DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined – A modern take on a classic JRPG series.
DRAGON QUEST VII has always been a strange game in Square Enix’s long-running JRPG series. The game first came out in Japan in August 2000 for the PlayStation. It was later released in North America as Dragon Warrior 7 in 2001. The game was unique because it was very long, presented in chapters, and had an ambitious time-travel plot.
It was first released for PS1 and then remade for 3DS in Japan (2013) and North America (2016). Fans loved it, but many people found it scary because it took so long to play and moved so slowly. DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined is very interesting because, unlike the 1, 2, and HD 2D remakes that came before it, Square Enix decided to go straight to a fan-favorite game from the past and change it.
Instead of just improving the graphics and interface, DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined reimagines the journey for a modern audience by speeding things up, adding new features that make life better, and keeping the series’ classic charm while adding to the game’s cuteness. For long-time fans, it’s a trip down memory lane; for newbies, it’s an easy way to get into a game with a complicated history.
The main plot of DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined is deceptively simple: a young hero and his friends find out that their island world, which seems to be alone, is actually part of a bigger, forgotten past. The story is based on the usual good vs. evil plot, but what makes it great is that Dragon Quest has been showing short stories in episodes for decades.
The trip starts on a single island, while the island looks normal, there is something truly magnificent underneath it.
When players find a mysterious artifact that lets them move through time, they find a world full of forgotten continents and civilizations, each with its own issues, conflicts, and characters. The depth of these shorter side quests varies.
Some are surprisingly moving and deep, while others are funnier, lighter, or just a little overdone. The less interesting stories are short, though, so players don’t get too stuck. These side quests make sure you don’t feel lonely, as the game is single-player
The episodic structure is improved by important friends such as the rude prince Kefir, the clever and self-centered Marabel, the wolf-riding comic relief Rough, and the older, more serious Sir Mvin. The characters’ looks aren’t always consistent—they have both chibi and more realistic designs—but their personalities usually show through.
There are still a few small chances that were missed, like the fact that some characters don’t change much over time and that the same things keep happening in the same places. Still, the time-travel feature cleverly lets you see what happens after you act, giving you a pleasing sense of control. The game’s story has a bright, happy post-apocalyptic feel that reminds me of Zelda: Wind Waker. It mixes humor and seriousness in a way only Dragon Quest can.
Overall, DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined doesn’t try to surprise or deliver an emotionally complex story like modern JRPGs like Final Fantasy XVI or Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
Instead, it accepts its role as a classic, episodic, and endlessly charming story, balancing nostalgia with ease of access. DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined‘s gameplay is big and well-paced, with a good mix of role-playing, exploration, and tactics. As players move between continents and islands, they find towns, dungeons, and secrets.
Curiosity is sparked by the way the world is designed: changing environments, interacting with small details (like petting dogs or finding hidden pots), and finding mini-medals for trade all urge players to explore more.
Field fighting is one of the best things about DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined. In the original, random events happened all the time. Now, monsters appear in the overworld, so players can choose which ones to fight.
This method keeps players from getting frustrated and lets them set their own pace, which is very important in a game that lasts a long time. Movement speed and fight speed can also be changed, so new players can move quickly while experienced players can keep things challenging.
The job (vocation) system is still an important part of the game.
Each character can learn a base job and then finally dual-class, which means they can mix their skills to make their own unique playstyles. Want a wise man with a sword or a warrior who can call monsters? The system lets them do it. Even though there aren’t that many jobs, the ability to try new things keeps the game interesting by giving players choices and letting parties be customized.
You can also interact with maps, goal markers, and party member tips to make it easier to keep track of their quests. These updates bring a game that used to require careful note-taking and going backwards into the present day, making the huge world much easier to get around in.
In DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined, battles are turn-based, like in the original Dragon Quest, but they are better for current players. The battles begin in first-person view and then switch to third-person view to show off skills, spells, and movements. You can set battle speeds, give tactics, and turn on auto-battle, which speeds up grinding and cuts down on downtime.
Even though the puzzles aren’t the main point of the game, they’re a nice touch.
There is a mix between challenges and ease of use in these RPG-style games. Some are easy to understand and fun, while others can be a little hard to get the hang of. Often, solving puzzles unlocks stone slabs, which then reveal new continents and move the time-travel story forward, making exploration and story development even more important.
The combat method is strategic, but easy to learn. Characters can use physical strikes, weapon skills, magic, and the skills that come with their jobs. The dual-job mechanic lets skills work together, which encourages players to try new things. Veterans may notice that the grind isn’t as hard as it was in the original, but the difficulty sliders, which let players change how hard it is by changing enemy strength, XP gain, gold, and healing after a fight, make sure that everyone can find the right level of challenge.
Leveling up in DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined is both satisfying in the traditional sense and easier for modern players. Combat is how players gain XP and skill proficiency for their jobs. The difficulty levels can be used to increase XP, money, and skill proficiency, which cuts down on grinding. This method stays true to the series’ roots while also making it easy for newcomers or people who are short on time to join.
You don’t have to grind because you can see monsters in the overworld and you can change the benefits you get. Higher-level characters can sometimes skip right over weaker enemies, which speeds up progress even more. The balance between difficulty and rewards can be changed, so both casual players and people who like to finish everything can enjoy the journey without being limited by battles they have to do over and over again.
DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined has a 3D HD art style that looks like a diarama, which is different from the more traditional 2D HD remakes of older Dragon Quest games. There are a lot of small details in the settings. For example, candles reflect light and footprints show up in the sand. The buildings, rooms, and objects were all carefully created. It’s easier to understand how big things are, especially when fighting monsters, which feel bigger and more alive.
You can move around in the world to find hidden things, which adds to the fun of exploring.
The smooth framerate, claymation-style textures, and bright color choices make each island feel alive and make you want to look at everything very carefully. Small details, like pets that you can interact with or character movements that show subtleties, make the experience more immersive. Overall, the visuals do a good job of updating a standard style without taking away from its charm.
The best parts are still the music and sound design. The music features both new versions of old favorites and faithful reinterpretations of earlier versions. The compositions have a solemn and sometimes sad tone, which is matched by the bright colors used in the game.
The combat sound effects, background music, and character voices are all well done, making the game more interesting without being overwhelming for the player. Fans will enjoy how nostalgic the music is, and new players will enjoy how high-quality and moody it is. Subtle sound cues are added to dialogue and situations to make exploring and interacting more fun.
DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined is a great example of how to balance old and new. It keeps the Dragon Quest series’ episodic stories, likeable characters, and classic turn-based combat, but adds things that make life better, like field monsters, auto-battle, speed modifiers, dual jobs, and goal markers.
The story is simple and sometimes obvious, but the short stories on each island are interesting, often moving, and easy to remember.
There isn’t much character growth, but the team’s personalities really shine through, especially in conversations and short scenes. DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined’s gameplay is deep, flexible, and easy to learn. Players can customize their experience by using optional grinding, dual-job mechanics, and difficulty modifiers. This way, both new and experienced players can enjoy the trip.
The combat is well done and visually interesting, and the puzzles, while not very large, add to the adventure and encourage exploration. DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined looks great, with dioramas in the style of claymation and modern HD polish, creating a world that is both familiar and new. Sound design and music add to this style by creating mood and emotional depth.
DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined is still pretty long—even the early hours take more than one sitting to finish—but streamlining makes it less boring than the PS1 and 3DS versions. For a $60 game that gets a lot of attention, Reimagined proves worth the money by offering a lengthy, satisfying, and well-crafted JRPG experience.
