Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined Trims the Fat, But Will It Lose Its Soul?
Dragon Quest VII is getting a full-blown “reimagining,” and it seems the developers are finally addressing the elephant in the room: the original game’s absolutely monstrous length. If you’ve ever attempted to conquer the PS1 classic, you know the struggle. The game isn’t just long; it’s a sprawling, bloated epic that could test the patience of a saint. Now, it looks like Square Enix is taking a scalpel to the story, and honestly, it’s about time.
What’s Changing in the Dragon Quest VII Remake?
In a recent interview with Game Informer, the game’s writer, Yu Miyake, and producer, Yosuke Saito, spilled the beans on what’s in store. The big headline is that they’re trimming the fat. Subplots and scenarios with “little or no direct relevance to the main quest” are getting the chop. Thank goodness. No more spending hours on a tangent that goes absolutely nowhere, only to forget what you were supposed to be doing in the first place.
But don’t mistake this for a simple cut-and-paste job. While they’re trimming the unnecessary fluff, they’re also adding entirely new scenarios to flesh out the main story. Saito explained the goal is to make the core narrative more engaging and easier to follow. So, while the overall playtime might be shorter, the experience is intended to be richer and more focused. It’s a classic case of quality over quantity.
Will the Story Still Feel Complete?
The developers seem keenly aware that hardcore fans might be clutching their pearls at the thought of any content being cut. They’ve been quick to reassure everyone that the goal isn’t to gut the game but to refine it. Miyake emphasized that the core story and its emotional weight will remain intact. The changes are about streamlining the journey, not shortening it just for the sake of it.
Think of it like a director’s cut, but in reverse. Instead of adding scenes, they’re removing the ones that made you check your watch. This should help the pacing, which was a major hurdle for many players in the original. By focusing on the central plot, the team hopes to deliver a more powerful and memorable version of the story.
What About Player Customization?
One of the most beloved aspects of any Dragon Quest game is making your hero your own. Thankfully, the developers are leaning into this. Miyake made a point to mention their focus on enhancing player expression. He stated, “We want players to feel like the hero of the story is truly them.” This suggests that we can expect deeper customization options, allowing players to create a hero that reflects their own style. Whether this means more cosmetic choices or deeper gameplay personalization remains to be seen, but it’s a promising sign.
The team’s approach seems to be a thoughtful one. They’re not just remaking a classic; they’re trying to perfect it. By cutting the bloat and adding meaningful new content, they hope to create a version of Dragon Quest VII that appeals to both nostalgic veterans and a new generation of players who don’t have 100+ hours to spare. We’ll have to wait and see if they pull it off, but for now, color me cautiously optimistic.
