Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined Review
The review of Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined establishes whether the game functions as a warm nostalgic experience or an excessively basic experience. The announcement of Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined shocked everyone. Square Enix created an entire remake of the PlayStation game after releasing HD 2D remakes of its first three games. The title which launches on Nintendo Switch and upcoming Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S and PS5 and Steam platforms attempts to update one of the franchise's most controversial episodes.
The 3DS version of Dragon Warrior 7 developed from its 2000 PS1 release into the new "Reimagined" edition which serves as a complete visual reconstruction of the original game. The 100 hour behemoth requires evaluation to determine whether its streamlined state provides advantages or whether it lost essential elements which contributed to its large scale experience. We will examine the situation.
Visuals A Living Diorama
The art style of the game serves as the first element which players will observe. The developers chose a "claymation" or "living doll" aesthetic instead of using the pixel perfect HD 2D style. The characters appear as doll like figures which have been digitally scanned into a diorama. The "chibi" style creates division among viewers who see Prince Kiefer as a "Team America" puppet while others view him as a cartoon character yet the execution achieves great technical standards.
The environment contains multiple details which range from candles that show light to people who leave footprints on sandy surfaces. The 3D designs of Akira Toriyama's monsters achieve their best visual representation since they maintain original poses yet display massive and terrifying proportions on screen which exceed previous top down views.
The Story Islands in the Mist
The story starts at Estard island which the player character believes to be the entire world. You discover ancient stone tablets which allow you to travel back in time to resolve conflicts occurring in different countries. The present day islands appear after you complete the saving process. The narrative structure creates episodic content which follows a series of brief story segments. The game presents itself as a collection of short stories which include some highly emotional stories and some incomplete stories.
The game has received acclaim for its "cozy" post apocalyptic atmosphere which resembles the experience of Wind Waker but the fragmented storytelling creates both positive and negative effects. The story unfolds like a "Saturday Morning Cartoon" which lets you watch separate monster episodes instead of telling an interconnected story. The time travel logic fails to deliver interesting results because the future shows identical environments to the past with bridges and buildings staying the same which weakens the significance of your choices.
Gameplay Streamlined to a Fault
This version of Dragon Quest 7 becomes the easiest entry point for new players. The developers have removed unnecessary content from the game. The original game required players to spend more than 100 hours to reach its conclusion but now players can finish the game between 40 to 60 hours after they complete the main story. The game no longer requires players to spend three hours before they can experience a battle because they will start fighting within the first hour.
The game removes random battles from its gameplay and introduces field enemies which players can encounter during their exploration. Players can use the new feature to initiate attacks against weak enemies on the field which results in their instant defeat while they earn XP and vocation points without needing to enter battle mode. The new system makes it much easier to collect battle experience points. Players receive access to the "Zoom" spell (fast travel) at the start of the game while they can save their progress at goddess statues which serve as more than just church saving points.
The game introduces puzzles which players can enjoy because they resemble traditional block and light puzzles although the game presents them at the beginning of the experience. The "Stone Tablet" radar on the mini map removes the frustration of hunting for key items although purists may feel it removes the sense of discovery.
Combat and Vocations
The game features modern turn based combat which requires players to issue commands before their characters make their next move. Players can choose to speed up battle sequences or utilize automatic combat functions after they issue their commands. The game presents a "Moonlighting" feature which lets players use two different vocation classes at the same time for additional passive abilities. The game removes the "Monster Class" system from the previous version which allowed players to change into monsters because it needs to simplify the game experience.
Players find the game difficulty to be a disputed issue. Most players find the normal mode to be extremely simple because they describe it as "brain dead easy." The combination of auto heal statues placed throughout the game and characters who come back to life with 1 HP after every fight plus accessible healing items means that experienced players will never encounter a "Game Over" situation. The game provides various difficulty options that enable players to make enemies stronger while reducing their experience points for those who seek a more demanding gameplay experience.
Audio A Symphonic Treat
The orchestral soundtrack serves as the game's most impressive feature because it delivers a musical experience which combines "One Piece" style whimsy with adventurous melodies. The musical composition can express both solemnity and sadness which matches the sad storytelling of the islands you will explore. The voice acting uses Old English dialects which belong to the series, although its delivery provides excellent performance, but it appears at irregular intervals. NPCs will deliver long speeches that last multiple minutes while the main party remains quiet, creating a minor break from the story.
Pros, Cons and Rating
Pros
- The game needs less time to complete because its playtime now lasts between 40 to 60 hours and players finish the first act more quickly.
- The "living diorama" art style creates visual beauty through its exceptional lighting and monster design from the game.
- New players can easily start the game because its instant kill mechanics for weak enemies and complete difficulty options create the most accessible experience.
- The orchestral music creates a beautiful score that establishes the appropriate atmosphere for the game.
- The game provides an ideal experience as a "podcast game" which players can enjoy during their weekends because it requires minimal skill to play.
Cons
- The game difficulty for normal players requires no strategic skills because players can win almost all battles through automatic combat.
- Veteran players will feel disappointed because the game removes Monster Classes while simplifying the vocation system.
- The game world appears unchanging because players must face repetitive content which includes returning NPC characters and static game environments.
- The "vignette" storytelling style creates two separate problems which include lacking a main storyline and making the main character group seem distant from the plot events.
Final Verdict
The game Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined showcases conflicting principles. The remake improves the original game which had slow gameplay through its speed enhancements, but this process reduces the game's interactive qualities and results in an experience which feels less intense and smaller than it should. This game serves as a perfect introduction to the franchise because it provides a friendly and comfortable experience, which fits well with players who have busy schedules. The game features an easier difficulty level with simpler gameplay elements, which will not satisfy players who want deeper gameplay experiences.
The game transforms into a charming and accessible experience, which replaces the original's massive scope through its complete reimagining. If you want a game to play while sipping hot chocolate, this game matches that requirement.
Pc Version Tested.
