Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Reviews
Square Enix certainly wanted to create a defining title for the franchise, as the streamlined narrative and gameplay additions make it easy for anyone to get into. However, the price of convenience is a little too steep; cut islands, hand-holdy exploration, and a lack of challenge make this reimagining a diminished experience compared to its older versions.
DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined is still pretty long—even the early hours take more than one sitting to finish—but streamlining makes it less boring than the PS1 and 3DS versions. For a $60 game that gets a lot of attention, Reimagined proves worth the money by offering a lengthy, satisfying, and well-crafted JRPG experience.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined works because it uses patience as a design trait. The way it's set up encourages loyalty over immediacy. Narrative meaning comes from building up, as opposed to being shocked. This method may go against what people expect today, but it has a lasting effect.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined smooths out a lot of rough edges, but it loses some of the flavor of the original in the process. A copy of this game was provided by the publisher for review. Reviewed on PC.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined offers a bold reinterpretation of the classic JRPG, blending nostalgic structure with modern design tweaks. The revamped pacing, deep Vocation system, and charming diorama-style visuals bring new life to a lengthy adventure, though the experience may feel diluted for longtime fans. While some structural gripes persist, newcomers will find an accessible and feature-rich entry point into one of the series' most divisive chapters.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is an operation based entirely on balance. On the one hand, there's respect for a monumental classic; on the other, the need to adapt it to an audience with different times, habits, and expectations. The result is a game that's more compact, more readable, visually captivating, but also less "cumbersome" than the original. It's not the JRPG that redefines the genre. It's not one that pushes hardware to its limits. Rather, it's a vast playable encyclopedia of the Dragon Quest spirit, packaged in a form that's finally sustainable for the present.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Reimagined successfully amputates the original's legendary bloat, offering a brisk, orchestrated delight. However, the divisive "puppet" visuals and aggressive hand-holding treat players like children. It’s a polished, whimsical gateway for newcomers that may leave purists mourning the loss of the series' more difficult, unrefined edges.
Square Enix has improved the pacing, and this rings true throughout Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. My only complaint is that the aesthetic is so beautiful that I wish NPCs had more variety and that the camera allowed me to better view the world, but neither of these detracts from one of my favorite RPG experiences.
In Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, Square Enix once again proves its ability to do a remake justice. The new orchestral soundtrack and handcrafted visual style not only elevate the immersion, but also make the game more enjoyable. The changes that streamline both story and gameplay also make the transition to newer hardware much more enjoyable. Combined with the deep accessibility options that let you adjust the difficulty and the episodic structure of the separate islands, this makes for a long RPG that even the busiest players will be able to enjoy at their own pace. If the quality of recent Dragon Quest games sets a new standard, I can’t wait to see what the teams at Square Enix will show us next.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a fine work that beautifully packages 40 years of stubborn tradition with modern "doll-look" visuals. The immersive story and stunning graphics are excellent, but the archaic combat system is divisive.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined is a fantastic remake of the original that addresses many of its problems. The story has been streamlined with some great additions to make the other characters stand out more, while the combat has the accessibility settings and adjustments that the most recent games have benefited from. It does feel a little too easy at times, which makes the strategic elements of battle feel less necessary. Still, it never fully detracts from the experience enough to regret playing. It's also a joy to play on the Steam Deck. After changing the resolution scale to Medium, it will run at 60 FPS with extremely low battery drain, while still getting all the bells and whistles of the high-quality settings. It's a fantastic JRPG for portable play, and could be one of the best this year.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is still as grand an adventure as it was 25 years ago, mostly. The 'Reimagined' moniker bleeds down to the refined art style, remixed combat mechanics, and streamlined main quest. All of these, plus ample amounts of Quality of Life updates, make for a fun and modern experience that stands tall even next to recent installments. However, all of the bells and whistles look a lot less shiny when you realize that they came at a cost, with content being cut. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is an excellent remake that's held back from being truly great by rejecting its past and shedding its "flaws".
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a lovingly crafted remake, respecting the original work. It's an adventure that blends the nostalgia of the past with modern flair. A must-play!
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined successfully revisits a classic with great effectiveness. The episodic structure, engaging dramas, and the sense of adventure and discovery remain intact, while the more user-friendly interface and the changes to combat make the journey more inviting. Although certain decisions, such as the automatic revival of fallen allies, dilute some of the traditional tension and challenge of the franchise, the final result is a modern and accessible version of one of the most ambitious adventures in the series.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined became my favorite way to play Dragon Quest VII, and it will very likely be the version I choose if one day I want to revisit this story
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a classic JRPG that takes its time with its story, world, and characters. Even without having played the original version, the game works extremely well and provides a successful entry point into one of the quieter, more narrative-driven installments of the series. The beautiful presentation, cleverly integrated puzzles, and cohesive gameplay flow make the adventure a rewarding experience. Minor weaknesses, such as the lack of full voice acting in some cutscenes, only slightly detract from the overall impression. Anyone who enjoyed Dragon Quest XIII as much as I did, or who appreciates classic role-playing games, will find a lovingly crafted adventure here—one that truly makes you want to dive deeper into its world.
Review in German | Read full review
Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined is a strong remake and one that does a lot to improve upon its predecessor. An RPG that revels in nostalgia and the warmness you feel after a night out with friends, even if it's that one friend who doesn't realize last call at the bar was hours ago.
Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined takes a famously long adventure and makes it much easier to stick with. The island-by-island structure still drives the story, but the pacing feels smoother and easier to manage as you go. Combat stays easy to follow, vocations give you room to experiment, and exploration never turns into a slog. With its handcrafted, diorama-style look, Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined ends up being the most approachable way to finally see this journey through.
The best way to describe my final thoughts on Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined can be easily summarized by how the save system works. In every Dragon Quest game, you manually save at churches. When completing the save, you can either choose to continue or close out to the main menu. When exiting, the priest will wish the players a peaceful respite, and upon returning to the game, they will hope you are in good spirits when continuing your journey. The point being, that Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined welcomes you with open arms, letting you journey forth into its warm and vibrant world and return feeling proud like the hero of its story. It is a tale you should not sleep on.
Its serene and captivating graphics give way to a completely classic gameplay style from Square Enix's flagship turn-based RPG, but with a heavy dose of modernity and upgrades that are both optional and predetermined. With a story that revisits the past to understand the present and encourages us to explore new horizons, this expansive installment in the franchise offers, in its second remake, the best way to experience it, especially if it's your first time.
Review in Spanish | Read full review