Video: Hands-On With The 3DS Dragon Quest The West Never Got To Play

Now thats one game i would def still pay to play in 3ds. Seems unique and not as bad as FF15 mobile. Technically its not a demake since the two games were released the same day.

P.S: Is there a fan translation out yet like type-0?

Wow this looks amazing!!

@dimi Unfortunately there isn't. Even if other versions are already in English it would still take an incredible amount of time & effort to get all that text over. Hopefully one day!

Cool video! I am a big fan of JRPG content. Here's hoping we eventually get the offline version of DQ X in the West.

The HD version feels empty and lifeless. It doesn't feel like a Dragon Quest game.

I was so mad over this version not being localized that it has actually affected my enjoyment of the Switch version to the point it's nowhere near my priority list anymore despite being a nice enough game. I really, REALLY wanted the 3DS version next to 7 and 8 on my 3DS shelf. I vastly preferred the graphical style of the 3DS original, as well.

It really was regrettable they never brought this one over here. I already kind of lost my hope when the localization announcement came and they never specified which versions would be included, that's usually a sign that some versions are not gonna make the cut.

Low poly luminary is best luminary

If you're willing to do something like this, play a Japan exclusive Puyo Puyo game.

We were asking for the 3DS original when the Switch port got delay. Freaking Square Enix just finding excuses not to localize the game overseas, not only that they don't want other publishers (Atlus, XSeed, Marvelous, Level-5, ArtePiazza, etc.) to localize it either. That's how much Square Enix freaking hate us over here. As impressive as the game was for 3DS, it was also one of the 3DS game that release late in the 3DS lifespan and doesn't support the stable 3D effect thus this was essentially just a 2DS game with DS graphics on the top screen and GBA graphics on the bottom screen.

NGL that 3DS one looks more enjoyable to me. I've tried getting into DQ11 on PS4 several times... I just can't care. The more mature art style doesn't match the content of the game, imho. That disjointedness makes it hard to invest.

i am still sad that this version was never released in the west...even today

I actually played this from start to finish in Japanese after playing the original PS4 release a few years ago.

I had a Japanese 2DS I had purchased for Theatrhythm Dragon Quest, so it was no trouble importing and playing this. It was a great experience overall, and the additional content with the Tockles was a nice addition that still hasn't made the jump, as it was strangely omitted from the Definitive Edition released afterward.

I think the game was very playable for someone who doesn't know a lick of Japanese, though that could have stemmed from my strong memory and having played it right after the PS4 version.

I was salty for the longest time that this wasn't localized and still wish it was an option. That said, the 2D mode in Dragon Quest XI S almost makes up for its absence.

I have a 3DS and a PS4 and the 3DS version was the version I wanted and I waited for a Western release for years. It looks great for what the 3DS is and the dual video is simply amazing. Unfortunately, that version never left Japan so I purchased the Definitive Edition for Series X that, unlike the original PS4 version, at least features dual graphics (not simultaneously).

@dimi Right, it's not an impressive demake or port, it was developed for 3DS specifically.

I wanted the 3DS Version when it first was announced!
Was pretty annoyed when i have heard that they will not Release it in other Hemispheres.
At least i could enjoy the 2D Mode.

While it is sad that we never got the 3DS version of Dragon Quest XI in the west, I honestly can't blame Square Enix for not bringing it over.

The 3DS market basically collapsed quickly once the Switch arrived and sold insane numbers, and numerous games even major ones like Fire Emblem Echoes and Metroid: Samus Returns were not selling huge numbers and were overshadowed by the hype behind the Switch.

By the time Dragon Quest XI would have arrived in the west, the 3DS market were pretty much dead. The few games Nintendo was tossing at the platform like Fire Emblem Echoes, Metroid: Samus Returns, Beyond Oasis, and ports of Kirby's Epic Yarn and Luigi's Mansion were largely ignored and sold poorly.

Only Pokemon was able to keep selling and push 3DS hardware sales.

So in that regard, I don't blame Square Enix for not wanting to test the waters and localize a text-heavy RPG for a handheld that was one foot in the grave.

One other thing to consider here is that Nintendo was the publisher for Dragon Quest VII and VIII in North America. Maybe Square Enix did go to them and attempt to get the game published by them in NA only to be turned down.

After that, Square Enix looked at the market conditions and simply figured bringing the game over was not worth it.

It's easy to look at Square Enix and call them lazy hacks for not bringing this game over.

But look at the 3DS market during the window of time this game would have likely left Japan. The 3DS was pretty much dead by 2017 and 2018 before Nintendo put it out of its misery and buried it in 2019.

This sounds harsh, especially from a gamer who loves his 2DS even though I own a Switch.

But the cold hard truth is that the success of the Switch came at the expense of the 3DS and while Nintendo wanted them to co-exist for a time like what had happened with the GBA and DS or DS and 3DS, it simply did not happen.

The 3DS market simply fell apart the moment the Switch arrived and stole its thunder.

One aspect not talked about in that video is probably the biggest reason I preferred the 3DS version of Dragon Quest XI. When you get to the Tockle (Yocchi) village and go through the side quests that take place in the previous Dragon Quest worlds, the 3DS version reflects the graphics and soundtracks of the original games. If you go to the 1-4 portals, you will be transported to the original Famicom/NES style world. 5-6 in a Super Famicom world, etc. all the way to the 10 world looking like the Wii version, yet running on the 3DS hardware. This created a great sense of nostalgia for people who played the older games. On the Switch version, every world looks like a generic 16 bit version, giving a very bland presentation for each alternate world.

This was the first version that I played, and it was wonderful. Manicsounds had it right - going to the Tockle/Yocchi versions put you in the FC/SFC versions of the games, rather than the 16-bit-ish versions that are in the Definitive/S versions.

The transition to the PS4 version was weird, for me, as I didn't play it until the English version was released.

At 10:34 "Look at this icon!"
Well, I would like to but the "next video card" is blocking my view XD

@manicsounds I didn't know that, ugh that makes it even worse that we never got this

All I remember about this version of DQXI is that one guy on Twitter who kept asking for the 3DS version to get localized on like every post

This is the version that I wanted to come out, it sounds like it has things that make it feel more alive.

The on the fly 2D or 3D.
Actual retro representation.
Better graphical style.
Better flow.

It’s a bit of a shame that at one point Square Enix “expected” Nintendo to release their games for them.

@mjhopkins81 @manicsounds Thanks for the information, I didn't know that and it's interesting. Unfortunately, I don't speak Japanese and I don't agree with people that say that it doesn't matter, I wouldn't be able to navigate any menus and this is a RPG on top of that. It's sad that we (or I) won't play this version because, as far as I know, not even fans have translated the 3DS version (with the official English localisation).

@Caryslan I also love the 3DS and I totally agree with you.

I said "screw it" and imported myself a copy...I'm hoping some day a translation will come out. Even if it takes 15 years, I'm sure it will happen sooner or later.
...and I bought the Steam version too (the original release)...
...kind of reluctant to triple-dip and get the Switch port.

Worst case scenario: it's a Dragon Quest game, so it will fetch a decent price on eBay.

Second-worst: I might try it with a guide after becoming comfortable with the Steam version.

@JonComms From what I've read, a few people were able to easily port a lot of the script over from other versions of the game, they're just afraid of Square's lawyers coming after them.

@glaemay The OG PS4 version felt dead and lifeless. The "S" version feels like DQ though. The OG PS4 version feels like it was an upres alternate of the 3DS game for Western markets that didn't really get completed. It didn't even have VA in Japan. It's pretty, but that's all it had going for it. The S version unfortunatley lost the pretty gfx, but fixed the "feel" of the game, IMO.

I wonder if we'll ever see the 3DS version translated somehow.

@BlueOcean That's totally valid.

I will say that I put together a...pretty comprehensive item/bestiary/quest spreadsheet with Japanese -> English.

I'm not a Japanese reader/speaker, but Google translation does most of the work to some degree of efficiency.

@mjhopkins81 That's impressive. I'll play it on Series X in English 😅. I'm a bit surprised that the 3DS game hasn't been translated by the community using the Western editions texts.

Amazing game, whichever way you look at it.