Dragon Quest XI - Review | PlayStation Galaxy

Dragon Quest XI is definitely a JRPG, albeit a pretty mediocre one. There’s no denying that the game looks incredible, it’s just sad that one cannot say the same for the gameplay. The problem with the game is that there really isn’t anything in it that will get players to keep coming back for more Unless you’re the type who enjoys grinding for experience and other forms of repetitiveness, then you’ll find very little to enjoy here.

[Spurg]

The game is a 9 at least. I have my issue like the game being piss easy, limited soundtracks, and bad item management.

[PhantomTommy]

You may be too far in to restart but I highly recommend playing DQ11 with a couple of the Draconian Quest limitations on. This quality review fails to mention them at all but the game is simply too forgiving without them, requiring almost no strategy or preparation to complete dungeons. I played with the "Tougher Enemies" and "Less exp for easy fights" limitations and had an absolute blast from beginning to end. One of the most enjoyable JRPGs I've played in a long while.

[Spurg]

It's funny, I saw it briefly mentioned but didn't pay mind to it.
But the core difficulty should have been harder. You could make it harder with the Draconian quest limitation but why that would do that. The option of difficulty shouldn't be there instead they should have made the game tougher.
I haven't finished the game yet but I have not lost a single boss or enemy fight and gigaslash+peped+oomph makes my main character OP.

[bluefox755]

I wish I had. I'm nearing the end (I think), 80 hours in, and have not died once. I've had people fall in battle, but not the whole party, and I'm by no means a pro gamer. I wish there was an option to turn them on after starting.

[Chaos_Order]

That's the thing that gets me, in most JRPGs adding extra difficulty just means "you better grind a lot" so I think, why choose that? But if that was the standard difficulty and there was no other option it wouldn't matter very much because I wouldn't be thinking "Crap, if only I'd chosen THIS option," I would just deal with it without an ounce of regret. Not to mention JRPGs are notorious for difficulty spikes and 10 hour long tutorial-esque introductions so you can hardly say "judge the difficulty after the first hour." That's just my take on it though, haven't played DQXI but may do in future.

[3-4-5]

The Core Difficulty is difficult. You can make it so, by skipping battles in some parts to let the enemies levels catch up and pass yours and then they become difficult battles again.

The game is just as long as past games but it's filled in with more story instead of more random battles like old games and it's better for it in the long run.

No way this game is anything less than a 9.0/10.

6.5/10 is a laughable bad score and I can't take this reviewer serious after reading through their opinions. They have a right to them and I have a right to disagree.

[bluefox755]

Don't know why I'm getting downvoted. I love the game, just kinda wish it had a difficulty more similar to Persona 5, where it's challenging, but never insurmountable. After about 20 hours in, I realized that it wasn't just a "prolonged tutorial", and that the game was just easy. I've mitigated for this some by skipping over the grinding, but that's tough too because if you want to get the most out of crafting, you have to do a fair bit of grinding. If I were to rate the game, I'd give it a 9, as I'm having a blast. It checks all the right nostalgia boxes, and brings me back to my 12 year old self, playing every jrpg I could get my hands on. This is my only gripe, and it's honestly not even a big one. Does anyone know if there is any end game content that ramps up the difficulty? Like optional bosses or content?

[PhantomTommy]

@bluefox755

The post-game content in the Dragon Quest games that I've played has always been significantly harder than the main quest. I had a really hard time with some of the later encounters and the final boss in particular. I'm sure it's still going to be a tough challenge even without the Draconian Quest. The best thing you can do now to make it more challenging for yourself is follow 3-4-5's advice and just limit your leveling. Avoid fighting every enemy you see and head straight for the bosses. You can still craft good gear by farming the materials that spawn in the world or you can craft lots of low level gear to get enough pearls to upgrade gear you find in chests or buy in shops.

[Purrfection]

How would this game compare to Ni No Kuni 2? That game is also easy but I like the combat. 6.5 is ridiculous, all other reviews seem to be at least an 8.

[Vegamyster]

I played for an hour and restarted just to turn on harder enemies, other then that i'm loving the game.

[CaptainOmega]

I've disliked the voice actors quite a bit ..Reminds me of Fable 1.

[kevnb]

Draconian Quest made the game much better for me.

[Larrysweet]

Game is absoluetly amaazing 9.5 goty runner dk what u on abought

[SuperSonic91]

It was a score given to ward off Switch only gamers from waiting for the downgraded S version

[King_Noctis]

Go away.

[bluefox755]

I'd probably give it a 9, it had a few issues, but it's more than the sum of it's parts IMO.

[kevnb]

I can’t understand how anyone can think this is a 6.5 game.

[Razmiran]

Criminal review

[Legatus]

No, just no, this game is awesome and in my opinion definitely doesn't deserve anything below 8.

[Platformgamer]

ahahahhahhahahahhahahahahhaha
you wish that this game is just ok, dq 11 is near masterpiece, expecially with the "tougher enemies" restriction that makes the game challenging

[LoveSpuds]

I hate to say it, as a Sony fan as well as a fan of the genre, but I think a mark around 7 out of 10 feels about right to me.

It looks fantastic and has great enemy design but the story is paper thin, the characters are really one dimensional and the gameplay is too simple, making the game repetitive and boring in my opinion. I am around 30 hours in and I am contemplating moving on to something else to be honest.

There are aspects to really like, and this review is a little harsh but at the same time, I think the review raises some pertinent points. Perhaps peeps should read the review instead of simply looking at the score.

[kevnb]

what difference does it make if you are a sony fan?

[LoveSpuds]

Because there is no question that there is a section of this community who refuse to accept this kind of review simply because the game in question is exclusive to their console of choice. I guess I was making it clear that my opinion was not based on any partisan reasons but merely on my own experience of the game.

The idiocy of people who say someone's opinion is wrong, but mine is right is mind boggling, I can read this review and see how they arrived at their score. Do the people in the above comments who say things like 'no way this is a 6.5, it's at least an 8 or 9' really think their opinion is any more relevant that this reviewers, or my own?

[Silly gameAr]

@lovespuds

Seems like you're doing what you say other people are doing. The people that refuse to accept this kind of review, that's their opinion, right? Do you not understand that you're condemning one opinion, and acting like your opinion is superior because its not coming from a "Sony fans" point of view, which didn't make any sense anyway since this game is on Switch also.

It seems like youre grandstanding a bit. You don't have to prove to anyone that you're netural, because honestly, I don't think many people on here care.

[ShadowWolf712]

...dude people know this is a multiplat and still don't agree with that, stop.

[LoveSpuds]

I think we know the demographic I am referring to, the fact that is not on Xbox is all that matters to a lot of fans from both sides of the console divide. I know it's on PC and will come to Switch in future but that doesn't matter to some.

Again, I was simply trying to demonstrate that my feelings on the game weren't borne out of bias. With that said, I would relish the chance to discuss the games merits and deficiencies if you want a discussion instead of leaving pointless comments like this.

[InTheZoneAC]

I've played this more than BotW...

[Zeldafan64]

When it comes to Switch I will definitely put 100s of hours into it but I don't think I'll put 830 hours into it as I have BotW.

[Zeldafan64]

Can't handle the truth huh?

[CarlDechance]

I've certainly enjoyed this more than BotW but I have not yet reached the 80 hours or so I put into BotW. Sure I will though.

[jznrpg]

Turn on Tougher Enemies . Mess with Draconian to make the game more difficult and more amazing !!! The original difficulty is for people who just want to make it through the game without to much challenge . Great game . Nothing is perfect but it’s 9.5-10 to me

[paintedgamer1984]

Ouch. The game is easilly a 9 for me too.

[ShadowWolf712]

Wow, someone don't like fun. :P

[GrizToof]

The game is amazing, it's as traditional as a jrpg could possibly be but they perfected it and made it look beautiful. 8.5 all the way.

[kevnb]

It’s a dragon quest game after all. It’s like criticizing a gta game for being too much like gta.

[SirenAries]

A 6? Not by a longshot. It's a 9-10 easy. Great game. This game oozes charm and emotions that most games can only hope to evoke.

[DafunkyRebel]

Looks like someone didn’t get any puff puff

[sssb]

I unlocked platinum trophy today it's one best JRPG, 9 to 10 what fit for it.

[TheGamez100]

The game has that classic jrpg goodness around it and it especially stays true to older dq games. Something many other jrpgs lack nowadays with changes for the worst. This guy must just not like slow paced and turn based games lol.

[ibrake4naps]

Reminds me of the one or two bad Breath of the Wild reviews

[CrimsonWing69]

Maybe you should look for a new career, I don’t think you’ll make it as a game reviewer...

[LoveSpuds]

I read the review and personally, I thought it seemed well reasoned and justified the eventual score that the reviewer arrived at.

By your rationale, only reviewers who arrive at the same conclusion as you should be considered as legitimate.

[CrimsonWing69]

Have you played the game? Because if you have then I don’t get how you could objectively say this game is a 6/10, even if it isn’t your cup o’ tea there’s no way a game that’s actually well designed for its genre amongst current releases should be reviewed that low.

[LoveSpuds]

I have indeed played it, as stated above, for around 30 hours (feel free to check my trophy list). I personally think the reviewer raises some valid points, I too find the game a little 'run of the mill' in respect of its moment to moment gameplay.

I do agree the score is a little on the low side but he is entitled to his opinion and he also justifies his position in his review. My point is, accusing someone of being poor at something simply because they arrived at a different opinion than you is ridiculous.

For what it's worth, I would say a 7 is a fair score because, as you say, it is a good example of the genre, but it is flawed. I feel compelled to stick with it because I love the artstyle and some of the music, but I am finding it very repetetive.

[ibrake4naps]

I just started. Does it really just fight while you just watch, or am I doing it wrong?

[ufo8mycat]

Why is a person who obviously hates traditional JRPGs reviewing this? It would be the same as me reviewing racing games (which I hate and don’t enjoy).

Pretty stupid

[Mr Marvel]

WTF!? This is one of the best games this year and one of my favourite JRPGs ever.
6.5 MY ASS!!!... it’s at least a 9/10 and imo a 9.5.

[Fritzwochel]

Mediocre my arse, it's a bloody brilliant game.

[trouble_bubble]

If somethings too easy up the difficulty.

I’ve never impressed anyone by beating something on hard. No one cared. In their defense I’ve never given a shoot about their extreme++ playthroughs either

[galmi]

This is absolute bollocks, game's a gem 9.5/10