With Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition, Square Enix took one of the most critically-acclaimed JRPGs of recent years and made it even better by introducing several new features and enhancements. After being exclusive to the Nintendo Switch since last year, this version of the game is finally going multiplatform next month, but fans on PC, PS4, and Xbox One can start playing today, since a demo for Dragon Quest 11 S has just been released.
Going into further detail on its website and in an official press release, the company stressed that the demo is no small offering. Rather than being a standalone piece of gameplay, the demo is actually the entirety of Dragon Quest 11 S’ opening chapters, a “gargantuan chunk of game” that can take players up to 10 hours to complete. As such, anyone interested in the game can get quite a ways into its story before deciding if they want to put money down on Dragon Quest 11 S.
With all of the content that’s available, players can also get a pretty substantial taste of what the Definitive Edition will bring to Dragon Quest 11. In addition to quality-of-life improvements like an “ultra-fast” speed option for battles and the ability to craft items anywhere, players can now experience the game’s fully orchestrated soundtrack, a new photo mode, and the option to switch between English and Japanese audio. Additionally, Square Enix said that players who reach the end of the demo will receive a bonus reward of three Seeds of Skill, consumable items that grant extra skill points.
Even with the sheer amount of content that’s now available, Square Enix assures that the demo only scratches the surface of what will be available in the full game. This will include extra features like new character stories and the option to play the game in a 2D style reminiscent of classic 16-bit Dragon Quest games. Luckily, players won’t have to start over from the demo once the full game launches, as they will be able to carry their progress over.
The Dragon Quest franchise has been on a roll in the last few years. Besides Dragon Quest 11 and its Definitive Edition, fans have been treated to plenty of spinoffs like the Dragon Quest Builders series, as well as playable characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and an anime series with The Adventure of Dai (which is getting its own spinoff games). What’s more, according to franchise creator Yuji Horii, fans can look forward to several major Dragon Quest reveals for its 35th anniversary next year.
Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition is available for the Switch, and will be out on December 4 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Source: Square Enix