I'm not going to admit I was wrong, but... A year ago Dragon Quest 11 came out for PlayStation 4 and, while I certainly enjoyed it, I wasn't as keen on it as most.
This was a staunchly traditional outing that didn't seem to offer too
much beyond splendour (though it was so splendrous that it's easily the
most lavish RPG I've ever played). Now, playing through Dragon Quest 11 a
second time on Switch, I've adjusted my opinion a little. Why exactly
is that?
Maybe
a part of it is plain old Nintendo fanboyism, and seeing Dragon Quest
back where it belongs on Nintendo hardware. But I like to think I'm a
tiny bit more professional than that, and certainly a lot has changed
for this new edition, embellishing the original in all the right places
and adding a fair bit more besides. It's not as if the fundamentals of
Dragon Quest 11 have been altered - far from it - and rather that
they've been buffed and polished to the point where it's easier to
appreciate what they're really getting at.
And this Dragon Quest, really, is all about tradition. As has always
been so with Enix' series, but 11's very essence seems to be to respect
the ways of this 33-year-old franchise. Set in the vibrant whimsy of
Erdrea, Dragon Quest 11 sees your mute protagonist slowly awaken to
their destiny to save the world. Its ripe old stuff made fresh by Dragon
Quest's typical flair for character and dialogue (here voiced in
English and, for the first time, Japanese), and enlivened by references
to the series' past. There's a late nod to one game in particular, while
this new Switch edition liberally scatters a fair few more around.
The
opportunity to play set pieces from past Dragon Quest games is an
extension of the 2D mode that's also included in this Switch edition, a
mode lifted from the 3DS version that itself never got localised for the
west. Step into a church in Dragon Quest 11 S and you can opt to switch
modes (although it's worth pointing out it's not seamless, as you're
pushed back to the start of the chapter), and yes it's possible to play
through the adventure entirely in 2D. What I love about its inclusion
here is how it shows that beyond all that glorious window dressing lie
the foundations of a staunchly traditional RPG.
The
number of improvements for the Switch edition is impressive, from new
quests to being able to see your party members when you're out on the
field. Oh, and you can skip cutscenes whenever now - perfect if this is
your second time through.So yes, battles are
turn-based. There's the option to move freely in combat, but it's
movement that doesn't impact combat in any way so feels entirely
redundant. There's a skill board, crafting via a forge that can now be
used outside of campsites, and pep powers that let you chain attacks
between your party members. And it's all so, so gentle, with not a blunt
edge to be found anywhere. Is it frustratingly shallow, or is it
pleasantly frictionless? That's all a matter of personal perspective,
really.
Progress in Dragon's Quest is intended to be smooth, as
befits its whole kid's book vibe. Like any old tale retold, it's about
the details of the retelling - and this Dragon Quest excels here. Akira
Toriyama's artwork has never looked better (and while resolution
understandably takes a hit on the Switch, it still looks magnificent
when playing either handheld or docked), the soundtrack never richer -
and this time around there's an orchestrated score and the option,
should you be slightly mad, to go back to the synthesised version of the
PS4 original.
Other
changes include new Draconian Mode options, more mounts and a photo
mode - and on top of that are smaller adjustments that all add up to a
much smoother experience.It's all lavish in the
same way Dragon Quest 8 was in its day, although my one big problem
with Dragon Quest 11's vanilla edition was how its progress was as
glacial as the famously slow Dragon Quest 7. Maybe that's something that
delights you, or maybe you're wondering, like me, why Dragon Quest 11
takes as long to get to its opening titles as Stanley Kubrick took to
explore faith, intelligence and the question of extra-terrestrial life
in 2001: A Space Odyssey. By that point in Dragon Quest 11, you've just
about answered the question of where the jump button is.
The
Switch version does have its own answer to all that, of sorts, with a
new option to speed up battles even further. It certainly helps with
progression, takes some of the pain out of grinding, and makes Dragon
Quest 11's long journey that bit more palatable. Is this the best Dragon
Quest? Some people believe so, and I can understand why - it's where
the character, charm and colour that make this series so beloved are at
their most vivid. Personally I'm not so sure, and even after the
improvements made for this edition I wish Dragon Quest 11 could find a
little more space for its players, though there's no denying the
eloquence of its craft, or the vastness of its scope. In terms of scale
and spectacle, this is as grand an adventure you'll find on the Nintendo
Switch this side of Breath of the Wild.
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