Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age has to be one of the best looking role-playing titles on the PlayStation 4. Combining Akira Toriyama's timeless art style with the graphical prowess that the Unreal Engine 4 brings to the table, we could sit and watch Japanese streams of the game all day long.
If you think we're exaggerating, then check out Digital Foundry's latest video, which we've embedded above. The publication goes over the newly released RPG's visuals and gives us a run down on how well it performs.
Speaking of which, the frame rate across both the standard PS4 and PS4 Pro is unflinching, sitting comfortably at 30 frames per second no matter what's happening on screen. Load times are really quick, too. Whether you're switching locations or jumping into combat, they come and go in a flash, which is always a plus. As for graphical improvements on the Pro, we're looking at an increased resolution, up from 900p to 1728p.
So Dragon Quest XI looks great and performs perfectly, but did you expect anything less? Let us know how you think the game looks in the comments section below.
Comments 25
Well if thats the highest they could get on PS4 I guess it confirms the Switch version is the 3DS version because no way is this UE4 version hitting Switch.
Or is it something different entirely? God knows.
But its nice to see its stable. Its a shame its not 60 but as i always say, so long as it is fairly stable
It does look really very nice. Pleasantly surprised by the PS4 Pro support, too. Good job, Square Enix.
I've never played a DQ game, what can I expect from the story? Is it something like Final Fantasy or...?
@get2sammyb Any news on a season pass or DLC for this one?
Turn based and no voice acting is a bit of an archaic throwback, but besides that its day 1 depending on the day. July would make it a nice birthday present. Well if I'm finished w/ XC2 and NNK2 by then. So. Many. JRPG.
This game is absolutely gorgeous, and is a proper example of how a classic JRPG series can successfully transition to an HD console. So why does SE seem to mess the bed every time a new FF game comes out?
1728p Checkerboard - not native! If it had been 1800p CB that would still only be '2x' the resolution per frame of the base PS4 so 1728p is actually not quite 2x (probably rendering 1536x1728 - half the horizontal is the more common way - that would make the PS4's 1600x900 have a 'wider' render lol) for a GPU that's supposed to offer 2.3x - especially as the ONLY increase is resolution (according to DF) - No increase in draw distance, shadow quality, lighting etc so the GPU is just having to basically render double the pixel count - or nearly anyway. I assume the rest of the 'performance' that 'could' have been available is utilised for the Checkerboarding and upscaling to 2160p. The CB technique utilised seems to have an issue with the grass/trees whilst in motion and it seems both suffer from the 'pop-in' (especially noticeable on the grass) which could have been improved on the Pro but I guess then they would have had to drop resolution lower but we don't know how much overhead they may have - they must have some to ensure it runs at 30fps consistently.
With games now utilising Checkerboard techniques on the Pro to increase the image render, why don't they use this on the base consoles to hit 1080p? If they used a 1080p CB, that would actually require less rendering than 900p - 960x1080p as opposed to 1600x900. CB has been used on the PS4 - Rainbow Six Siege for example to give a 1080/60.
Incidentally 1728p may sound an unusual resolution but its 80% the size of 2160p.
@kyleforrester87 Dragon Quest is basically built like the foundation of all Japanese RPGs. It's very traditional and it's never really changed, but it's always been very, very polished and incredibly charming.
Story-wise DQ usually goes for a basic RPG plot. Good versus evil, the chosen one, mad kings, evil sorcerers, princesses who need rescued, etc. It's no stranger to cliches but it embraces them and always presents itself extremely well.
Typically it uses a structure where the numerous smaller plotlines feed into the overarching one, so you tend to go from one location to the next, learning of a town's/character's troubles and sorting them out.
Again, standard stuff but it's done with such charm and such confidence that it's difficult not to love.
I haven't played a DQ games since Dragon Warrior 4 on the NES but this game looks freakin amazing. Definitely tempted to check it out when it comes out.
@kyleforrester87 It's a very "traditional" series and has more or less kept the same turn-based gameplay for 30 years. Some games have had job systems. The overarching stories are more straightforward than FF but every town you go to will usually have its own nice self-contained vignette. Some of the games have had surprisingly dark stories though, especially 5. In the English localisations everyone speaks in an array of British accents and some of the dialogue can be pretty hilarious at times.
Anyhoo, It looks gorgeous and I can't wait to play it. If the 3DS one comes out here I'll probably get that too.
Blimey, what a beautiful looking game. This will be my first exposure to this series, will I be able to enjoy it or do I need to gave played the previous titles?
@BLP_Software Maybe you're right. 30fps and 900p, it's pushing the PS4 hardware.
@Octane If they could do more in UE4 they would. :/
Just get it translated already.
@kyleforrester87
You might want to try out Dragon Quest 8 on PS2 or 2DS. This is supposed to be most similar to that installment.
@Lovespuds No previous experience necessary - every mainline DQ game has its own story and characters. There are recurring bits and pieces - monster types, spells, that sort of thing - but nothing major.
@ShogunRok
Thanks for taking the time to respond duder, looks like I have some new experiences to look forward to next year with both this and Monster Hunter.....really excited ☺
Have a great weekend squire!
@rjejr No news on that.
Can't wait, really looking forward to this game.
Unreal engine 4 is seriously impressive, from tekken 7 to dragonball fighter z to kingdom hearts 3 and now dragon quest 11, this engine is really versatile.
@rjer No news on dlc/season pass, but you do get free dragon quest 1 game
Never played a DQ game either. But if it ever made it onto the switch, i will buy. Love jrpg games on the go. Having great fun with trails of cold steel 2 on the ps vita at the moment.
@Mahe was DQ8 the one with the cursed king that was a toad? That is the only one I've ever played besides the very first dragon warrior game when I was a kid. I really loved DQ cursed king though, played the crap outta it.
@mookysam @ShogunRok Thanks! I have my reservations but I'll be getting it. I'm concerned it's the kind of game I'll love initially but feel worn out on if the plot isn't there to see me through the final third and the credits. But it looks great in the videos.
My most wanted game for next year(?) along with The Last Of Us 2 and Red Dead Redemption 2.
@ellsworth004 Yeah, the full title was Dragon Quest: Journey of the Cursed King.
@wiiware @get2sammyb Thanks for the news. I guess the industry hasn't completely fallen off a cliff yet after all. Last night my wife walked into the room while I was looking at the map on Zelda. I turned on the "Hero's Path" mode and said - "See that green line, it cost me $20". I'll never play hard mode and the trails seem to hard. Hopefully the story pack this holiday is worth it.
And I'll probably wind up spending $25 on the hardcover guide as it as to add it to my collection even though I don't really use them. But the one for this game should have some really nice art work, so that's on me. Maybe the long awaited Switch version can lock some stuff behind $13 amiibo?
@rjejr You should tell her that you get a lovely green tight outfit too, but I digress.
I hate to make decisions on whether to buy the 3DS or PS4 or even the Switch version.
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