From the North American perspective, the road to Dragon Quest XI has been far too long. I remember going to New York City and picking up my copy of Dragon Quest IX for the Nintendo DS in 2009. A King Slime decal was applied to the steps inside the Nintendo store, and a big ol? plush was also on display. It was the most Dragon Quest paraphernalia I have ever seen out in the wild. I missed the dismally-marketed Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 in 2011, so I wouldn?t see another game in the series until Dragon Quest Heroes on the PlayStation 4 in 2015. I thought it was a miracle, seeing not only such a strange offshoot of an already troubled series get localized, but also seeing the amazing sights of the Dragon Quest world in HD. Three years later, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age told me I was an idiot baby for being impressed with Koei Tecmo?s spinoff assets. I have spent almost the past month engrossed in this world, and I?m still not ready to leave. Monster Mash
Where to even begin" Dragon Quest XI is a massive game, not just because of its oppressive length, but also the sheer volume of stuff you?ll be doing as a passenger on this journey. Much of it is familiar if you?re already a fan going in, but it?s on a scale you?ve never seen before, and perhaps never even imagined based on Dragon Quest?s previous trajectory. From an aggressive deluge of content to a perfectionist level of detail, it?s impossible to avoid being drawn in regardless of where you stand on...