Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition

Dragon Quest XI is, without a doubt, worth a playthrough. Square isn’t lying about Dragon Quest XI S being the ‘definitive edition’ either–if you have a Switch, this version is by far the best one to pick up. If you’re a fan of RPGs, grabbing Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition is a no-brainer, and even if you’ve already played through the game once, it might be worth considering the Switch version for all the new additions.

The meticulous and honest work on story, aesthetics, exploration and combat is accompanied by an impeccable pacing that is surprising given the amount of content available. Are there any issues? Yes, but none of them are obvious during the adventure. Betting on tradition comes at a high risk, but the execution is so perfect that Dragon Quest XI S will retain its relevance for generations to come.

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age performs really well on the Switch. I’ve played almost exclusively on a Nintendo Switch Lite, and even in 3D mode it holds up really well. Performance is solid, I never really noticed severe framerate issues, and load times feel in line with the PS4 version of the game if not better.

While a straight port of Dragon Quest XI with the perk of playing portably on Switch would have been enticing enough, Square Enix went not just the extra mile, but many extra miles with the content rich Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition.

Dragon Quest XI isn't going to be a game that is going to win any award on innovation, but it is a game that has great fundamentals on what makes a traditional RPG good and does it perfectly. If you have already played the previous release of Dragon Quest XI on PS4 or PC, there are plenty of quality of life changes added here to give it the Definitive Edition tag and Dragon Quest XI S is a must-have title for anyone's game library. However, I feel the newly added content doesn't really add all that much if you have previously beaten Dragon Quest XI from last year, so you're basically paying a full-price game for quality of life improvements. If this is important to you, then you should get this right away, and if you haven't played it before, this is one of the best RPGs of this generation and the perfect port on the Nintendo Switch.

Dragon Quest 11 has its flaws, and it may ultimately function as a breezy trip down memory lane for the experienced and a fabulous gateway experience for the uninitiated, but that is exactly what it sets out to be. At that, it is perfect.

There are already plenty of solid roleplaying games on the Switch, but you absolutely need to add Dragon Quest XI S to your collection if you haven’t already done so. Put simply, it is still a thoroughly incredible game and almost peerless within the genre.

Dragon Quest XI S is a quintessential JRPG that celebrates the series, and yet somehow is still accessible. The world is rich, the gameplay is satisfying, and with a free 10-hour demo, you have no excuse not to play it.

Overall, there are not many negative things I can say about Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition. This version took the foundation of an already truly excellent RPG experience and built upon it further, offering new features and quality of life improvements along the way. I poured over a hundred and twelve hours into Dragon Quest XI S, which is more than I've spent on any other RPG recently, and I never once looked back with regret as I wholeheartedly fell in love with the gameplay and story. Having only played Dragon Quest XI S, I can't say for certain if there is enough new content here to warrant an additional playthrough, but if you've yet to play Dragon Quest XI and have access to a Nintendo Switch, this version is truly the "Definitive Edition" that the title claims it is.

This game has become my favorite Dragon Quest ever, one of my favorite JRPGs ever and certainly one of the best games you can buy and play on the Switch. [Issue #43 – November/December 2019, p. 8SH]

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition is one of the best RPGs available on the sSwitch and is by far the most content rich version currently available. While the Switch version may not look quite as great as its big console brothers, the wealth of content on offer will have you busy for well over one hundred hours. From its stunning character and enemy design, to its pitch-perfect turn-based combat, DQ XI S is a grand slam on every level and an essential addition to any RPG fans Switch library.

This is by far the most complete and compact Dragon Quest experience we have ever experienced, and a testament to the series’ bright future. A must-have for all Switch owners, players who haven’t experienced the game in its original form and owners of the previous game that would like to experience all the things that were sadly missing in the original release for the PS4 and PC.

I believe this is the first time a Nintendo Switch version of a game is without any shadow of a doubt, the best version you can get of said game. It took its sweet time, but boy - was it worth the wait.

Even if it is mostly the same game we had on the PS4 and PC, it still shines and the abundant new content maintains its freshness. And even if its visuals do not reach what we saw on the other versions (which is logical), it gets close and it is an adaptation with great merit for the Switch.

Dragon Quest XI S is as perfect a port as you could ask for, and makes you feel good about owning a Switch in the first place.

Dragon Quest XI Definitive Edition is a monumental game. It highlights everything the original already got right and adds so many unique features that enhance an already phenomenal experience. It’s a stand-out success for JRPG’s and RPG’s in general, both a modern epic and classic in every sense of the word.

Dragon Quest XI S is one of the finest RPGs on Switch. With its classic yet refined battle system and plethora of side content, the game can easily keep you chugging along for 100 hours or more. While the world at large may not be all that open, it offers a lot of flair and interesting elements to experience. Everything from entertaining characters to amusing quests, it all comes together in a way such that the journey never slows down. I do feel that the game tries to hold your hand just a teensy bit too much. You can change it in the settings so that some NPCs will start lying to you, but even then, it was hard to really get lost. That is, however, a slight misstep in a game that I adored from beginning to end.

DQ XI is a must-have for JRPG fans, and this version is fantastic. We can’t ask for more, and if you own a Switch, you should consider giving it a try.

Dragon Quest XI is probably the best game in its franchise, and this S version is the definitive edition for an epic adventure. This entry also has the perfect balance between classic JRPG and modern features.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition succeeds in the difficult task of improving one of the most successful JRPGs of recent times with very little sacrifice on the purely graphical side.

Dragon Quest XI on Switch is a richer and more convenient experience than the original Japanese PS4 version. That being said, the additional scenarios have a slightly negative effect on the story as a whole, and it can not be denied that the Switch version is visually less impressive. While that makes it hard to call this the definitive version of Dragon Quest XI, it's still an amazing experience.

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition is the ultimate JRPG package, jam-packed with dozens of hours of content and new quality of life improvements made even better with the Nintendo Switch’s portability factor. The game simultaneously celebrates its past and indulges in the old-school roots of the genre while simultaneously modernising it for the current generation, resulting in one of the best JRPGs of this generation. The Switch port is a labour of love with impressive visuals, rock-solid performance and ample fan-service that should be experienced by anyone looking for the perfect role-playing game experience on-the-go.

An absolute masterpiece.

Dragon Quest XI is excellent through and through. It's fun and engaging, it's simple yet deep, it tells an intriguing story. It looks wonderful on Switch, sounds even better with the new synphonic soundtrack and tackles even more content than before.

Expanding on its original release in every way, Dragon Quest XI S is one of the Nintendo Switch’s best RPGs and a great entry for newcomers.

If you haven’t made room in your crowded wish list for DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age, do so now. You don’t need to take my word that it’s one of most enjoyable Switch releases of the year, you can hit up the eShop for the demo and let the game’s first 10 hours speak for themselves.

This is definitely the best edition of the game you could currently find out there. With little new features, an extra story, quality of life improvements and the awesome 2D mode, even if you had the game on other systems you should get it again on Switch and have it with you at all times.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a masterpiece of design that balances tradition and subtle innovation and is very bit as entertaining on the Switch as it was on PC or PS4. It’s a generous game with relaxed yet engaging storytelling and despite some minor graphical compromises and hiccups, it’s a near-perfect fit on the Switch, absolutely worth revisiting for those who played another version, and required playing for anyone with an interest in the genre or series.

Dragon Quest XI S - Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition is one of the best games you will play on the Switch. A instant buy for every owner.

Dragon Quest XI S is a great example of how to revitalize a video game more than a year after its launch.

Dragon Quest 11 is a fantastic jrpg on Nintendo Switch. The graphic concession does not outweigh the addition of an orchestral soundtrack and the Japanese voice-over. You can also play the entire game in 2D, with slightly faster and more direct gameplay. It really works very well on Switch.

As JRPG’s have become more of a niche genre and have been steadily downgrading to be focused experiences, here comes Square Enix to deliver a Dragon Quest game that’s packed tight with the gameplay we know and love. While it doesn’t innovate much on the formula and might be a hard sell for those who can’t stand turn based combat or long, meandering plotlines, it is also comfort food for those who love this kind of play. It’s a testament to the robust qualities of the traditional JRPG genre, which arguably started with the original title in this franchise, that these mechanics are still so captivating and compelling 33 years later.

Despite some small graphical compromises in 3D mode--rare frame rate stuttering and some occasional pop-in--almost everything in Dragon Quest XI on Switch is an improvement on its original release. If you have been putting off playing this RPG masterpiece, this portable edition is absolutely the way to go--and if you want to revisit it, this version is the perfect excuse to do so.

With the 2D mode and many secondary quests, Dragon Quest XI S is a must have for Switch Fans.

Anyone who likes old-school JRPGs with a turn-based combat system, who enjoys his loving and sometimes crazy characters and would like to travel a colorful, lovingly designed game world, cannot beat this game.

An RPG with a good story, charismatic characters, great sense of humor made in Toriyama and a simple but deep combat system. This is the Dragon Quest game that every fan was waiting for and it is certainly a must in your collection.

Square Enix has decided to make the definitive version of an immediate classic out of something that, at the outset, may have looked like a simple adapted portable option: in this case we will find tenths of hours of gameplay, a magnificent turn based battle system and a whole new way to play the game in the West: the 2D mode, which will make nostalgics fall in love once again.

Expands and improves upon an excellent foundation in meaningful ways, with minimal compromise on the Switch's mobile hardware.

This deluxe edition of the original masterpiece stops inches from perfection due to some minor minor flaws, but it surely will be remembered as one of the best JRPG ever made.

I’m not sure definitive edition does it justice, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive edition is the ultimate version of what was already a great game. How many other games can be replayed as a traditional top-down 16 bit RPG?

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition is an achievement that Square should be proud of; this is one of the best games they’ve put out in years. A heartwarming, well-paced narrative supported by a cast of fantastic characters, a dense and interesting overworld packed with dozens of hours of content, and one of the finest soundtracks we’ve heard in a JRPG combine to make this an unforgettable modern classic. Whether you’re a newcomer to the JRPG genre or a returning vet, do yourself a favor and buy Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age as soon as you’re able. This is the epitome of a gift that keeps on giving, and it more than deserves a spot in your Switch library.

Dragon Quest XI on Switch is a masterpiece of the genre that is only held back by unfortunate occasional crashes during extended play sessions, which we can only hope will be annihilated entirely shortly after release, and a 2D mode that doesn't feel perfectly integrated into the Switch experience. It is therefore not perfect... but came darn close!

Embodying everything that made the Dragon Quest series grand and implementing the newest developments in the RPG genre, this expanded version of Dragon Quest's eleventh title is a major contribution for the Nintendo Switch catalogue as it delivers an instant classic with an exquisite adventure, well developed gameplay mechanics and an overall rich experience. Part of the restricted elite of Nintendo Switch games.

The presentation is incredibly charming, as is the content with its affectionate enhancements to a very endearing od school JRPG.

Shipped with a very strong gameplay, appealing characters and tons of lovely regions to visit, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition is a must-have, no matter what.

Dragon Quest XI is already an incredible JRPG, but this massively updated Switch release makes it almost mandatory. With new outfits, new quests, an entirely new 2D mode and a huge range of quality of life improvements, it's easy to consider this the best version of the game to play. The only thing holding it back from earning that title are some unfortunate visual and performance issues. A handy patch can fix the latter, but really the only reason not to prefer this version is if pristine graphics are your highest priority.

The arrival of Dragon Quest XI on Switch is quite Ultimate indeed: combining a 2D and a 3D approach, this port also adds a good amount of new features, such Japanese voices, symphonic orchestrations, and new quests. Sadly, if you already bought the PS4 version, you will have to spend some more money for this truly Ultimate Edition.

If you haven’t invested in the original game before, Dragon Quest XI S can easily provide you with countless hours of JRPG fun. It plays it safe in many areas and doesn’t necessarily revolutionize the genre; but it does a mighty fine job solidifying it.