Dragon Quest XI hands-on — charming and simple … maybe too simple

I love Japanese role-playing games. I’ve played Final Fantasy, Suikoden, Trails in the Sky, Persona, and more. But I’ve never gotten into Dragon Quest. I’ve had some false starts. I got a few hours into Dragon Quest IX when it came out for the DS in 2010. But I just can’t get into the series. But last month, during a pre-E3 event in Santa Monica, I got to play Dragon Quest XI for the PlayStation 4, which is coming out in the U.S. for that platform and PC on September 4.

Dragon Quest XI is a big deal for the franchise. It’s the first single-player entry in the main series for a home console since Dragon Quest VIII came out for the PlayStation 2 in 2005. Being on PlayStation 4 and the PC raises expectations.