Time travelling top-tier adventure
By Paul Hunter
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined feels like Square Enix taking a beloved, old-school JRPG and giving it a proper modern makeover. They've rebuilt Dragon Quest VII from the ground up, and the end result is a huge throwback adventure that’s also much easier to settle into.
This is still a massive, time-travel, island-by-island quest at heart, where you keep hopping between into self-contained stories and helping people through their local crises. What is changed are the streamlined turn-based options, lots of quality-of-life improvements, and a revamped vocation system, which combined allows you to fine tune the pace and build your team in all-new ways.
I also love the new presentation that focuses on doll-like characters and diorama worlds. Toriyama-style monsters and characters look incredible, and full voice acting helps bring the story and characters to life.
So, is Dragon Quest VII Reimagined the epic voyage you should start tonight? Let’s find out!
The turning point is an ancient shrine and a voice that sends you hunting for stone tablet fragments. Completing those tablets on pedestals opens routes to islands tied to the past, and every one plays out like a standalone tale with its own cast and calamities. Some stories focus on tragedy while others swing toward hope, and the range keeps the long journey interesting from start through to finish. I liked how the writing keeps the focus on helping people first, then lets the larger mystery slowly simmer into view as the long journey progresses forward.
When you return to the present, the payoff is seeing the island you fixed now exist in your timeline, with your actions living on through what’s changed. As more islands come back, the narrative points toward the Demon King and why the world was sealed away in the first place. Restoring what was lost is central as the stakes grow, and it gives the full story a focused direction. The party grows beyond the original trio with Ruff, a kid who travels with his wolf, plus Aishe, a Roamer tied to the Earth Spirit, and Sir Mervyn, a knight from the Holy Order. Kiefer steps away for a good portion, but later on he gets a return that feels properly rewarding.
The vocations system is back, but this time Moonlighting is the big upgrade because it lets you equip two vocations at the same time. Now you can level a fresh vocation while still keeping a mastered vocation’s skills ready to use. This also means you unleash the skills of both vocations in battle, which opens up all-new combos not possible in the original games.
New in DQ7 Reimagined is the Worked Up system that builds a meter during fights. When a character becomes fully Worked Up, they can use Let Loose, which is a special command based on your current vocation. Let Loose are your biggest and strongest abilities, great for taking out a stronger enemy in the group or punishing a tough boss.
Another welcome change is enemy groups are now visible on the map, so there are no random encounters, and you can slash enemies for an advantage or wipe weaker ones outright on the field. This version also adds difficulty modifiers to adjust damage, experience, and gold, which really streamlines the experience if you prefer. All considered, the gameplay updates are significant because they smooth the flow and let you focus on what you want, whether that's the story, combat or both.
On the audio side, the Tokyo Symphonic ochestral re-recordings are outstanding, and do a superb job elevating that tone during both travel and fights. The new voice acting gives the party plenty of charm, and the British-flavoured delivery fits the series’ style perfectly.
All in all, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined’s PS5 presentation shines with its gorgeous visuals, expressive and lively character models, nicely rearranged orchestral soundtrack, and excellent voice acting, backed by smooth performance that keep the adventure feeling polished.
Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Genre: Role-Playing Game
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined feels like Square Enix taking a beloved, old-school JRPG and giving it a proper modern makeover. They've rebuilt Dragon Quest VII from the ground up, and the end result is a huge throwback adventure that’s also much easier to settle into.
This is still a massive, time-travel, island-by-island quest at heart, where you keep hopping between into self-contained stories and helping people through their local crises. What is changed are the streamlined turn-based options, lots of quality-of-life improvements, and a revamped vocation system, which combined allows you to fine tune the pace and build your team in all-new ways.
I also love the new presentation that focuses on doll-like characters and diorama worlds. Toriyama-style monsters and characters look incredible, and full voice acting helps bring the story and characters to life.
So, is Dragon Quest VII Reimagined the epic voyage you should start tonight? Let’s find out!
Story and Narrative
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined begins on Estard Island where you’re a fisherman’s kid from Pilchard Bay, staring at water in every direction. The townsfolks claim that the island is the only land that exists, but our hero wonders what's out there beyond the vast ocean, and fortunately Prince Kiefer and Maribel help turn curiosity into a plan.The turning point is an ancient shrine and a voice that sends you hunting for stone tablet fragments. Completing those tablets on pedestals opens routes to islands tied to the past, and every one plays out like a standalone tale with its own cast and calamities. Some stories focus on tragedy while others swing toward hope, and the range keeps the long journey interesting from start through to finish. I liked how the writing keeps the focus on helping people first, then lets the larger mystery slowly simmer into view as the long journey progresses forward.
When you return to the present, the payoff is seeing the island you fixed now exist in your timeline, with your actions living on through what’s changed. As more islands come back, the narrative points toward the Demon King and why the world was sealed away in the first place. Restoring what was lost is central as the stakes grow, and it gives the full story a focused direction. The party grows beyond the original trio with Ruff, a kid who travels with his wolf, plus Aishe, a Roamer tied to the Earth Spirit, and Sir Mervyn, a knight from the Holy Order. Kiefer steps away for a good portion, but later on he gets a return that feels properly rewarding.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined gives you a lot of control over how you fight, even though the foundation is classic turn-based style. You can issue commands for every party member, or switch to auto-battle and set tactics presets when you want routine encounters handled for you. Multiple battle speed options also let you fine tune the pace during long dungeon runs.The vocations system is back, but this time Moonlighting is the big upgrade because it lets you equip two vocations at the same time. Now you can level a fresh vocation while still keeping a mastered vocation’s skills ready to use. This also means you unleash the skills of both vocations in battle, which opens up all-new combos not possible in the original games.
New in DQ7 Reimagined is the Worked Up system that builds a meter during fights. When a character becomes fully Worked Up, they can use Let Loose, which is a special command based on your current vocation. Let Loose are your biggest and strongest abilities, great for taking out a stronger enemy in the group or punishing a tough boss.
Another welcome change is enemy groups are now visible on the map, so there are no random encounters, and you can slash enemies for an advantage or wipe weaker ones outright on the field. This version also adds difficulty modifiers to adjust damage, experience, and gold, which really streamlines the experience if you prefer. All considered, the gameplay updates are significant because they smooth the flow and let you focus on what you want, whether that's the story, combat or both.
Presentation and Audio
Visually, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a gorgeous game with huge graphical updates over the original games. The biggest change are the new diorama-like islands that look like miniature tabletop scenes. I liked how each island uses small environmental details to sell its story, from busy town spaces with shopfront stalls and little side alleys to darker ruins with cracked stonework and ivy-covered walls. Furthermore, Toriyama's iconic monsters look great in this new 3D style, and the revamped doll-like character models bring out a done of personality in the cutscenes.On the audio side, the Tokyo Symphonic ochestral re-recordings are outstanding, and do a superb job elevating that tone during both travel and fights. The new voice acting gives the party plenty of charm, and the British-flavoured delivery fits the series’ style perfectly.
All in all, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined’s PS5 presentation shines with its gorgeous visuals, expressive and lively character models, nicely rearranged orchestral soundtrack, and excellent voice acting, backed by smooth performance that keep the adventure feeling polished.
The Verdict
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined on PS5 takes a massive Dragon Quest quest and upgrades the full experience with modern quality-of-life features and improved combat flow. The story’s island chapters are just as heartwarming as I remember, and the revamped vocation systems with Moonlighting make customizing your party faster and easier than ever. The beautiful diorama-like visuals, catchy orchestral soundtrack, and superb voice work complete the package. I had a blast reliving this legendary adventure and strongly recommend it to all Dragon Quest and RPG fans alike.Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined details
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo SwitchDeveloper: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Genre: Role-Playing Game
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.