Maroc - 3RD-STRIKE.COM - A La Une - 05/Feb 00:01

Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined – Review

We remember 2022 being a very busy year for Square Enix, with new titles popping up on the Switch eShop every few weeks or so. Surprisingly enough, the publisher was able to maintain not just a consistent stream of titles, but a consistent level of quality as well, barring one or two exceptions. While things did wind down somewhat in the following years, 2026 is shaping up to be another big year for Square Enix. FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE arrived on Switch 2 and Xbox mere weeks ago, and we’re already looking at another major title: Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. FFVII kicked things off strongly. Can DQVII keep the momentum going? Story Our story begins on the remote and peaceful island of Estard. We follow the son of a fisherman, a young boy who has grown up believing that the world consists of only that single island, surrounded by an endless ocean. It’s a belief shared by most of the islanders, but not by our hero’s best friend, Prince Kiefer. Rather than prepare to ascend the throne, Kiefer dreams of venturing out into the world to discover new lands. Together with the fisherman’s son and the feisty Maribel, Kiefer discovers a mysterious shrine containing stone tablets that allow the children to travel into the past. Through these tablets, our heroes learn that other islands once existed, but were sealed away by a malevolent force. By travelling back in time, solving each island’s crisis and defeating the threat there, those lands are brought back, gradually rebuilding the world piece by piece. Rather than telling a continuous, tightly focused narrative, DQVII feels episodic in nature, with each island offering its own largely self-contained story. It isn’t until much later in the game that these individual tales begin to connect into a broader conflict involving the fate of the world and the source of the catastrophe that shattered it. Graphics Over the course of its multi-decade run, the Dragon Quest series has been brought to life in countless ways, from 2D pixel art to 3D graphics and even HD-2D visuals. The one thing that remained consistent throughout was the late Akira Toriyama’s character designs. For DQVII, Square came up with a new visual style that respects Toriyama’s signature style while simultaneously giving the game a unique look. Handmade figurines of the game’s characters were scanned, and the game’s visuals were then built around those. The result is a warm, toy-like storybook presentation. The photorealistic materials mixed with the cartoon proportions of the characters make DQVII look like a miniature diorama world on a tabletop. Not only does the game look great, but it’s got a performance to match, running at a smooth 60 fps on Switch 2. Sound At this point, we’ve come to expect greatness from Square Enix’s reimagined orchestral soundtracks. It’s a careful reputation that they’ve built over the years, and DQVII only cements it further. Kochi Sugiyama’s compositions effortlessly switch between lighthearted charm and darker, more somber moments. They remain faithful to the original compositions while sounding richer and more expressive thanks to the orchestration. The game also includes voice acting in both English and Japanese, but it’s limited and selective rather than wall-to-wall. Fully voiced scenes are rare, usually reserved for important cutscenes or key story moments. It’s a bit of a shame, as the cast does an excellent job, with accents and regional dialects handled carefully and deliberately, adding personality without tipping into parody. Sound effects and ambience are subtle but effective, helping sell the cozy, storybook tone of the world without overwhelming the music. Gameplay Beneath the cosy exterior of DQVII unapologetically lies the framework of the original PS1 classic, albeit updated and streamlined for the modern age. As the title implies, this is a reimagining rather than a straight-up remake. The core remains that of a classic, turn-based JRPG, built around an episodic time-travelling adventure. This is traditional Dragon Quest at its best, with vocation-based character growth and a cozy, fairy-tale tone. The game trades challenge, friction and some minor narrative depth for smoother pacing and approachability, resulting in a less punishing RPG that prioritizes atmosphere, charm, and ease of play over difficulty or player-driven discovery. This is by far the most accessible Dragon Quest game we’ve played, and a fantastic entry point for newcomers to the series. Where DQVII excels is in its plethora of QoL improvements. The game avoids feeling like a grindfest by allowing players to speed up battles. There are no random encounters, with enemies appearing on the map and being avoidable entirely, and low-level enemies can instantly be defeated by striking them on the field. Navigating the world is a breeze as well, with clear quest markers and map icons, and fast travel added, reducing the need to backtrack. This does come at the cost of the game’s overall difficulty, potentially leaving veteran players wanting something more substantial. Personally, we enjoyed a cosier, lower-stakes RPG, especially since we just played through FFVII Remake. It was a very welcome change of pace. It’s worth noting that Reimagined cuts its runtime in half compared to the original. That may seem like a bad thing at first glance, but you’re still left with a substantial 50-hour adventure here. Most of the “cut” content is the direct result of the game having bloat removed. As much as we enjoy Square Enix’s “big” 100+ hour titles, this streamlined approach makes DQVII feel like a manageable, and most importantly, finishable game. If getting into Dragon Quest felt daunting up until now, then give DQVII a chance. It’s a matter of quality, rather than quantity, and DQVII is well worth that €59.99 price of entry. Conclusion Most of DQVII Reimagined’s appeal comes from its fantastic presentation and the way it has streamlined its gameplay. It’s still a substantial game, but thanks to its fairy-tale visuals and lower difficulty level, it feels cosier and definitely more manageable. That’s not to say that DQVII feels like a “kiddie” game, because there is enough here for gamers of all ages to enjoy.