Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition Review (Alphanaught)
First of all, RIP to the legend himself, Akira Toriyama. I kinda regretted not playing this series earlier, because after finishing it, calling this game a masterpiece simply wouldn't cut it. Dragon Quest XI is my first ever Dragon Quest game, and boy it did not disappoint me in the slightest. What's cool about Dragon Quest XI is that it has maintained the classic turn-based JRPG design philosophy and still managed to make it feel modern and fresh.
Dragon Quest XI does every aspect of a classic JRPG perfectly. Everything from its gameplay to the soundtrack is incredibly well done.
In terms of gameplay, it utilises turn-based RPG mechanics that is similar to what you'd find with older JRPG games on the SNES or GBA. Even though that might sound like a bad thing, don't you worry about getting bored because...
Enemy designs in this game are unique and captivating. Every single enemy you'll be facing in this game is filled with personality and charm of their own. Never have I felt so excited trying to fight a genie that carries around a bongo drum in a JRPG.
The weapon crafting mechanic is actually pretty fun, but I guess at some points if you're like me you might find it a bit annoying having to go back to the title screen to load a save just because you've failed to craft a Greatsword +2. Also, the Character Builder system is definitely one of my favourite mechanics in all of JRPGs, it is simple yet fun to play around with and you can also re-spec anytime you want, which opens the border to experimenting with any build to find the one that suits your playstyle.
If you're here for the story, I'd say that DQXI has a pretty serviceable story. It is what you'd expect from a typical JRPG but the thing I like about it is that despite its simplicity, it manages to diverge itself and include meaningful stories about the people in the world that make the world worth saving. Every character in the DQXI roster is also very charming and likeable IMO.
The only downside to this game IMO is that I find the post-game content (Act III?) to be the worst part of this game. You're technically forced to grind (a lot) because while it is possible that you can finish the entire game at low level with decent equipments, you'd have to rely a lot on luck at that point. Otherwise, you'd have to grind for materials to make the best gears and level up your entire party. Some people might like this but I find it cumbersome and disrespectful to my time.
I do find that DQXI is a very simple JRPG; every aspect of it from storytelling to gameplay. It reminds me a lot of GBA RPGs I've played back in the early 2000s era. It's quite frankly nostalgic given its simplicity.