An infamously lengthy RPG, Dragon Quest 7 has by no means fairly been held up alongside the sequence’ most revered instalments, but it surely’s at all times been deserving of a second — or technically third — likelihood.
Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined units out to remodel the journey for a contemporary viewers; a lot of its largest alterations to the unique components come within the type of streamlined gameplay and accessibility choices.
And the excellent news is that this remake does wonders for what was as soon as a tediously paced title. Crafted with a transparent adoration for the supply materials, Reimagined is each a incredible revival, and a high tier Dragon Quest recreation.
With a deal with time journey and an episodic story construction, Dragon Quest 7 sees a ragtag group of kids try and restore their world by righting the wrongs of the previous.
You will leap between blighted histories, thwarting malicious powers throughout a sequence of island kingdoms, with every landmass providing up its personal narrative and central characters.
Whereas the construction’s undeniably predictable — go to a city, be taught of an issue, go to a dungeon, slay some monsters — that quintessential Dragon Quest appeal is rampant all through, with every island ‘episode’ taking part in out like a fairy story.
It is laborious to not get reeled in by the sheer cosiness of the expertise, which is emphasised by the remake’s extremely effectively realised diorama-esque artwork route. It is a kind of video games that is only a pleasure to plod by way of at a pleasant, regular tempo.
However despite the fact that Reimagined does its finest to push its plot alongside, opting to shorten sure sequences and even lower some lesser storylines that have been current in 7’s earlier incarnations, it stays a sluggish burn.
Our personal playthrough for the needs of this evaluation clocked in at round 75 hours, and it is honest to say that you’re going to nonetheless want a good quantity of persistence to get by way of the story’s extra ponderous moments.
Certainly, not all ‘episodes’ are created equal. Though uncommon, just a few of seven’s storylines quantity to little greater than trekking between places as a way to converse with a handful of NPCs. They’re so glacial that we’re left questioning why the event crew did not do extra to truncate them.
And on high of that, the backtracking that haunted the sport on PS1 and 3DS nonetheless principally exists.
Having repaired the troubles of an island again previously, you may normally be prompted to return to that island within the current, as a way to behold the fruits of your labour. This may typically end in exploring the identical cities and dungeons yet again, with solely new dialogue and loot to coax you alongside.
It simply feels a bit clunky by right now’s requirements, however once more, this type of repetition is comparatively uncommon throughout the journey as a complete. In most circumstances there are significant discoveries to be made, and it is at all times attention-grabbing to see simply how your actions previously have impacted the land and its folks within the current.
Moreover, the entire strategy of hopping between time is made way more agreeable due to the addition of useful maps and goal markers. The place the unique 7 might frustrate with its invisible guidelines of ongoing quests, Reimagined is completely satisfied to level you within the common route of progress.
Even your social gathering members will supply hints and ideas should you take the time to seek the advice of them with a push of the circle button. Streamlining is not at all times factor, however Sq. Enix has achieved effectively to melt 7’s typically convoluted pacing issues.
Different enhancements embody monsters being current within the area, eliminating the necessity for random encounters, the power to hurry up fight, and the addition of issue modifiers.
That latter inclusion is without doubt one of the most vital, we would argue. Loads of you studying it will have performed Dragon Quest 7 earlier than, and so with the ability to improve expertise level and cash features will all however get rid of the character-levelling grind — one thing which may have been placing you off a replay.
You may also tweak enemy injury, your injury, and full restoration after every combat. Which means that you are free to craft your personal problem, and we predict that may be a giant plus for a recreation that is constructed on old skool beliefs.
Which brings us to the turn-based fight itself, which is… effectively, it is basic Dragon Quest, however Reimagined does boast a really neat and tidy consumer interface that makes navigating instructions impressively nice. The power to ‘favorite’ particular spells and talents for straightforward entry is welcome, too.
That is as a result of you’ll be able to find yourself with an enormous record of strategies relying in your chosen jobs — or vocations, because the sequence likes to name them. That is the place 7 makes an attempt to do issues somewhat otherwise, permitting you to customize every social gathering member’s toolkit by assigning them a category.
It is a easy system all advised; your base stats change primarily based in your vocation, however different components, like gear, are decided by the character — so that you’re actually simply deciding on what spells and talents you need at your disposal.
There’s nonetheless room for experimentation, although, and that is principally as a result of Reimagined (finally) allows you to assign not one, however two jobs to every hero, successfully providing you with the liberty to make your personal lessons.
A spell-wielding sage who’s additionally a dab hand with a sword? What a few brutish gladiator who additionally has the capability to summon allied monsters? As talked about, there’s not an enormous quantity of depth right here — primarily as a result of the variety of accessible vocations is pretty restricted — however discovering a distinct segment for every character continues to be one of many title’s finest gameplay hooks.
