Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of a Lost Era it is the return of a historical saga, which has been stopped for too long or relegated to peripherals that did not allow the development company to exploit its full potential. Precisely for this reason, when the title was also announced for Europe, many fans were looking forward to this sensational return. In fact, it was from Dragon Quest VIII: Odyssey of the Cursed King released in the now distant 2004 that a main chapter of the saga was not seen on the home console. Lately we were inundated with various spin-offs, nothing to do with the actual product that made millions of players fall in love with it. The multimedia work had the arduous task of reviving the tradition to the most loyal users but, at the same time, also to evolve the production to improve the already high image of the saga, so as to make happy even those who expected something new. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of a Lost Era succeeds in this heroic enterprise, as well as heroic will be the journey that you will face exploring the vast world of Alboria. The game will be a blow to the heart for the nostalgic, but also a fresh and colorful experience for the budding fans. Without too many words, therefore, we can say with certainty that Square Enix not only does it not disappoint its fans, but it offers a game that can make people dream and wish for a next chapter.
History repeats itself
As per tradition in the saga, also in Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of a Lost Era you can give the name that best suits you to the protagonist, who will be totally silent from start to finish. The narrative incipit is not very articulate, but follows a fairly classic trend which, however, you do not have to fear, as it will unravel as you progress through the adventure. It all begins with the birth of your hero who, thanks to an unmistakable symbol on his hand, turns out to be the shining one, or the man who will free Alboria from evil. Its birth as already happened in the past also brings the return of darkness. That same evening, in fact, monsters raze the protagonist's kingdom to the ground, also killing both parents of the child (the two rulers who had the task of protecting the whole realm). For a series of coincidences and sacrifices, the little one will be rescued and found by a simple farmer living in a small village, who will look after him as if he were his real son. In just one night, an entire principality was completely razed to the ground, making it clear right away that the evil that is coming out this time is very serious.
Fortunately for him, the protagonist grows away and without knowing these stories, without knowing his true identity, at least until he reaches the age of majority. In fact, as soon as he became a man, his mother reveals his past to him, setting the stage for what will be an epic journey to be experienced, both to self-discovery and to save humanity. Although, as said at the beginning, the basis of the story does not differ much from a classic narrative, I can assure you that as you go on the plot will develop in a sprawling way before your eyes. Furthermore, you will not be alone, but on this journey you will be accompanied by other members of the group, all properly characterized and, behind them, a well-articulated story with respectable twists. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of a Lost Era knows how to mix tragic events with moments of humor typical of the brand, without ever exaggerating and keeping in mind its primary focus: to be a progressive experience that makes the player feel at the center of an odyssey, an intimate journey to discover something much greater than us. The title does not focus only on history, however, in fact you can also dedicate yourself to a rich end game full of side activities like missions, mini-games, secret bosses and so much more.
Between past and future
Dragon Quest has always been one of the most classic JRPG saga, without the constant need to renew itself chapter after chapter. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of a Lost Era is a very traditional title that, at the same time, winks at the most modern products. Square Enix this time she managed to give the usual mold an extra pinch of pepper, making the title also suitable for beginners. The first change is closely related to turn-based combat which, this time, seemed more fluid than in the past. Now the various characters will no longer wait totally motionless for their turn, but players can choose to take advantage of an optional mode called Free Movement, or the ability to move your heroes at will within a limited area. The choice of whether or not to use this option does not affect the outcome of the fight in the least, so everything focuses more on the user's taste. The management of the party has also been totally changed, now you can give specific orders to the team, making them act in total autonomy thanks to the excellent intelligence of the AI. Contrary to this, however, if you want to choose every single move yourself, you can do it, so you can have the situation under control at any time. For the first time in the series it will be possible to change the party members even during the fight, so as to be able to change strategy also according to the needs.
Among the noteworthy introductions there is certainly the Perky mode, which replaces Voltage. While the second required a sacrifice of a few turns to increase the strength of the individual character, now, respecting some specific situations, it will be possible to obtain a boost that will guarantee you greater power, in addition to the possibility of unleash special attacks with the help of teammates. The best strategy is to take advantage of being Perky until almost the end, and then finish it all off with a combo move.
The criteria for using each Perky power mean that the composition of the party and the replacement of its components assume fundamental importance, as the absence of a certain hero precludes access to some talents. In style Dragon Quest offers its fans the Skill Grid, where thanks to his help you will be able to specialize a character to a certain class or make him obtain particular skills. This is represented by a series of panels that are unlocked slowly thanks to the help of skill points, the latter obtainable by increasing the level of each individual character.
We have just mentioned the classes, so it is right to pause for a moment to talk about them. Each character can be equipped with three different types of weapons, but the final choice as to which one to choose is always up to you. Don't waste skill points, weigh your decisions before spending them. However, in exchange for a large sum of money, it will be possible to reset them at the nearest church. One aspect of the gameplay that has been improved without a shadow of a doubt is that of the crafting of the various items present in the game world, and which in this chapter is very important. As you will remember in Dragon Quest VIII there was the alchemical cauldron, here replaced by the Travel Forge and the Pocket Hammer. Crafting items has now become a minigame, as you hone your blacksmith skills you will discover new techniques that will help you for perfect forging. This mechanic will be usable during stops in the various camps scattered around Alboria. The research of the recipes will be essential to increase your skill. There are of course minor improvements, but for spoiler reasons we leave the discovery to you. Just think, however, that, while waiting to unlock the Teleportation magic, you can move on horseback from the first minute. however, the mount is not limited to the use of the steed, inside some dungeons it will be essential to ride some types of monsters, so as to be able to enter otherwise inaccessible areas. However, it is right to spend a few more words for the already mentioned camps: basically these are the Dark Souls bonfires, scattered between the various areas. In these neutral areas it will be possible to either save by using the statues of the Goddess that will have the same functions as the churches, or simply rest to restore health and magic points.
Last words
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of a Lost Era shows an enviable technical sector, under every single aspect. Whether it's a texture, a polygonal model or a small insignificant detail, rest assured that you will notice its definition. Pad in hand, the landscapes at times seemed truly breathtaking, others instead a little bare but still very captivating under the aspect of the general concept. You will pass in total tranquility from arid deserts to cold glaciers, as well as from dark crypts to green prairies. The diversification of the environment is a crucial point of the experience, so enjoy every step of the magnificent Alboria. There will be themed cities like Gondolia, undoubtedly inspired by Venice, or Kaldoh which takes its unique style from feudal Japan. All of this will make you feel part of a living and changing game world. Honorable mention for the design of the characters, since the task of shaping them fell to Toriyama, father of Dragon Ball who for the occasion also created new monsters to be discovered.
In conclusion we can say that Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of a Lost Age is a significant step forward from the past, while remaining closely connected with the tradition of the product. However, some tricks will certainly please longtime fans, as well as help new ones to approach the saga for the first time. The final product surprised us, thanks to a story full of interesting twists, and some not obvious design choices. The overall concept seemed very appealing, able to keep the user glued for several hours. Some players will not like the constant need to do fights to level up, but the development house has thought of a mode that serves only to make history buffs enjoy without particular commitment to the fight sections, making the multimedia work accessible to all. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of a Lost Era is the video game that all fans of the saga have been waiting for for years, a production that will surely be remembered as one of the most beautiful chapters of the entire series. Fans of the genre cannot miss the opportunity to have a similar product in their hands.
