Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Review

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When I learned that Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined was coming out, I was both excited and puzzled. The 3DS remake felt recent, and it was a great way to play the massive, 100+ hour RPG. But then I realized the same amount of time passed between the original DQ7 on PlayStation and the 3DS version as has passed since the 3DS remake – and that made me feel a little strange thinking about how much time had gone by.

Two major ideas in Dragon Quest 7 are facing life’s big questions and the impact of time, so it makes sense the remake explores those too. Square Enix let me try Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined before it came out, and I kept wondering if this new version was worth making. The answer, like the game’s story, isn’t simple.

DQ7’s Great New Look Can’t Outshine Pacing Problems

Let’s begin with the positives: Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined is a beautiful game. The environments, designed like dioramas, and the charming, doll-like character designs all work wonderfully together. While I appreciate the art style updates in the HD-2D remakes, this aesthetic is more appealing to me. Reimagined captures the feeling of the original PlayStation Dragon Quest 7, which had a uniquely wistful and sometimes sad atmosphere – something that felt a little lost in the brighter 3DS version.

The new version of Dragon Quest 7 stays true to the original game from PlayStation. Like the 3DS remake, it simplifies the beginning, especially the Shrine of Mysteries where you collect fragments and travel through time. Players can get into combat quickly and explore their first island without a long wait.

Even though Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined has been updated, its story still feels slow and wanders at times. A modern remake usually cuts out unnecessary parts, but this one doesn’t always do that. While some sections, particularly at the beginning, move quicker than before, the overall pacing is still an issue, especially because the story unfolds in separate episodes.

The game’s core loop is a real strength. You play as kids on an island who gather fragments, travel to the past, and then return to the present to see how their actions have changed things. While it can become a little repetitive, this structure actually makes a large game like Dragon Quest 7 feel more manageable and approachable.

New Additions Don’t Make Up For Cut Content

Some of the content that was taken out is debatable. For example, removing the costumes from the 3DS version feels like a mistake. While it’s good you can still equip monster medals, I sometimes wish the monster classes were still included. The main Vocations system is largely the same, but the addition of Moonlighting – which lets you use a second Vocation at once – is a really welcome change.

What I mean is, most of the changes focus on how the game plays, not the story itself, and that’s where the issue lies. Dragon Quest 7 has a very long story – it’s rewarding if you stick with it, though some people might not think so. But the story still feels slow in places, and that hasn’t really been improved in this version. If you thought the original game was slow, you’ll likely find this one slow as well, though perhaps not quite as much.

Overall, the game is solid. The job system is still excellent, and it’s great that you can switch jobs without constantly returning to the Alltrades Abbey. Features like Moonlighting help ease the leveling process, and the range of difficulty options is fantastic – it really sets a high bar for how games should handle customization in that area. The battles are still fun, and the characters remain engaging.

The characters you meet in the game are generally well-designed and voiced, but because the world is so large, you’ll encounter the same faces and voices again. Like past games, it’s a little strange to grow fond of a character only to see the same design reused elsewhere a short time later. I also noticed some odd voice choices – for example, a young boy sounding like an adult – which might have been a budget issue, but it was a little distracting.

Is Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined Worth It?

Whether you’ll enjoy Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined largely depends on your existing fondness for previous versions of the game. While the story and characters remain familiar, the sequence of events is occasionally different. Some of the issues found in the original PlayStation and 3DS releases still exist, though the game does offer improvements to combat and leveling. A welcome addition is the ability to use the Zoom feature anywhere in the game.

I’m happy to see classic games updated for modern audiences, but Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined doesn’t feel like a significant change. While it has a few new story moments and altered plot points, they’re pretty sparse considering it was advertised as a full reimagining.

Even after playing Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined for a while, I’m still not sure if this version needed to exist. While it’s good that the game is now available on modern platforms, there aren’t enough significant changes to make it essential for anyone who’s already played it. However, I did generally enjoy my time with it, and maybe that’s reason enough for it to be here.

If you’re new to Dragon Quest 7, this remake is a great place to start – it’s a classic RPG with what I still consider the best character class system of all time. However, if you’ve played previous versions of DQ7, Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined might feel a little too familiar. Personally, I enjoyed revisiting the game like catching up with old friends, and that made up for any shortcomings.

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2026-02-02 18:11