An infamously lengthy RPG, Dragon Quest 7 has by no means fairly been held up alongside the collection’ most revered instalments, nevertheless it’s at all times been deserving of a second — or technically third — probability.
Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined units out to transform the journey for a contemporary viewers; a lot of its largest alterations to the unique method come within the type of streamlined gameplay and accessibility choices.
And the excellent news is that this remake does wonders for what was as soon as a tediously paced title. Crafted with a transparent adoration for the supply materials, Reimagined is each a incredible revival, and a prime tier Dragon Quest sport.
With a give attention to time journey and an episodic story construction, Dragon Quest 7 sees a ragtag group of kids try to restore their world by righting the wrongs of the previous.
You may leap between blighted histories, thwarting malicious powers throughout a collection of island kingdoms, with every landmass providing up its personal narrative and central characters.
Whereas the construction’s undeniably predictable — go to a city, study of an issue, go to a dungeon, slay some monsters — that quintessential Dragon Quest allure is rampant all through, with every island ‘episode’ taking part in out like a fairy story.
It is onerous to not get reeled in by the sheer cosiness of the expertise, which is emphasised by the remake’s extremely effectively realised diorama-esque artwork course. It is a type of video games that is only a pleasure to plod via at a pleasant, regular tempo.
However though Reimagined does its greatest to push its plot alongside, opting to shorten sure sequences and even reduce some lesser storylines that have been current in 7’s earlier incarnations, it stays a gradual burn.
Our personal playthrough for the needs of this evaluate clocked in at round 75 hours, and it is truthful to say that you’re going to nonetheless want an honest quantity of endurance to get via the story’s extra ponderous moments.
Certainly, not all ‘episodes’ are created equal. Though uncommon, a couple of of seven’s storylines quantity to little greater than trekking between areas with a view to converse with a handful of NPCs. They’re so glacial that we’re left questioning why the event group did not do extra to truncate them.
And on prime of that, the backtracking that haunted the sport on PS1 and 3DS nonetheless principally exists.
Having repaired the troubles of an island again up to now, you may normally be prompted to return to that island within the current, with a view to behold the fruits of your labour. This will typically lead to exploring the identical cities and dungeons over again, with solely new dialogue and loot to coax you alongside.
It simply feels a bit clunky by at this time’s requirements, however once more, this type of repetition is comparatively uncommon throughout the journey as an entire. In most circumstances there are significant discoveries to be made, and it is at all times fascinating to see simply how your actions up to now have impacted the land and its individuals within the current.
Moreover, the entire means of hopping between time is made far more agreeable because of the addition of useful maps and goal markers. The place the unique 7 may frustrate with its invisible guidelines of ongoing quests, Reimagined is comfortable to level you within the common course of progress.
Even your social gathering members will provide hints and ideas if you happen to take the time to seek the advice of them with a push of the circle button. Streamlining is not at all times an excellent factor, however Sq. Enix has completed effectively to melt 7’s typically convoluted pacing issues.
Different enhancements embody monsters being current within the subject, eliminating the necessity for random encounters, the flexibility to hurry up fight, and the addition of issue modifiers.
That latter inclusion is without doubt one of the most necessary, we might argue. Loads of you studying it will have performed Dragon Quest 7 earlier than, and so having the ability to enhance expertise level and cash positive aspects will all however get rid of the character-levelling grind — one thing that may have been placing you off a replay.
You can too tweak enemy harm, your harm, and full restoration after every combat. Because of this you are free to craft your personal problem, and we expect that may be an enormous plus for a sport that is constructed on old-fashioned beliefs.
Which brings us to the turn-based fight itself, which is… effectively, it is basic Dragon Quest, however Reimagined does boast a really neat and tidy consumer interface that makes navigating instructions impressively nice. The flexibility to ‘favorite’ particular spells and talents for simple entry is welcome, too.
That is as a result of you may find yourself with a large checklist of strategies relying in your chosen jobs — or vocations, because the collection likes to name them. That is the place 7 makes an attempt to do issues somewhat otherwise, permitting you to customize every social gathering member’s toolkit by assigning them a category.
It is a easy system all informed; your base stats change primarily based in your vocation, however different components, like gear, are decided by the character — so that you’re actually simply deciding on what spells and talents you need at your disposal.
There’s nonetheless room for experimentation, although, and that is principally as a result of Reimagined (finally) enables you to assign not one, however two jobs to every hero, successfully providing you with the liberty to make your personal lessons.
A spell-wielding sage who’s additionally a dab hand with a sword? What a couple of brutish gladiator who additionally has the capability to summon allied monsters? As talked about, there’s not an enormous quantity of depth right here — primarily as a result of the variety of accessible vocations is pretty restricted — however discovering a distinct segment for every character remains to be one of many title’s greatest gameplay hooks.
