The JRPG highlight of the year: "Dragon Quest VII Reimagined" tested
2/2/2026
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Kevin Hofer
"Dragon Quest VII Reimagined doesn't just look fantastic, it plays like it too. If you like JRPGs, you should definitely get the game.
My facial muscles are aching. Not surprising, because for the last 45 hours of play I've had a big grin on my face. «Dragon Quest VII Reimagined» is fun - even if the story has a dark tone in between.
That's all you need to know as a JRPG fan: Get the game. Everyone else, read on. Because you can expect a great adventure in a beautiful setting.
Tight story that finally unfolds its full potential
Have you ever played a version of «Dragon Quest VII», you know: The game is long. Bloody long. You have to allow over 70 hours for the main story alone. Countless side stories on various islands, a prologue in which you experience the first battle after more than two hours, and so much travelling back and forth that the game feels like work. When the original was released in 2000, Enix wanted to show how the series would evolve as it jumped from the SNES to the Playstation 1. In doing so, the company packed in too much (superfluous) content. Appearance: «Dragon Quest VII Reimagined».
The adventure begins in tranquil Pilchard Bay. The mute hero, whom I name myself, and his friend Kiefer, the Prince of Estard, want to discover the world. They are firmly convinced that it has more to offer than their beautiful but barren island. This proves to be the case. Using stone tablets, they travel back in time to new islands and gradually restore the world to its original state. Along the way, they also fight the ultimate evil - typical «Dragon Quest» story fare. They are accompanied by the adventurous daughter of the mayor of Pilchard Bay, Maribel. Later, Aishe from the Wanderfolk and the legendary hero Sir Mervyn join the likeable troupe.
The story changes in «Dragon Quest VII Reimagined» could cause discussion among fans. Without spoiling anything: Many sections are true to the original and change little or nothing in the storytelling. However, other sections and the main story have been adapted. In my opinion, this makes sense and makes the story more stringent. For example, three islands have been removed and four have become side quests.
New parts have also been added. These work out the relationships between the characters better, which makes the storytelling more modern and comprehensible. In my opinion, the aim of «Dragon Quest VII» shedding ballast and expanding the story in other areas has been successful. The dark undertone of the narrative remains - the new edition is the ultimate version of the game. It's great to accompany my hero and his friends on their adventures.
Genius presentation with one bearable shortcoming
Square Enix also delivers the ultimate version of the game in terms of presentation. The first thing I notice is that the game looks like a mixture of «Dragon Quest XI» and «Fantasian Neo Dimension». Both games that I find brilliant in terms of style. The combination takes the whole thing to the extreme.
The character models in the game are based on dolls that were created especially for the game. I feel like I'm playing with tiny figures. They are also closer to the original designs by the legendary character designer Akira Toriyama.
When I walk through the towns or dungeons, I feel like I'm in a diorama. This gives the game its own charm, which I love. The animations are also great. Faces and body movements are expressive, even with enemies and NPCs.
One downside: at some point I got tired of the NPCs' character models always being the same. However, due to the circumstances - character designer Akira Toriyama died almost two years ago - I understand that there are only a few models. Nevertheless, I would like to see more variety in future remakes.
The successful presentation is complemented by the characteristic «Dragon Quest» soundtrack. I like the tunes and always find myself humming along. I won't be able to get the battle music out of my head for the next ten days.
Tried and tested battle system with a twist
Battles in «Dragon Quest» have been similar in structure since part 1. «Reimagined» doesn't reinvent the wheel either. If you like turn-based battles, juggling with equipment and strategically assembling your fighting force, you will also like «Dragon Quest VII Reimagined». All the games in the series have tried something new. So too «Reimagined».
Like the 2D«Dragon Quest» games, the previous HD 2D remakes relied on the first-person perspective for combat. In the remake of Part VII, I can see my characters. The right decision, in my opinion. Because this way I can see the lovingly designed models on sale. The battles themselves are fast and crisp. The animations for characters, enemies and bosses are varied, numerous and entertaining to watch. This makes fighting really fun.
Another new feature compared to the PS1 original: I can see the enemies in dungeons or the overworld. I can either attack them pre-emptively and inflict damage before the battle screen or run into them to start the fight. If I am significantly stronger than my opponents, I can send them to nirvana with a pre-emptive strike - without switching to the battle screen. This is quicker, but I get fewer experience points and money in return. I think it's great because it allows me to get through dungeons quickly by dodging and I can also search for specific encounters to level up my characters.
«Dragon Quest VII Reimagined» introduces vocation bonuses. They offer various power-ups in battle. These are charged by attacking or taking attacks. Which bonuses I can use depends on the character's professions. Yes, professions in plural, because «Dragon Quest VII Reimagined» lets me use two professions at the same time with the new side job system.
One profession in «Dragon Quest VII Reimagined» is the character class. There are the usual suspects such as warrior, black mage or priest. At the beginning, all characters have a fixed profession. Over time, I can change them and learn new ones by mastering specific professions. Compared to the original with over 50 professions, the list in Reimagined has been significantly shortened. I also think this change makes sense, because 50 is too overwhelming. The 20 - plus the six individual starter jobs - still offer more than enough choice.
The fact that I can use two professions at the same time is a game changer. Not only does this give each character access to more spells, abilities and vocation bonuses. The change also allows me to work on other jobs without feeling weak because I have to start from scratch each time. I can keep a maxed profession for its stats and skills while levelling up another one on the side.
Another change: There are no more monster professions in «Dragon Quest VII Reimagined». I could use them to take on the characteristics of enemies. Instead, I can now equip monster hearts as accessories. They boost stats and give me additional advantages in battle. There is also now the Monstermaster profession, which combines many of the skills of the old monster professions into one.
All in all, the often boring battles of the original «Dragon Quest VII» have been significantly improved. I actually like them the best of all «Dragon Quest» games. Job systems in RPGs are awesome!
Things that make life easier
There is also no shortage of quality-of-life features. I can assign various quick actions to the D-Pad. For example, I can access the career sphere by pressing down and can change professions at any time. This eliminates one of the biggest problems of other versions: Backtracking to change professions. In the original, I always had to travel to a specific location to change jobs. This also eliminates tedious navigation through the menu.
In addition, there are various difficulty options that allow me to customise many aspects of the battle to my liking. I change things like damage dealt, experience points gained or gold in levels. These options are welcome additions. If I'm ever too lazy to level up or earn money, I turn up the controls. To speed things up, I also speed up the animations in the battles.
«Dragon Quest VII Reimagined» will be released on 5 February for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, Switch 2 and PC. Square Enix provided me with the game for PS5 for testing purposes.
In a nutshell
A classic on steroids: How streamlining works
"Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is the definitive version of a classic, proving that overstuffed JRPG epics can benefit from intelligent streamlining. The developers have managed to preserve the heart of the original while shedding unnecessary baggage and eradicating the PS1 title's weak points. The streamlined but deeper story, improved battle system and impressive presentation make "Dragon Quest VII Reimagined" the ultimate version of the game.
It's impressive how the game seamlessly integrates modern quality-of-life features without losing its classic charm. The revamped job system is a real game changer, offering strategic depth without being frustrating. For JRPG fans, "Dragon Quest VII Reimagined" is an absolute must - and for newcomers, the perfect entry point into the legendary series.
Pro
- Streamlined storytelling with sensible cuts
- brilliant presentation
- Innovative part-time job system
- great combat system
- Excellent quality-of-life features
- Characteristic, captivating soundtrack
- Perfect balance between tradition and modernisation
Contra
- Repetitive NPC models
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
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