Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined Review – Return to the Past

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Every role-playing game series has one title that people either strongly love or strongly dislike, and Dragon Quest is no different. Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is a game that players tend to either fully embrace, enjoying its extensive length, or abandon early on due to its slow beginning. While other issues were noted at the time, the game’s pacing, particularly in the first few hours, and its considerable length were the biggest turn-offs for many fans.

Overall, Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined is best described as remarkably streamlined. The previous 3DS remake improved the beginning, but this version really focuses on a smooth, fast-paced experience while still capturing the unique charm of Dragon Quest. And does it work? Absolutely. It’s a huge success and could easily be considered one of the best games in the series, and one of the most enjoyable RPGs released this year.

Even though it’s based on a game from over 25 years ago, Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined surprised me in a lot of positive ways. Plus, the story and characters are really well-written.

In this game, your character lives a much more exciting life than in previous ones – you’re more of an adventurer than a traditional hero. As someone living on the island of Estard, you help Prince Kiefer repair a boat and begin exploring, even though everyone – including your mother – insists it’s the only landmass in existence. The story changes direction when Kiefer finds some ancient ruins that require specific stone tablets to unlock. Soon after, with the help of Maribel, the energetic daughter of the mayor, you’re unexpectedly transported to a completely different world – one that’s definitely not Estard.

The game immediately grabs you with its excellent pace. Everything flows well, from the exciting combat and memorable characters – like the protagonist’s father, King Donald (it’s fun to note the actor is Kiefer Sutherland!) and the shady Uncle Pike – to your first journey into a new world. It’s a strong start, but the big question is: does it stay good?

I won’t get into all the specifics of the story and its twists, but the main idea is that the characters are trying to find more stone tablets and travel to different worlds. Essentially, they’re all facing a difficult situation. For instance, in a place called Ballymolloy, the story of a heroic warrior who fought monsters turns out to be a deeply sad one.

You’ll frequently find yourself trying to save the day, but things aren’t always simple, and that’s what makes the storytelling in Reimagined so compelling. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, tragedy strikes and you can’t prevent it. Even when you succeed, it doesn’t necessarily mean the problem is solved—it just leads to new challenges. It’s like reading a book with interconnected chapters that keep the story moving forward in surprising ways.

Though some storylines felt a little short, I was always eager to discover what each new area held, who I’d meet, and who would help along the way. Despite being based on a game from over 25 years ago, Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined consistently surprised me. The writing is excellent, and even with a large cast of characters, each one felt memorable – from kings and queens to those struggling to get by, like the thief who double-crossed me or the fortune-teller named Palmela. Conversations were always engaging and never got bogged down in unnecessary details.

At first, Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined’s battle system seems straightforward, but it becomes surprisingly complex and enjoyable as you progress. Learning new abilities, becoming proficient in your chosen class, and collecting monster hearts – which offer perks like better dodging, increased critical hit rates, or even the ability to survive fatal blows – really add depth to the combat.

The actors are all really likable – Kiefer is full of energy, though he secretly struggles with confidence, and Maribel, while a bit spoiled at times, is genuinely kind. Ruff is exactly as you’d expect after everything he’s been through, but surprisingly charming. The story features a good mix of characters, and they evolve in believable ways without feeling hurried. The voice acting is excellent, particularly from the main cast, even though the main character doesn’t speak much.

The game’s battle system has been simplified and improved with features from the recent HD-2D Dragon Quest remakes, including a tactical system, an auto-battle option, and adjustable battle speeds. You can change these settings mid-fight, which is convenient. However, the combat is also strong because it’s relatively straightforward. Enemies each have their own strategies and weaknesses – even common ones like Slimes or Mouseflaps (the latter of which can attack together if there are multiple). Attacks that hit multiple areas are great for clearing out groups, but you’ll need to decide which enemies to focus on when facing mixed groups.

The new Vocational Perks add another layer of strategy. Characters gain a unique special move after fighting for a while, based on their class. The hero starts with a valuable ability: protecting the team from one big hit, which is incredibly useful when a boss is powering up a powerful attack. Maribel can help you take advantage of enemy weaknesses, complementing her magic skills. Kiefer can sacrifice defense for increased attack power and critical hit chance, or he can focus on boosting the damage of his next attack. Each character’s perk offers different tactical options.

The combat in Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined seems basic at first, but it becomes surprisingly complex and fun as you progress. You’ll unlock new abilities, become skilled in different classes (Vocations), and collect monster hearts that give you special advantages, like better dodging, critical hit chances, or even the ability to survive otherwise fatal attacks. The main downside is that it takes a while to unlock the ability to switch between classes and learn new skills. The new Moonlighting system, which lets you combine two classes for powerful combinations, takes even longer to unlock. It’s not an enormous time commitment, but if you enjoy battling, you’ll likely max out your classes before you get the chance to fully utilize these features.

Fortunately, this isn’t a major problem, especially because you’re constantly finding new gear – weapons, armor, and accessories – to customize your team. Plus, you can switch jobs on the fly, making it easy to try out different playstyles.

My main issue with the game is a somewhat unusual depth of field effect, which occasionally causes objects in the environment to suddenly appear. I noticed this in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake as well, and while it’s not a major problem, it did pull me out of the experience a bit.

Despite being significantly improved, Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined remains a lengthy game. Visually, it’s stunning, preserving the charm of the original while updating it for today’s standards. The developers’ dedication to crafting the characters using physical dolls and building the towns like detailed dioramas really shines through. My only real issue is a somewhat odd depth of field effect, which occasionally causes things to appear later on screen. This effect was also in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, and while not overly bothersome, I found it a little distracting.

Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined succeeds at everything you’d expect from a great Dragon Quest game. It features a captivating story with characters you’ll genuinely care about, intriguing places each with their own stories, a fun and deep combat system for developing your characters, and beautiful visuals. Despite all this, it’s surprisingly easy to pick up and play – it feels like a comforting book you can’t wait to revisit. If you were hesitant to try the original, this version is a fantastic place to start.

This game was reviewed on PS5.

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2026-02-02 22:13