Typically I feel I performed a unique sport when folks speak concerning the authentic Dragon Quest VII. What do you imply it’s too lengthy? You need fewer islands? Okay, certain, I may do with issues going a bit sooner to start with, however that’s a part of the fantastic thing about Dragon Quest VII—it takes its time.
It delights within the small moments the place you assist the fallen chief of a city, the place you defend a baby from a Slime, the place you uncover yet one more piece that allows you to (actually) put the puzzle collectively. It’s nonetheless pure in its storytelling with out shying away from darkness. Put merely, within the phrases of my pal Mike Sollosi, it’s the most Dragon Quest sport, each thematically and in hours of content material, and that’s why I like it a lot.
For sure, I don’t suppose Dragon Quest VII wanted to be fastened, and even Reimagined. And once I heard Sq. Enix was chopping islands, the perfect a part of Dragon Quest VII? Oh no. I would like extra, not much less. Even with the promise of latest additions, I used to be trepidatious that Dragon Quest VII Reimagined would possibly simply lose all of the, effectively, creativeness.
Fortunately, it turned out even higher than I imagined. Not solely is that this my favourite model of Dragon Quest VII, however it’s additionally among the finest within the sequence.
So, let’s get one factor out of the best way: the islands. For these unfamiliar, Dragon Quest VII has a novel construction. You spend most of your time touring again in time to revive islands to the present world that you simply beforehand believed solely had one, and assist every island’s folks repair their issues, which vary from a city the place a monster received’t depart a priest’s previous dwelling to a different the place all people have grow to be animals. Ultimately, you come back to the current, with the island restored within the present timeline you could then discover once more.
The overarching story takes time to come back into focus, however even when it does, it doesn’t overshadow the small, intricate tales on the islands. This actually is a sport about serving to folks, concerning the significance and ramifications of the small issues we are able to do for others.
So, chopping even just a few of the islands in Dragon Quest VII Reimagined feels antithetical to the entire level. Granted, 4 once-required islands at the moment are non-obligatory, and also you wager your backside greenback I did them as quickly as they have been out there. Three others are lower fully (together with another content material, just like the on line casino). However, if I’m being sincere, I didn’t miss something.
There are nonetheless nearly 20 islands, and the sport’s spirit remains to be right here. I’m nonetheless serving to folks, and it nonetheless takes up the majority of the run time. Giving me the choice to revive nearly each island, however making the sport take about 55 hours to clear as an alternative of 80 on the 3DS and 100 or so on the PSX authentic is a good commerce for my part, but when they added these three islands as DLC, I’d be there sooner than you may say Yuji Horii.
By way of different storytelling adjustments, they’re largely for the higher. There’s much less backtracking on the whole, and a few island vignettes received just a few small changes to tighten up the story or provide you with extra choices. There aren’t many additions, although a favourite character does certainly rejoin you very late in an prolonged sequence that nearly appears like one other island. It feels tacked on and like fan service, however fortunately I’m a fan so I don’t thoughts a lot. Actually, this model of Dragon Quest VII is way more true to the earlier variations than the recently-released Dragon Quest I & II HD Remake; it nonetheless feels such as you’re enjoying the identical sport.
Do I want Sq. Enix had given us the entire package deal? Perhaps a bit. Nonetheless, all the things else the builders have carried out right here greater than makes up for it. Particularly the fight and the vocation system.
On the mechanics’ floor, issues look fairly related, and I received’t go too in-depth as a result of Scott already did in his wonderful preview. To be clear, that is nonetheless Dragon Quest via and thru. It’s turn-based, and Dragon Quest VII’s vocation system nonetheless means that you can be a Pirate or a Dancer when you construct up factors to unlock extra skills.
However the changes listed below are key. First, the Moonlighting system means that you can equip two vocations at a time. That is particularly good once you’re attempting to stage a brand new vocation and don’t need to really feel underpowered. Extra necessary is the second adjustment: new “Let Free” skills that construct up all through the combat, just like “Pep-Up” from Dragon Quest XI. Every vocation has a novel one, and I discovered myself combining a extra highly effective vocation with one other merely for its notably helpful Let Free assault.
All this, mixed with selecting strikes as they arrive up as an alternative of simply at first of every shared flip, makes this simply one of the best Dragon Quest fight system, requiring selection and technique at each flip. The one main flaw is that even on the toughest issue on each setting, Reimagined is a complete joke if you already know what you’re doing, as a result of sure, Hero and Champion nonetheless rule the day.
I don’t thoughts a lot, although. Determining the best combos and firing strikes in the best order has by no means been extra enjoyable on this sequence, and that’s saying one thing nearly 40 years in. Plus, there are some actual challenges hanging out within the post-game, and that was sufficient to sate my want for punishment.
the place I’ve completely no criticisms? The look. If nothing else, it’s a lesson in “artwork design is extra necessary than huge flashy graphics.” From begin to end, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a marvel to behold, combining dioramas in every city and vista, the place you may alter the digital camera as you search each nook and cranny for that subsequent Mini Medal, with doll-inspired character fashions that look straight out of a pop-up story ebook.
This isn’t the primary time a sport has used dioramas, since Fantasian did it just a few years in the past, however this seems to be so significantly better than that. Add within the always-fantastic monster designs of Akira Toriyama, plus the power to see character animations in battle, and we’ve received one thing particular right here. Positive, the doll-like look mitigates some of the melancholy tone from the unique, however it’s no contest for me—that is the best way I would like Dragon Quest to look.
That even extends to the sound design, which is saying one thing contemplating the normally mediocre Sugiyama compositions. However one thing concerning the darker temper of the sport matches his tone, and it’s dropped at life superbly, equally to the current Remasters, with re-recordings of the Tokyo Symphonic Suite variations. The voice appearing can also be implausible, combining the British flavors we’ve come to know and love in Dragon Quest with the numerous accents and great localization. Merely, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a deal with to take heed to.
Perhaps the one main sore spots for me with Dragon Quest VII Reimagined are the quality-of-life options, which is unusual to say as a result of I really like them. Not solely do you get extra issue modifiers, however treasures are marked on maps, there are nearly at all times markers to indicate you the place to go, and Celebration Chat is at all times there to remind you what to do subsequent when you’re notably caught. There’s even an inventory of places in your lacking Mini Medals and objects (a fully godsend). Admittedly, it may be a bit bizarre generally to have a marker when you haven’t any thought why you would possibly go there, and the Celebration Chat is usually simply annoying.
However the issue is kind of easy: you may’t flip any of them off. Personally, particularly once I’m enjoying a sport for evaluate, I’ll take all of the handholding you give me. This sport, although, takes it a bit far. It’s a bit maddening as a result of the HD-2D Remakes of the unique trilogy received this half proper by permitting you to show the guideposts off. I’m hopeful they patch it in time, but if there’s one factor that isn’t true to the spirit of the sequence, it’s this.
Even so, with Reimagined, it’s time for everybody to lastly rise up and agree that Dragon Quest VII is likely one of the greatest video games within the sequence. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined cements this by smoothing out a number of the tough edges, retaining issues shifting, and giving us a glance and a fight system which are the sequence’ absolute peak.
Simply please, give me all my islands!
