In the brief time they've been around, many video game genres have flourished, stagnated, died, and been reborn repeatedly. There are a few institutions, though, that stood no matter what.

Beautiful scenery and location design continuously make Erdrea visually engaging; The slimes are smiling and it is still super cute; Gotta love that Toriyama character design; All the traditional JRPG tropes are here at their best

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If you've been waiting for a true follow up to Dragon Quest VIII or just have been craving a massive JRPG with a gorgeous world, this is definitely the game for you.

Superb cast of memorable characters; Wonderful world to explore; Additions for the West are ace; Great pacing and fun combat all the way; No compromise true JRPG

Music but not for the reason you're thinking of; Some visual issues; Few gameplay annoyances

"In Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, Square Enix has delivered to us the grandest Dragon Quest of them all." © 2018 Square Enix. All rights reserved.

Gorgeous; epic; fun; wonderful world to explore

Pacing falters at times; uneven voice acting; repetitive soundtrack

Dragon Quest XI excels when it emphasizes fighting bad guys, exploring dungeons, and finding treasure. It's a visual feast populated by a cast of colorful monsters more engrossing than its main characters.

As the longest-running Japanese RPG series, Dragon Quest has never strayed too far from its classic roots. If you're a fan, you know what to expect: turn-based combat, a silent protagonist, and a grand adventure to save the world. In some ways, this franchise shows its age.

If you've read any of my past reviews, then you know I'm a huge fan of JRPGs. But I'm not just a fan of the mainstream titles that everyone and their mother plays, I'll happily play the niche , quirky and the downright bizarre .

As much as I've nitpicked this game for refusing to evolve, I absolutely love all the dumb little side quests and content that Dragon Quest XI comes with. Hunting for mini medals, gambling, crafting and scavenging is a blast.

Character models are gorgeous; Combat is fast and fluid; Leveling/progression feels excellent

Draconian Quest should be default; Pep Powers felt superfluous; Occasionally cringey voice acting

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.

Everything about the monsters; Gorgeous visuals; Genuine surprises in the storytelling

Lots of little mechanics that get in the way; Skill system feels burdensome; A bit too much open (empty) space

After the last several Dragon Quest games have either been on 3DS or became an MMO (as was the case in Dragon Quest X), Dragon Quest XI is a return to the large single-player formula the series is known for.

Vibrant and lively world to explore; A fun party of characters; Little to no grinding is necessary; Bold story choices..

...That are recycled from another series; Overcomplicated inventory system; Lengthy story cutscenes

Square-Enix has delivered many children unto us across the decades, but the world takes special interest in two of its offspring: Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. Though he's over 30 years old, Final Fantasy never settled down. He probably never will.