How Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined Fixes The Original’s “Painful” Slog

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Dragon Quest is a legendary name in role-playing games, and recently, the series has been drawing on its history to appeal to both longtime fans and new players. Square Enix has remastered the first three games – known as the Erdrick Trilogy – and is now releasing a revamped version of the seventh installment, Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined. This jump to the seventh game might seem odd, but it’s because the original was notoriously difficult and overly long, even by the developers’ own admission. They’ve used the remake as an opportunity to streamline the experience. I got to play about an hour of Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined and spoke with producer Takeshi Ichikawa. While that wasn’t enough time to see all the changes, I was impressed by the other ways they’re updating the game.

The game’s art style immediately stands out. To create this look, Square Enix actually made physical dolls of each main character. This allowed them to carefully craft details like clothing textures. They then scanned these dolls to use as digital models, and built the entire game’s visuals to match. The result is a handcrafted aesthetic that feels surprisingly warm and inviting. While the game is viewed from a classic RPG top-down perspective, the characters are remarkably detailed, and you get an even closer look during cutscenes and battles.

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Ichikawa explained that the game’s doll-like art style was a tribute to Akira Toriyama, the famous manga artist and creator of the visual style for the Dragon Quest series, who passed away in 2024. Toriyama’s character designs for Dragon Quest VII were particularly cute and featured shorter, rounder proportions than previous games – a departure from his typical style. To keep that look fresh and updated, the team looked to other sources, like films and TV shows that use a doll aesthetic. They even created physical dolls to help define the look, allowing them to create realistic fabrics and textures that ultimately shaped the game’s overall style.

Even though Dragon Quest VII looks inviting, its story is surprisingly mature and deals with darker themes for the series. According to Ichikawa, this contrast between the game’s appearance and its story was a key reason for updating it for today’s players.

Ichikawa explained, through a translator, that the main reason for creating this remake was to recapture the distinctive, atmospheric storytelling and charming characters of the original Dragon Quest 7, and to reintroduce it to a new generation of players.

I tried out just one story mission, and it lived up to the dark atmosphere I expected. It started in the small coastal town of Wetlock, where everyone loved an elderly street performer. After staying overnight at an inn, I woke up to find the town deserted – the performer had lured everyone into a mysterious portal. Sensing something was wrong, I followed him through and discovered he wasn’t a villain at all, but a hero trying to save the town from a terrible fate. A creature named Gracos planned to flood the entire continent, and some people were feared to have been left behind to drown. Old Man Riffer, the performer, was trying to make up for past mistakes by protecting everyone. The mission then takes you to the monster’s underwater lair for a final confrontation.

Although the story deals with some dark themes, the charming art and voice acting keep it from being too frightening or overwhelming for children. The voice actors really lean into the over-the-top style of classic cartoons, which perfectly complements the visuals and overall tone.

Okay, so the dungeons were packed with monsters I recognized from other Dragon Quest games, but they had this really cool, almost like they were made of figurines, art style. They didn’t give the monsters figurines, haha, but the whole look was consistent with the character designs and it just looked fantastic. What I really loved was how the dungeons were designed – they were like mazes, and I could actually see the monsters wandering around! It meant I could sneak past them or find a safe route, which was awesome. The battles themselves felt familiar – that classic Dragon Quest over-the-shoulder view – but it was zoomed in and had these cool camera angles that really let you appreciate how beautiful everything looked.

“I remember thinking, ‘When am I ever going to get to the monsters?'”

Combat in Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined is classic turn-based, but it’s been updated with a new system for character classes. Instead of being limited to the skills of one class, you can now choose a secondary class, called “Moonlighting.” I was able to test this out by either strengthening what my party already did well or by adding skills we were missing. Even in a short demo, it was clear that this system will significantly change how you build and strategize with your team.

Ichikawa explained that while the game will be more accessible for new players, the combat system has been completely rebalanced. This rebalance is designed with the upcoming ‘Moonlighting’ system in mind, ensuring the game remains challenging despite the easier start. The team believes the overall balance between combat and character classes (‘vocations’) is now very well-tuned.

The final battle against the terrifying monster Gracos was a fitting end to the dungeon. I had to carefully manage my healing, skills, and special abilities, looking for ways to combine them effectively. Even though I hadn’t built this particular team myself, it was a rewarding conclusion to the challenges we faced. Old Man Riffer also pitched in, and together we overcame the crisis.

Why remake Dragon Quest 7 after revisiting the first three games? For Ichikawa, it’s a matter of personal experience. He started with Dragon Quest Monsters, and when he later tried the original Dragon Quest 7, he found it too difficult. It took about three hours just to get to the first battle, which frustrated Ichikawa and many other young RPG players.

I was just a kid in elementary school when I had to stop. It was disappointing because I never even got to the exciting parts. I remember wondering when I’d finally get to face the monsters – I couldn’t even get that far.

He later became involved with the Dragon Quest series, eventually working at Square Enix and helping create Dragon Quest Builders 2. A lot has changed since the original Dragon Quest VII came out in 2000. Ichikawa explained that he and Yuji Horii, the creator of Dragon Quest, talked about how RPGs have evolved, and how players now expect games to be mindful of their time.

Ichikawa explained that in the past, longer games were common, especially with video games that players could really lose themselves in for hours. However, he noted that things have changed significantly in the last 25 years. With so many different games and entertainment options available now, people naturally have less time to dedicate to any single one. This realization was a key part of his early conversations with Horii, and it drove the decision to simplify certain aspects of Dragon Quest 7 to create a more streamlined and accessible gaming experience.

Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined isn’t like other recent remakes from Square Enix. Unlike the HD-2D updates of other Dragon Quest games – which mostly stayed true to the originals – or the complete reinvention of Final Fantasy 7, this remake seems to be a genuine reimagining. It takes the heart of the original Dragon Quest VII and updates it for modern players. This approach strikes a good balance between respecting the game’s legacy and making it fresh, which could be perfect for a game that’s both beloved and sometimes controversial.

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2025-11-19 18:14