or Japanese audio. * Dive into the 16-bit World of Tickington - an additional side-quests area that see you journeying to past DRAGON QUEST worlds reimagined in retro style. * Speed up battle by x2 and x4, ride new mountable monsters and attack with them on the field to earn experience points. * Spice up the adventure with three new Draconian Quest settings such as 'Super Shypox', 'Townsfolk Talk Tripe', or 'Party Wiped Out if Protagonist Perishes'. * Immortalise your adventure with the photo mode, pose each of the characters and snap some pictures with the beautifully designed world of Erdrea in the background. About the Game ============== The Definitive Edition includes all the content from the original release of the acclaimed DRAGON QUEST XI, and adds extra character-specific scenarios, the choice of playing with the original soundtrack or a grand orchestral version of the music, the ability to switch between 2D and 3D graphic modes, a Japanese voice-acting option, and much more. OVERVIEW -------- DRAGON QUEST XI S is the last entry in the legendary RPG series from creator Yuji Horii, character designer Akira Toriyama and composer Koichi Sugiyama. This eleventh main entry is a completely standalone experience that features new characters, a beautifully detailed world, finely tuned turn-based combat, and an immersive story that will appeal to longtime fans and franchise newcomers alike. After its release in Japan, DRAGON QUEST XI won multiple gaming awards and received critical praise, including PlayStation’s Platinum Prize and a perfect 40/40 score from Famitsu (an influential video game publication in Japan). STORY ----- A young man, about to participate in his village’s coming of age ceremony, travels to a sacred stone alongside his childhood friend. After a series of unexpected events, this intrepid adventurer learns he is the reincarnation of a legendary hero from a forgotten age. The young hero sets forth into an unknown world on a journey to unravel the mystery of his past… but the welcome he receives is far from warm. Upon revealing his identity to the King, the hero is branded as “The Darkspawn” and hunted by a relentless army. Fleeing from his pursuers, the hero assembles a band of endearing adventurers who believe he is actually The Luminary reborn. The Luminary and his newfound companions embark on a quest that will take them across continents and over vast oceans as they learn of an ominous threat facing the world. KEY FEATURES ------------ * Unravel an Epic Mystery in a Riveting Tale ------------------------------------------ – You are the Luminary, the reincarnation of a hero from a forgotten age. Denigrated as a demon and pursued by a malicious monarch, you must embark on a quest to uncover the mystery of your fate and save a doomed world. Be prepared for an immersive story with twists and turns that pull you in and keep you craving more. * Assemble a Colorful Cast of Loyal Companions -------------------------------------------- – Accompanying you is an endearing band of adventurers with their own rich backstories and personalities. Famed manga artist Akira Toriyama brings the characters of DRAGON QUEST to life with his one-of-a-kind style. * Explore a Massive, Beautiful, Living World ------------------------------------------ – Excitement lurks around every corner, observe NPC’s attend to their daily schedules, monsters change behaviors to fit their environments, and access new areas, by foot, on horseback or with the use of monstrous vehicles. * Engage in Classic Turn-based Battles with a Modern Twist -------------------------------------------------------- – DRAGON QUEST XI features mechanics simple enough for beginners, but with enough depth to satisfy hardcore fans. As your adventure continues, learn incredible new abilities to take down even the most fearsome foe with your powerful allies. * Have Some Fun & Save the World ------------------------------ – Tons of side-quests and addicting mini-games awaits you for enough content to keep you playing for well over 100 hours. You will face insurmountable odds and an evil force of unimaginable power… but while the stakes are high, there are many fun distractions to find if you know where to look. * Challenge Yourself with the Draconian Quest ------------------------------------------- \- Available when you start a new game, these options allow you to craft you own customized difficulty with different settings and provide a greater challenge. Release date: Dec 4, 2020 Categories: Turn-based Combat, JRPG, Character Progression, Exploration, Character Customization, Turn-based RPG, Story-driven Gameplay, Party-based Combat - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: No data - Playtime Metrics: No data - Time-to-fun: No data - Player Archetypes: No data Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Rich Story and Character Development (weight 0.97): The narrative is highlighted as emotionally resonant, well-paced, and layered with twists. Characters are described as charming, three-dimensional, and memorable, with strong arcs and relationships that evoke player investment. - Engaging JRPG Gameplay Loop (weight 0.7): Players consistently praise the game's satisfying and well-designed turn-based combat, smooth pacing, and balanced difficulty. The gameplay is described as approachable yet strategic, with optional challenges for replayability. - Immersive World Design (weight 0.48): The game world is described as heartwarming, vivid, and alive, with meticulous attention to detail in level design, exploration incentives, and environmental storytelling. - Orchestral Soundtrack Enhances Immersion (weight 0.19): The fully orchestrated soundtrack is praised for its emotional impact, contextual fitting, and memorability. It elevates key moments and complements the game’s atmosphere. Common complaints: - Poor pacing and length (weight 0.46): The game is perceived as overly long, with slow pacing in early chapters and a tedious mid-to-late game slog. Players report feeling trapped in repetitive or unchallenging content, especially during hours 60–80 and post-game sections. - Childish tone and writing (weight 0.44): The story, characters, and dialogue are frequently labeled as childish, with awkward tone shifts (e.g., flamboyant aesthetics) and poorly integrated mature themes. Some content feels out of place or overly casualized. - Repetitive and irritating music (weight 0.43): The soundtrack is described as repetitive, low-quality, and even grating, with limited tracks and short loops. Players report the music becoming irritating over time, detracting from immersion. - Graphical downgrade and poor visuals (weight 0.43): The game’s graphics are criticized as inferior to the original version, with downgrades attributed to timed exclusivity. The 2D mode is particularly unpolished, feeling like an emulator with high encounter rates and slow performance. - Poor PC port and controls (weight 0.13): The PC version suffers from lazy porting, including no key remapping, unintuitive controls, and poor keyboard/mouse support. Players struggle with basic functions like exiting the game or navigating menus. - Illusory choices and forced dialogue (weight 0.1): Players highlight a lack of meaningful choices, with dialogue options reduced to yes/no loops and no real impact on the narrative. Some quests or side activities (e.g., casino) feel forced or extend playtime unnecessarily. Gameplay feedback: - Story-driven character development (weight 0.22): The narrative is heavily character-driven, with rich storylines, emotional depth, and callbacks to previous titles. Character interactions and side quests add significant depth to the experience. - Balanced difficulty with options (weight 0.21): The game offers balanced difficulty settings, including hard-mode and Draconian Quest modifiers for challenge. Difficulty can be adjusted at game creation or via mods, but some settings are irreversible. - Customizable character progression (weight 0.19): Players can customize characters through skill trees, equipment systems, and outfits. Progression affects combat effectiveness, and grinding is optional but available for endgame content. - Mini-games and side content (weight 0.19): Mini-games like casino slots, horse racing, and crafting add variety. Side quests and collectibles encourage exploration and replayability, with some tied to hidden lore or achievements. - Turn-based combat with strategy (weight 0.19): The game features a turn-based combat system with strategic elements like timing buffs, exploiting weaknesses, and adjustable speed. Players can choose between manual or automatic combat, catering to different playstyles. - Extensive post-game content (weight 0.19): Completionists can enjoy 100+ hours of gameplay, including multiple endings, hidden bosses, and post-game challenges. Replayability is enhanced by mods and difficulty modifiers. - Classic JRPG mechanics (weight 0.17): The game embraces traditional JRPG tropes, including turn-based combat, fantasy themes, and a focus on storytelling. It appeals to fans of the genre with its classic yet innovative approach. - Crafting and equipment systems (weight 0.08): A robust crafting system allows players to forge weapons, armor, and clothing. Gathering materials and upgrading gear are key mechanics for progression. - Act-based narrative structure (weight 0.07): The story is divided into acts, with twists and evolving side quests. This structure keeps the narrative engaging and allows for deeper character arcs as the game progresses. - Semi-open world exploration (weight 0.07): The game features a semi-open world with exploration-focused design. Early limitations give way to broader freedom, with hidden lore and side quests rewarding curiosity. - 2D/3D gameplay switching (weight 0.06): Players can seamlessly switch between 2D and 3D graphics modes, offering distinct gameplay experiences. This feature caters to different preferences and enhances accessibility. Performance notes: - Performance varies by platform (weight 0.11): The game runs smoothly on PC (especially at higher settings) and older hardware but suffers FPS drops on Steam Deck and during camera movements. Switch performance is notably worse than PC. - Mods enhance stability and visuals (weight 0.05): Mods resolve stuttering, improve geometry/textures, and enable higher resolutions/frame rates. The game is stable with mods but requires them for optimal performance on strong hardware. - Limited graphical and technical options (weight 0.05): Players criticize the lack of HDR, DLSS/FSR, bloom, and render scaling. Technical downgrades like jagged edges and low GPU utilization (4GB VRAM) are also noted. - Definitive Edition runs smoothly (weight 0.04): The Definitive Edition is praised for stable, fluid performance with no stutters or frame drops, even at high settings (e.g., 1440p/144fps). - Save data and aspect ratio issues (weight 0.03): Steam cloud saves are prone to corruption, and the game lacks support for 16:10 aspect ratios, frustrating users with non-standard displays. - VR and niche technical quirks (weight 0.03): The game works well with UEVR for virtual reality, but minor issues like motion sickness (mitigated by settings) and forced alt+F4 exits are reported. - Fast loading times (weight 0.01): Players highlight the game’s fast loading times as a positive technical feature, improving overall user experience. Recommendations: - Ideal for JRPG and classic RPG fans (weight 0.41): The game is widely recommended for fans of traditional JRPGs, turn-based combat, and story-driven experiences. It appeals to both newcomers and veterans of the genre, offering a modern take on classic mechanics. - Nostalgic yet accessible experience (weight 0.33): The game provides a nostalgic trip for long-time fans while remaining welcoming to newcomers. Its rich content and classic storytelling make it a standout in the genre. - Technical and content considerations (weight 0.28): Some reviewers note minor issues like save data management, localization quirks, or pacing. However, these are often outweighed by the game's strengths, such as its emotional storytelling and length. - Broad appeal with minor caveats (weight 0.17): The game is highly recommended for a general audience, including beginners and long-time fans, but may not suit those expecting modern polish or complexity. Some reviewers suggest avoiding postgame content for a better experience. - Strong value and purchase recommendation (weight 0.14): Reviewers consistently highlight the game's worth at full price, especially during sales. It is considered one of the best entries in the franchise and offers significant content for its cost. - Not for everyone (weight 0.06): While broadly appealing, the game may disappoint players expecting modern graphics, streamlined mechanics, or pixel-art aesthetics. Some also recommend alternative games for specific preferences. - Demo and mods enhance experience (weight 0.06): The availability of a demo with save file carry-over and mods (e.g., orchestral soundtrack) is frequently mentioned as a way to improve or customize the gameplay experience. Other player notes: - Nostalgia-driven graphics revival (weight 0.04): Players frequently mention 'Project Rebuild' and retro 2D modes as tributes to classic games, emphasizing the emotional and cultural value of preserving original aesthetics. This reflects a strong demand for nostalgia in modern releases. - Emotional and personal connections (weight 0.03): Stories of data loss, nostalgia, and personal anecdotes (e.g., playing while streaming) highlight the emotional weight of the game. These experiences foster a sense of community and shared history among players. - Cultural and historical RPG influence (weight 0.03): The series is recognized as a cornerstone of RPG culture, shaping tropes and serving as a national memory in Japan. Players highlight its legacy and impact on the genre, underscoring its significance beyond gameplay. - Toriyama-inspired art direction (weight 0.02): The game’s design is praised for its connection to Akira Toriyama, a legendary artist, which resonates with fans of his iconic style. This adds a layer of authenticity and appeal for long-time followers of the series. - Platform optimization concerns (weight 0.02): Players note that the game feels optimized for PlayStation but is released on Steam, raising questions about performance and compatibility. This suggests potential frustration with cross-platform releases. - External influences on purchasing (weight 0.01): YouTubers and streamers play a significant role in driving purchase decisions, demonstrating the impact of content creators on game sales and player behavior. - Developer distrust and boycotts (weight 0.01): Some players express a personal vow to avoid future purchases from the developer, indicating dissatisfaction or broader controversies that may affect the studio’s reputation. - Advanced screenshot features (weight 0.01): Ansel support is noted as a useful tool for players who prioritize capturing high-quality in-game moments, catering to content creators and enthusiasts. - Speculation about future releases (weight 0.01): Questions about Dragon Quest XII suggest curiosity and anticipation for upcoming titles, reflecting ongoing interest in the franchise’s evolution. Emotions: - Frustration (weight 0.17): Players frequently cite poor combat mechanics, including lack of enemy HP visibility, rigid skill systems, and repetitive grinding requirements, as major sources of frustration. Additionally, slow pacing, performance issues, and outdated design choices—such as missing quality-of-life features (e.g., text speed options, quick saves) and illogical quest design—further exacerbate dissatisfaction. - Satisfaction (weight 0.12): The game fulfills classic JRPG expectations with high-quality storytelling, robust post-game content, and polished mechanics like auto-battle and crafting systems. Players appreciate the attention to detail, engaging side quests, and balanced progression, which collectively deliver a sense of completion and value, especially for long-time fans. - Nostalgia (weight 0.1): The game evokes nostalgia through callbacks to classic Dragon Quest elements, such as familiar BGM, Akira Toriyama’s art style, and traditional JRPG mechanics. Many players reflect on childhood memories tied to the series, with features like 2D mode and references to past games reinforcing this emotional connection. - Excitement (weight 0.08): Players express excitement over innovative mechanics (e.g., 2D/3D mode switching), engaging story twists like the time-travel plot, and high-stakes combat (e.g., the Guiverno del Tiempo boss). The game’s emotional moments, such as the true ending, and its ability to reawaken interest in JRPGs also contribute to this emotion. - Disappointment (weight 0.08): Disappointment stems from narrative inconsistencies, such as Act 3 undermining earlier character development, and repetitive or poorly designed gameplay (e.g., forced grinding, weak post-game content). Technical shortcomings, like graphical downgrades and lack of modern refinements (e.g., equipment visuals), further diminish the experience compared to expectations set by prior entries. - Joy (weight 0.05): The game’s charm, heartfelt storytelling, and likable characters create moments of joy, particularly through emotional engagement and humorous interactions. Players highlight the immersive world, thrilling exploration, and rewarding combat as key sources of happiness. - Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the game’s adherence to classic JRPG roots while modernizing systems (e.g., balanced combat, smooth progression). Praise is directed at the voice acting, music, art style, and overall polish, which collectively deliver an authentic and well-crafted experience. - Enjoyment (weight 0.05): The game provides a fun and accessible JRPG experience, with engaging storytelling, stylish combat, and a vast world to explore. Players enjoy the streamlined mechanics, charismatic characters, and the overall positive progression of the main campaign. - Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is directed at the game’s masterful storytelling, world-building, and attention to detail, particularly in character design and level layout. Players regard it as a benchmark for the JRPG genre, praising its elegance and cultural impact. - Relief (weight 0.02): Relief arises from quality-of-life improvements, such as auto-battle reducing difficulty concerns and mods addressing technical issues (e.g., stuttering). Players also feel relieved after overcoming initial hesitations or discovering shortcuts that enhance the experience. - Gratitude (weight 0.02): Players express gratitude for the developers’ work in creating a memorable experience, particularly through immersive design, localization efforts, and the game’s ability to reignite their love for JRPGs. The demo and tributes (e.g., to Akira Toriyama) are also noted as appreciated touches. - Amusement (weight 0.02): Amusement stems from nostalgic or quirky elements, such as classic Dragon Quest mechanics (e.g., breaking pots), tongue-in-cheek humor, and unique character interactions (e.g., mermaids’ speech patterns). Homages to past titles and playful AI behavior during auto-battle also contribute to this emotion. - Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is triggered by frustrating gameplay mechanics (e.g., illogical quest design, poor controls) and narrative choices, such as Act 3’s perceived mishandling of character arcs. Some players also express anger toward Square Enix for perceived neglect of PC players or lazy development practices. - Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness is tied to emotional story moments, such as character sacrifices or depressing plot developments, which resonate deeply with players. Technical issues, like data corruption leading to lost progress, and the realization that the series may have concluded also evoke this emotion. - Engagement (weight 0.01): The game’s fully voiced dialogue, cinematic storytelling, and layered character development keep players engaged. The compelling narrative and eagerness to explore the world further enhance this emotional response.}