Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past Reviews

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is ranked in the 89th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Sep 17, 2016

As far as remakes go, Square Enix shows time and time again how to do it right, and Dragon Quest VII for 3DS might be their best DQ revamp yet—a massive adventure packed with stories and characters, traveling across time and magical realms to plunge through volcanoes, caves, and underground lairs. I don’t see this appealing to a large audience who isn’t already fans of either the genre or the Dragon Quest series, but there’s nothing wrong with an old-school romp through swamps and slaying the hordes of palette-swapped enemies in the fields. Chicken soup for the gamer’s soul, y’know?

Read full review

4.1 / 5.0
Sep 18, 2016

In the end, Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is a very sturdy Japanese RPG on the Nintendo 3DS that offers a massive world for you to explore. Best of all, it contains an interesting time travel story as you search for the antagonists and the characters you encounter are not too clichéd but help add to the overall mythology of this title. The gameplay is great and I had no issues navigating both the menu system and the gaming world with my characters.

Read full review

Sep 18, 2016

While Dragon Quest VII's remake successfully honors the original, it strays just enough away from the source material to keep it relevant

Read full review

8.8 / 10.0
Sep 19, 2016

An old classic revitalized and modernized in the right ways, preserving its core and best features while streamlining other elements to make it not only more enjoyable, but also more penetrable for the average player. Highly recommended.

Read full review

Stevivor
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Sep 19, 2016

There is one section of the game however that felt completely overwhelming. At a certain point you’ll temporarily lose access to most of the arsenal you’ve become reliant on, making every battle a chore. There are a bunch of boss fights you have to loose to progress any further followed by a fight that you have to win that fells just like the unwinnable battles. If When you lose you’ll have to traverse the entire dungeon again until you either luck out and the boss is just an idiot or you grind for a few hours to increase your chances, I did both. Even after grinding it’s an uphill battle and the whole thing feels like it’s full of cheap deaths. If you have the patience to make it through this nightmare of a section you’re rewarded with normal gameplay and a general happiness inside.

Read full review

8.6 / 10.0
Sep 21, 2016

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is a charming re-imagining of an RPG classic lost to the annals of time that is full of clever surprises in its complex themes and solid gameplay.

Read full review

VG247
Top Critic
Sep 22, 2016

If a traditional menu-based RPG that spans nearly 100 hours isn't your idea of a good time, run away from Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past. Run away *screaming*. On the other hand, if you want to tuck into a great RPG for months at a time, you couldn't ask for a better companion.

Read full review

Drew Leachman
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Sep 22, 2016

Dragon Quest VII is still an enjoyable RPG. It has the old school feel that made it a classic, but some of what was left in feels a bit too old for a modern take. The pacing is the biggest issue here, and I would say players wanting to understand the game going in need to realize it takes a good 12-15 hours before this game even begins to start, but if you can hold out until it actually begins, you looking at a decently structured, thought out, and fun JRPG.

Read full review

81 / 100
Sep 22, 2016

Jumping into Dragon Quest VII, I was treated to a well-paced, meaningful story that did not center itself around battles like many JRPGs try to do these days.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Sep 23, 2016

A charmingly old-school and endlessly engrossing title that boasts over a hundred hours’ worth of content, Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past earns a slot in any JRPG lovers’ library.

Read full review

Sep 23, 2016

It’s a simple, and entirely appropriate confidence in the quality of the work that led the developers to craft such a lengthy quest back in 2000, and it remains every bit as worthy today.

Read full review

Sep 26, 2016

Dragon Quest VII's more archaic elements may not sit well with some players, but it's still an exciting and varied journey through many colorful, memorable worlds.

Read full review

4.5 / 5.0
Sep 27, 2016

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past takes a fragment of gaming’s forgotten past and breathes new life into it. Some of the more hardcore Dragon Quest fans may find the reduction in job grinding time and streamlining the intro a negative change that dumbs down the game, but I would argue that it also makes the title more accessible and more fun. Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is essentially the same game we remember from the PlayStation except it has been updated and improved.

Read full review

RPG Site
Top Critic
8 / 10
Sep 28, 2016

While there are a few hiccups along the way, Dragon Quest VII is a well-crafted classic JRPG.

Read full review

Sep 29, 2016

Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is an engaging remake of a well-liked classic that brings some much needed paint and portability to the overly long game.

Read full review

4.3 / 5.0
Sep 29, 2016

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past joins the list of JRPG remasters done right on the 3DS. Instead of providing a simple upscale of the original and calling it a day, this remaster goes the extra mile by completely redoing the visuals and adding or updating gameplay elements that streamline the experience for veterans while making it more accessible to newcomers. Purists might decry some changes as dumbing down the game and nixing some of its trademark challenge. For the most part, though, this is an excellent example of how to remaster a classic.

Read full review

8 / 10
Sep 29, 2016

Despite a long list of small gripes, it’s hard not to see the majesty in [Dragon Quest VII]

Read full review

NZGamer
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Oct 4, 2016

You don’t often play an 80+ hour game that earns every second of the time it demands.

Read full review

5 / 5.0
Oct 4, 2016

Dragon Quest VII is a shining example of what JRPGs can be, thanks to its lovable cast of characters, impressive and intriguing narrative, and back-to-basics approach to gameplay.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Oct 6, 2016

Dragon Quest 7 ties together a bunch of fun mini-adventures into a lengthy, nostalgic package

Read full review