DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition finally has a native Nintendo Switch 2 port, bringing one of the best versions of an already stellar game to Nintendo’s latest hybrid console.
DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition is a long title, and I just don’t mean the name. Originally released back in 2017, the DE edition of the game brought with it a whole host of changes and additions, including a full orchestral soundtrack, QoL improvements, a portable alchemy set, faster battle speeds, and options for both Japanese and English dubs. New additions include the option to switch to a classic 2D sprite-based overworld, borrowing assets from the 3DS overworld, in addition to new areas in the late game that introduce elements from the entirety of the franchise for longtime fans to explore.
Finally, new side stories that fleshed out the ensemble cast of characters from DRAGON QUEST XI introduced an even richer tapestry of narrative changes that enriched the experience and gave insight into the characters at a point in the story that otherwise was ignored in the 2017 release.
“DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 truly earns its Definitive Edition moniker.”
Despite DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition being a strictly turn-based affair, with minimal real-time sequences, where a 30FPS framerate cap was of little consequence, the experience on the original Nintendo Switch hardware felt gimped in comparison to every other release of the game, made worse by poor image quality in handheld mode that made it best reserved for those only with Nintendo hardware.
Square Enix is finally catching up to the Nintendo Switch 2, releasing multiple updates for their legacy titles, and DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition is no exception, with the game now running at a locked 60FPS in both handheld and docked play at 1080p.
This latest re-release of DRAGON QUEST XI also brings with it the option to play at higher resolutions, but with a reduced framerate targeting 30 FPS. This higher fidelity mode also targets portable play at 1080p, with increased anti-aliasing, cleaning up the softer image of geometry, particularly with regard to hair, foliage, and facial detail. Thankfully, unless you’re actively switching between the modes, playing the game on its 60FPS performance mode is perfectly fine, and still an upgrade over the base experience on last-gen Nintendo hardware.
“DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition is an essential must-play that offers players over a hundred hours of content.”
In other words, DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 truly earns its Definitive Edition moniker. Unfortunately, like other updates to Square Enix releases for Nintendo Switch 2 owners, Echoes of an Elusive Age DE does not offer any upgrade paths or cross-save migration options for those who already own the legacy release either digitally or physically on the original Nintendo Switch.
As the game is approaching almost a decade old, albeit with the Switch version’s later release, it is hard to recommend DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition even at the reduced price, unless, of course, you’re completely new to the game and exclusively want to experience it on the Switch 2.
For those new to the series or new to even the JRPG genre, DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition is an essential must-play that offers players over a hundred hours of content that showcases the best of what a turn-based RPG can be, making it a perfect fit for portable gamers looking to get lost in an expansive and imaginative world that highlights the best of the Dragon Quest series.
Adhering to the classic Hero’s Journey trope, Echoes of an Elusive Age tells the story of the Luminary, a hero said to be reborn from the World Tree, tasked with saving the world from an impending calamity. Those who experienced the recent 2D-HD remakes of the Erdrick trilogy of Dragon Quest titles can also appreciate the subtle connection between those legacy games and the overarching themes of DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition.
Ultimately, this latest re-release, from a technical point of view, is an excellent port that takes better advantage of new hardware. However, the lack of an upgrade path or save migration options limits the broader reach of its asking price, making it best reserved for newcomers only.
