<P> Dragon Quest XI continues the gameplay of previous games in the series, in which players explore worlds and fight against various monsters, including the ability to explore high areas . The Nintendo 3DS version features a different style to the other versions, showcasing 3D graphics on the top screen and 16 - bit styled sprites on the bottom screen . Before entering battle, players can also toggle between the 3D and 2D graphical styles at any time . Like with Dragon Quest IX, the game's battle system features no random encounters and shows all enemies on the overworld . The battle system also adds a free - form camera option that allows players to move around the battlefield, although it remains turn - based and is purely visual . </P> <P> The game is set in the fantasy world of Lotozetasia where it's said that The Great Tree of Life was the source for all life in it, a gigantic tree in a floating island in the middle of the world . The player takes the role of a young man with a strange birthmark on his left hand turning age 16 from Ishi Village where he grew with his childhood friend of the same age, Emma . In a coming - of - age tradition of the village he must climb a great mountain called God's Rock where it's said the spirits of the earth dwell . Upon his success the protagonist finds out that he's actually the reincarnation of a hero who saved the world before and must again be on a mission against forces of darkness, described by other characters as the "Lord of Shadows" and the risk of resurrection of the "Dark One". To better understand his role as a hero he leaves his hometown and starts travelling around the world . </P> <P> In the first hours of the game, upon arriving at the city of Heliodor, the Hero is recognized by soldiers as a "Luminary", a name common to classes in previous Dragon Quest games, and is sent to jail by King Carnelian, who suggests in a malicious way that luminaries are in collusion with darkness, just as light casts shadow . At first it doesn't seem as the hero is trying to escape, but a blue - haired thief in another cell named Camus manages to get out of his incarceration and gets the protagonist out too . Together they run from the guards of Heliodor and continue their adventure . </P> <P> Dragon Quest XI started development in 2013 . Initially, the team considered making the game fully open world, but decided against that as it would have led to issues telling its story . The PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, and Nintendo Switch versions use the Unreal Engine 4 game engine and had developmental assistance from ORCA Inc, while the 3DS version had assistance from Toylogic Inc . In January 2016, series creator Yuji Horii stated that the story was nearly finished and that the game's intro section was playable . In April 2017, Square Enix held a special presentation for the game, where the release date for the PlayStation 4 and 3DS versions of the game were revealed to be July 29, 2017 . The same month, Sony Interactive Entertainment and Nintendo unveiled special editions of their PlayStation 4 Slim and New Nintendo 2DS XL hardware for Japan to tie into the game . </P>

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