Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past

 3DS
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 56 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 56
  3. Negative: 0 out of 56
Buy On
  1. Ars Technica
    Sep 13, 2016
    A love letter to die-hard DQ fans. See if you like Dragon Quest VIII when it comes to the 3DS—if you do, circle back around for this one.
  2. GameSpot
    Sep 13, 2016
    Almost 50 hours in, I finally feel like I'm playing Dragon Quest 7 proper; I have access to job classes, the main story is kicking into gear, and I've located a casino where I can try my luck at a few mini games while I continue my adventure. I'm wary after so many hours of repetitive questing and simple combat, but it's motivating to see signs of good things to come.

Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Best 3DS Game of 2016
14
#14 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2016
7
#7 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 141 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 114 out of 141
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 141
  3. Negative: 16 out of 141
  1. TemplarGR
    Sep 16, 2016
    10
    This is a remake of Dragon Quest VII on the PS1, one of the best in the series. For those unfamiliar with the series, Dragon Quest is one ofThis is a remake of Dragon Quest VII on the PS1, one of the best in the series. For those unfamiliar with the series, Dragon Quest is one of the "big two" JRPG series, alongside Final Fantasy, but never had much success outside of Japan. The original DQVII was released very late on the PS1 life, and had bad outdated graphics and trashy controls. This made people avoid the title in favour of other rpgs, and in general DQVII was ignored by most. And that is a pity.

    Fast forward to 2016, and we can play the remake in the West, at last. And it is totally worth it: Great graphics, both in terms of engine and in terms of art style, great music, control improvements, gameplay improvements. The way it was meant to be played.

    If you have played a DQ game before, you know what to expect: Great story, charming characters, a lighthearted mood, tons of playtime and some grinding. The battles are the typical archaic JRPG battles, but for some reason they feel fresh and fast paced on this remake, so they won't bother you that much.

    I understand that the lower ratings come from people who don't like those archaic elements, and believe me, i hate those too, but for some reason i am always making an exception for Dragon Quest games: The typical jrpg battles are part of their appeal.

    One of the true gems on the 3DS, and a reason to own the console (at least until they port the game on other platforms).

    I am surprised at the relative low metascore. This game deserves more. So i am giving it a 10, and a recommendation if you own a 3DS and like RPGs. Don't miss this.    … Full Review »
  2. Barabasz
    Dec 9, 2016
    3
    Played it recently, reached Falrod, but couldn't finish it. It just SOOO BORING. The story is boring. Cutscenes and dialogues are too long andPlayed it recently, reached Falrod, but couldn't finish it. It just SOOO BORING. The story is boring. Cutscenes and dialogues are too long and boring. Battles are boring and with the best available equipment and proper tactics set, they are just autobattles. Also the targeting system is just stupid. Monsters are randomly divided into groups, so often you won't even know which monster will be attacked. It's hard to use any strategies with this. The characters are awful. I've played a lot of RPGs and Prince Kiefer and Maribel are just the worst I've ever seen. I hated them and didn't want to have anything with them. I was so disappointed, when I was forced to include them in my team. Graphic is pretty good, but it looks that the devs didn't know how to use LODs or just couldn't so very often trees and other objects will just appear right before you eyes. For a remake made specifically for 3DS this looks bad. Also there are only several NPC models, so you will quickly see a lot of generic characters you won't even want to speak too. Dragon Quest VII was my first game of the series and I think it will be the last one. It's just too boring for me. I've read that the DQ VIII is much better so I will give it a chance, but I'm afraid I will be disappointed. Better think twice before buying this game. If you haven't play any DQ before and don't feel sentiment towards the series you can get to the point where you will think, that you just lost precious hours of your life for a game that's not entertaining at all. Don't make my mistake.… Full Review »
  3. RyogaWanderer
    Sep 28, 2016
    5
    Dragon Quest VII is a game that greatly overstays it's welcome. There is so much padded back and forth questing it felt at times like I wasDragon Quest VII is a game that greatly overstays it's welcome. There is so much padded back and forth questing it felt at times like I was playing an MMO. There are cut-scenes and story bits that continue to hit you over the head with ideas that are just completely unnecessary. There have been far too many times where I am actually shouting at the game "I GET IT." at it's attempts to "hint" at plot developments. Even the popular RPG trope of grinding is padded out. Halfway through the game items start costing several thousand gold, but one is lucky to walk away from a fight with a hundred gold. But you can't spend TOO much time grinding for the gold, or else you will out level the area and no longer be able to rank up in vocations. The story is good, but it spends so much time getting around to it that it becomes tiresome. I never felt this worn down by an RPG in my life. Not even Bravely Default got this repetitive and I completed all of it's endings. It takes so long to get to major game mechanics (I am looking at YOU Monster Meadows) that they just feel like more work on an already full inbox. I wanted to love you DQ7, I really did. But I can't. But I can't hate you either.… Full Review »
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