Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age review — a marvelous marinade of hope and despair

It’s been more than 32 years since the first slime appeared in Dragon Warrior (the original name for Dragon Quest in the West). Since then, its charm, embrace of tradition, and high-fantasy adventures have made it one of my favorite role-playing series in all of gaming.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age brings the Japanese RPG franchise (one that’s always been far more popular in Japan than on American or European shores) into the 21st century, adding several improvements that help make the grind (that’s fighting lots of random battles to earn experience and treasure to make your characters stronger) easier on you. It debuted in Japan last year, selling more than 3 million copies on the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo 3DS in a market that long ceded its once dominant position to mobile gaming.