System: Change 2Release date: February 5, 2026Developer: Sq. Enix / HexaDrivePublisher: Sq. Enix
Dragon Quest 7 is a sport with a repute. A repute for what, could you ask? A repute for being one of many longest slogs not solely in Dragon Quest historical past, however within the historical past of conventional JRPGs as a complete. As Sq. Enix frequently seems into its lengthy historical past for video games that modernize and improve for a contemporary viewers, there are few title of their catalog extra in want of a refresh than this one. So it was with a lot rejoicing that Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined was introduced final yr. The query we should ask ourselves, now that the sport has lastly arrived on retailer cabinets, is can Sq. Enix do sufficient to show this controversial entry in its longest-running sequence into one more beloved remaster?
Dragon Quest is a sequence largely untouched by time, returning the identical effectively of beloved gameplay mechanics, fight techniques, storytelling tropes, and different genre-defining components which have made it one of the vital beloved RPG franchises on this planet. For many who love these techniques, Dragon Quest 7 is a dream. The sport is tightly polished, from its vibrant artwork model, catchy soundtrack, effectively balanced character development, and acquainted, turn-based fight. It’s clear from the start of the journey that the builders took nice care in modernizing this PS1-era RPG for current-day consoles. In that division, Sq. Enix continues to hit the ball out of the park.
On the flip aspect then Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined, like many video games within the sequence, performs issues extremely protected. Except for the power to focus on particular person enemies, moderately than vaguely concentrating on teams, there isn’t a wealth of distinction between fight right here from that present in current Dragon Quest 1, 2, and three remakes, and even Dragon Quest 11, the newest mainline title within the sequence. Take your turns, goal enemy weaknesses, preserve your self healed, rinse, and repeat. Fight affords little in the best way of problem past a couple of pesky standing effect-inducing monsters and the occasional problem bump. That’s to not say these components are poorly applied. Removed from it. However the sport is aggressively conventional, no two methods about it.
The place the sport does get experimental compared with different Dragon Quest video games is in its story. Whereas Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined follows a well-recognized, episode construction, the supply system for its narrative is something however normal. Firstly of our journey, our hero and his buddies dream of exploring the world. The issue? No world actually exists past their tiny island nation. North, south, east, and west, the entire world is roofed in infinite ocean. Even so, the protagonists dream of discovering one thing, someplace, to fairly actually increase their horizons. Their ambitions cause them to uncover an historical shrine, the place items of a stone pill unlock a portal to a land not spoken of in any of their histories. Hassle brews for island’s residents, and it’s as much as our heroes to avoid wasting them from destruction. Upon finishing this quest, the occasion returns to the portal and finds that exact same island now showing off the shores of their residence. Discovering the mysteries of how and why they have been in a position to resurrect a land forgotten to time encompasses a lot of the central narrative.
As the sport progresses, you’ll uncover extra damaged pill items and go to quite a few different islands, all with their very own risks, characters, and conflicts. By visiting these islands each by means of the portals after which returning to them as soon as they seem once more close to your private home, you possibly can frequently find pill items and use them to show the world map into an ever-expanding archipelago.
This exploration mechanic capabilities as considerably of a double-edged sword. Whereas discovering the pill items introduces some nonlinearity to the sport and encourages exploration, it additionally means that you’re usually scouring every island twice over, searching for clues. You’ll accomplish that first in your preliminary journey, after which once more when revisiting it as soon as it seems on the world map. The merchandise swimming pools for every iteration of the islands should not the identical, so get able to backtrack once more, and once more, and once more. Compounding the issue is that each island additionally has a number of locked treasure chests that may solely be opened later within the sport, necessitating a 3rd journey again to every merchandise if you’d like no matter these chests have in retailer.
Finally, this gameplay cadence can get to be a tiring expertise. The title feels padded for size, which for an RPG of such appreciable bulk already, feels pointless. On the identical time, the episodic tales on every island differ in high quality. Some strike emotional chords you didn’t even know you had (I’m taking a look at you robotic island), whereas others largely fall flat.
The primary solid of the sport don’t do a lot to complement every island’s story both. Just about each character you recruit suffers from “protagonist syndrome.” They’ve some superficial traits that make them stand out, however the occasion itself is essentially devoid of battle or actual emotional depth. Even when a sure character leaves your occasion for good, you don’t significantly really feel the loss. Surprisingly, that is one space that different Dragon Quest remakes have excelled in rectifying, significantly Dragon Quest 1 HD-2D, so it’s stunning extra wasn’t performed to make the emotional beats hit tougher for the primary occasion.
Lastly, we come to the sport’s different central gameplay characteristic – the category system. Unlocked round a 3rd of the best way by means of the journey, this factor acted as a breath of contemporary air into what was turning into a considerably rote journey. Whereas your essential characters on the time every have considerably established niches as warrior, caster, or help, the customization allotted by the category system nonetheless permits a superb quantity of talent selection, even when they’re wrapped once more in very acquainted Dragon Quest packaging. A beautiful enhancement in contrast the PS1 system, the Reimagined class system additionally permits for multi-classing (right here referred to as Moonlighting). By moonlighting in an extra class, you possibly can achieve extra stat boosts, spells, and talents. You additionally achieve job expertise for each outfitted courses, permitting you to get a construct up and working a lot quicker than within the unique. If something unfavourable will be stated concerning the class system, it’s that – simply as within the unique PS1 title – it comes far later within the narrative than anybody would love. A sport reliant on such conventional JRPG tropes may actually use an infusion of customization and artistic character development a lot earlier.
If it hasn’t change into clear sufficient all through this evaluate, my emotions are largely combined on Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined. The sport takes nice leaps ahead over its unique incarnation, rushing up what was a notoriously lengthy journey into one thing rather more manageable. The strategies are undertaking this – an enhanced job system, the power to autobattle, spell shortcuts, and different high quality of life options – are all welcome additions. On the identical time, although, the episodic tales will be overwrought, and the central storyline drags significantly as a result of core gameplay conceit of monitoring down tablets again and again as you go to islands thrice-over. The sport isn’t unhealthy. It’s good by many metrics. However a mind-blowing RPG with an immersive, emotional story and interesting gameplay techniques, it isn’t.
There’s so much to like about Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined, a sport lovingly up to date and superbly (re)imagined. In case you are searching for a comparatively straightforward, 40-50 hour journey, this can be the sport for you. Nevertheless, if you’re searching for an RPG that challenges you, whether or not or not it’s in its techniques, fight, or story, then it might be higher to maneuver alongside.
Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined copy offered by the writer for the needs of this evaluate.
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