Another low-profile but highly rated PS4 console exclusive. I think it was announced for Switch, too, but it's only coming to PS4 and PC for the moment. Maybe Switch later? I don't know. It's an old-fashioned turn-based JPRG, so it probably doesn't interest many people here, although it's getting a good deal of attention on other forums. I figured it was worth a thread, based on the good reviews. Releases Sept. 4th.
Metacritic at 88, based on 42 reviews.
http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/dragon-quest-xi-echoes-of-an-elusive-age
A few review quotes from the top end:
"I cannot recommend Dragon Quest XI enough. It has the best story for the series in ages, giving new players and veterans a reason to engage with the game world and connect with the characters that live in it. The RPG manages to walk the fine line between old-school style and modern upgrades, creating gameplay that is both familiar and refreshing. Dragon Quest XI is not only the best game of the long-running series, it’s one of the best JRPGs in recent years that I’ve played. Whether this is your first Dragon Quest game or you’re a series veteran, you owe yourself to play this game." - RPG site, 10/10
"It's a massive, sprawling JRPG that keeps you invested in its story and characters right up until the end, and then gives you even more. Its gorgeous world is a joy to explore, and the series' trademark sense of quirkiness seeps into every aspect. The game can function as a great JRPG for newcomers, but there's still enough depth to appease longtime fans. Dragon Quest XI is a high new benchmark for the series, and shows how a traditional JRPG can still be appealing for the modern age." - twinfinite, 10/10
"If you have been missing the pure, genuine adventuring encouraged by the JRPGs of old, and you have been eager to see what the most traditional incarnation of the genre could achieve when paired with top-notch production values, this is most definitely the game for you." - Dualshockers, 95/100
"Innovation in games is talked about a lot, but it's also great to see traditional gameplay formulas that have been around for decades presented exceptionally well. Dragon Quest XI is one of the best modern examples of this; its beautiful presentation, both visual- and story-wise, combines with a tried-and-true gameplay formula for a journey that’s full of heart and soul. Once you find yourself sucked into the world of Dragon Quest XI, it's going to be hard to put down until you reach the grand finale." - Gamespot, 9/10
"Once Dragon Quest XI hits the ground running (for me it was roughly four hours in), it never really dips into a plodding state. New faces are welcomed into the fold at a decent pace with the proper amount of drama, and most of the people you meet along the way are worth listening to or helping in some way. It's one of the easier modern Dragon Quests to get into precisely because it gets back to basics. If you've been pining for an older-school character-focused RPG instead of the player-created party focus of IX and the MMO aspect of X, the wait has ended." - Destructoid, 8/10
Metacritic at 88, based on 42 reviews.
http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/dragon-quest-xi-echoes-of-an-elusive-age
A few review quotes from the top end:
"I cannot recommend Dragon Quest XI enough. It has the best story for the series in ages, giving new players and veterans a reason to engage with the game world and connect with the characters that live in it. The RPG manages to walk the fine line between old-school style and modern upgrades, creating gameplay that is both familiar and refreshing. Dragon Quest XI is not only the best game of the long-running series, it’s one of the best JRPGs in recent years that I’ve played. Whether this is your first Dragon Quest game or you’re a series veteran, you owe yourself to play this game." - RPG site, 10/10
"It's a massive, sprawling JRPG that keeps you invested in its story and characters right up until the end, and then gives you even more. Its gorgeous world is a joy to explore, and the series' trademark sense of quirkiness seeps into every aspect. The game can function as a great JRPG for newcomers, but there's still enough depth to appease longtime fans. Dragon Quest XI is a high new benchmark for the series, and shows how a traditional JRPG can still be appealing for the modern age." - twinfinite, 10/10
"If you have been missing the pure, genuine adventuring encouraged by the JRPGs of old, and you have been eager to see what the most traditional incarnation of the genre could achieve when paired with top-notch production values, this is most definitely the game for you." - Dualshockers, 95/100
"Innovation in games is talked about a lot, but it's also great to see traditional gameplay formulas that have been around for decades presented exceptionally well. Dragon Quest XI is one of the best modern examples of this; its beautiful presentation, both visual- and story-wise, combines with a tried-and-true gameplay formula for a journey that’s full of heart and soul. Once you find yourself sucked into the world of Dragon Quest XI, it's going to be hard to put down until you reach the grand finale." - Gamespot, 9/10
"Once Dragon Quest XI hits the ground running (for me it was roughly four hours in), it never really dips into a plodding state. New faces are welcomed into the fold at a decent pace with the proper amount of drama, and most of the people you meet along the way are worth listening to or helping in some way. It's one of the easier modern Dragon Quests to get into precisely because it gets back to basics. If you've been pining for an older-school character-focused RPG instead of the player-created party focus of IX and the MMO aspect of X, the wait has ended." - Destructoid, 8/10