Tomorrow sees the launch of Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition on Nintendo Switch, a "definitive version" of the critically acclaimed game. One of its key features is the ability to switch between 2D and 3D graphics at will - a very neat addition, we're sure you'll agree - and the game's producer, Hokuto Okamoto, has revealed just how difficult it was to pull off.
His comments come from an interview with RPG Site, where both he and series creator Yuji Horii sat down a for a good old chat about the new release. You can check out the full interview here if you're interested, but we've included just a snippet below:
RPG Site: Were there any interesting challenges in development in terms of ensuring that area design and elements like that work in both modes? Obviously they're very different in terms of how they represent the world...
Hokuto Okamoto: [laughs] Oh, it was hard. As you mentioned, the design of these areas is quite different and the size of the maps is very different between 2D and 3D. We still wanted players to recognize that the cities are the same even if they're really quite different. We had to choose what to leave in and what to leave out in terms of the geography of things, which landmarks to keep in the 2D version and so on... that was difficult, to determine what we'd leave in and what we'd take out.
Another thing is that the text is different in 3D and 2D - so we have to manage all that at the same time. If we change one, it doesn't mean that the other changes automatically... so we had to change everything one-by-one. That was hard work. I never want to do that again! [laughs]
It sure does sound like a lot of work, but we're sure fans will be grateful once they get the chance to play it. We'll have our full review of the game for you up on the site later today, so make sure to keep an eye out!
Are you hyped for this one? Will you be picking it up tomorrow? Let us know with a comment below.
[source rpgsite.net, via gonintendo.com]
Comments 56
I really wish this version was available on the PS4 - I don't want to start the game over again - but I really want the 2D sprites
I wish the versions of Dragon Quest I, II, and III that are coming out looked like this in 2D. I'm usually not a big stickler about graphics, but man those games look really off-putting.
DQ11 is a true gem!
@StephanDLW Yeah, I agree. I think most players will treat it as a fun diversion or gimmick, but they're not going to significantly play in that mode (though I would be happy to be proven wrong). It's really cool that they went through the effort to put it in there, but now that I realize how difficult it was, I kinda feel bad that it might not be appreciated as much as it should be.
It's a really cool magic trick, although, I confess, for my first playthrough at least, I won't be engaging with it much. Seems like a good excuse to replay the game years down the line, though, considering how radically different it looks.
I’m super hyped to pick up DQ11S tmw and continue on from my 9 hour demo save. Really looking forward to it 😃
Will probably play 2d mode on a second play through at a later date when my back log isn’t heaving with massive RPG’s
@klingki They'll be based on the SNES remake, so 16 bit, not 8.
I'd really like for all these news about Dragon Quest XI to stop saying it's going to be possible to switch between 2D and 3D graphics, because it's not. It seems that it's going to be a feature until some point where we'll have to choose. And that will be hard.
I wish we could toggle between them for the entire game, but sadly we can't.
The 2D mode is something that will probably only be appealing to order fans of the series. I won't be taking advantage of it until my second playthrough. It's a really cool feature. It's like we're getting two full games.
It is on the way to me now.
I'm curious what soundtrack they're using for this version. In the original, the composer recorded everything with a full symphony orchestra, but provided really bad midi tracks for the actual game (outside of the opening credits), so he could sell soundtrack CDs with the 'definitive' version.
I played it on PC, and fortunately someone made a mod to replace the awful midi with the proper recordings, but it was a super sleazy move. The dude can write good music, but to tell the people who paid you for the music that they only have the rights to the intentionally crappy version is just terrible behavior. And once I played with the intended music, the game was so much more enjoyable.
@klingki @StephanDLW Well, I for one plan on playing in 2D! played the demo in 3D...but can’t wait to switch my progress over!
I wonder if using 2D could be a bit of a fast travel cheat, play in 3D, but instead of running across a huge landscape, switch to 2D to shorten the journey. Don't know if it will work like this, but might give it a try.
I'd say they succeeded, considering I can tell exactly where that 2D mode screenshot is after having played the game on PC.
Think I might play through in 2D. It looks... purer. Never thought I'd say that in these days of so many retro looking games on the Switch. But the 3D is already annoying me in that you constantly have to manually change the camera angle as you walk about. Should really have an automatic camera angle that lines up behind whatever direction you are travelling.
@StephanDLW I'm not so sure. Especially people who already played it on ps4 might enjoy the new game mode as a fun alternative until they get to the new post game stuff.
@Yas I like having full control of the camera, like in real life, I don’t want someone turning my head for me
@Yas i wish they would have ported the 3DS 3D version to switch instead, the unreal 4 version looks extremly soft on switch. the 3DS 3D version would have looked really nice and sharp on switch.
@stevep Automatic with a manual override. Most games already have this.
Im picking this up tomorrow and intend to play the entire game in 2d
Those 2d sprites are unbelievably gorgeous! They really harkened back to the SNES age with it. I applaud the developers for this one, it just looks amazing!
@StephanDLW the game sold about equally on 3DS/PS4 in Japan and the 2D mode was made for the 3DS version...so a lot of people enjoyed the 2D mode I guess
@Moroboshi876 Of course it'a possible to switch between 2D and 3D at any time. You just have to talk to a priest.
@vitalemrecords i'm pretty confident the switch content will come soon to PS4 as "DQ XI - definitive edition" (without the S) either as paid or free DLC
100% getting on launch. This is my most anticipated game on Switch this year. Already put about 15 hours into the demo.
@Moroboshi876 Actually, the new DQ1-2-3 ports are mainly based on the mobile versions. In the case of DQ1 and DQ2, I would say it's an improvement over the SNES remakes, but the DQ3 mobile port lacks the monsters animations found in the SNES remake during battles:
SNES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXs3efkCMcA&t=1h18m
Mobile / PS4 / 3DS / Switch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNhVDg0FVow&t=4h25m5s
Edit: argh, youtube time stamps are not working here.
@scamander Well, I read somewhere that you could do it but after some point you got to stick to one.
I didnt know this comes in 2D mode. Now I have a big problem, I want to play the 2 modes!!
@Alucard-XII I was telling that they would be based on mobile ports, which seemed only logical as they are the latest versions, and someone told me they would actually be based on SNES.
But anyway, the point is pixel art will be like on 2D Dragon Quest XI: more 16 bit than anything. No NES-like graphics to "fear" about.
I get we already have a score for the ps4 version, but I'm slightly concerned the switch version review isn't out yet.
The 2D mode is why I am buying this.
@halljames I was thinking about using 2D as a method of fast travel too. Wonder if battles run faster in 2D too.
Oh man, really want to play this but I'm still stuck on three houses and have Astral Chain and Zelda waiting for me. Stop but don't stop Nintendo!
@StephanDLW I will!
@StephanDLW I dunno, I think for fans that play RPGs more than once, it'll certainly be an excuse to play through it again with something different.
I'm really glad that sometimes developers go to ridiculos lenghts to do stuff like this.
I can definitely imagine. Going to play 3D mode myself since I want the full cutscene presentation with the voice acting and all, just wish I could eliminate the on screen encounters from that mode too and go with random encounters instead, I would much prefer those.
I do believe there is a going to be a reason to switch back and forth between 2D and 3D and that's it just not simply "just a different mode". Can't remember where I read that from.
I have been counting down the days till the release of this game. I cannot wait. I'll be sitting at work on a conference call pondering 2 things. Will Shenmue fans ever be served justice and how bad I want to play DQ XI!
Seeing that i beat the main story this is one of the things that might make me double dip down the line for that 2D style version, I still haven't done the after credits work on the PS4 version though and want to eventually get back to that.
@Flammy The Switch version lets player pick whether they want to use midi or orchestra, although the demo only has orchestra as an option
Since I never played this game beyond the Switch demo, I'm definitely interested. I would probably play the majority of the game in 2D...if only because the hero's ridiculous outfit doesn't look quite as annoying in 2D sprite form, based on that image above anyway.
My copy has been dispatched, should be here tomorrow for launch . Looking forward to playing through it in 2D, since I played it on PS4 last year already.
I prefer how the 3ds version has both the 3d and 2d versions running simultaneously. It's too bad that version never got localized.
Belive it or not, I made 20hours on the demo alone. Now I HAVE to buy the game. Good thing is on the way thought. But so far I just finish the second dungeon in Link's Awakening.
I daresay this game has been a labor of love from the outset. It's obvious that they've put a lot of additional quality work into this version.
@StephanDLW As manu0 said, keep in mind the 2D mode wasn't made specifically to be an underused "for the fans" mode on Switch. It was made as a way to put DQXI on 3DS at a time when 3DS was overwhelmingly the dominant console in Japan. So it's already made it's money in spades....including it in the Switch version is just the "for the fans" cherry on top.
Correction before anyone jumps on it: I don't mean a way to put it on 3DS - a 3DS 3D game style visual was used on the top screen. But the 2D mode functioned as a way of using the bottom screen, adding interest, and functioning more or less as a sort of really cool map.
I'm so psyched for this game. I think I do need to finish the game in 3D mode though, especially since it seems like I can "marry" Erik by the end of the game & I feel like 3D mode will make for better social media images, HAHA! But I will totally be playing the game a second time solely on 2D mode!
I wonder if there will be a significant difference in battery life between both modes, because that would make 2D mode perfect for handheld sessions.
I hope this sells well enough to encourage them to port 10
@Moroboshi876 On the 3DS version of the game the beginning will be shown in both versions. 3D on the top and 2D on the bottom screen. At a certain point in the story you have to choose one version, which is probably what you had read. However, you can always change it, when talking to a priest!
@scamander Thanks for the explanation!
I'll admit to being curious how the 2D vs 3D parts work with climbing up buildings and such. That worked well for the 3D version, but couldn't try the 2D version. 3D also seemed to give some good ways to get around monsters, though I imagine 2D would show them, especially those behind you.
I'll give it a try - may even stick to the 2D version for most of it just for the visibility.
@paschott the 2d version has random encounters, you find monsters randomly as you walk, there's no way to avoid them
@Joe-b I'm planning a 9am coffee break to sneak out of work and buy the game lol, but then have to wait until this evenong to take it home and undertake the quest... Of dragon.
@bolt05 haha! Yah, I'm pumped to go get this one. I am concerned about one thing though...will all the work I put into the demo roll into the physical copy? Or will the demo only roll into the digital copy? I spent a lot of time leveling up before I did my final save....saving gold...i don't want to lose it.
Honestly, I was kind of underwhelmed by 2D mode on the 3DS. It was like playing a GBA port of a GameCube game.
@StephanDLW And then, there are those or us who bought this version solely for the 2D edition.
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