BERLIN: Dragon Quest is one of the most successful role-playing series around, particularly in Japan. It's been around for almost 40 years.
Fans of the video game have been waiting for a new title since it was announced back in 2021.
But instead, Square Enix has released a remake of Dragon Quest VII.
It is significantly streamlined compared to the original, which critics had slammed as boring during the first few hours. They may have had a point, as players did not find a first battle until more than two hours after the start of the game.
All that has changed. As is usual with remakes, the visuals and sound are significantly better. Square Enix took a cue from the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and given the game toy-like, cuddly graphics, where we clearly see Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama's signature illustrations.
The story is still made up of many individual plots that gradually come together to form a bigger picture. The protagonist starts on an island surrounded by sea. Through a kind of temple, he and his buddies reach another island, where they meet a new companion plus a slew of monsters who stand in their way.
As usual in Japanese role-playing games, the battles are turn-based. Players have a classic group of characters who take on different roles, such as healing, combat, and magic. After the battles, there are rewards and experience points that lead to level ups and better stats.
The tactical depth is limited – something the developers seem to be aware of, as the battles can also be fought automatically.
The game has also been simplified in a number of other ways – now all characters have access to a shared item bag, so items no longer have to be assigned to individual characters.
These simplifications and sections may irritate some fans. At the same time, they make it much easier for newcomers to get started with the series. You can also play the game one episode after the other, with the individual islands.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is available for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S, Playstation 5, and PC and costs around €60 (RM277). The USK age rating is six years. – dpa/Tribune News Service
