Dragon Quest XI Review - A Great game, but does it live up to the current hype?

Before I enter into this review, there is something to be upfront about. I had beaten the game, at least up until the post-game started. The relevance here is in a lot of ways the post game is a continuation of the story and answers all the loose ends. It almost isn't even a post game so much as a third act. I did play through most of it (The Trials and final boss are all that's left), but whether or not you consider the credits roll the end of the game or not determines whether or not you feel I've beaten the game. I will say the story of the game was telling was complete, and while the post-game answers a lot of questions in a lot of ways it is its own separate story. That said, the review can commence.

This was one of the games I was most excited for this year, especially after an overall disappointing showing for the years previous releases. It has been a while since we had a new Dragon Quest game here in the states since the MMO didn't come out over here, and honestly, a world in which we didn't have a classic style Dragon Quest game too look forward too was a bit weird. And while we had a game like Octopath Traveler to quench that retro style, it still came with so many modern updates that it isn't quite the same, despite being a good game. It really only feels right that Dragon Quest comes back to scratch that itch.

There is something to be said about Dragon Quests refusal to drop its retro style and core mechanics. The game definitely does it's fair share too keep itself feeling unique, but at the same point if you look past the expanded graphics you could set this next to any of the other titles in the series without it feeling out of place.

If there is a big thing that was added I really like is the addition of the Pep powers. The ability to Pep Up has been in the series for a while now, basically a stat boost that occurs once you have been beaten on enough. Now, however, you can use abilities unique to being Pepped up based on who else is in your party. Essentially the game has introduced Dual Techniques between party members, and it adds another layer to planning when putting your party together. And there are a lot of techniques that can be unlocked as you level up and invest points in learning techniques. There are powers usable by three or four people as well.

With some minor tweaks, this really is in most other ways like other Dragon Quest games. If it's a formula you've never liked before, this game is not going to win you over. As mentioned above, this series is not one that is going to change the core of what it is for anyone. This is both a boon and a curse, but Dragon Quest releases a new game sparingly enough compared to some of its contemporaries that it's not that big of a deal since it's probably been a while since you last played an entry.

The story, by and large, is a Dragon Quest game. You have some interesting characters and a lot of short stories that happen to form the larger plot. It's nothing all that great, but it's pretty decent from beginning to end. There a lot of scenes that had so much potential to be great, such as the story with the Mermaid, but it takes so little time to invest you in any of it there isn't really that great an impact with the finish comes. It's a problem present in most narratives in Dragon Quest at large, and there isn't really anything here to change that. Though some characters do get a much more satisfying conclusion to their stories, such as Erik.

Characters vary in how enjoyable they are. Erik was at many times my spirit animal in this game. There was a moment where I was hunting down an Item I needed to, essentially, prevent the end of the world. The Dock is closed for a festival, and you would think you would be faced with a dilemma, as the item in question is in the hands of a merchant that you know are on the move. But everyone is all, 'Eh, whatever, festival!' except for Erik, who in kinder words basically wonders what the fuck is wrong with these people, and the two of you end up going to try and convince the mayor to make an exception to allow you to leave.

There are a lot of moments like that which plague this game from beginning to end. So many actions characters take just seem obviously stupid on the surface, and many times Erik is there to let everyone know only to be able to do nothing about it. I feel a connection with Erik that I don't with any other character, though I do really like Jade and Rab too. Their backstory ended up being one of the stories more interesting aspects.

This is counterbalanced by the most insufferable character of the Dragon Quest series I've encountered, Veronica. See, she is an adult woman whose body was de-aged, something you find out shortly after getting her. She is a typical Tsundere type little girl when you meet her, bratty and arrogant but actually really care about you all. See, if she was a little girl at least you could justify it because she is just a child, but Veronica isn't. She's old enough to know better, and I hate every time she opens her mouth. Her sister is a bit of a boring character, and Sylvano feels like he could have been a lot more then he was, though I do still lean on the side of liking him.

And I'll probably do an article later on the Post Game, but having seen all the story but the actual conclusion, there are so many narrative problems that introduce for me and none of them I can talk about without spoiling the game. Needless to say, the hype around the quality of this game's story confuses me. It is overall a fine story and one you would expect of Dragon Quest, but it doesn't overshadow other entries.

There is also a problem of how often you have to go back and forth between places with little to nothing to do while you do so. It's like a series of fetch quest, though many of them don't involve having to fetch something. This is another problem that kind of runs through the series as a whole, though this game does do a bit to alleviate the problem with the world not being quite as open and full of dead space as some of the other entries.

Then there is the insane amount of convenience involved in moving the plot along. You just so happen to end up in the cell of a guy about to escape the prison, you just so happen to end up in Hotto the same time the people who are devoted to protecting the Luminary are their, and I'd go on but this is basically the entire premise of how the plot of the game moves forward. I know destiny and fate have always played a part in Dragon Quest, and this happens in all the games, but they took it to a whole new level in VIII, and it's obvious and frustrating.

And if I may pick on one other problem, the 3D environment with the fully rotatable camera is not something that has ever served this series well. With how many objects there are to look at and interact with: Books, Jars, Chests, sparkling spots, ect., you are constantly having to adjust the camera and look around every corner, and it's just not as convenient to do as it was when the game just had a top-down view, and just serves as an annoyance the series hasn't been able to shake since the move to 3D. It's a minor annoyance yes, but it is ever-present.

The only other thing to really talk about is the game's visuals, which really are the best of the series to date. Keeping the aesthetic of the old games, as well as the designs, they did a wonderful job at rendering them in the higher end graphics of the modern era. Throw in a lot of new enemy designs and back it all up with the games classic tracks you have a game that is very pleasing to the senses. It's a standard the series has always had, and it continues to show here.

The game has its problems with how often it feels like it's wasting your time, problems with detailed searching in their 3D environments, and a lot of plot convenience and characters acting stupid in the narrative, but you also have a Classic and solid combat system, great visuals, and enough good characters to keep you interested in their stories. It is not the greatest RPG ever made, it is not the greatest Dragon Quest ever made. But it is a solid game and one that fills a hole that wasn't quite filled for some time. If you like DQ, or even if you are a newcomer to the series and want to know what all the hype about the franchise is, Dragon Quest XI is a great one to pick up.

Though I guess I should bring up the best part of the game. Jade is both really hot, and over 21. I can drool over her without feeling like a creep! THANK YOU SO MUCH SQUARE ENIX 10/10.