Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition Reviews
So, is it worth the punt? Yes and no. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age continues to be one of the greatest examples of a 'pure' JRPG, and this is certainly the best version of it for a handheld.
DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition finally has a native Nintendo Switch 2 port, bringing one of the best versions of an already stellar game to Nintendo's latest hybrid console.
DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition is still a solid game. This is a version of the game that runs well and can look great in the graphics mode.
The best way of playing the definitive edition of an excellent JRPG
Overall, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition is a solid Switch 2 port with few bells and whistles. It's essentially Dragon Quest XI on a newer console rather than a major upgrade, so existing owners have little reason to buy it again. For RPG fans who haven't played it yet, however, there's a lot to love. The Definitive Edition is an excellent portable version of a long, charming, and consistently enjoyable adventure.
If you're a sucker for games running at 60fps or 1440p and really want to playthrough this amazing RPG again with either enhancement in mind, the game is good enough to warrant another purchase. I still don't love that there isn't a benefit to fans who supported the game on the original Switch, other than still being able to play it via back compat, but the new optimization modes are a nice extra to have. For those who haven't played DQXI yet, there's really no better time, especially with a longer wait for the 12th game since its retooling. Even though I recognize that this is an incredibly crowded fall season for RPGs, a full Switch 2 replay of Echoes of an Elusive Age is something I've firmly penciled in for the end of the year, because there's few series that do cozy comfort as well as Dragon Quest.
Dragon Quest XI S: Definitive Edition was already a great game on Switch, and the new graphics modes and drastically improved load times make it shine even brighter on Switch 2 — the lack of an upgrade path for existing owners is the only real blemish on an otherwise excellent package.
Review in German | Read full review
Recommending Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age over the series' more recent releases is particularly apt, given how well the game balances the franchise's traditions with modern sensibilities. It was the final entry in the series to be released while its three creative pillars—Yuji Horii, Koichi Sugiyama, and Akira Toriyama—were all still alive, making the game even more special beyond its sheer excellence.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition for the Nintendo Switch 2 runs and looks better than ever on Nintendo’s latest console, with an excellent handheld experience that breathes new life into this already fantastic RPG. The lack of a Switch upgrade and save data transfer hurts, but newcomers will have a purrtastic adventure waiting for them.
For those who have never visited Erdrea, the Switch 2 version offers the best technical experience available on a Nintendo console. This doesn't mean, however, that the original Switch edition has become irrelevant. If you can find it for a significantly lower price, it remains an excellent option.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Dragon Quest XI S makes an outstanding technical leap on Switch 2 with smooth 60 FPS, almost nonexistent load times, and a notable graphical upgrade, though it does drain the battery faster in handheld mode. A legendary JRPG that is absolutely essential.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
JRPG fans who've been patient enough to wait will be rewarded in playing through Dragon Quest 11 S, which is easily the superior version.
A suite of enhancements help bring the virtues of this staunchly traditional RPG into focus.
If you’re anything like me, your first (and only) experience with the Hero comes from playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. If the Hero has appealed to you in any way in that game as a Fighter, you owe it to yourself to play Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition. I can’t help but feel like the Switch version of the game would be my preferred choice of platform, simply since I could play the game anywhere, even if for just a few minutes at a time. However, the PlayStation 4 version comes highly recommended if you’re looking to take in the incredible visuals awaiting you in the world of Erdrea.
Expands and improves upon an excellent foundation in meaningful ways, with minimal compromise on the Switch's mobile hardware.
Steeped in tradition and not afraid to show it, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age reflects the best qualities of the series' past.
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.
Dragon Quest is a wonderful title and nice reprieve from a harsh year.
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.
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.