Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined review: Another great remake

When a video game series has been around for this long, it raises a question for newcomers: What’s the best place to play? in case Dragon Questthere are nearly a dozen major titles, not to mention the prolific releases and ports spanning four decades of history. However, recently, publisher Square Enix has released a number of new releases that serve as almost perfect entry points for beginners who feel intimidated by all that baggage. And the new Dragon Quest VII reimagined It might be the best yet.

DQVII It was a pivotal game in the series when it was released on the original PlayStation, as it was the first with 3D graphics. For a franchise that has been developing at a slow, deliberate pace, this was a big deal. Maybe that’s why this isn’t the first time Square Enix has remade it; The game was also released on Nintendo 3DS under the new subtitle Fragments of a forgotten past. Re-imagined The game builds on the core experience with a number of quality-of-life tweaks – you can see enemies before a battle starts, for example, and the game gives you a ‘back’ story update every time you start – along with revamped graphics that make the game world look like a series of attractive dioramas. It doesn’t quite come close Handmade charm imaginaryBut it’s close.

These things are amazing and well made Re-imagined It feels like a completely modern game. But what really makes it a great entry point for Dragon Quest Beginners is the way it is organized. For the most part, every Dragon Quest It’s a standalone experience that tells its own story, so narratively speaking, there’s no real problem jumping into the series at any given number, including the seventh game. But what makes DQVII What’s unique is how its premise turns it into a series of episodes that are more digestible than a single epic quest.

Unlike most Dragon Quest Games, and most other fantasy RPGs for that matter, DQVII It’s not set in one huge world. Instead, you start the game on a small island, which its residents believe is the only place in the world. Of course, this turns out not to be quite the case, as other islands slowly begin to appear and you, the brave hero, are also able to collect magic tablets that transport you to distant worlds.

DQVII It still has the epic scope of a traditional RPG, but this structure – which has you exploring these new islands and locations one by one – makes it easier to play in bite-sized chunks and remember what’s going on. There is an overarching story, but since each area has its own distinct story, the game feels like a series of chapters that you deal with individually. I never found myself lost in the story – thanks in part to the recap feature – nor did I find myself lost in the world itself, unsure of where to go next. The islands are all very pleasant places to explore; One moment she’s exploring a strange ritual in a giant volcano, the next she’s visiting a farming village where everyone has been turned into animals.

It’s the combination of a visual refresh, simplified quality-of-life features, and a less intimidating build that makes Re-imagined This is a good entry point. Nor is she alone. Dragon Quest It has been incredibly popular in Japan since its inception, but has gradually grown its audience in the rest of the world. Over the past few years in particular, Square Enix has released a number of games that I consider to be great beginner’s games. If you’re looking for something a little more retro, New edition of Dragon Quest III — Part of the publisher’s impressive collection of HD-2D games – Manages the right combination of depth and accessibility. It’s simple in a way that turns into something like RPG comfort food. And for something larger in scope, there always is Dragon Quest XIthe latest major entry in the series, which takes on what’s familiar DQ The gameplay bolts on cutting-edge graphics and cutscenes that make it feel like a modern epic.

But I think so Re-imagined I beat those games when it comes to greeting. all DQ The game is charming, and every modern release has quality of life tweaks that make it more tolerable compared to older RPGs. But the narrative structure of DQVII It turns a massive adventure into a series of small, digestible stories, making it easy to play on your own terms. So, if you’re wondering what blue slime is like, this is your best chance to find out.

_{Dragon Quest VII reimagined It will be released on February 5 on Switch, PS5, Xbox, and PC.}