In less than a month's time, Square Enix will launch Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, the remake of 2000’s Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past. In anticipation of the release, the publisher aired two trailers: one for the opening movie and one showcasing the game's demo that is available today.

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In DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined, set sail on the adventure of a lifetime as a bright-eyed young hero and his childhood friends, swept away from the peaceful island they call home. Sent back in time by fragments of an ancient tablet, they learn malevolent forces have sealed away entire lands. As they find more fragments and open new routes to the past, what began as a quest for answers becomes a fight for the fate of their world, bigger and more beautiful than they could have imagined.

The demo allows you to experience several hours of content from the beginning of the game, and rewards early players with an in-game “Day Off Dress” cosmetic for Maribel. Save data from the demo will be carried over to the full game when it launches.

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DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined builds on the beloved original game to deliver a modern RPG for a new generation. Akira Toriyama’s classic character designs have been reimagined into a charming, hand-crafted 3D art style, complemented by diorama-inspired environments and dungeons. The story stays faithful to the original while offering a more streamlined experience and enhanced narrative depth through optional side quests, stories and minigames. The battle system is more thrilling and dynamic than ever, with dramatic changes including “Moonlighting” – the ability to use two vocations at once -- plus the adrenaline-fueled “Let Loose” ability and a new Monster Master vocation for summoning monsters.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined launches on February 5 for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam and Microsoft Store). The free demo is available on these platforms to try out.

SOURCE: GBAtemp Inbox

 

[RetroNerdGamer]

I mean it looks fine but after playing a bunch of it, it's becoming stale.

I can understand what you mean, but I don't think it's horrible because of that!

 

[sexually_inactive]

I loved Dragon Quest 11 then a few years later played Dragon Quest 8 and lost interest after a few hours because they felt too similar. One super long Dragon Quest game is enough to experience them all.

 

[Moe87]

Thanks, it sounds like the game's not going to be as long as even the 3DS version. Since I never played through the original PS1 version, I'm not sure how I feel. I guess it depends on what was changed, but either way, Reimagined still looks promising.

PS1 version is much longer with over 100 hours for just story and 120+ hours for story + side quests.

It is just somewhat streamlined in 3DS version and further, deeper streamlined in Reimagined version.

I was told that Reimagined version won't have casino due to stupid EU regulation.

 

[LoggerMan]

I never played the first one or any of them so it won't be a reimagining for me, it'll just be an imagining.

 

[Moe87]

PS1 version is much longer with over 100 hours for just story and 120+ hours for story + side quests.

It is just somewhat streamlined in 3DS version and further, deeper streamlined in Reimagined version.

I was told that Reimagined version won't have casino due to stupid EU regulation.

It looks like PS1 version has a lot of puzzles and lengthy dungeons when compared to 3DS version.

Switch version is much quickly to get you to put puzzle to create a map that put you in different island within 1 hour, but as for 3DS and PS1 took 2 hours and 3 hours.

 

[RedoLane]

I almost finished the 3DS version back in the day(the final boss kicked my ass). I remember how it was such a pain to reach Alltrades Abbey every goddamn time I wanted to change vocations.

Anyway, tried the demo on my Steam Deck OLED and HOLY COW, it works like a charm and looks beautiful!
I really want to hold off and wait for a sale for it, but it's gonna be difficult now...

 

[NeoGranzon]

I'm trying the demo.

 

[Dark_Ansem]

I never got the appeal of DQ I admit

 

[NeoGranzon]

It looks like PS1 version has a lot of puzzles and lengthy dungeons when compared to 3DS version.

Switch version is much quickly to get you to put puzzle to create a map that put you in different island within 1 hour, but as for 3DS and PS1 took 2 hours and 3 hours.

@Moe87 the puzzles in the Switch demo version are very easy to solve as far as i've gotten.

 

[Robert Newbie]

I never got the appeal of DQ I admit

I remember when I really couldn't connect with JRPG's. I grew up with platformer after platformer, and I didn't really gel with slower-paced games.

Super Mario RPG clicked for me, and it was a fairly short JRPG with some isometric platforming. Unique graphics and a great soundtrack helped carry that game. After that, I really enjoyed Grandia, and Grandia II is actually shorter than the original. The next game for me was Dragon Quest VIII, which is a class act all the way. I remember clocking in 72 hours to beat the main story, and I don't recall being held up for long periods by grinding.

TL;DR: If I had to recommend a longer JRPG for newcomers, it'd be DQVIII. Excellent graphics and soundtrack, solid gameplay.

 

[Dark_Ansem]

TL;DR: If I had to recommend a longer JRPG for newcomers, it'd be DQVIII. Excellent graphics and soundtrack, solid gameplay.

and for non-newcomers?

 

[Ettino]

It looks like PS1 version has a lot of puzzles and lengthy dungeons when compared to 3DS version.

PS1 has a ton of back tracking and generally lacking in QoL. It took like nearly an hours to get into your first fight and around 3 hours to get off the starter island. This new version takes around 45min to get things going.

Still kinda suck without the Casino and town building though.

 

[Sodamyte]

So far I'm liking the demo. having memories of playing it on PS1.

I like that it has custom options like More XP and more Proficiency but still allows you to do harder battles..

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

Strangely enough, HL2B doesn't have an entry for the original PS1 game. People say it's around 110 hours for the main story alone. No matter what, Dragon Quest VII is an infamously long JRPG.

Even though the remake looks nice, a part of me wonders if I should try the PS1 original. The N64/PS1/Saturn era was an amazing time for game development.

It was very slow paced but a great game overall. Just expect some rather slow pacing towards the beginning. First battle can be a good hour or two in lol.

 

[NeoGranzon]

It was very slow paced but a great game overall. Just expect some rather slow pacing towards the beginning. First battle can be a good hour or two in lol.

@RyanTheArchivist one or two hours for 1st battle?
I already defeated the Golem boss in the demo(with the cheats of course HP,MP,Max Status for All)

 

[Bladexdsl]

I never got the appeal of DQ I admit

I've always liked them because of dragonball z it's like your playing a dragonball z rpg in a different world

 

[Robert Newbie]

and for non-newcomers?

Then, I start listing off stuff from all over the place: Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, Valkyrie Profile, Persona 3 FES, Earthbound, Suikoden II, Xenogears, Skies of Arcadia, Lunar: Silver Star Story, Grandia, etc., etc., etc.

There's also this game called Dragon Quest VIII that's really good for any JRPG fan.

 

[NeoGranzon]

Then, I start listing off stuff from all over the place: Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, Valkyrie Profile, Persona 3 FES, Earthbound, Suikoden II, Xenogears, Skies of Arcadia, Lunar: Silver Star Story, Grandia, etc., etc., etc.

There's also this game called Dragon Quest VIII that's really good for any JRPG fan.

@Robert Newbie i would also add the various Breath of Fire,Fire Emblem,Illusion of Gaia,Secret of Mana,Final Fantasy VII,Chrono Cross etc..

 

[Moe87]

Just finished the demo in nearly 3 hours.

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

@RyanTheArchivist one or two hours for 1st battle?
I already defeated the Golem boss in the demo(with the cheats of course HP,MP,Max Status for All)

I'm referring to the PS1 version not the remake.