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There has been a resurgence of interest in long-form character-driven JRPGs. Square Enix, the creator of the subgenre, has fully built on this momentum by remaking the series that helped define it, Dragon Quest. After remaking the first three installments of the series’ classic NES era, the company has turned its attention to the fan favorite originally released for the PlayStation in 2000, Dragon Quest 7.
Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined It is the latest installment in Square Enix’s Dragon Quest series, set after 2024 Remake of Dragon Quest 3 And last year Dragon Quest 1-2 Remake. If you’re wondering why the publisher skipped ahead to the seventh game, it may be because DQ7 was remade back in 2016 for the 3DS, which could make things easier after the success of previous remakes.
DQ7 represents an exciting time for the franchise, with the first six games split between two different trilogies. With the seventh game, developer Enix (before its merger with Square) took a different approach by creating a stand-alone game. Since then, the franchise entries that have followed have had no narrative connections to others. For this reason, DQ7 is often seen as falling in the middle of the pack when ranking Dragon Quest games. However, it is one of the best entries in the legendary JRPG series.
This endeavor does not go on and on
Right off the bat, what I and others who played the original DQ7 when it launched in 2000 want to know is: Does it take three hours to get to the first battle in Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined?
The answer is no. When DQ7 was first released, many players were turned off by the game’s sheer audacity to click through too much of the story before they could do anything other than talk to someone. This time, you’re looking at about an hour of intro before you swing your sword for the first time, which is an improvement over the Nintendo DS version released in the US in 2016, where it took nearly two hours. Keep in mind that waiting a full hour before the first battle is still a long time for any game, but there is a lot of story setting and characters to get through.
This reduction in time before the first battle is one of many quality of life upgrades that have become standard in Dragon Quest remakes. Other improvements include the ability to quickly defeat enemies without starting a battle if your team is a higher level than them, teleporting to previous locations directly from the map and quest markers that clearly indicate where you should go. These are welcome additions for newcomers and players with less time to spend playing, although some die-hard DQ7 fans may take issue with how fluid the game is.
Like other versions of Dragon Quest, the visuals are noticeably improved. The character designs remain true to the original PSX version and the New 3DS version. Square Enix took the 3D models from the 3DS remake and added more detail. The areas have also been improved to give the world a more open feel. Characters are fully animated and display a wider range of emotions during cutscenes. While the cinematics won’t blow your mind, they are still effective in delivering the Dragon Quest magic that the series is known for. Add in tunes dating back to the first game released in 1986, and you’ve got a feast for the eyes and ears.
Imagine more of the story
If there’s a downside to simplification, it’s that it makes the game’s lack of a strong story even more apparent.
DQ7, like others in the franchise, follows the JRPG trope of a hero who starts from humble beginnings and eventually rises to defeat a god. In this case, the protagonist is the son of a fisherman. He was joined by Maribel, the mayor’s daughter, and Kiefer, the prince of the Kingdom of Estard.
The group discovers a shrine of mysteries that takes them back in time to islands that no longer exist. Each island has its own dilemma, usually leading to a battle with a boss monster. Once the problem is solved, the island reappears in the present, where the townsfolk recount the horrors of the past while living carefree lives. Each island also contains parts of the past and present that must be collected to unlock a new island.
Kiefer, the prince of the Estard Kingdom, has a great sword and is not afraid to use it.
Once all the islands are discovered, an evil force resurfaces and the group of young men who have only recently learned to fight must defeat it to save the world.
In a way, DQ7’s story isn’t too different from previous games, where every time the hero visits a new city, a problem arises that needs to be dealt with. Here, it’s islands instead of cities. Because these islands are small and the dilemmas are confined, DQ7 lacks significant narrative buildup. Instead, it presents smaller side stories, some more dramatic than others. On one of the early islands, players investigate a strange tradition surrounding a volcano, leading to a fight with a fire spirit. Another island features townsfolk turned into animals, and vice versa, due to a monster curse.
The story serves the game, but it’s not particularly compelling. However, there is magic in a game where the son of a hunter is destined to slay a god.
Get a job, hero
One of the most interesting aspects of DQ7 is the careers system, which is its version of the franchise class mechanics. Each character starts with a job, and as they progress, they can change jobs. Each job has its own stats, abilities, and “Unleash!” Move, a special ability that charges after receiving a certain number of attacks or damage. For example, a hero’s special move at the beginning of the game creates a barrier to protect the party from a single attack.
There are more than 20 professions, each divided into levels. In addition to the starting function, there are beginner, intermediate, and advanced categories. Beginner examples include martial artist, sorcerer, and warrior. As you level up a class, more abilities are unlocked, and once you’ve maxed out, it’s time to choose another.
The whole gang is here.
If you can max out two entry level jobs, such as Thief and Sailor, you’ll be able to unlock the mid-tier Pirate. Mastering two or three intermediate professions unlocks advanced professions, such as Hero and Champion.
If this sounds like a lot, it is. Fortunately, a new feature called Moonlighting allows a character to start a new job while retaining someone else’s skills. Considering that the game can take around 40 hours to complete, the ability to switch classes frequently and reward players for building their characters is a smart move from Square Enix.
And yes, you read that right – the game only takes about 40 hours to complete. Square Enix cut the areas and dungeons, making this version easier to finish and not an exact copy of the original, which can take over 80 hours to finish. Fans of the original game may complain about these changes, but they do tone down some of the more monotonous parts of the game.
Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined is easily recommended for JRPG fans, though everyone might want to take it with a grain of salt. The long story keeps you playing but doesn’t fully convince you of the game’s greatness, which may be a turnoff for players who aren’t happy working their way through side stories.
Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined is available now on PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series