Square Enix is on a roll with these re-released versions of their older Dragon Quest games. I sincerely hope they keep going and make more.
No joke, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is quite impressive. Developers Square Enix and HexaDrive captured the essence of the classic title from 2001 on the PlayStation, reimagined a modern-day version of it, and nailed it. While the quest is noticeably the same, the updated fighting system mixed with drop-dead gorgeous graphics makes for a fun revisit to an already good game.
Does it fall short in some areas? It’s incredibly difficult to find a fault. We’ll do our best, though.
So, sit back, sharpen your sword, and gather your friends, we’re going Dragon Quest-ing.
Preserve some elements
Before we get into the shiny new hotness of Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, let’s talk about what it keeps from its 2001 title. The story stays its course with the player taking control of a fisherman’s son and traversing around Estard, uncovering the secrets the island holds, and finding more than they bargained for, with new lands they didn’t know existed. Along the way, the main character and his friends fight hordes of monsters and prepare themselves for a final battle with a big baddie.
The story from 2001 is intact and untouched on the surface. You still get to uncover mysteries through a literal Shrine of Mysteries and explore different lands and times. Everything great about the original title’s story is upfront and center with this new release. And, honestly, that is the way any remade classic should be. Story is what drove people to games like this, and story is what needs to be preserved. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined does a superb job of keeping the original story intact.
Related, what’s also intact with the story is how the game still contains that back-and-forth adventuring that the original featured. Players will find themselves coming to and from locations multiple times, an element that is prominent in RPGs of yesteryear. Players will take characters from point A to B, only to return to point A, and back to point B. Sure, it makes the journey longer, but it’s a classic element. While many new players to this ‘ancient’ concept may not love this, it’s good stuff for old people like me who crave a bit of old mixed with new during my RPG experiences. I know this element won’t get the praise it should; it’s an identifiable staple with old games of this type. It’s a constant element that helps build out worlds slowly and uncovers some good logical solutions to puzzles the game lays out. It’s simple; it can be time-consuming, but it’s a necessary evil that doesn’t need reimagining.
Beyond these two things, the game does feature some familiar enemy faces and big, brutish bosses. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined does a great job of capturing the creativity and magic of enemies that the original brought to the table. Players will find their big blue goobers, drooling undead, and some feisty knights that are tough to knock down. While the enemies make absolutely no sense when it comes to the explored environments and solid narrative flow, they’re still entertaining as hell to see in motion.
The above three elements from the 2001 title still exist and thrive within the new game reimagined. They are part of the essence that made the original release special. Everything else? Well, it has improved.
New hotness
Right out of the gate, the first thing players will take note of from Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is how positively gorgeous it is. While the isometric view has been kept, the lively environments, character models, and visible girth of everything are detailed and quite prominent. If you thought the last DQ release was nice, this just sets a new bar.
I was particularly impressed with the smaller details and visual accents added, where everything in the game, even the towns, is far more lively and executed well. You have detailed houses, characters, and just little things that push the envelope of a classic graphical world. Heck, even the moving ocean around the island is spectacular. And in case you’re wondering, there is a tad bit of shallow depth of field that was a proud staple of the remade DQ games from last year. I love that effect, as it’s so simple, yet so visually appealing.
And what about those monsters? Those monsters are goofy, well-animated (really well-animated), and hook the player into wanting to see the next set while exploring new lands. They can be a motivating factor when pushing forward through this game. For me, I enjoyed them. They were mainly goofy, yet incredibly creative. I mean, a bear dressed in green garb using a spear during a fight is just majestic.
Outside of the visuals, the game retooled and cleaned up the voice acting. When players are in a cutscene, they will get good, flowing dialogue that leads to solid character development and a more impressive production quality as a result. When trying to hook players, the more you can get good actors to bring out the characters, and the more you can get well-written dialogue to accompany them, just makes the experience so much better. The dialogue is good, clean, and adds to the depth of the story.
So, outside of presentation improvements, what else is there? Glad you asked.
System upgrade
The backend of Dragon Quest VII Reimagined has been dramatically improved from its original release. The difficulty choice sets the tone for all types of gamers. Much like what players would find in the remake of DQ I&II, novice players can choose an easier path to venture on, though not reaping the trophy rewards given to normal/difficult player modes. This easier path allows for faster gameplay without the stress of dying. Sometimes people just want to win, and this level of difficulty supports that desire. As for normal and difficult modes, they are what one should expect. Dying is especially easier with the latter. Anyway, during my time with the game, I enjoyed the easier mode. It allowed me to see a variety of enemies, take on bosses with little to no worry, and just simply enjoy the story. It was good times for weeks of gameplay.
As for other improvements, I realize this was available in a portable version of the game, but it’s the first time I have seen it: the ability to have the main character take down common enemies without entering a turn-based battle mode. This saves so much time, and it’s something that should be implemented in all turn-based RPGs. Essentially, the main character has to be a higher level than the enemy to perform such a deed, and, if they are a higher level, all they have to do is creep up on enemies and hit the action button on the controller. The player will swipe with whatever weapon they have and take the enemy out. Again, so much time is saved through this, and it helps to keep the adventure mostly unimpeded with constant turn-based battling.
Now, should the player go into a turn-based battle, everything has been retooled there as well. The action menu has been refined and simplified, while also allowing the player to speed up combat. The player can also set a good plan of attack with characters they don’t want to control. The turn-based battling is simplified through all of this, and makes turn-based battles not feel like such a sludge. They’re quick, easy, and briskly push onto the next battle. It keeps everything moving along without much interruption, which is a nice place to be with a turn-based RPG.
All the new stuff combined, the reimagined version of Dragon Quest VII feels like an old engine with a new shiny body. It tips its hat to old concepts, keeps what it needs from the original, and polishes everything remaining to truly get a reimagined version of it. It’s another feather in the cap of Square Enix’s series.
I hope they keep making more of these.
On that note, let’s wrap up this review.
Conclusion
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, from developers Square Enix and HexaDrive, keeps the essence firmly intact that made the old release so good, while improving and polishing the actual gameplay through a newly built backend system that is as easy as it is efficient. Ultimately, it’s a fantastic reimagined game that is a treat to play.
