A Switch 2 Edition of a well-loved release
Originally released back in 2017, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age was a hit. The game was later updated and rereleased as Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition in 2019. That release was also a hit and is available basically everywhere, including Stadia! Now Switch 2 owners, who didn’t get in on the action with any of the previous releases, can jump in with the Switch 2 Edition of Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age. Is the juice worth the squeeze? Maybe…
Right from jump, it’s important to know that this release is specifically a Switch 2 release requiring a new purchase. Save data will NOT transfer over, essentially making this a “new” game for the platform. It does include all of the content from the original 2019 Definitive Edition (orchestral score, 2D/3D modes, extra character stories, etc.) but does not feature anything new. The main draw here though is the increased performance provided by the Switch 2. The original Switch release runs at a locked 30 FPS with a maximum dynamic resolution of 900p while docked and an unfortunate, though only occasional, 540p while handheld. This Switch 2 release features two modes for players to pick from, Performance which hits 60 FPS and 1080p and Image Quality which hits 30 FPS and 1440p. The jump in resolution is definitely noticeable and really makes the character designs, from the legendary Akira Toriyama, pop. Colors are more vibrant, backgrounds are much clearer, and characters feel more fully defined.
MSRP: $39.99
Platforms: Switch 2
Price I’d Pay: $39.99
All of this is certainly welcome as DQXI is a very good-looking game. As Anthony mentioned in his review of the PS4 release, check it out here, this is a game that is going to age very well. Graphically there is nothing here that is going to look out of place in a number of years and will help DQXI retain its classic feel. Because make no mistake, for better or worse this is a classic JRPG. Which honestly is as it should be. Dragon Quest has always been among the more traditional JRPG franchises. Whereas modern role playing games are a far cry from what Gen Xers and Millennials grew up playing, not saying that’s a bad thing, you can absolutely see the through line from Dragon Quest, or Dragon Warrior as it was known in the states until 2005, to Dragon Quest XI. This is not a game looking to innovate but rather iterate. You play as the silent hero, an abandoned baby with a mysterious past who is found by a kindly old man while he is out fishing. Fast forward a few years and on the day of your coming-of-age ceremony, you and your childhood friend are attacked which activates a mysterious mark on your hand and a mysterious power within you. Turns out you are the Luminary, a legendary hero reborn chosen by Yggdrasil to eliminate an evil force.
So, pretty standard fare for a role-playing game. Along the way you, and your eventual party members, fight monsters, level up, and progressively get stronger. Leveling is linear with characters learning new skills automatically. While there is a small skill tree that can be used to customize each character a bit, DQXI is basically on rails regarding progression. Different party members fulfill different roles, mage or thief for example, and don’t really deviate from genre conventions. Battles also play out traditionally with encounters being turn-based and order of attack determined by player and monster stats. One nice feature of the battle system is the ability to set tactics, either by the entire party or individually. These tactics force the party to fight in pre-prescribed ways, such as “Show No Mercy” or “Don’t Use MP”, and work exactly as you’d expect/want them to. You also have an option to increase the battle speed which I took advantage of right away. DQXI doesn’t ask for too much grinding but there were a few spots where it felt like my party needed to be just a bit stronger to make it to the next section.
And man, are there a lot of sections to this game. Depending on the type of player you are you can expect to get anywhere from 60 hours of gameplay for the main story up to 120+ if you are a completionist. It may seem a bit odd that this Switch 2 edition isn’t adding any additional content, but does it really need any? Not only do you have the main game here and all of the little side quests, but the 2D version as well. Going into a church gives players the option of playing through the entire game in a gorgeous, 16-bit pixel art style. This version of the game is a bit shorter overall as exploration is cut down a bit, but the entire story is here. You can expect an additional 40+ hours for the main story or 60+ hours if you want to see everything. An important note though is that if and when you switch, you will be taken back to a major section or area of the game which can artificially add some time. If the different modes interest you, I’d recommend having different files. The 2D mode also eliminates the cut scenes and does not feature voice acting. I didn’t personally love the voice acting or script, not that it was bad per se just not my cup of tea, but there are others who love it. Music remains the same in both modes with the option to choose a symphonic version of the soundtrack or synthesized, MIDI one. The soundtrack overall is very good and again hits that very specific, old-school feel.
Overall, the question of whether to pick up Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition, or DQXIS:EoaEADES2E, is a hard one to answer. If you’ve already played this game, then this version simply looks better. You aren’t getting anything new and your save file won’t transfer over. If better graphics and a performance boost are worth it then absolutely pick this up; it’s the best way to play it on a Nintendo platform. The only caveat there is that you have to buy this game at full price, $39.99, there is no upgrade path for previous owners. If you’ve never played this game, and like old school JRPG’s, DQXI is a very good example of the genre. It is classic through and through and will scratch a very particular itch. If you are looking for modern JRPG’s, think the Final Fantasy VII trilogy or something like the Persona series, well this is just not that. Dragon Quest has always been Dragon Quest. It is very, very good at being Dragon Quest. This game continues that tradition and is a worthy addition to the catalog.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.