Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition Reviews
The quality of life changes, the return of an orchestral soundtrack, the new side stories and Tockington challenges all add up to make Dragon Quest XI S the best way to play this JRPG classic (as long as you mind the graphical downgrades), but with no new content that wasn't already added to last year's Nintendo Switch release, it's a tough sell for players that have already enjoyed the Luminary's adventure once or twice already.
Dragon Quest XI remains a game to get lost in. We weren't entirely sold on the idea of playing through such a gigantic adventure all over again, but Dragon Quest XI S has only served to solidify our opinion that this is one of the best Japanese RPGs ever made.
No, Dragon Quest XI S is not technically perfect. It has Switch graphics, is a little on the easy side, and isn’t going to convert any non-JRPG fans. But it is a game that shines so brightly! The story, visuals, music, and gameplay come together to create an unforgettable experience. This is one of the games I will always have a physical copy of and will revisit every few years for the rest of my life.
It's easy to say a game is amazing because you simply enjoy it. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition on the other hand backs up that statement by providing one of, if not the best JRPG titles of all time. With so much added content and quality of life improvements, it's mind-blowing to me that a game so intricately designed could be made any better. Square Enix proved that no matter how good something is, it can always be better.
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 graphic side.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition is the ultimate version of last year's hit, which sparkle with new colours in almost every term. Yuji Hori's team took into account the roughness of the first iteration and carefully reworked a huge variety of aspects, not forgetting to include all the content and a number of pleasant innovations. All this makes a great game even better. And the opportunity to take it with you is a real joy for fans of the genre.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Dragon Quest XI is an excellent port of a superb JRPG. It’s rammed full of content, and performs excellently on the Switch. It’s the JRPG equivalent of putting on your comfiest pajamas and settling in on a rainy day - always enjoyable, wonderfully familiar, and the best way to prepare for Autumn.
Whether it’s your first Dragon Quest game or your eleventh, Dragon Quest XI S truly earns its “Definitive Edition” title by making an already exceptional RPG experience even better. Thanks to its wealth of refinements, new features, and the ability to play through the whole game in its 2D mode, Dragon Quest XI S will feel as much like a new experience for seasoned players of the original game as much as it will for those who are coming to the series for the first time. If Dragon Quest XI was intended to be made as a love letter to the classic JRPGs of the past, then consider the Definitive Edition to be its coda.
Being a port of the Switch version, the graphic compromises have remained almost unchanged, but this time the title compensates for its artistic shortcomings with a double frame rate, almost zero loading times and a resolution finally in 4k, which consequently guarantees top-notch performance. If we add to these the presence of the superb Japanese dubbing and all the improvements devised last year for the "S" edition, this third version of Dragon Quest XI may not fully embody the concept of "Definitive Edition", but overall it has turned out to be an excellent alternative to the original, especially in case the consumer wants to use it in 4k. At least for Xbox users and Game Pass subscribers there is no valid reason why they should not finally dive into the world of Erdrea and accompany the Shiner on one of the most epic adventures conceived over the last decade.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Xbox Series X version of Dragon Quest XI S has all of the content of the Switch port, with the graphics cleaned up and the framerate brought to an almost constant 60fps. The game has never looked prettier, and load screens are almost nonexistent, thanks to the Xbox Series X's internal SSD. This is the definitive Dragon Quest XI experience, and even people who played the original version of the game should check it out, as the new content and QoL improvements make the experience feel fresh again. Dragon Quest XI S is an updated version of one of the finest games of the previous generation, and it's free on Game Pass, so Xbox fans have no reason not to check it out for themselves.
Dragon Quest XI is the debut of the saga on Xbox, and does so in the best possible way. One of the best JRPGs of the last years arrives to Microsoft consoles with a Definitive Edition that suffers from some graphic problems but is still essential.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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.
Regardless of the hardware, Dragon Quest XI continues to be the absolute masterpiece that last year won a place among the best JRPGs of the current generation. The Definitive Edition was able to enrich an almost perfect experience, streamlining and smoothing edges and potentially tedious passages not suitable for non-lovers of the niche genre
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Definitive Edition of Dragon Quest 11 lives up to its name and delivers the best overall package.
Review in German | Read full review
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition may seem like a title that uses a lot of words but let there be no doubt about it: this really is the definitive edition of Dragon Quest XI, an expanded version of Square Enix's RPG for the Nintendo Switch which takes that magnificent work and adds even more features to it. The result is an absolutely marvelous game that's full of soul, excitement and content and which provides an experience that puts it among the most exquisite games for the Nintendo Switch.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
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.
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.
Review in French | Read full review
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.
I typically favor games that introduce something new to the gaming landscape, because I think trudging through old waters — even incredibly — doesn’t really push us forward as a culture or in terms of design. Dragon Quest XI is just too good, though. In fact, it’s one of the best games I’ve ever played. I laughed, I cried, and I’ve felt a part of this cast. I’m actually on hour 140 with no signs of stopping, and I couldn’t be happier. Without question, this is one of the best-designed games I’ve played to date, and I’ve had the beautiful opportunity to share it with my daughter who has adorably pointed at the screen, screaming, “It’s a monster octopus!”