Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 195 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past Game Cover
The seventh Dragon Quest is another classic in the long running series.
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Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is a single-player Role Playing game for the Nintendo 3DS, known for its intriguing story, stunning game mechanics, and great visuals, with character and monster designs by Akira Toriyama. The game features turn-based battles and customizable party vocations, as you travel to the past to restore forgotten lands and battle an unknown evil, with the ability to expand your adventure through StreetPass™. However, be prepared for very grinding gameplay.

  • Nintendo 3ds
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 195 reviews
story73 positive mentions
grinding21 negative mentions
  • The game features improved graphics and a charming art style that enhances the overall experience.
  • The storyline is engaging, with a mix of humor and emotional depth, making it a memorable journey for players.
  • The job system adds a unique layer to character development, allowing for customization and strategic gameplay.
  • The game has a slow start, taking a couple of hours before players can engage in meaningful battles.
  • There are technical issues such as lag and frame rate drops, particularly during battles and in menus.
  • Some players feel that the removal of certain puzzles and the streamlined gameplay make it too easy and less challenging compared to the original.
  • story196 mentions

    The story of Dragon Quest VII is praised for its depth and charm, featuring a rich narrative that spans over 100 hours of gameplay, with a focus on NPC interactions and mini-adventures rather than a singular main plot. While some players note a slow pacing and repetitive quest structure, the engaging characters and nostalgic elements resonate well with fans of the series. Overall, the remake enhances the original's storyline with improved localization and graphics, making it a worthwhile experience for both newcomers and long-time fans.

    • “Story-wise, the game is amazing, and will eat up a ton of your time.”
    • “The story, the characters, and the world are so immense, and immersion is great.”
    • “Every Dragon Quest story is fulfilling and touches your soul.”
    • “The writing and story are dry.”
    • “Both the writing and the pacing of the story are dry and bare-bones.”
    • “The change to the text/language, the use of a DQ8-style interface, and a few other minor differences keeps the overall storyline the same, but the feeling of the game is completely changed.”
  • graphics66 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received significant praise for their substantial upgrades from the original, with many reviewers noting that they are on par with Dragon Quest VIII and feature a charming art style. While some minor graphical glitches and repetitive elements were mentioned, the overall presentation is considered visually appealing and enhances the gameplay experience. The remade graphics, combined with quality-of-life improvements, make it a worthy addition for both new players and fans of the original.

    • “The graphics update is on par with DQ8 and the signature art style was rendered perfectly.”
    • “The graphics are completely reworked and look fantastic on the 3DS.”
    • “They really enhanced the graphics for the 3DS, I'm glad to have it back in my library!”
    • “Sprite graphics, badly incorporated 3D backgrounds, weird translation, and a slow pace beset an amazing storyline.”
    • “The graphics are clear but boring and super repetitive, so is the music.”
    • “There are also minor graphical glitches at times which I feel like should have been ironed out already.”
  • gameplay44 mentions

    The gameplay of Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is a blend of classic JRPG mechanics with modern enhancements, featuring traditional menu-based combat and a revamped graphical presentation. While it retains the essence of the original, including a deep story and engaging class system, some players noted mechanical issues like lag and simplified puzzles. Overall, it appeals to fans of classic RPGs, offering a nostalgic experience with significant improvements in execution and gameplay smoothness.

    • “This game has a great mechanic.”
    • “The sound is good, the combat is classic menu-based style, the monster design is excellent, and the class system is a welcome addition to the combat mechanics.”
    • “There are quite a few changes from the original Dragon Warrior VII, but most are very welcome additions that made the gameplay much smoother.”
    • “Gameplay: there is lag and frame rate drops when using the menu and while in battle.”
    • “The only reason this does not get a full 5/5 is due to some obnoxious mechanical issues.”
    • “The game also seems to have been dumbed down in regards to gameplay and puzzles.”
  • grinding23 mentions

    Grinding is a prominent aspect of the game, with many players noting that it is heavily encouraged due to low rewards from enemies. While some find the grinding enjoyable and a natural part of the experience, others feel it can become tedious, especially with long stretches before engaging in battles. Overall, the game appeals to fans of grinding, but may wear out those less inclined to repetitive gameplay.

    • “Sadly, as is typical of DQ games, grinding is heavily encouraged, as enemies don't give you much money or experience points.”
    • “It takes about 2 hours to get to your first battle, which is both boring and tedious, I'm not gonna lie.”
    • “I can see where it could be good but the grinding wore me out.”
  • music20 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its ability to capture the mood and enhance the overall experience. While some players appreciate the nostalgic quality of the soundtrack, others express disappointment over the shift from orchestral to MIDI-based sound. Overall, the music is described as lovely and engaging, contributing positively to the gameplay and atmosphere.

    • “As usual to the series, the music is quite good, and always captures the mood of what's going on.”
    • “The soundtrack really brings me back!”
    • “It is loads of fun with great graphics and music.”
    • “The decision to drop the orchestral music score for MIDI-based sound is disappointing.”
    • “Sound is good, but I don't like the music.”
    • “The graphics are clear but boring and super repetitive, so is the music.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its engaging main character design, particularly the charming ruff who rides a wolf, and the overall care put into character progression. However, some reviews note that the character designs are somewhat limited and formulaic, lacking depth in certain areas, such as an auto-battle feature. Despite these critiques, the updated graphics and tweaks from the original PSone version enhance the experience for JRPG fans.

    • “In fact, it's refreshing to see a game care so much about character development.”
    • “Much of the base game is the same as the PSone version, but the updated graphics, tweaked difficulty, and amazing character design by Akira Toriyama make this a worthy addition to any JRPG fan's collection.”
    • “The main character design is nice, and who wouldn't love Ruff - a tyke who rides a wolf everywhere?”
    • “The character designs are limited and somewhat formulaic, lacking depth and variety.”
    • “The game fails to provide a true auto-battle feature, which could have enhanced character interactions.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its wit and lightheartedness, featuring engaging characters and entertaining quests that appeal to a wide audience, including kids, teens, and adults. It balances funny and ridiculous moments with heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking stories, making for a delightful experience.

    • “It's witty, funny, ridiculous, and has wonderfully heart-touching (and heart-breaking) stories within.”
    • “Full of light humor, engaging characters, and entertaining quests, this title is a great romp for kids, teens, or adults alike.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its blend of wit and humor, alongside deeply touching and sometimes heartbreaking narratives that resonate with players.

    • “It's witty, funny, ridiculous, and has wonderfully heart-touching (and heart-breaking) stories within.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game shows some improvements in optimization compared to the original PlayStation 1 version, but it still suffers from significant issues that detract from the overall experience.

    • “While the game has had some optimization from the original PlayStation 1, there are still some glaring issues.”
    • “The performance is inconsistent, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.”
    • “Despite the updates, the game still struggles with frame rate drops and long loading times.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game lacks sufficient appeal to encourage players to revisit it, resulting in low replayability.

  • stability1 mentions

    Users report experiencing minor graphical glitches that detract from the overall stability of the game, suggesting that these issues should have been addressed prior to release.

    • “There are also minor graphical glitches at times, which I feel should have been ironed out already.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I've experienced several freezes during gameplay, which disrupts the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

Play time

85hMedian play time
83hAverage play time
70-120hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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