Pixelkin reviewed the J-RPG Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age:

 

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Review

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Review

It’s easy to get jaded about the RPG genre, specifically Japanese RPGs. Every trope has been well-worn, every character archetype has been fully exploited. Dating back to the 1980s the Dragon Quest series is one of the most egregious examples of many tiresome gameplay elements and story beats.

Yet each new Dragon Quest game proves why the series remains beloved and resilient. With an irresistible charm, modern design conveniences, and excellent writing, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a wonderful RPG for newcomers and a delightful return for series veterans.

A Tale of Several Cities

Let’s get the obvious stuff out of the way. You’re the long-lost chosen one, the Luminary. There’s a quaint village, an evil monarch, and a puckish rogue. And it wouldn’t be a Dragon Quest game without Yggdrasil the world tree playing a central role.

Within these seemingly tiresome constraints, Dragon Quest shines with an earnestness that somehow feels wholly fresh. There’s an overarching story but much of the tale revolves around smaller localized vignettes. Discover the fate of the missing fighters in an MMA tournament. Help a cowardly prince win a horse race in Gollopolis. Reel from the tragedy of a mermaid’s unrequited love of a fisherman.

These story arcs come to life thanks to the incredibly bright, colorful character designs of Akira Toriyama. The always likable art is accompanied by some of the most impressive full voice acting I’ve heard in a JRPG, including all the many over-the-top accents that reflect each region.

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The Takeaway

Dragon Quest 11 is a nearly perfect RPG, with just the right amount of classic features and modern improvements. For RPG veterans it errs on the easy side, but includes an optional Draconian mode to make the game more challenging. The twists and turns in the story are genuinely surprising and enjoyable, and DQ11 features one of the most effective and fun crafting mini-games I’ve ever encountered. Every design decision is smart and intuitive, elevating an archaic gameplay structure into one of the most memorable RPGs of this generation.