Dragon Quest XI - Echos of an Elusive Age

I’m looking forward to trying this game on hard next time around because I just did that fight on normal at level 27 and it wasn’t that hard. But if you were hitting for 350 (granted with some setup), that’s what my entire team was doing over 2-3 rounds.

Very glad I chose to make this game an exception and buy it right out of the gates at full price even though I haven’t played a DQ game since the NES days.

Lets spot where we are all: I am around level 17 at Gondola.

Funny how this game makes us slowly get into more complex combat.

Reading this thread is tempting. Everyone seems to be having sooo much fun. I have never played a DQ game before. My problem is I am not sure I have the time to spend on this unless its absolutely exceptional. My backlog is becoming a thing of guilt rather than something to look forward to.

In other words - what is really great about this game for a newcomer to the genre? I appeal to you my kind fellow QT3’ers to help get my head straight on this!

I was in the same position as you - I additionally read some reviews because I do not even trust QT3ers when JRPG-(nostalgia)-bonus/ general JRPG-predisposition might be a factor.
So PCGamer and waypoint reviews are somewhat on the opposite side. Not trying to be mean here… it’s just so tempting, mainly because it’s so easy on the eyes.

I hate that those reviews get dinged for being too much like the previous games, when that’s honestly one of the game’s biggest strengths. Look at FFXIII and XV - they tried something new, and were not really very good because of it. Though I’ll agree some games are better with iteration, Dragon Quest isn’t one people want a lot of changes made to, it’s sort of held sacred like that.

There are hundreds and hundreds of hours of gameplay online, just watch some of it if the word of mouth in this thread isn’t enough. If watching the game makes you want to play it, then play it. If it doesn’t do much for you, skip it.

I don’t know if this is “great” but you don’t have to have played any previous games in the series, the connective tissue for the super fan exists, but it’s not something you’ll notice. I’ve played only a few games before this one (VIII on the 3DS last year) and there isn’t anything extra I’m conciously aware I’m getting out of having done so.

I miss the original Japanese spell names. The new ones don’t really do it for me :(

The English ones are much better for me, fun names like Kasizzle or whatever. I love it. But then again, the JP names look like assorted sticks lined up in random patterns, so anything would have been an improvement. :)

I’m at level 13 (other than Sylvando who joined the party at 15) and out on my first quest from Gondolia.

I try to avoid all fights until the boss. If I can’t win, I’ll pick up a level or two and try again.

I’m level 47 or so and about 55 hours in, no idea how far I have left in the main story because the game keeps throwing crazy twists at me at every opportunity.

The PS4 is not accurately tracking my time, as when I save and just hit the PS button and let it sit, it is still accruing time in the background. “47 hours” in, and I have got party member 5.

That being said, this game is a blast, being level 14 for the desert area boss battle was fine. Felt very well balanced, had a couple scares, but made it out without a death. Buffing/Debuffing is key.

I also was able to complete the “wild side” quest on my first shot, got lucky with the pep timing I think. (unless it is scripted)

Also, character number 5 is the best ever.

It’s hard to say where I am without spoilers, so I’ll just give a cryptic reference that will only make sense to those who got past that point: Blue John fishing.

I must be what, 30 hours in or something? And loving every minute.

Awesome.

I’ll say. ;)

This is a great modern example of the classic fantasy JRPG. It’s the evolution of a Dragon Warrior or Final Fantasy from the NES, if the evolution went straight down the main line and didn’t take any of the branches. There’s no real “twist on the classic formula”: this is the classic formula, with 2018 graphics and size and quality of life.

(Well, mostly. The inventory system is not great, and if dying was a thing on non-Draconian difficulty, the gold penalty would also be a problem for some, I imagine.)

If you want to be a newcomer to the genre and start with the classics, go find a NES or SNES mini and play those games first. But if you want to be a newcomer and start with something modern, that you don’t have to hunt for, that you can just grab on your PC or PS4 and go? As of today, I really do think DQ11 is the best entry point. If you end up hating JRPGs, I don’t know that this turns you around or anything, but at least it will be gorgeous/quirky/fun along the way.

Scott is right about reviews. This game’s strength is its past history and its acknowledgment of that history. It is more refined --the crafting system and excellent graphics are improvements – but it is very similar to past incarnations. Which is fine by me. I love it.

I am about to head to Yggdrasil. A benefit of overleveling (if slightly) for the boss I hit a wall on was that the Witch boss was pretty easy.

My first exposure to the series was DQ8 and this release has the same qualities that hooked me back in the day, lovely art, whimsical enemies, clever characterizations, interesting world-building, and old-school jRPG mechanics. They get the fundamentals right.

EDIT: Kyrios nailed it before I took my shot.

Thanks folks - I appreciate all the insights from the (very distinguished) hivemind!

I’m level 27ish and am at the town with the casino.

Boy, my party is roughly level 29-30 right now. I’m starting to think I’m pretty underleveled for the point I’m at (at least compared to many of you), which might explain why I’m thinking the difficulty is just right. I do avoid most of the fights with common mobs (I guess I fight 1 out of every 7 or 8 visible mobs at most), so maybe that’s why.