The other version got removed by SE anyways. It had better textures and better lighting produced by a third party software but this is all it had in exchange of all the extra content offered on this version. The OG version was made on a older version of Unreal Engine 4 and this in a newer Unreal 4 but was previously made for the Switch so simpler textures where used and the standard UE4 lighting.

The difference in graphics is a small gap tbh and there's tons of mods to fix everything to make everything look like the OG version. These mods are collectively known as Project Rebuild.

Both versions have the same localization save the extra content on this version that got localized by the same people. The existing costumes are the same in both save that in this version the 2nd version of the equipment has a different color palette.

https://sites.google.com/view/dqxi-commands/faqs/version-differences Some of the differences.

*Edit*

Linked a post that I made on a thread that I could not find but Chaos found.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/app/1295510/discussions/0/601891362926808821/

There I posted the differences too the best that I could.

Just a note to finish the demo BEFORE purchasing the game to get some freebies. Not really worth it if you feel pressured about missing the sale and have to wait a year for another opportunity. But according to the messaging, due to the way Steam platforms, those perks will not be awarded if you make the purchase before finishing the demo. See store page for specifics.

this version is the one with more content so its the best. The only problem is it has a graphics downgrade i think it was made so it could run on the switch

Now that the Switch 2 is in I wonder if they will upgrade this game. Sadly if this happens most mods will be broken.

you can mod the game to have all the graphical splendor of the previous version (and better)
https://sites.google.com/view/dqxi-commands/faqs/about-project-rebuild

Originally posted by minich:

Tons of people saying a lot of different things.

Is this a good version? Does it need mods to be complete? Was it censored? Content added/missing? Graphics downgraded? Runs poorly?

So hard getting a good answer for all this. Anyone here can help? Want a true definitive version, but not sure what to get.

Unfortunately, as Kaiser explained, this is technically a different game since it uses a newer version of the engine, instead of an upgrade of sorts in the traditional sense.

Back when it released, SE didn't give any benefits who purchased the OG version. Which made a small but loud minority portion of the fanbase bitter. I can understand the feeling of being cheated on by a gaming company, which is why I don't bother with Koei's Musou or ROTK games until the PUK or the Ultimate/Z version comes out 3 or so years later. And I've been doing that since the PS3 era.

However, that bitter fringe base of the community is toxic to this day, and since they feel they were done dirty by not being able to "upgrade", they gaslight newcomers by saying this version sucks and the OG version is better. Without really adding any nuance or context. Many of these people don't even own this version (check the mouse icon next to their name).

As someone who doesn't even have the OG version, the "superior" graphics of the OG, imo, look kinda like porcelain dolls really. The run-of-the-mill cel shading of the DE feels more at home.

Check the link that Kaiser provided to form your own opinion, of course. But it's not like anyone has a choice these days. There's a reason SE removed the OG version, it's obsolete.

Originally posted by LordKaiserX0:

long post but I didn't bother linking the post I made late last year detailing all the differences

bruh

But yes, click the above link that details all the differences between the two versions, written up also by Kaiser.

Wait? SE finally caved and gave this a half off? Damn, it was at like, 35% or so every sale for a long time.

(To be fair, it has a permanent not-shown 33% off, but still).

Originally posted by LordKaiserX0:

Now that the Switch 2 is in I wonder if they will upgrade this game. Sadly if this happens most mods will be broken.

Doubt it.

I din't wanted to dig up all my posts for that so i felt lazy and just linked the Yggdrasil notes.

Also it was 50% when i bought it. i could had waited longer but I wanted to try all the graphics improvement mods very badly so I caved in.

I have the OG version and even this version too on PS4.

Originally posted by chuckpolk:

Just a note to finish the demo BEFORE purchasing the game to get some freebies. Not really worth it if you feel pressured about missing the sale and have to wait a year for another opportunity. But according to the messaging, due to the way Steam platforms, those perks will not be awarded if you make the purchase before finishing the demo. See store page for specifics.

how does the demo work actually?

Originally posted by Chaos 混沌 カオス:

Originally posted by chuckpolk:

Just a note to finish the demo BEFORE purchasing the game to get some freebies. Not really worth it if you feel pressured about missing the sale and have to wait a year for another opportunity. But according to the messaging, due to the way Steam platforms, those perks will not be awarded if you make the purchase before finishing the demo. See store page for specifics.

how does the demo work actually?

The demo is the exact same as the base game, It just has a hard cut off before you enter the desert to go to gallopolis (theres an NPC blocking your way and if you walk up to him you get a "you beat the demo" message and it asks you if you want to save or keep playing). If you beat the demo, then buy the game, your save transfers so you load up your save in the real game. Your reward for doing this is a skill seed which is decently useful early on. There's no inconvenience here other than just playing the first 8 or so hours of the game in the demo.

Originally posted by MegaDuck:

Originally posted by Chaos 混沌 カオス:

how does the demo work actually?

The demo is the exact same as the base game, It just has a hard cut off before you enter the desert to go to gallopolis (theres an NPC blocking your way and if you walk up to him you get a "you beat the demo" message and it asks you if you want to save or keep playing). If you beat the demo, then buy the game, your save transfers so you load up your save in the real game. Your reward for doing this is a skill seed which is decently useful early on. There's no inconvenience here other than just playing the first 8 or so hours of the game in the demo.

Is that skill seed available only for that save file or is it available every time I start a new game from then on (like the other 5 I get)?

and by the way, seeds aren't worth using in the early game due to the dupe trick. And I do believe skill seeds can't be farmed without accessing the 2D portion of the game in chapter 1.

The original version of this game was made on a version of UE4 that used a different lighting system than the version of UE4 that Squenix used to make the Switch version. The Switch version also needed lower polygon models, lower draw distance, etc. to run on its hardware. All the newer ports are the Switch version.

You can restore or replicate all of the original graphical assets with Project Rebuild

https://sites.google.com/view/dqxi-commands/faqs/about-project-rebuild

And it looks absolutely exceptional. Much better than the original did. With this mod the game is honestly one of the best looking games I've ever played.

Beyond that, this version is a huge improvement over the original. More content, more refined mechanics and UI, voice acting, live orchestral soundtrack. Buy it and don't look back

Apart from the mods posted above that are made to boost the game graphics there's mods that remove perceived censorship.

One of them it's on the Based Mods website inside a collection that it's the only DQXI S download there and when you download that then you will pick up Z_Jade_Swimmer (Chirarism)_2.0.0.pak and this will fix up both bikinis so they look like proper swimsuits without the bloomers. You can delete the other mods on that collection if you want.

https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonquestxisdefinitiveedition/mods/47 This one will make the Devine Bustier look like it should. It was supposed to look more like the one Jessica used in DQVIII on the PS2 version that was uncensored.

https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonquestxisdefinitiveedition/mods/204?tab=description And this one if you want to strip the Warrior Princess dress a little.

*Edit*

The mods above requires 1 of the mods of Project Rebuild. Always read the instructions before using the mods. 2 of the Project Rebuild mods requires you to replace files of the games so make back up of these. The 4K cut scenes will have you replace some folders that contain video files and the Better Lightning will require you to replace an .ini file because without it a lot of things in the game will shine too much like diamonds.

Originally posted by LordKaiserX0:

Apart from the mods posted above that are made to boost the game graphics there's mods that remove perceived censorship.

One of them it's on the Based Mods website inside a collection that it's the only DQXI S download there and when you download that then you will pick up Z_Jade_Swimmer (Chirarism)_2.0.0.pak and this will fix up both bikinis so they look like proper swimsuits without the bloomers. You can delete the other mods on that collection if you want.

https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonquestxisdefinitiveedition/mods/47 This one will make the Devine Bustier look like it should. It was supposed to look more like the one Jessica used in DQVIII on the PS2 version that was uncensored.

https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonquestxisdefinitiveedition/mods/204?tab=description And this one if you want to strip the Warrior Princess dress a little.

never heard of that site, went to it and found a skimpy female characters mod, which is what I assume you were referring to.

Almost tempted to download it and see for myself what it all looked like. Almost.

Originally posted by Chaos 混沌 カオス:

Originally posted by LordKaiserX0:

Apart from the mods posted above that are made to boost the game graphics there's mods that remove perceived censorship.

One of them it's on the Based Mods website inside a collection that it's the only DQXI S download there and when you download that then you will pick up Z_Jade_Swimmer (Chirarism)_2.0.0.pak and this will fix up both bikinis so they look like proper swimsuits without the bloomers. You can delete the other mods on that collection if you want.

https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonquestxisdefinitiveedition/mods/47 This one will make the Devine Bustier look like it should. It was supposed to look more like the one Jessica used in DQVIII on the PS2 version that was uncensored.

https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonquestxisdefinitiveedition/mods/204?tab=description And this one if you want to strip the Warrior Princess dress a little.

never heard of that site, went to it and found a skimpy female characters mod, which is what I assume you were referring to.

Almost tempted to download it and see for myself what it all looked like. Almost.

The swimsuits are pretty tame as these look like a standard bikinis. Only the bottom was modified and it looks similar to the Builder's version. There's indeed lewder mods on that collection. I once uploaded a screenshot of Jade using this bikini here on Steam.